You’ve trained your pup to sit, so now what?

By Patricia Nugent

Beyond just having a furry faithful friend waiting for you at the door when you come home, owning a dog might help you live longer. Studies have shown dogs can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and keep you more active.

For many busy folks, however, the barrier to dog ownership lies in not having the time to properly train them. But not anymore.

Thanks to a new mobile training service—The Upbeat K9—more and more people are able to open their doors to precious (and well-behaved) pooches, whether they are puppies, rescues, or older dogs that need a refresher.

You’ve probably already seen Aurelia Ford-Martin and her husband Steve’s vans around town. For the ultimate convenience, they will pick up your dog in the morning and take it to their training facility, work with it throughout the day and then return it to your home in the evening. Sessions run for either five or 10 days.

For a higher level of intensity, they can also board and train your pet in seven-day, 14-day and 21-day sessions.

“It’s perfect for people going on vacation,” she says.

Aurelia reports that refresher lessons are included in the package cost for up to a year after. In addition to private training, they also offer group sessions at a local pet store.

Another helpful service they’ve just added for busy folks is dog walking.

Finding Motivation
“Our positive and open-minded approach appeals to the learning style of each dog and what motivates them,” says Aurelia.

“Although most dogs are motivated by little treats during training, others may be motivated by only letting them play with their toys when they exhibit the good behavior you’re looking for.”

In addition to potty training for puppies, some behaviors dog owners want to get rid of include jumping on guests, digging, nuisance barking, leash pulling, separation anxiety and general aggression.

“People often say their dog is difficult to train because he or she is a specific breed, but we’ve had no trouble working with dogs of any breed, or any age,” she says.

“Our program is designed to strengthen the bond between owner and best friend. At the end of the day, your dog will feel more confident and learn how to manage its own good behavior.”

The Upbeat K9 Dog Training is centralized in Medina but they serve homes all over Northeast Ohio. For more information, call 330-461-9287 or visit TheUpbeatk9.com/Medina-OH/. For a schedule of group lessons, which take place at PetPeople in Strongsville, check out their Facebook page.