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Here are the most frequently asked questions to review before booking or requesting services with Janna's Pack K9 Training
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Why Do You Use a Prong Collar & E-Collar?
We use Prongs and high quality E-Collars to ensure we are using the most gentle and safe tools possible to communicate effectively. Prong collars are designed to protect a dog’s neck and throat/trachea when leash pressure is applied, intentionally by a handler or unintentionally when a dog lunges. E-Collars are micro muscle stimulation tool like a tens-unit used in physical therapy. E-Collars create a low warm tingly feeling and we use it positively and negatively to perfectly customize your communication system by layering it over Verbal Commands, Body Pressure, and Touch. We can also use E-Collars to communicate and help our dogs regulate their nervous system at a distance using this remote technology and build positive behavior and associations through these balanced communication tools.
How do you use a Prong Collar & E-Collar?
Tools are used as a bridge, layered over verbal commands, body pressure, physical touch, and implied behavior or boundaries to motivate a dog to prioritize the pressure. We specialize in low level pressure, meaning using the lowest level possible to communicate effectively based on our goals, to: 1. Teach a new behavior 2. Motivate or encourage a dog 3. Set boundaries and correct behavior Each of these goals requires different levels of pressure and we are always striving to use the lowest level possible in any category. When you begin training, tools are used 100% of the time. As you progress through and achieve behavior/training goals, tools are faded out and used situationally as a backup.
My dog is reactive, aggressive, fearful, or anxious and I have read that using E-Collars or Prong Collars on dogs like this will make them worse, how do you train these dogs?
Since prong collars and e-collars are not inherently bad or aversive tools and allow us to fully customize how we communicate, we continue to have success using these tools for seriously behavioral dogs including reactive, aggressive, fearful, or anxious dogs, without any fallout or regression, when paired with our specialized low-level pressure approach and Janna's Pack proprietary R.E.S.T. Method.
Do you use treats? How do you motivate dogs?
We do use food as part of our training “toolbox”. However, since dogs naturally learn easiest from low level pressure, we use gentle pressure to motivate and encourage dogs to stay “focused” and accountable to their humans. In this phase, only low-arousing reinforcement such as affection and attention are used to reward dogs and dogs learn to avoid pressure by offering good behavior. Once dogs are practicing impulse control and good behavior without obedience for management, we will introduce food or play to reward good choices, if it would benefit your dog. We use food for many dogs (but not all) as part of Trigger Response Training techniques, when we focus on improving a dog’s mindset and emotions around triggers.
I already tried working with trainers. Will this work for my dog?
Most of my clients have worked with 1-4 dog trainers and specialists in the past including positive only, rewards-based balanced, military/police K9/PSA trainers, pack-style trainers, and veterinary behaviorists. Although these trainers may be good, none of them focus on functional obedience + life safety skills AND leadership principles AND dog psychology AND building implied behavioral expectations AND teaching owners to be confident or successful in real-world situations (where creating space or avoiding triggers isn’t always possible)... all starting as early as the first 3 weeks. In my program, I focus on empowerment through education, demonstration, coaching, and progressively overloading humans AND dogs. I will show you how and encourage you to work through the messy but VERY REAL parts of dog training without overwhelming you. You won’t learn about complicated dog training lingo - instead you’ll learn how and when to reward, ignore, or correct your dog, and how to live a structured lifestyle that sets humans and dogs up for success 110% of the time. I am an owner-centered dog trainer who has designed a program that teaches humans how to live with dogs behind-the-scenes as a “balanced pack”, in their homes and communities, by showing exactly how I train dogs in my LIVE Stay & Train and Private Training program.
Where will my Dog Stay?
In my home in Raleigh, North Carolina. One of my rooms is setup as a “kennel” space with a crate and is monitored 24/7 with cameras. Dogs will be trained in my home, out in my community, and alongside my personal dogs. My home has 24/7 Fire/Sprinkler Protection throughout the space.
How much time is spent training everyday?
Rather than schedule short training sessions during the day, we focus on using your dog’s daily walking and socialization time more productively. A minimum of 90 minutes and maximum of 6 hours will be invested into your dog’s active & passive training every day when they are staying with me. When they are not walking, training, or socializing with me/my pack, they are relaxing in a comfortable crate, with a noise machine, getting routine exercise, potty breaks, food, water, and much needed rest!
Who will handle my Dog during their Stay?
Janna will exclusively handle your dog herself. In the event additional trainers are hired, trainers-in-training will only be handling your dog under Janna’s supervision and/or at Janna’s direction.
Will my Dog get to Play during their Stay?
Your dog will be allowed play-time on a long leash with Janna, if weather and the dog’s behavior is permitting. Structured play and off-leash practice is introduced as part of the second week of training for MOST dogs. If your dog’s behavior is severe, play may be exchanged for additional active or passive training to focus on life skills, mindset, or obedience. Dogs completing 4 or 6 Week Stay & Train Packages may be permitted to play with Janna’s personal dogs if their behavior is deemed safe for pack play, as way to reinforce social boundaries and obedience commands.
How can you guarantee results?
Although we cannot guarantee behavioral results, your personal results will be determined by your dog's breed, genetics, and temperament combined with your level of effort & willingness to integrate the principles & practices shared with you in your daily lifestyle before/during/after training Most dogs and owners will achieve significant, transformative behavior change as a result of completing a Stay & Train, Private Training, or Virtual Coaching package as long as owners are fully committed to the process and follow the Trainers instructions which will include significant lifestyle changes. Some dogs may require a level of "management" for the rest of their lives to thrive and co-exist with humans or other animals peacefully however this is only applicable to approximately 1-5% of dogs, provided all other requirements are met.
What Kind of Lifestyle Changes Can I Expect to Make?
The changes you will need to make will depend on your current lifestyle with your dog. It is will known that high cortisol levels in animals results in mood disorders, cognitive impairment, and behavior dysfunction. When you start training, we will analyze your habits and rituals, and daily/weekly activities to ensure you are not engaged in any highly arousing, overstimulating, high-adrenaline activities that are counter-productive to regulating your dog's nervous system and establishing healthy pack leadership like routine Dog Sports, Agility & Trick Training, Obedience Training, Therapy Dog Visitations, etc. We will also look at your communication system, and personal + household boundaries including whether your dog has furniture access, feeding rituals, daily play, free-roaming, how much affection or attention you are giving them daily, etc. In the beginning many changes will need to be made. After your dog's behavior is under control and they learn to respect, trust, and feel accountable you as a parent or leader, and you've achieved your behavior/training goals, you may begin to revisit prior lifestyle activities in moderation!
When can we stop using the E-Collar and Prong Collar?
Although most dogs can be transitioned off of heavy tools like a prong collar with a proper protocol, I encourage my clients to focus on stopping the behavior issues before we discuss stopping the tools that helped you get your dog under control. E-Collars will be a permanent tool in your dog’s life, being worn daily, and typically can become used more like a backup or seatbelt in advanced stages of training But before you worry about not using tools, worry about stopping your dog’s reactive, aggressive, fearful, or anxious behavior and helping them feel better.
When can we stop using the crate?
The crate provides a dog a physical and mental barrier to stress with 3 walls and 1 entry point. Their backs are covered and they get more meaningful sleep in a crate since it resembles a safe, denning environment which feels familiar to them instinctively. Dens are protected and policed by the pack leader or senior dogs. When a dog is in a crate, they tap into their denning instincts and feel safer getting sleep, knowing subconsciously that they are safe and protected. For 3-6 Months after training ends, you must continue crating 18 hours a day and strict no-furniture-access protocols. Failure to uphold these protocols will result in decline/reversal of behavior improvement. When outside of a crate, your dog will still need structured decompression time, on Place. After 6 months and your dog has developed a long-standing pattern of reliably settled behavior, getting enough sleep on Place and in the Crate daily, your dog may start sleeping out of crates again periodically at night. We do not recommend allowing dogs to sleep outside of the crate daily to prevent them from regressing in crate settling skills. At the same time, they may start earning furniture privileges with an invitation and strong accountability for acceptable behavior on the couch/bed.
When can we start going to the Dog Park again?
We maintain a strict NO DOG PARK & NO DAY CARE policy indefinitely. These environments are anti-canine environments which conflict with dog psychology and balanced, natural pack principles. When you study wild dogs or wolves, you see that they socialize WITHIN their pack, not outside of it, and pack’s operate in “territories" (Page 3 https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/upload/2023-Wolf-Report-final_web.pdf). Your dog doesn’t need to “make friends” at the dog park or burn energy at doggie day care. They need you to become a balanced pack at home and learn to practice pack principles in your daily life. Attending dog parks, doggie daycare, and allowing your dog to interact and play/greet with stranger dogs will result in decline/reversal of behavior improvement.
Our Friends & Family have Dogs, can I let my Dog Play?
Unless your friends/family’s dogs are trained exactly the same way, reliably, and they have FULL CONTROL over their dog, it’s a bad idea to let your dog to play. If dogs are going to play, you must not allow any mounting, posturing, humping, stealing toys, bullying, charging, sparing, ear biting, and imbalanced/excessive chasing. Dogs may lightly wrestle, take turns chasing each other, and need to be taking breaks often to prevent over-arousal and conflict from arising. Play escalates to bullying or fighting quickly. If you are not confident policing pack play, we encourage you to say “No” to playtime with friends/family pets Instead, we recommend focusing on down-stays, place time, tethering, pack walking, and calm co-existence near each other, or, crating your dog so they can relax. Dogs don’t need to play and if it would be more chaotic than calm and under control, it’s not worth it to set yourself back in training.
My Dog has known pain issues, can they still be trained?
If your dog has known pain issues, we require a pain management plan to be in place with your Veterinarian before your reservation. Janna’s Pack is a holistic dog trainer and dogs that are in pain are often behavioral.
My Dog is a senior, is it too late to train them?
Provided your dog has no known age-related health risks, you can train your dog! Owners with dogs as young as 3months and as old as 16 years (with a heart murmur) have joined the pack to transform their life together and get on the right track to pack leadership and properly fulfilling their dog to enjoy as much time as they have left. That said, owners sign a Liability Waiver upon booking and we encourage you to visit your vet for a Wellness Exam, prior to your reservation/drop off.
I want my reactive dog to be a Service Dog, can you do that?
While many dogs are good fits for the responsibility of being a medically task-trained service dog for Medical Alerting and Support, protected by the ADA… Many are not. As a policy, Janna does not “certify” Service Dogs. Instead, all client’s dogs must complete the following 3 Programs before booking a Service Dog Package 1. FOUNDATIONS 2. Advanced Class + CGC 3. City Socialization + uCGC If a dog & owner successfully completes these 3 programs with Janna's Pack and the dog’s owner has a qualifying disability for medical alerting, they will be pre-qualified for a Service Dog Private Training Package with Janna’s Pack K9 Training. Clients may not "test into" our Service Dog Training program.
My dog has injured or killed another dog, can you train them?
Unfortunately, there’s many dogs in the world who need help and we only have limited resources and time. To ensure I am best serving the dogs who are most likely to be successfully rehabilitated and fully re-integrated to their home environment, I do not accept dogs into my Stay & Train program who have a history of aggressively attacking or killing other dogs. You are encouraged to book a Private Training or Virtual Consultation Package to address these issues however, be advised they will often result in some form of life-long management including daily muzzling to prevent accidents. Dogs with a bite history on humans only are encouraged to apply.