Frequently Asked Questions
What vaccines are required for my pup to begin training?
We require for your canine to be fully vaccinated and up to date on the following vaccines/medications: Rabies, Bordetella, Distemper, Flea and Tick.
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Other vaccinations that are not required but highly recommended include: Leptospirosis, Canine Influenza, Canine Coronavirus (not covid-19), Parvovirus.
What is an e-collar and how does it work?
An “e-collar” is basically a collar with a stimulation mechanism (similar to a TENS unit). The collar is controlled by a remote that the handler holds. The remote allows you to maintain full control of your dog for up to 400 yards. Therefore, it gives your dog a lot of freedom and it saves you from worrying about your dog running off. It is not used as a punishment or a “shock” as many people assume, it is simply used as a training device for communicating with your dog. It produces a subtle electrical current between two contact points located on the collar. Unlike a shocking device, the e-collar is used to get the dog’s attention and keep them focused on listening to the handler. It is the equivalent of someone tapping your shoulder to get your attention, or setting your phone on vibrate so it will get your attention when someone is calling you. We teach the dog to listen to those “taps” and that the “taps” mean, “I am trying to get your attention.”
Will the e-collar hurt my dog?
No. During our first meeting we can put the e-collar on your arm, and you will feel how mild the stimulation is. We can also stimulate ourselves with the e-collar to show you that it will not hurt your dog. One common misconception is that the e-collar will burn their skin. This is false. Other people think that it is like being shocked with a taser, this is also false. We are dog trainers because we LOVE dogs, and we would never do anything to harm them in any way. Furthermore, we would never do anything to a dog that we would not do to ourselves.
Where do we conduct our Board & Train Programs?
All Board and Train Programs take place in our trainers' climate-controlled residence. Your dog will be living with us! Our trainers have areas within their residence dedicated to our Board & Train clients with kennels/crates for the dogs. Our Board & Train dogs are treated as one of the family and are often socialized with our trainer's personal dogs.
All Board & Train clients are to fill out a form listing out their dogs’ needs and feeding schedule. It is required that the canine owner provides the trainer with the food of their choice along with any other medication or dietary needs for their dog. Trainers provide daily updates so you can see and follow along with the progress of your dog.
We don't have standard business hours when the trainer 'clocks out' and leaves a facility. We don't have mass feeding time. We cater to each canine based on their needs and abilities.
How Much Time Will My Dog Spend in a Crate/Kennel?
Depends on the dog. Yes, we understand this doesn't address the real question, but in fact it varies from dog to dog and training day to training day. For the canine's safety we do have them inside a crate/kennel during vehicle transportation, overnight during bedtime, and when the trainer is unable to keep a safe eye on them. Say when they are taking a shower or at the grocery store.
Keep in mind each pup can work a different amount of time each day. Every day is different, and therefore the amount of work varies day to day. If you have a dog that isn't used to "working" because they haven't had to, not a problem. If you have a Malinois or GSP that needs work, we can do that too. The amount of work is determined by what the furry baby can take in a day. So, what does that mean relative to time in a crate?​
If we work your dog for four hours per day, not because that is the time we have, but because that is the max they can do, the rest of the time will be recovery or transportation. That means accounting for traffic in Los Angeles, plus the work, and overnight hours, your pup will spend on average of seven or so hours napping in a crate because they NEED to. If they need less rest time, they will be out working. If they are super tired, they will get more time to rest. Subject to the individual canine they may nap on a bed outside of the crate/kennel.
If anyone says the dog will be out of the crate 24 hours per day, they must be running a "cage/kennel free" operation where your furry child will be subjected to the distress of not having any structured order. Except that the biggest and strongest will decide who gets what (law of the jungle or canine pack mentality).
At the end of the day, we need to be aware, and fair to the animals that we train. We want everyone to succeed, but not at the expense of exhaustion. Try to not focus on the hours in the crate/kennel, but rather focus on the results and the happiness that your furry baby returns to you with.
What if I have a small dog or a dog that is not 5 months old?
Not a problem, we work with the little guys too! E-Collar training works on a dog of any size (10 pounds and above), any shape, and any age (above 6 months).
If your pup is much smaller than 10 pounds or younger than 6 months you can enroll them in one of our non-e-collar training programs. We can still train your pup using the clicker/treat method. This will give your new pup a good foundation for basic obedience. Additionally, we can teach you how to house train your puppy. He/ she will learn how to let you know they need to go. So, they don’t continue having accidents in the house.
What is clicker training?
A clicker is a small device that makes a distinct “click” noise. This is used to instantly mark the desired behavior. Then, it is immediately followed with a treat. This enables the dog to learn the commands much faster because you are instantly “marking” the correct behavior. In return, the dog knows it has not done what you are asking it to do until it hears the distinct “click.”
How are lessons scheduled?
Depending on the type of lesson signed up dictates the schedule for the lessons.
Private one-on-one lessons are designed to be completed once a week for 4, 6, or 8 consecutive weeks. This will yield the best results. For these lessons ONLY OffLeash can reschedule a single lesson once every 4 weeks. No show/no calls will be considered as a missed lesson.
Group lessons operate on a preset schedule for the day, time, and location. A session is completed once a week for 6 consecutive weeks. Due to this, we are unable to reschedule or offer makeup for any of the group lessons. Please contact the office for current schedule details.
How much time in a day do I need to train my dog?
If you have enrolled in any of the lesson programs, ideally you would spend at least 1 hour a day training your canine. This is to continue to progress the work you learned with the trainer.
Should you be enrolled in our board and train program, the wonderful thing about this is that you don’t have to set a specific amount of time aside per day in order to train your dog. We will teach you how to incorporate this training into your daily routine.
Making the training part of your normal routine will yield the best results!
How long will the training take?
Each training course implies the length of training. For example: the Basic Obedience Program is designed to take four weeks. The Two-Week Board and Train is designed to take two weeks. However, the canine's ability to learn and understand the commands is the largest factor in training length.
Our lessons require the clients to be more involved on a day-in and day-out basis. Putting forth more time to training.
For Board and Train Programs, we will spend time teaching the owner upon drop off (your pup returning back to you). Covering what we taught, how we taught it, and what you (owner) need to do to maintain or improve on the work. This process is one on one, running anywhere from one to three hours.
Will my dog benefit from this training?
Your dog will benefit tremendously! Most behavior problems (biting, chewing, jumping, etc.) are based on a lack of exercise, discipline, and out of boredom. With this training, your dog is receiving top-quality obedience training, which in turn allows you to give your dog freedom to run around OFF-LEASH (if applicable) and play. So, by doing this training your dog is not bored because they are learning and being stimulated with mental and physical exercise. Not only does all of this considerably benefit your dog, but it also benefits you and your family. Remember, if you do not employ your dog and give it a job to do (training), it will become self-employed. A self-employed dog will cost YOU money.​