The Private Virtual Dog Training Program

That’s something we’ll determine at your initial 90-minute consult. It largely depends on the type of behavior issue we’re working on, and your unique learning style.

Some people do best training their dog on camera, and getting live demonstrations and immediate feedback from us (just like what would happen at an in-person coaching session).

Others prefer to spend the Zoom sessions just talking through their current challenges, troubleshooting, taking notes, and discussing the next step. They can then work through their training homework on their own and send us the footage later.

Once you register, you have up to 30 days to schedule your first session. 

The two- or three-month coaching period does not begin until you’ve completed your initial onboarding session. So there’s no rush. Sign up now, and schedule your first session at a time that works for you.

Many of our clients, especially our new-puppy parent or rescue adopter clients, find the initial program is enough to get them on track. 

After your private coaching sessions and Text a Trainer support ends, you’ll continue to have access to our self-study courses, group coaching sessions, and forums for the remainder of your year-long membership.

If you’re dealing with complex issues like food aggression or reactivity, it’s likely you’ll need additional help.

Additional coaching packages can be purchased at a reduced rate later on.

Yep! Your coaching registration fee will be prorated to reflect what you’ve already paid.

After you apply for the program and we send you the registration link, just make sure you’re logged into your existing account, and the registration form should automatically adjust the price for you. If it doesn’t, email me at contact@3lostdogs.com.

Thanks for asking! Broadly speaking, our methods fall into the force-free category. We’ve found this to be the most effective way to build a strong bond with your dog and get them to want to listen to you, while minimizing the chances they’ll develop aggression-related behavior problems.

We teach you how to properly use positive reinforcement (like food, play, and real-life rewards), to teach your dog exactly what you want them to do, while avoiding common mistakes dog owners make that cause positive reinforcement to fail.

In many cases, especially when training important skills like recall (aka come when called), we also employ classical conditioning to create a strong, positive response in your dog. You know how there are certain words or phrases, like “want a treat?” “dinner time,” “let’s go for a walk,” that make dogs snap to attention and say “HELL YES I WANT A TREAT/DINNER/WALK?” 

You’ll learn how to condition that same response when your dog hears their recall cue.

We also teach you how and when to use enrichment, exercise, redirection, and management to further improve your dog’s behavior and create good habits.

Where appropriate, we use desensitization, habituation, and counter-conditioning to deal with behavior issues that are based in fear, aggression, overexcitement, or poor early socialization. We go at the dog’s pace and do not force them into situations they aren’t ready for. (In technical terms, we don’t use “flooding”)

If any of that sounds daunting or makes your eyes glaze over, don’t worry: we have a bunch of frameworks, exercises, and games in our program to show you exactly how to do all this. Our methods aren’t just dog-friendly, they’re human-friendly, too.

We do not use: Aversives like spray bottles, scary noises, collar corrections or physical punishment. Because while those methods sometimes work to stop unwanted behavior in the short term, they often create worse behavior or even aggression in the long term, and make it harder to build a strong bond.

But if you’re already using aversive methods? No worries! When you join our program, we meet you where you’re at and we can help you gradually remove the need for those corrections.

Of course. In fact, we encourage it! Everyone can attend the coaching sessions and work through the online courses we recommend as part of your training homework.

For the Text a Trainer service, we’ll set up a Whatsapp group chat and any family/household members age 18+ can be added, so they can ask us questions directly and submit training homework as well.

Sure! Fill out the form below OR send an email to contact@3lostdogs.com and I will personally get back to you. – Jake