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Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring with you beside your dog?
Vaccination records from your veterinarian that includes proofs of the
following:
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Annual vaccination
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* Rabies
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* Bordatella (kennel cough vaccine)
* Optional
We cannot accept any dogs into our kennel that do not have proofs of all
required vaccinations. This is for the protection of each individual
dogs, so please be sure you have these to present upon arrival at our
kennel.
FOOD! We recommend:
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For small breeds; 10 kg for three - four weeks
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For medium to large breeds; 15 kg for four weeks
Any leftover food will be sent home when you pick up your dog.
If your dog runs out of food, we will put them on our food for a fee of
RM5.00 per pet per day. Premium foods have 20-40% higher digestibility,
and provide better foods, our recommendations are Canine Caviar (holistic).Your
dog should ideally be switched to this food before coming to board (if
they are not currently on a holistic diet).
Also, if your dog eats canned food, please provide an adequate amount.
Please be sure to inform us of any special dietary restrictions or
allergies your dog may have.
Any medication your dog needs: Heartworm Prevention, Flea Pills or
Treatment, supplements, etc.
A down payment which is partial of total course amount is required minus
any deposit you have already paid. We accept cash or checks only.
Your dog’s favorite treats: Nylabones, Gummabones, or Kongs are ok, but
no rawhides or meat bones.
Worming. Virtually all dogs carry worms from puppy hoods throughout
their lives. Their immune systems keep them dormant most of the time, as
does preventative worming. We recommend preventative worming before your
dog arrives. If your dog takes Heartguard Plus, ProHeart or Interceptor,
your dog is being wormed monthly already, and no further action is
necessary. Preventative worming does not guarantee your dog against
worms, but should kill any adults your dog is currently carrying.
What does In-Board Training mean?
In-board training requires that your dog stay in our kennel for the
period of its training course. Our programs are designed to enable your
dog to learn commands quickly and effectively, having your dog on site
is a key component to that success. We will do the feeding, walking and
training and when your dog is ready for pick up, we will bath your dog
before leaving our kennel.
Will my dog listen to me as well as he listens to you?
You will receive training video clips of your dog doing all the
commands. It is up to you to practice the training in the same manner
that we do in the training. It is also up to you to modify your dog’s
environment to set him up to succeed at home. Your trainer will discuss
these things with you on the videos and in the final drop-off visit.
Your dog will go home with good manners as his new “habits”. Your dog
will be capable of doing everything he did with the trainer as long as
you take the recommended steps to make sure these manners remain his
default behaviors. In this way, in-board training works much the same as
training horses – the horse is trained to accept a rider… it is up to
the rider to follow the horse trainer’s instructions on how to ride the
horse.
If you do the training, will my dog still perform the commands at home?
Yes. Just as police dogs and service dogs are trained and turned over to
their handlers, we complete the training and turn your dog over to you.
What else does the price include apart from the dog being trained?
Upon graduation, you will receive our Graduation Pack, a certificate, a
video compilation of your dog’s training and pictures. On top of that,
you are also entitled to two follow up hander lessons (valid within 3
months after graduation).
At what age can I send my dog for Obedience Training?
Puppy Imprinting & Training – 8 weeks or older
Obedience Training – 5 months or older
Advanced Obedience – 12 months or older
Personal Protection – 12 months or older (pending evaluation)
How often can I visit my dog?
It is not recommended. Once your dog is dropped off at our site, it is
normal for your dog to go through an adjustment period. Visiting your
pet may prolong transitioning and cause further separation anxiety. In
order for the program to succeed, we do not schedule visits for you and
your dog until graduation or final pick-up.
However, if you feel it is necessary to see your dog, we prefer that you
limit your visit to check on your dog at most once a week. The trainers
are busy with the job of working with and caring for the dogs in
training during the day and evening, and our goal is to provide the best
training service possible for your dog, and spend maximum amount of time
with pets in training. We ask you to call first to make appointment for
your visit. Whether you call or email:robin@real-k9.com,
we will endeavor to get to you within 24 hours with an update.
Where will my dog be kept while in training?
Your dog will stay in our home kennel which is fenced and gated. Each
kennel size is about 6’ x 10’, giving your dog enough room to move
around comfortably. We want our guests to feel at home while living in
an environment conducive to dog obedience training.
Will my dog ever misbehave after it graduates?
Dogs will be dogs. No form of dog training can guarantee that your dog
will never misbehave again. However, our method of training is effective
yet simple and easy for you to follow. We guarantee follow up assistance
for the life of your dog – we stand behind our training.
How will I be able to find our about my dog’s progress?
We use email as our primary method of communication with dog owners. We
send weekly updates that include photos and a short narrative describing
how your dog is responding to the training.
How would you describe your training methods?
We use a style of training referred to as operant conditioning and
transitioning the dog through three phases: acquisition, proofing and
generalization. Through hands-on training and experience, we have
developed a variety of ways to teach commands to dogs and their diverse
personalities and temperaments. We start by finding out what motivates
the dog. Then we create conditions for the dog to be encouraged to
follow commands that occur naturally (sit, down, heel). We focus on
timing positive reinforcement with the dog intuitively offering a
response to a command.
Do you use corrective collars in your training?
Yes, however, we believe in reinforcing commands with the use of
positive motivation before introducing a corrective collar. We use a
corrective collar to emphasize control, not inflict pain.
There are three phases of dog obedience: acquiring information
(learning), proofing or ensuring the dog understands the command and
generalizing (proficiency through consistent execution). Throughout all
phases, we train first and foremost with positive motivation. We use a
corrective collar as reinforcement in the later phase once we believe
the dog is capable of consistently following a command.
What is my dog is not ready to graduate by the end of the three, four or
eight-week session?
If your dog is not ready to graduate, we will continue dog obedience
training at no cost to you.
Can you train my dog in a language other than English?
Yes. The commonly used languages are English, Czech or German commands.
However, you have the option to choose any languages you desire. We will
assist to custom design your request.
If I have two dogs, can I enroll them at the same time?
Experience shows that two dogs from the same “pack” do much better if
enrolled in separate classes, especially for the Beginner Level class.
The goal of this class is to strengthen the relationship of the handler
and the dog. With the other doggie “pack-mate” present, and in the
presence of other people and dogs, the two dogs are much more likely to
be focused on each other and pack dynamics. You and your dog will
get much more out of the class if you enroll each dog in a separate
class where each dog will get 100% of your attention… which is what you
want back from your dog.
Will my dog remember me after one month or so?
Of course! Your dog will give you a tail-wagging, enthusiastic greeting!
Your dog will learn to listen to the trainers and will consider us his
friends but you will remain the dog’s “family”. Through our experience,
some dogs get too excited that they will urinate or even defecate when
they are reunited with their owners.
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