What is our dog training philosophy?
At Beyond the Dog, our co-founders, Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage, manage our wellness retreats and virtual consultation programs, using science-based training methods to support your dog’s behavioral wellness. Through classical conditioning, we help dogs form positive associations, while operant conditioning allows us to reward and reinforce desirable behaviors.
What experience does each dog trainer have?
Dr. Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage co-founded Beyond the Dog, and each has over 20 years of experience working with dogs, cats, and other animals.
Dr. Echterling-Savage is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), with a PhD in Behavioral Psychology, specializing in animal behavior. Dr. Echterling-Savage is involved in our board-and-train wellness retreat programs and our virtual consultation programs. As a co-founder of Beyond the Dog, she mentors trainers across all our locations, develops training programs, and provides expert guidance on behavioral cases nationwide. Her depth of experience ensures our training philosophy is applied effectively, consistently, and compassionately.
Sean Savage is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). Sean has extensive experience training dogs in obedience and manners, as well as addressing complex behavioral challenges. Sean manages training programs in Sarasota and Tampa Bay and is directly involved in board-and-train retreat programs.
All of our other trainers are certified dog trainers and behavior consultants through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CBCC-KA, CDBC, or CPDT-KA). Many also bring experience from other animal-related fields before joining Beyond the Dog, enriching our expertise.
When is the right time to begin puppy training?
You can start your puppy’s training when they are at least 8 weeks old, which usually coincides with when most puppies come home. At this stage, you should focus on addressing puppy challenges such as chewing, potty training, play-biting, and jumping.
When your puppy is 14 to 16 weeks old, they should have enough focus for longer training sessions. This is a great time to begin a structured training program to teach obedience commands and good manners, both at home and in public.
If you have any concerns about your puppy’s behavior, such as showing aggression, resource guarding, or touch sensitivity, you should consult with a trainer as soon as possible. Treating these problem behaviors early can prevent the behavior from worsening as they get older.
Which training programs do we provide?
Beyond the Dog offers two training programs that are personalized to teach high-level obedience and address problem behaviors, including reactivity, resource guarding, cat chasing, aggression, touch sensitivity, separation anxiety, and fearful behavior.
- Our Virtual Training Programs are led by Dr. Echterling-Savage. She will review your dog’s behavioral history and meet with you through virtual consultations to create a personalized training plan that aligns with your goals. Throughout the program, she will guide you through behavior scenarios and obedience commands, adjusting the plan as your dog progresses or if any new challenges occur. After each session, you’ll receive detailed notes and guidance to support long-term success after the training program has been completed.
- Dog Behavioral Wellness Retreats are Board and Training Programs where your dog will live and train with Dr. Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage at their home in Tampa Bay, Florida. This program will address behavioral challenges and teach high-level obedience and good manners across a variety of settings and distractions. These sessions can take place at locations such as their home, hiking trails, parks, shops, farmers’ markets, and dog-friendly beaches. This helps your dog easily transition their new skills to your own home and local neighborhood. At the end of the training program, your dog will return to your home, where return and follow-up lessons will reinforce your dog’s training and ensure long-term success.
When will I start to see progress?
Every dog is different but owners usually see progress in the second week! A huge part of dog training is consistency, so if the owners keep up with training outside of sessions, progress tends to happen very quickly.
How do I prepare for a dog training session?
Once you have received a training schedule, you will receive an email with essentials for dog training like the type of harness and leashes we use, along with instructions for feeding about a week before training begins. This ensures that your dog will be ready for training on the first day!