Training Philosophy
What is our obedience training program, and what are our training methods?
During our Obedience Training Program, your dog will be taught to reliably respond to commands that includes “sit”, “stay”, “wait”, “place”, “recall”, “heel”, and be taught skills including leash walking and socialization skills across various environments.
Our personalized programs use scientific training methods to achieve long-term results. These training methods including classical conditioning, which teaches your dog to develop positive associations with certain experiences, and operant conditioning, which reinforces good behaviors through rewards.
We do not use strong aversive stimuli such as electronic collars, as these can be harmful and cause more significant problem behaviors. Our training programs are conducted through one-on-one sessions, ensuring your dog always has our trainers’ complete attention. We ensure training is always rewarding for your dog, helping them develop a lifelong love of learning, build confidence, and be ready to join you on adventures.
Benefits of Obedience Training
It’s always more fun when you can include your dog in more of your daily life, whether that includes confidently going on evening walks through a busy park, or having your dog well behaved when guests come over. After completing our Obedience Training Program, your dog will be more confident, have good manners and have high-level obedience skills both at home and when out in public. We provide luxury dog training services, serving Miami and South Florida, including Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Coconut Grove, Key Biscayne, Sunny Isles Beach, Palm Beach, and Jupiter.
Our team, led by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant Sean Savage, uses the latest research in dog behavior and over 50 years of combined training experience to reinforce positive behaviors that supports your dog’s overall behavioral wellness. You will receive detailed instructions and follow-up lessons to ensure these behaviors carry over into everyday life, helping your dog become a confident, well-mannered companion.
Training Programs
This program offers virtual consultations with Dr. Echterling-Savage to teach your dog high-level obedience commands and manners. It includes a personalized training plan, ongoing support, and expert guidance to guarantee long-term success.
As one of the few certified Behavior Analysts specializing in Applied Animal Behavior and among just 50 CAABs nationwide, Dr. Echterling-Savage brings a wealth of knowledge to every session. With a doctorate in the field, published research on canine behavior modification, and 25 years of practical experience, she is a trusted authority in behavioral modification training. Dr. Echterling-Savage’s consultations provide a unique opportunity for those seeking significant progress in their dog’s behavior and training.
Dr. Echterling-Savage will meet with you virtually to discuss your training goals and create a customized training plan that teaches high-level obedience commands and develop good behaviors. Following your initial session, she will provide ongoing guidance and future consultations to ensure steady progress in your dog’s training.
The goal of this program is to treat touch sensitivity behaviors by helping your dog build positive associations with being touched and handled, including the following scenarios:
Program Includes:
Depending on the distance, travel may be complimentary or require a small additional cost.
Our personalized training plan combines proven scientific methods with more than 20 years of hands-on experience treating dogs with touch-sensitivity behaviors.
We use science-based training methods that includes cooperative care, positive reinforcement and classical conditioning. These are used to teach positive associations with being handled.
In this program, your dog train with Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage while staying at their home in Tampa Bay, Florida. Together, they provide a personalized training plan that has been created around your dog’s specific needs.
Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a Ph.D in Behavioral Psychology, specializing in animal behavior. With over 20 years of hands-on experience training dogs and addressing complex behavioral challenges, she also mentors and trains Beyond the Dog’s trainers.
Sean Savage is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). He has over 20 years of experience training dogs and treating problem behaviors.
Shelby Shipp is a dog trainer who supports our board and train programs. Before joining Beyond the Dog, Shelby worked as a veterinary assistant while completing her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science. She has experience training dogs in obedience and manners, and addressing complex problem behaviors.
We begin this program by understanding more about your dog’s behavioral history and your training goals. We gather this information through virtual consultations with Dr. Echterling-Savage, combined with assessing your completed “Indirect Assessment of Canine Behavior” questionnaire.
We can then develop a personalized training plan, and one of our trainers will transport your dog from your home to Tampa Bay, Florida. Your dog’s safety is our priority. During this time, your dog will either fly in the cabin with a trainer or travel in the car with them.
Your dog will then live with Dr. Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage at their home in Tampa Bay for four weeks of training. During this time, your dog will be a part of the family, participating in daily routines that include structured training, enrichment, exercise, and downtime.
Training will take place both at their home and across the Tampa Bay area, so that we can address touch sensitivity and obedience training across multiple environments. This includes training at your home, parks, hiking trails, shopping areas, restaurants, dog-friendly beaches, and farmers’ markets.
During the four weeks of training, you will be regularly updated on your dog’s progress and how they are enjoying their retreat. This includes virtual meetings, phone calls, progress reports, and emails to keep you involved and informed throughout the program.
At the end of the four weeks of training, your dog will be brought back home and receive 4.5 hours of return and follow-up lessons. These lessons are important to teach you how to manage all that they have learned during training and how to achieve lasting results, including hands-on coaching to ensure a smooth transition back at your home and local neighborhood.