Training Philosophy
Puppy Obedience Training, and how we teach these skills
It’s always exciting when bringing a puppy into the family! Our personalized puppy obedience programs are designed around your puppy’s unique needs. Our Florida Puppy Board and Train Program is available across the whole state, including Miami, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, the Keys, Sarasota, and Tampa Bay.
We use science-based training methods, including classical and operant conditioning, to help provide behavioral wellness. We want your dog to learn obedience skills, good manners, socialization skills, and the confidence to go out and explore your Florida neighborhood with you.
Our programs are taught through private one-on-one sessions, giving your puppy the trainer’s full attention at all times. Commands that we teach your puppy include “place”, “sit”, “wait”, “down”¸ “recall”, leash walking, potty training, and crate training. Our training is based on behavioral wellness, and we do not use aversive stimuli, including electric shock collars or prong collars. These can be harmful to your dog’s well-being.
For information on the first steps when bringing a puppy home, you can check out our blog on “Bringing Puppy Home,” written by our co-founder, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist Dr. Echterling-Savage.
Benefits of Obedience Training
Our team is led by Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist, Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage, and Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Sean Savage, who have over 50 years of combined experience teaching thousands of puppies with obedience commands, socialization skills, good manners, and addressing behavioral challenges. 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.
A main benefit of our program is setting your puppy up for a lifetime of success through our unparalleled system of assessing, predicting, and modifying puppy behavior. You will be able to take your puppy out to vet and grooming appointments, explore parks, hiking trails, and shopping areas knowing that your puppy is comfortable, not anxious or stressed, can handle new experiences, and can interact appropriately with people and other dogs.
Training Programs
Our goals are personalized to your training goals and your puppy’s unique needs, which can include:
Program Includes:
Depending on the distance from Tampa Bay, travel may be complimentary or require a small additional cost.
Behavioral research has shown that puppies learn most effectively when taught in many different settings (such as parks, hiking trails, at home, and in shops and restaurants), in the presence of different stimuli. During our program, we will train your puppy to respond reliably to commands and to be confident across different environments.
We use science-based training methods, including classical conditioning and operant conditioning. These training methods are used to achieve behavioral wellness, so that your puppy is raised to be a confident, sociable, and adaptable puppy who is ready to greet guests at home and go out on adventures with you.
During this training program, your puppy will train with Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage while living at their home in Tampa Bay, Florida. While also being trained by our dog trainer, Shelby Shipp.
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. Dr. Echterling-Savage also trains and mentors Beyond the Dog’s trainers.
Sean Savage is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA).
Dr. Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage each have over 20 years of experience training puppies, teaching high-level obedience, manners, socialization skills, and addressing complex 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.
Together, they ensure that every puppy receives a personalized training program that takes place both at the home and in public settings. Your puppy will be part of the family during their stay, with dedicated time for training, exercise, play, and relaxation.
Before the training program begins, Dr. Kristyn Echterling-Savage will meet with you via a virtual consultation to discuss your training goals and any questions and behavioral concerns that you may have. This will help in creating a personalized training plan for your puppy.
One of our trainers will then pick up your puppy from your home and take your puppy to Tampa Bay, Florida. Your puppy’s safety is always our priority. During travel, your puppy will always be with the trainer, whether in the car or flying in the cabin.
Your puppy will live with Dr. Echterling-Savage and Sean Savage at their home in Tampa Bay for four weeks of training. During this time, your puppy will be a part of the family, with dedicated times for training, exercise, play, and relaxation.
Training occurs both at their home and throughout Tampa Bay, Florida. This allows us to teach your puppy obedience commands, good manners, and socialization skills across many environments, including parks, hiking trails, shopping areas, farmer’s markets, and dog-friendly beaches.
Throughout the four-week board and train program, you will be updated on your puppy’s progress through phone conversations, virtual meetings, emails and progress reports. This will help you stay informed on your puppy’s current progress.
At the end of the program, we will bring your puppy home, where you will receive 4.5 hours of return and follow-up lessons. These lessons will teach you how to manage all of your puppy’s new skills, so you achieve long-lasting success in your puppy’s training. These lessons will also help us to easily transition your puppy’s training to your home and local neighborhood.