What skills and expertise does our team offer?
Our Co-founder, Dr. Echterling Savage, is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), one of only 50 in the country. Dr. Echterling-Savage is passionate about mentoring our behavior consultants. As a CAAB, Dr. Echterling-Savage has published research papers on dog behavior modification and has a strong passion for ensuring we deliver the best training methods that are grounded in scientific research and our years of hands-on experience.
Our other Co-founder and Behavior Consultant, Sean Savage, is certified as a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC) and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT), both through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT). Together, they lead with a shared vision to help dogs thrive and create positive, lasting changes for families.
When is the best time to start puppy training?
You can start your puppy’s early training when they come home, around 8 weeks old. At this stage, training usually focuses on addressing common puppy challenges like jumping, play-biting, chewing, and potty training.
By the time your puppy reaches 14-16 weeks, they’ll be able to focus for longer, making it the perfect time to begin a more structured training program. This is when your puppy can learn necessary obedience commands and good manners at home and around Sarasota.
If you notice any behavioral issues, like reactivity, resource guarding, or aggression, it’s important to reach out for a training consultation. Addressing these behaviors early on can help prevent them from becoming bigger problems in the future.
What types of training programs do we offer?
Beyond the Dog Sarasota offers a range of customized training programs that focus on you and your dog’s unique needs. Our training programs are one-on-one and occur in your home or neighborhood, depending on the training goals. Whether you’re looking for obedience and manners training or need help addressing behaviors such as resource guarding or reactivity, we have a program that’ll improve your dog’s wellbeing.
Our 22-hour Training Program is a complete option perfect for teaching obedience, addressing behavioral concerns, or reaching any specific training goals you have. You’ll attend the final session of each week, where you’ll learn new skills alongside your dog and how to integrate these into everyday life.
Our 16-Hour Training Program allows you to choose 3 to 4 training goals for your dog. With four sessions per week over the course of four weeks, you’ll attend the final session of each week for a dedicated lesson. This program is ideal if you want to focus on specific issues.
Our Board and Train Program allows your dog to stay at the trainer’s home. During this time, your trainer will train your dog both at their home and in the neighborhood. This program is ideal for those who need more than 3 to 5 sessions per week, potty training, puppy training, specific behavioral issues, or when the owner is traveling.
Our Virtual Consultation Training Programs include several personalized virtual consultations with Dr. Echterling-Savage, our resident Behavior Analyst and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB). During this program, Dr. Echterling-Savage will work with you to develop a step-by-step training plan for your dog and provide ongoing support. This program is completely remote and offers training options for those unable to meet for face-to-face training or who live outside our training area.
Which training methods do we follow?
At Beyond the Dog Sarasota, we utilize the latest scientific research into operant and classical conditioning methods. Our approach focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors to build lasting, positive associations. This combination of techniques allows us to deliver a refined, high-quality training experience.