Balanced Canine Training FAQ

Do you teach classes?
What are your prices?
Do you work with aggressive dogs?
Is my dog too old/ young/ Is it possible to train a dog of this breed?
What should I feed my dog?
I just don’t know if my dog can handle a group class. I think we might need private training. What is the difference?
I am thinking about doing training on my own, and taking my dog to classes for socialization.
Where can I find a (fill in a breed name)? Do you know a breeder?

Do you teach classes?
Yes, Karen teaches group dog training classes. She teaches group obedience classes through BCT in the spring, summer, and fall, and has taught classes on a volunteer basis with Muskegon Lakeshore Obedience Training Club (MLOTC). As we have found it difficult for students to be successful with daily assignments during the winter months, we will not be teaching dog training classes once it gets cold and snowy. We want our students to build strong, healthy habits with daily training and to be successful in obtaining results.

We have a training building and space at our property in Twin Lake for
private consultations, and we offer group classes there as well.

Often dog owners start with a one-on-one private session that can take place at either your home or in our facility. The session may take as much as 3 hours, and we often discuss many aspects of leadership, management, and obedience training skills. You can ask all the questions you want, and we’ll do our best to focus on the issues you are most interested in. Sometimes one or more of the Palmer dogs are invited to help us evaluate dogs and teach dog owners. And yes, we do often get “hands on”, and try to teach you ways to make progress yourself at home. We’re also likely to encourage you to continue training your dog with obedience commands, and we will help you decide if one of our programs is right for you and your dog.

If you haven’t visited our “Services” page, please look there for more about what we have to offer. If there is something you need that isn’t there, ask!

What are your prices?
Because our prices may depend on the services that individual dog owners require, we have chosen not to place them on our website, with the exception of the new Novice Obedience Training Class when we are asking for registrations. We want our potential clients and students to ask questions and receive answers about our services, which are more about meeting your needs than price. We are interested in helping everyone, but we hope you choose us because we can help you, not because we are the least (or most) expensive dog trainers you have called.

If you are curious about our prices, please contact us. We have nothing to hide. We just want to be sure to give you a quote for what it is you really need. We’ll be happy to help you determine what service is right for you, and why; if we are not right for you and your dog, we’ll be honest about that too. If we know of someone else who can meet your needs, we’ll point you in that direction. But you won’t know unless you ask!

Do you work with aggressive dogs?
In general, the answer is “yes”. We have found that most dogs are not truly aggressive, or are at a level where proper leadership, management, and obedience training skills can turn them around. We will gladly help you evaluate your dog, and if your dog’s behavior is beyond our level of experience, we’ll be honest about that (we have yet to turn anyone away). We are here to help you determine what your next step might be.

We frequently receive calls from owners with puppy mouthing and biting issues, or from owners who were referred from their veterinarian when they asked about euthanasia as a last resort to handling a serious biter. We also get calls and emails from dog owners that are becoming aware of a developing problem, but aren’t sure what to do next.

When a dog owner asks for help with an aggressive dog, we usually start by asking questions over the phone to decide what to do next. The first step is often a thorough veterinarian exam, as many dogs will respond to illness and injury through aggressive behavior. Since our specialty is addressing behavior through training and management skills rather than through a medical approach, we must first rule out any physical problems or have your veterinarian address those first.

The next step is an evaluation of the dog’s behavior. A private behavior consultation can help us determine what behaviors the dog is currently exhibiting and what steps the owner may need to take to solve the problem. The Palmer dogs are often invited to assist us in determining the level of dog aggression or territorial aggression a dog has as well. Of course, great care is taken to ensure everyone’s safety.

Personal safety is always the first consideration with aggression. Especially where children are involved, honesty is essential in the relationship between dog owner and trainer...