Responsible dog ownership starts with good training. There is no such thing as an old dog that can’t learn new tricks or a puppy that is too young to start learning! We know that your dog is not just a pet, but a member of the family. Our goal is to teach proper social skills and strengthen that unique bond that exists between you and your pet.
Critter Sitters trains your dog in your home without the distraction of other animals or anxiety of being sent away for training in a kennel. A busy classroom environment full of unknown dogs and people can be stressful for both you and your pet. We believe in home-based training because home is where dogs act like themselves. Your dog will learn faster in his familiar environment and problems will be addressed on the spot.
Since no two dogs are the same, we vary our training based on your dog’s individual personality. We customize training to suit your family’s lifestyle, your dog’s environment and what you want or don’t want from your pet.
Beginner Obedience Training
Let Critter Sitters help turn the dog you have into the dog you want! Obedience training is basically an education in good manners. Training can be used to fulfill some of your dog’s basic needs, such as exercise, the security of knowing what’s expected, a feeling of accomplishment, and constructive social interaction.
Obedience training lessons focus on the following commands:
Sit: Your dog should be responsive to the sit command from a down or standing position.
Down: Your dog should drop to the down position when commanded while walking with you or drop down from a sitting or standing position.
Climb: When given this command, your dog should go to a specific fixed place in the house and stay there (such as a pet bed, bench or mat).
Come: Your dog should come when called and sit in front of you. The dog should always come the first time called.
Free: Your dog should perform the sit, climb or down position until it has been completed and the “free” command has been given.
Your trainer can also work to modify unwanted behavior patterns your pet may be exhibiting in your home such as jumping on guests or stealing food off the countertops.
Don’t have time to train your dog in your busy schedule? We can help! Critter Sitters’ professional trainer will come to your home and train your dog while you work or travel.
Obedience Training Fees
• Obedience Training Package- $510 for 12 lessons. This package includes an initial evaluation, ten 30-minute lessons with the trainer and pet, and two 45-minute lessons with the trainer, pet and owner.
• Single Sessions-$80 per 60-minute lesson
Deluxe Dog Walking
Do you avoid walking your dog because you find him difficult or impossible to control? Maybe you just don’t have time in your busy schedule. You can solve these problems by scheduling our professional trainer to exercise your dog and provide valuable training at the same time.
Your trainer will walk your dog for 30 minutes while teaching basic behaviors of controlled walking, sit, down, and stay.
Deluxe Dog Walking Fees
• Deluxe Dog Walking Package- $225 for 6 lessons. This package includes an initial evaluation, five 30-minute lessons with the trainer and pet, and one 45-minute lesson with the trainer, pet and owner.
Puppy Training
Get your puppy started on the right paw! Training is something you should begin with your new puppy as soon as possible. By starting early you prevent behavior that may cause problems.
In home lessons focus on common puppy problems such as mouthing, nipping and jumping. Your puppy will also be introduced to basic commands such as walking on a leash, sit, down, stay and come.
Puppy Training Fees
• Puppy Training Package- $445 for 12 lessons. This package includes an initial evaluation, ten 30-minute lessons with the trainer and pet, and two 45-minute lessons with the trainer, pet and owner.
• Single Sessions-$70 per 60-minute lesson
About Our Trainer
Beth Oppermann is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business, emphasis in Animal Science. After graduating she went on to attend the Tom Rose School, a vocational school certified by the Missouri Board for Higher Education. This school is internationally recognized and trains people from all over the world to become professional dog trainers. Beth graduated with a certificate in Professional Dog Training, then continued school and training to earn a Masters in Advanced Obedience Training, and Search and Scent Training.
Beth regularly attends and participates in various dog training competitions and is an active member of the Spirit of St. Louis Schutzhund Club (schutzhund involves tracking, obedience, and protection). She is well versed in training with traditional and motivational methods, and is excellent at reading dogs and solving problem behaviors for optimal training results.
In addition to helping many owners train their pets, her accomplishments include training dogs in basic and advanced obedience, puppy imprinting, AKC Novice Open and Utility, and AKC agility (both open and novice levels), AKC companion dog excellent, VDH (International Kennel Club), BH (traffic sure companion dog), VDH SchH II & III obedience, VDH Tracking II & III. She has also certified a narcotics detection dog with NNDDA (National Narcotics Detection Dog Association), qualified dogs for explosive/ordinance detection, search and rescue, cadaver detection, and Advanced Police K-9 and Protection including handler protection, field searches, building searches, deployment and area protection.
