Absolutely. Private training has always been about teaching you how to work with your dog.

Ninety nine perecent of the time I don't need to be holding the leash to evaluate what's happening, teach you what to do, watch you apply it, and help you make adjustments. 

You do the work. I help you get there.

We meet live online, one-on-one, just like we would for a private lesson.

I'll teach and if needed demonstrate concepts, watch you work with your dog when appropriate, review what you've been experiencing, troubleshoot problems, and give you specific things to work on before our next session.

You then put those things into practice during everyday life with your dog.

Yes. Every new client begins with a virtual Intro Lesson & Evaluation.

This gives me an opportunity to learn about your dog, your goals, your lifestyle, and any challenges you're experiencing. It also gives you an opportunity to learn about my approach and ask questions.

From there, we'll determine which program and training path makes the most sense.

Companion Dog builds the foundation for everyday life together—communication, structure, practical skills, leash work, and behavior modification when needed.

Adventure Dog builds on those foundations and works toward greater freedom through distance, long-line work, recall, environmental reliability, and appropriate off-leash communication.

Same philosophy. Same progression. Different goal.

Yes. The core curriculum, philosophy, and goals are the same.

The difference is how I coach you. Instead of standing beside you, I'm guiding you remotely while you do the hands-on work with your dog.

In some situations, I may modify exercises or progression based on what can safely and effectively be coached remotely.

A combination of conversation, observation, and video can tell us a great deal.

When useful and safe, you can record situations you're struggling with and we can review what happened together. This allows us to slow things down, identify details you may have missed in the moment, and make changes to your training plan.

You should never intentionally create an unsafe situation just to capture it on video.

Absolutely... video can be one of the most valuable parts of virtual coaching because it lets me see what training looks like when I'm not there. I can help identify what's working, what needs adjustment, and what you should focus on next.

Not necessarily.

We'll work with the environment and equipment available to you and make recommendations when something additional would be helpful.

Depending on your goals, that might include things like a leash, long line, appropriate collar, place cot, food, toys, or other training equipment.

You don't need to build a training facility in your living room.

Yes, you can.

When E-collar work may be incorporated into the Adventure Dog Program when I determine it's appropriate for the individual dog, owner, goals, and situation.

It isn't where we start.

The dog first learns the communication and skills we're going to use. If an e-collar is introduced, it is layered onto an existing foundation rather than used as a shortcut for creating one.

In most cases yes, but purchasing Adventure Dog doesn't automatically make a dog ready to be off leash.

Off-leash freedom depends on the individual dog, owner, environment, training history, reliability, and risk involved.  These are things we discuss in the evaluation/intro lesson and throughout the program.

My job is to help you build toward greater freedom and to be honest with you about what I believe your dog is ready to handle.

I'll tell you.

Virtual coaching can accomplish a lot, but there may be situations where I believe you and your dog would benefit from qualified hands-on assistance.

If something falls outside what I believe can be safely or effectively addressed virtually, I'll be upfront about it rather than pretending virtual training is the answer to everything.

No. That's one of the biggest advantages of virtual coaching.

You can work with me from wherever you live while applying the training in your own home, neighborhood, trails, and everyday environment.

Not necessarily.

Virtual training gives you access to coaching from anywhere, but you're still the one doing the work.

I'll provide the framework, instruction, feedback, and progression. Your consistency and willingness to apply what we're working on between lessons are what turn that coaching into change.

The goal isn't for you to need me forever.

By the end of our work together, I want you to better understand your dog, know how to communicate clearly, recognize when something isn't working, and have the tools to continue building your life together.

The lessons eventually end. Living with your dog doesn't.

Not necessarily.

Companion Dog is the foundation. Freedom through the Adventure Dog Program  comes later.

For some dogs, successful behavior modification may eventually open the door to greater environmental freedom or even appropriate off-leash work.

For others, responsible freedom may always include some form of management.

The goal isn't to make every dog fit the same definition of success. It's to build the greatest amount of safe, responsible freedom that the individual dog can handle.