Q: Do you use training tools?

Yes — when the dog and the goal call for it.A leash is a tool. So is a treat pouch. What matters is not the equipment, it is the hands using it and the reason behind it. Every tool I use is introduced properly, conditioned at your dog’s pace, and used ethically.A tool does not train your dog — it is a clearer way to communicate while we do the real work. You will always know what I am using and why.

Question 1

How much does dog training cost?

Accepted Answer

Programs range from $125 to $6,300+, depending on what your dog needs.Board and Train starts at $2,200 for two weeks and $3,800 for four. Private in-home classes start at $950 for five 90-minute classes. Puppy Head Start starts at $2,000. Virtual coaching starts at $125 for a single session, and group classes start at $200.Behavior and aggression work starts at $4,500 and always begins with an evaluation.The full list is on the pricing page.1. Start with the contact form. A no-cost call to talk through what is going on with your dog. No pressure, no commitment.2. Evaluation — $85. Ninety minutes with you and your dog in person. Credited toward whichever program you choose.3. Your plan and your price. From that evaluation I build a plan for your dog specifically — and that is when you get a real number, not a guess.Payment plans are available, and I accept Afterpay, Klarna, PayPal Pay Later and All Pet Card financing.Start with the free call: 281-505-2334

Question 2

Do you offer payment plans?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most programs are half up front and half at completion. I also accept Afterpay, Klarna, PayPal Pay Later, and All Pet Card financing if you would rather spread the cost. Ask at your consultation and we will find something that works for you.

Question 3

My dog is leash reactive. Can you help?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is the most common thing I work on. Reactivity usually is not aggression. It is most often a confidence problem, and it responds well to a structured plan: counterconditioning, desensitization, and management while your dog learns a different response. This is not a one-session fix, but it is fixable, and most owners see progress sooner than they expect.

Question 4

When should I start training my puppy?

Accepted Answer

Sooner than most people think. I start with puppies as young as 8 weeks. Puppies are learning whether you are teaching them or not, so do not wait for problems to show up. Building the right habits is far easier than fixing the wrong ones, and a well-trained dog is life-changing.

Question 5

What types of training do you offer?

Accepted Answer

Six programs. Puppy Head Start for puppies 10 to 25 weeks, offered as board and train or in-home. Board and Train for dogs 7 months and older, intensive and residential. Behavior Modification for reactivity, anxiety, resource guarding, fear and aggression. Private In-Home Classes, one-on-one in your own home. Group Classes, building reliability around real-world distractions and working toward AKC certifications. And Virtual Classes, live remote coaching from anywhere.

Question 6

What areas do you serve?

Accepted Answer

I train in person across Katy, Fulshear, Houston, Cypress, Richmond and the surrounding Greater Houston area. In-home sessions come to you. Board and train, group classes and evaluations are based in Katy. Outside that radius, virtual classes work anywhere. Not sure if you are in range? Call and ask: 281-505-2334

Question 7

What methods do you use?

Accepted Answer

Balanced training built on clear communication. That means reinforcement for the behavior we want, fair and consistent consequences for the behavior we do not, and enough structure that your dog always knows where they stand. For reactivity and fear I use counterconditioning and desensitization, changing how your dog feels and not just how they act. Every plan is built around the dog in front of me, so there is no single program everyone gets.

Question 8

Does Alpha mean dominance-based training?

Accepted Answer

Alpha means leadership, not dominance. Dogs relax when someone is calmly in charge. A dog who trusts you to handle things does not need to react, guard, or stay on alert. No alpha rolls, no staring contests, no dominating your dog. Those methods are outdated and we do not use them. Just clear communication and consistent structure your dog can rely on.

Question 9

Do you use training tools?

Accepted Answer

Yes — when the dog and the goal call for it.

A leash is a tool. So is a treat pouch. What matters is not the equipment, it is the hands using it and the reason behind it. Every tool I use is introduced properly, conditioned at your dog’s pace, and used ethically.

A tool does not train your dog — it is a clearer way to communicate while we do the real work. You will always know what I am using and why.

Question 10

Do you use positive reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

Yes — reinforcement is the foundation of everything I teach.

I am also a balanced trainer, which means I use clear consequences and appropriate tools when a dog needs them. Reinforcement builds the behavior you want. Structure and clarity are what make it reliable when it matters — off leash, near a road, around another dog.

If you are looking for a purely force-free program, I am not the right fit, and I would rather tell you that now than three sessions in.

Question 11

How long does each training program take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the dog, the behavior, and how consistent you are between sessions.

Puppy foundations move quickly. Reactivity and deep-seated behavior take longer — that work is measured in weeks, not one session. Board and train is intensive and fast because I am doing continuous foundation work, but the transfer to you is what makes it stick.

I will give you a realistic timeline at your evaluation, not a number designed to sound good on the phone.

Question 12

Do I need to be present? How much work is on me?

Accepted Answer

For in-home and private classes, yes — I am teaching you as much as your dog. Between classes, think short and daily: ten focused minutes beats an hour on Sunday.

Board and train is the exception. I do the foundation work, then hand it over in transfer sessions. Either way you end up handling your dog, because that is the part that lasts.

Question 13

Do you train small dogs?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely — all breeds, all ages, all sizes.

Training is really just communication, and your dog will never learn to speak human. Whether yours is 8 weeks or 9 years, 8 pounds or 80, my job is teaching you to speak dog.

Question 14

Are you insured and certified?

Accepted Answer

Yes to both — and I am one of the few training companies in the area that is fully insured.

I am an AKC Approved Evaluator for Canine Good Citizen, Urban CGC and STAR Puppy, and a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals. I am in continuing education year-round to stay current.

Question 15

Can you guarantee results?

Accepted Answer

No — and be careful of anyone who does.Training is a partnership. I can shape and guide your dog, but the results live in what happens between our sessions. It is like anything you practice: stay consistent and it sticks, let it slide and it fades.Do the work with me and you will get there.

Question 16

Do you offer boarding on its own?

Accepted Answer

Boarding is for clients who have trained with me.Your dog stays on the routine we have already built, so their training stays sharp.

Question 17

What vaccinations do you require?

Accepted Answer

All dogs must be current on Distemper/Parvo, Rabies and Bordetella before training begins.

Question 18

Do you offer refresher classes?

Accepted Answer

Yes — every client gets one free refresher class each quarter, for life.

Skills get rusty, in dogs and in handlers. The refresher is there so you can tune things up before a small slip turns back into a habit.

Question 19

What happens after training ends?

Accepted Answer

You get lifetime support. Call, text or send me a video anytime and we will troubleshoot it together.

Between that and the quarterly refreshers, training does not stop when the classes do — and neither do I.

Question 20

What breeds do you work with?

Accepted Answer

Alpha Obedience Dog Training has worked with a wide variety of breeds, sizes and temperaments across Katy, Fulshear, Cypress, Richmond and the greater Houston area. Breeds trained include: