Dog Training St Louis FAQ | Reactive, Shy Dogs, Puppies

Dog Training FAQ

St. Louis, MO

If you're searching for professional dog training in St. Louis, you likely have questions about your dog’s behavior and what training involves. Below are answers to our most commonly asked questions!

We focus on reliable, lasting results while strengthening the bond between you and your dog.

What makes us different:

Certified and Committed – Our trainers are industry-certified and dedicated to upholding the highest standards of positive reinforcement training.
Customized – Private training is tailored to your specific dog and situation.
Flexible – We come to you or wherever private training is needed.
Ongoing Support – Most private training packages include 3 months of follow-up support via email, phone or Zoom, as needed.
Zero-Interest Payment Plans – Life with a puppy or a dog who needs training help is stressful enough. Paying for training doesn’t have to be!

At The Persuaded Pooch, we specialize in:

Dog reactivity, leash reactivity and other behavior modification issues
Stranger danger (fear/reactivity towards new people)
Puppy training and early socialization - private lessons and group classes
Positive reinforcement obedience training - private lessons and group classes

We offer two distinct methods of private training:

We Train for You - Our in-home day training programs deliver FAST board-and-train-level results with our certified trainers. Convenient, impactful, real-life behavior change using positive training AND without sending your dog away for weeks! See our FAQs

We Coach You - Our in-home coaching dog training guides you through a customized training plan, personalized sessions, and proven positive techniques so you can see long-lasting behavior changes in your dog.

- Puppies under 20 weeks:
  - Book private puppy training online; prices are listed
  - Book puppy socialization class online (pups 8-12 weeks); price is listed
  - Book adolescent puppy class online (pups 13-20 weeks); price is listed
  - Bundle private + group training and SAVE with our Complete Puppy Packages; prices are listed

- Dogs over 21 weeks:
  - Book private dog training online.
    1. General pricing is listed on our "We Coach You" and "We Train for You" pages. However, packages are customized to your specific dog and situation.
    2. You’ll start with an Initial Behavior Evaluation ($150), where the trainer will review your dog’s history, and we'll discuss your priorities and training goals.
    3. A customized package recommendation will be provided at the end of your Initial Behavior Evaluation.
    4. Initial Evaluation fee will be applied towards the purchase of a training bundle, making it FREE!
  - Book a basic obedience class, Canine Good Citizen prep class or a fun Special Topics class online (dogs 21+ weeks); prices are listed

- We offer Phone and Zoom Consultations for dogs any age via online booking; prices are listed

- Our "What's Best for Me?" guide can be really easy way to get started with private training.

- Reach out to us via our Contact Us page

Please Note: Group classes are not appropriate for dogs that are excessively vocal, fearful, aggressive, reactive, or exhibit severe resource guarding. We recommend private training in these situations.

Yes! Reactivity is when a dog overreacts to things like other dogs, people, bikes or cars while on a leash, often barking, lunging, or pulling.

Common causes include:

Frustration (sometimes caused by feeling too restricted by the leash)
Fear or anxiety
Overstimulation
Lack of proper socialization

There is hope! Most reactive dogs can improve and become calmer with consistent training and patience. Get started!

Yes! We offer private puppy training, puppy socialization classes and puppy obedience classes focused on building a strong foundation for lifelong success.

Our programs cover:

How to socialize with people, other puppies, sights, sounds, and new environments
Building healthy routines and daily structure
Basic obedience skills
Problem prevention

Giving puppies the right start helps them grow into confident, well-adjusted adult dogs.

Absolutely! Basic obedience is available through both private training and classes.

In our Essential Etiquette basic obedience class we teach:

Sit and Down
Loose leash walking
Recall (come when called)
Impulse control (Stay, Leave It, wait for the food bowl, etc.)

In private training:

Obedience is customized to your dog’s specific needs and your particular situation, but often includes a lot of the same skills above. Get started here!

We serve clients throughout most of the greater St. Louis area. Specifically, we service these areas:

St. Louis MO County
St. Louis MO City
Jefferson County MO (Arnold, High Ridge)
St. Charles MO Co (south of I-70/370 & east of Hwy K)
St. Clair IL County (west of 159 & North of 158)

Training may include:

In-home sessions
Neighborhood walks
Public environments (parks, sidewalks, dog-friendly stores, etc.)
Our classroom at the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves at 10 W. Lockwood Ave, Webster Groves, MO 63119
Online sessions for guidance and support from anywhere

Training locations vary depending on the issues, your goals and your dog’s progress.

We do not take on:

Separation anxiety cases
Intra-household dog aggression (dogs fighting within the same home)

These require highly specialized protocols outside our scope. You might reach out to another qualified positive dog training professional from this list to help, however.

Karen Pryor Academy Trainer Search - choose "Search by Location" and select radius from drop-down list, then enter zip code
Greater St. Louis Training Club Trainer List
Jody Epstein with Nutz About Mutz

Learn more!