BlackFoot K9 Dog Training

BlackFoot K9 Dog Training provides customized programs tailored to each dog’s age, learning ability, and maturity level. Their Board and Train program includes a 1-hour consultation at drop-off, a scheduled 1-hour lesson midway through the stay, and a 1-hour lesson at pick-up, along with written materials and lifetime support via a private member-only forum for graduates.

They specialize in puppy development and young/transition retriever training, laying a solid foundation for future Master Hunters, Hunting Partners, or Field Champions. Their puppy program is entirely positive, utilizing operant and classical conditioning to teach manners and impulse control.

Private Coaching is available for all ages and skill levels, covering formal obedience, engagement, extended stays, positions out of motion, heads-up heel work, trial preparation, Rally Obedience, and AKC Canine Good Citizen Test Preparation. Specialized offerings include a 5-week off-leash training package with an e-collar for dogs 7 months and older with basic obedience foundations, and a 12-week puppy raising program for puppies arriving at 8-12 weeks.

BlackFoot K9 also hosts Full Day Training Seminars, such as C.O.D.E.™ (Conditioned. Offered. Duration. Engagement.), designed to build teamwork and engagement. Retriever field days are offered on-site, including work with real ducks, dokens, and bumpers, and involve gunfire. Evaluations and introductions to field basics are available in separate private coaching sessions for those new to retriever sports.

Pricing Summary

BlackFoot K9 offers various pricing structures for their services. Board & Train programs start at $600 for one week, $1100 for two weeks, $1650 for three weeks, and $2200 for four weeks, with additional weeks priced at $400 each. Specialized training options include a 5-week off-leash training package with an e-collar for $3000 and a 12-week puppy raising program for $5000 (for puppies 8-12 weeks old).

Á La Carte services during Board & Train include off-site “field trip” training outings for $50, “Door to Door service” private lessons at home for $200 plus $0.60/mile round trip, and “Spa Service” grooming (bath, blow out, brushing, ears cleaned, nails trimmed) ranging from $50 (under 40lbs) to $100 (75+lbs), with an additional $30 for double-coated dogs. They do not de-mat or clip poodle mix type coats.

For graduate trainees, there’s a $100 discount on B&T stays, A La Carte Train & Stay visits for $75/night (2-night minimum), and boarding without training for $50/night. Private Coaching sessions are $70/hour in Hemingway and $100/hour in Georgetown. Full Day Training Seminars (C.O.D.E.™) are $90 for working spots and $60 for audit spots, with discounts for graduates or BlackFoot-bred dogs. An E-Collar Training package, including 4 private sessions and an Educator FT-330 Finger Trainer, is $650.

Payment for private lessons, group classes, workshops, and AKC events is due in full before or at the time of training. For board with training, a non-refundable deposit is required to hold a spot, an installment is due at drop-off, and the balance is due before or at pick-up. Dogs will not be returned without appropriate compensation, and failure to pay within 30 days after an invoice may result in the sale or re-homing of the dog.

Policies

BlackFoot K9 operates by appointment only, and clients must respect that business is conducted at their home, requiring a 5 MPH speed limit in the driveway and leashing all dogs upon arrival due to potential loose animals and wildlife. A current liability waiver and canine vet form must be on file prior to participation in any training activities.

They reserve the right to deny any dog or puppy with aggression issues or extreme anxiety that could lead to harm. For board and train programs, a non-refundable deposit is required, with an installment due at drop-off and the balance at pick-up. Dogs will not be returned without full payment, and failure to pay within 30 days after an invoice may result in the cessation of training and the sale or re-homing of the dog.

BlackFoot K9 does not guarantee training results, as effectiveness depends on consistent practice by the owner. All payments are non-refundable. If a dog is found to have fleas, ticks, or internal parasites, it will be removed from training until treated at the owner’s expense. They recommend monthly flea/tick topical applicators and mandatory monthly heartworm preventative for boarding dogs.

BlackFoot K9 Dog Training, established in 2011 by Danielle R. Pellicci and her husband Steve, offers dog and puppy obedience training, specializing in purpose-bred dogs like Labrador Retrievers and Dobermans, as well as rescue dogs. Their home-based facility spans over 12 private acres with manicured training fields, fenced play yards, wooded areas, and ponds, providing an ideal environment for training.

They are an AKC Labrador Retriever Breeder of Merit, focusing on developing versatile and sound athletes for high-level dog sports. BlackFoot K9 also actively participates in rescuing, rehabilitating, training, and rehoming stray and abandoned dogs in their rural South Carolina location.

A core philosophy at BlackFoot K9 is to not only train the dog but also to educate the owner, ensuring clients gain the knowledge to maintain and enhance their dog’s skills after training. They offer various services including boarding with training, companion puppy and dog manners, sport puppy head start programs, and private dog training lessons and coaching for dog sports.

The business also features an online shop for dog training tools, gear, and supplies. They emphasize a peaceful and clean setting for both canine and human students.

Accomplishments

Danielle R. Pellicci, the primary trainer, has over 30 years of dog training experience. She is a certified mentor Trainer for The Animal Behavior College and an AKC evaluator. Danielle is also an accomplished AKC Breeder of Merit, with BlackFoot Labrador Retrievers excelling in various dog sports across the USA and Canada.

She has earned countless titles and certificates with her dogs in a variety of sports, including Freestyle (dog dancing), Retriever field trials and hunt tests, IGP tracking, AKC obedience, dock diving, agility, and protection. Notably, Danielle is the proud breeder, owner, and exclusive handler trainer of BlackFoot’s Thyme To Fly, MH QAA “Feather.”

How to Get Started!

To begin a boarding with training program, prospective clients must complete an application. For private coaching, full-day training seminars, and e-collar training packages, clients can book online. All visits and lessons are strictly by appointment only. Before participation in any dog training activities or events, a liability waiver and canine veterinary inoculation document must be on file.