Choose to Train Humane: Canine Behavior and Pet Dog Training

Choose to Train Humane offers a variety of programs tailored to different needs. Initial one-hour consultations ($150) provide expert feedback and suggested solutions, recorded via Zoom with educational handouts. Specialized two-hour consults are available for Obedience Training ($300), Bringing Home a New Dog ($350), and Loose Leash Walking ($350), including follow-up materials and video feedback.

For more intensive support, multi-week packages are offered: a 4-week General Obedience/Behavior Package ($800), an 8-week Behavior/Training Package ($1,600) for reactivity and aggression up to Level 3 bites, and a 12-week Elite Package ($3,500) for comprehensive behavior and training needs, including noise phobia and resource guarding. These packages include weekly one-hour consults (virtual or local in-person), email support, and a written Behavior/Training Roadmap.

The Heber Puppy Club is a community-based program for puppy parents in the greater Heber City area, offering monthly in-person playdates and walks, expert answers, confidence-building activities, and a private online community. It focuses on 5 Puppy Survival Skills: Come When Called, Drop It/Leave It, Potty Training, Vet & Grooming Handling, and Getting Along with Others. Online courses are also available, covering topics like trauma recovery, creating resilient puppies, managing unleashed dogs, and car phobia.

Pricing Summary

One-Hour Initial Dog Training or Behavior Consult is $150. Obedience Training (2 sessions) is $300. Bringing Home a New Dog Consult (2 hours) is $350. Loose Leash Walking Consult (2 hours) is $350.

Training packages include: General Obedience/Behavior Package (4 weeks, 4 one-hour consults) for $800, with a $25 discount for mailing painful collars. The 8-Week Behavior/Training Package (8 one-hour consults) is $1,600, with a $100 discount for mailing painful collars. The Elite Package (12 weeks, 12 one-hour consults) is $3,500, also with a $100 discount for mailing painful collars.

The Heber Puppy Club offers a Monthly Membership for $47/month or a “Puppytime” Membership for a one-time fee of $397, providing access until the pup reaches 2 years of age. Online courses range from $20 to $125, with several free mini-courses also available. All sessions must be paid in advance. Monthly payment plans are available for packages.

Policies

All sessions must be paid in advance. A 48-hour notice is required for any cancellation to be eligible for a refund. Consults are paid in advance and are not refundable. Monthly payment plans are offered for packages.

The business does not offer behavior guarantees, as each dog is an individual and factors like genetics or health concerns can impact outcomes. The owner is responsible for daily training and behavior work, as remote training cannot provide daily hands-on support. Lifetime email support is provided for owners who purchase one of the Behavior Packages. Clients are required to submit a signed waiver after signing up for a session. For behavior packages, owners must submit recent veterinary visits and download/submit an Owner Questionnaire.

Choose to Train Humane: Canine Behavior and Pet Dog Training is a business led by Annie Phenix, a professional dog trainer with over 25 years of experience and a bestselling author. She specializes in trauma-informed, force-free, and positive reinforcement methods, never using force, fear, pain, or intimidation. The business aims to help dog owners address a wide range of behavioral concerns, from puppy issues to aggression and reactivity, by building trust and creating a safe environment for dogs.

Annie Phenix offers virtual and in-home training and behavior consults, online courses, and a local “Heber Puppy Club.” She emphasizes compassionate knowledge and provides tailored solutions to help dogs and owners overcome challenges and strengthen their bond. Her approach focuses on understanding the “why” of canine behavior to find win-win solutions that reduce stress for both dogs and their owners.

Accomplishments

Annie Phenix is a professional dog trainer with over 25 years of experience. She is a bestselling author of two canine behavior books: “The Midnight Dog Walkers: Positive Training and Practical Advice for Living with Reactive and Aggressive Dogs” (nominated for a Maxwell Award by the Dog Writers’ Association of America) and “Positive Training for Aggressive and Reactive Dogs” (an international bestseller).

Her credentials include being a Certified Canine Behaviourist through INTODogs, a Certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM) Applied Ethology Professional Course® graduate, and a Fear Free Certified Trainer. She is also a Pet Professional Guild Member, which is recognized as a gold standard for force-free trainers. Annie has fostered and trained over 400 dogs from shelters, gaining extensive experience in canine body language and communication. She is a former Trainer in Residence for Dogster.com and author of a training column in Dogster Magazine. She founded the non-profit Phenix Advocacy Center for R+ Canine Professionals.

How to Get Started!

To get started, dog owners can schedule a one-hour initial virtual or in-home consult with Annie Phenix to discuss their dog’s concerns and receive initial solutions. For more comprehensive support, clients can choose from various training and behavior packages, which require payment in advance and submission of an Owner Questionnaire and recent veterinary visits. Owners can also explore online courses or join the Heber Puppy Club for local puppy support. For specific concerns not listed, clients are encouraged to email Annie to find solutions.