NextStepDogTraining.com
Ranked #1 in Portsmouth and #10 in Rhode Island
Service area: Servicing Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, Jamestown, Saunderstown, Tiverton, Little Compton, Bristol, in Rhode Island, Southeastern, MA
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Behavior Modification
Specialty Focus Areas
- Basic Obedience
- Puppy Training
- Leash Pulling
- Reactivity / Aggression
- Jumping on People
- Barking Excessively
- Separation Anxiety
- Biting / Nipping
- Potty Training
- Resource Guarding
- Fearfulness
- Stealing Food
- Recall
Training Formats Offered
- Private Lessons
- In-Home
- Private Facility
Program Formats
- One-Time Consultation
- Sessions Package
- Ongoing Weekly
- Intensive Program
Types of Dogs
- Small
- Large
- Giant
- Sporting
- Working
- Brachycephalic
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Positive Reinforcement Only
- ✓ Positive with Some Corrections
- ✓ Balanced Training
Equipment:
- ✓ Food Rewards
- ✓ E-Collars
Next Step Dog Training offers two primary training options: “Owner and Trainer” sessions and “Trainer ONLY PRIMARILY” sessions. Both options consist of 60-minute sessions with a minimum of three sessions required. For the “Owner and Trainer” option, Wesley demonstrates commands and works with the owner and dog together. In the “Trainer ONLY PRIMARILY” option, Wesley trains the dog one-on-one at the client’s home or a designated location, then demonstrates the learned skills to the owner in the final sessions.
The training programs cover basic obedience commands such as crate training, house training, leash walking (no pulling), leave it, place command, sit, stay, down, recall, off-leash reliability, and impulse control. They also address a wide range of behavioral issues including leash pulling, separation anxiety, reactivity towards dogs, cars, bikes, and people, resource guarding, jumping on people, excessive barking, counter-surfing, aggression, and puppy nipping or biting. Social skills like dog socialization, environmental socialization, and creating safe spaces for children and babies are also covered. Training is described as a step-by-step process emphasizing calmness, confidence, and consistency, with repetition being key to results.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
Sessions are 60 minutes per session, with a minimum of 3 sessions required at $80 per session. Payments are accepted via Venmo or Cash.
Testimonials
“Wesley at Next Step Dog Training has been such a gift for our family! Raising an adolescent Irish Setter on our family farm has definitely posed some unique challenges, which is why I had been skeptical about traditional dog training programs… until we met Wesley! He takes each dog’s personality and environment into consideration when crafting session plans, and provides valuable structure and training all while maintaining a fun and energetic presence. Our pup has responded so well to Wesley’s knowledge and instruction – and I’ve become more confident in my abilities as an owner. Wesley’s program has taught us that consistency + fun can provide our family members (human and dog!) with a better quality of life! Couldn’t recommend Next Step Dog Training more!”
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“Was having a few problems with my pekingnese and Wes gave us some great ideas on how to get him to walk better without pulling and from jumping up on people…Wes really seemed to enjoy training our dog and made it fun for our dog as well…highly recommend.”
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“Wesley is a really thorough, knowledgeable and fun trainer! He has been incredibly helpful with my first ever dog, an Akita puppy. He trains my dog and me, and I am now feeling confident handling my dog who is now 108 lbs at 1 year old 🙂 I highly recommend Wesley and his services.”
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About the Trainer
Next Step Dog Training, led by Wesley Echols, offers professional dog training services in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. The business focuses on helping dog owners achieve a better quality of life with their trained dogs by building a positive relationship based on trust, mutual respect, training, and leadership.
Wesley Echols emphasizes a balanced training approach, incorporating positive reinforcement (treats, toys, praise) for teaching new behaviors, along with fair and appropriate corrections for unwanted behaviors. Training sessions are conducted in the client’s home or a neutral area, starting in low-distraction environments and gradually progressing to more challenging settings as the dog improves.
The philosophy centers on providing structure and exercise, believing that dogs thrive when they understand rules and boundaries. Wesley works with both dogs and their owners, or primarily trains the dog one-on-one, then transfers the learned skills to the owner. He highlights that consistent effort from owners is crucial for successful training outcomes.
Accomplishments
Wesley Echols is the professional dog trainer behind Next Step Dog Training. He has extensive experience training various dogs, including his own German Shorthaired Pointer, Emma, and an Akita named Ursus, whom he has trained and cared for since the dog was four months old. Wesley uses his personal experience with challenging breeds like Akitas to inform his training methods, demonstrating patience, practiced structure, and a balanced approach. His photo galleries showcase some of the dogs he has trained over the years.
How to Get Started!
Clients can begin with a free 5-minute phone consultation. A meet-and-greet is required for highly aggressive dogs for evaluation. Contact can be made via phone or email.
Contact Information
Languages
- English
Misc Features
- wheelchair accessible parking
Other Services Offered
- Pet sitter
- Dog walker