No Bones About It #2

No Bones About It offers two primary services: Puppy Day School and Jump Start Consultations. The Puppy Day School is designed for puppies aged 10 weeks to 5 months, with occasional exceptions based on individual dog needs. This program runs three days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) for durations of 4, 6, or 8 weeks. Training occurs in a small group setting (4-5 puppies) within a trainer’s home, focusing on practical skills like housetraining, socialization, managing biting and chewing, and basic obedience cues. Each package includes weekly video review sessions, a training handbook, and a final handover session conducted in the client’s home.

Jump Start Consultations are 75-90 minute sessions available via Zoom or in-person. These consultations are ideal for new puppy owners or those preparing to bring a puppy home, offering guidance on topics such as ideal home setup, essential puppy supplies, strategies for the puppy’s first night, developing a housetraining plan, establishing healthy daily routines, addressing common puppy challenges like biting and chewing, socialization advice, introducing age-appropriate training skills, and determining if Puppy Day School is the right fit.

Pricing Summary

Jump Start Consultations are priced at $150 for a 75-90 minute session. Puppy Day School packages are offered in various durations: a 4-week package (12 full days) costs $2900, a 6-week package (18 full days) costs $4125, and an 8-week package (24 full days) costs $5250.

No Bones About It is a dog training business founded by Ally Stoops, specializing in puppy raising. They offer a “Puppy Day School” as their preferred training model, which they consider superior to traditional board and train programs because it allows puppies to remain with their families overnight. The training takes place in the experienced trainer’s home in Mill Valley, providing a realistic and comfortable environment with access to a secure outdoor space.

The business emphasizes positive reinforcement and force-free methods, explicitly stating they do not use fear, force, or harsh equipment. The day school maintains a small class size of 4-5 puppies to ensure personalized attention and promote calm, positive socialization. Their goal is to develop puppies into well-mannered adult dogs by teaching essential life skills such as housetraining, proper socialization, managing biting and chewing, and basic obedience cues.

Ally Stoops, the lead trainer, brings over 25 years of experience and is highly regarded in Marin County for her patient, effective, and fun approach. She understands the challenges faced by busy families and professionals, and designs programs with realistic goals. Clients receive ongoing support through weekly coaching videos, a training handbook, and a final handover session in their home to ensure consistent application of learned skills.

Accomplishments

Ally Stoops, the founder and primary trainer, has over 25 years of experience in dog training. She is recognized as one of the most sought-after trainers for puppies and adolescent dogs in Marin County. Ally is known for her patient, fun, and effective training approach and continuously enhances her skills and knowledge by regularly attending dog training and behavior events.

How to Get Started!

To begin, prospective clients can contact No Bones About It by phone, email, or through the contact form on their website. For those interested in Puppy Day School, they are encouraged to explore the available puppy packages. For Jump Start Consultations, clients can directly book a consultation session.