Rediscover Your Dog

All training begins with an initial assessment, which is approximately 1.5 hours long and helps staff recommend the right package based on the dog’s temperament, client goals, and potential obstacles. Private lessons are one-on-one sessions focusing on relationship building, handling, and training techniques, incorporating basic obedience and proofing with distractions.

Lesson packages, such as the 7-lesson and 13-lesson options, build on fundamentals, adding expanded skills like recall and stronger leash skills, with the 13-lesson package spanning a year for greater success and accountability. Specialized e-collar training is available after mastering fundamentals.

Group classes include Puppy Class (7 lessons) for raising a neutral dog, Novice Group Class (10 lessons) covering basic obedience and preparing for off-leash work, and Foundations in Scent Work (8 weeks) teaching dogs to track multiple scents. Day Trains are offered for busy lifestyles, where trainers work with the dog during the day on goals like loose leash walking, e-collar training, enrichment, and socialization, followed by lessons with the owner to transfer knowledge. It is emphasized that day training alone is not a “magic fix” and continued work at home is essential.

Pricing Summary

Initial Assessment: $100 ($150 for two dogs). Lesson Packages: 7 Lessons for $490 ($735 for two dogs), 13 Lessons for $910 ($1,365 for two dogs). Specialized Skills: E-collar (8 lessons) for $560 ($840 for two dogs). Group Classes: Puppy Class (7 lessons) for $350, Novice Class (10 lessons) for $400, Foundations in Scent Work (8 lessons) for $350. Day Trains: $100 per day. Daycare: $28 per day (per dog), full days only. Payments for the current week of attendance must be paid by 6:00pm every Friday. Accepted payment methods include cash, check, card, and Venmo.

Policies

For initial assessments, a credit/debit card is kept on file and will be charged the full $80 if there is a no-show or cancellation less than 5 days in advance. For lesson packages, all lessons must be completed within one year, though extensions may be granted at the trainer’s discretion. No refunds are issued for cancelled lesson packages.

If a lesson within a package is a no-show or cancelled less than 3 days from the scheduled date/time, it will not be rescheduled. However, with appropriate notice, clients can reschedule a limited number of lessons: 2 for a 7-lesson package and 3 for a 13-lesson package. Drop-in sessions will not be rescheduled regardless of when they are cancelled.

Rediscover Your Dog is a dog training business founded by Nate Shephard in 2017, aiming to help owners build healthier and happier relationships with their dogs. They offer a positive and personalized experience, with all staff members having started as clients, allowing them to understand common pet situations.

The business provides a welcoming environment and offers a range of services including private lessons, various group classes (Puppy, Novice, Scent Work), and day training. They also specialize in behavior modification for issues such as jumping, biting, destructive behavior, and inter-dog fighting.

In addition to training, Rediscover Your Dog offers dog daycare services. Their daycare focuses on safety with a 28-dog limit, monitored play, temperature-controlled indoor areas, and mid-day nap times. Daycare also incorporates training, teaching dogs skills like loose leash walking, doorway manners, kennel training, and calm attention. All staff are trained in dog behavior and training to prevent and manage situations effectively.

Accomplishments

Nate Shephard, the founder, started Rediscover Your Dog in 2017 after almost 30 years of training thousands of dogs, including helping shelters with behavioral dogs on euthanasia lists. He has worked with top trainers and cultivated his own style.

Christine Kraras, a Scent Work Instructor, is a certified graduate of Bart and Michael Bellon’s NEPOPO Silver and Gold Schools and is pursuing the National Association of Canine Scentwork (NACSW) instructor’s certification. Tabby Watkins, a full-time trainer, transitioned from a client to a full-time trainer in 2023, having started and run the daycare in 2020. Kyleigh Sutker and Sydney Coleman, both instructors, started as clients and now co-host the Puppy Class and offer Puppy Aptitude Temperament Testing. Ethan Holloway is an apprentice studying under Nate Shephard, having completed a novice obedience course and planning to compete.

How to Get Started!

To begin training, clients must first complete an initial assessment. This assessment is scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and lasts approximately 1.5 hours. A debit/credit card is required to be put on file at the time of scheduling the assessment, but it will only be charged if the client is a no-show.

For daycare services, an assessment process is required to ensure the dog is a good candidate. Interested individuals should complete the online form, and a team member will contact them to schedule the daycare assessment.