Special Paws

Special Paws offers Custom In-Home Packages tailored to specific cues or behaviors, ranging from basic to advanced, including tricks, games, and addressing behavioral concerns like pulling on leash, jumping, digging, on-leash aggression, barking, and resource guarding.

Structured packages include: Puppy I, focusing on early socialization, handling, potty training, name recognition, “watch,” “sit,” and “leave it.” Puppy II covers walking nicely on a leash, “down,” “sit/stay,” “down/stay,” “come,” and tricks like “shake.” The Basic Cue Package for adult dogs includes “leave it,” “drop it,” “sit,” “down,” “stay,” “stand,” “come,” and tricks, along with discussions on nutrition and socialization.

One-time sessions are available for Puppy Prep (pre-puppy arrival), Adoption Prep (pre-adopted dog arrival), “What is your dog saying to you?” (understanding dog behavior, socialization, stress, and interactions), and an in-depth “Come Lesson” for reliable recall. Group In-Home Lessons are offered for advanced cues, distraction work, and tricks, but do not address behavioral concerns, which require private lessons.

Pricing Summary

Payment is due at the start of lessons or consultations and is accepted via personal checks made out to Special Paws, Inc. A $35 fee applies for returned checks, plus any collection fees incurred. Payments made are non-refundable.

Custom In-Home Packages: 1 Hour Lesson: $100; 2 Hour Lesson (total 2 hours, 1-hour sessions every other week): $185; 3 Hour Lesson (total 3 hours, 1-hour sessions every other week): $270; 4 Hour Lesson (total 4 hours, 1-hour sessions every other week): $350.
Puppy I Package: $350 (total 4 hours, 1-hour sessions every other week).
Puppy II Package: $270 (total 3 hours, 1-hour sessions every other week).
Basic Cue Package: $350 (total 4 hours, 1-hour sessions every other week).
Puppy Prep: $80 (one-time 1-hour session).
Adoption Prep: $80 (one-time 1-hour session).
What is your dog saying to you?: $90.
Come Lesson: $185 (total 2 hours, 1-hour sessions every other week).
Group In-Home Lessons (for 2 or more dogs): $90/dog/hr for one-time 1-hour sessions.
For multi-dog households, clients should contact Special Paws for fees. For behavioral issues requiring a referral to a behaviorist, a $50 consultation fee is charged instead of the regular lesson fee.

Policies

Payments are due at the start of lessons or consultations and are non-refundable. Special Paws accepts personal checks only, made out to Special Paws, Inc., with a $35 fee for returned checks plus any collection fees.

Clients may reschedule appointments with at least 24 hours’ advance notice; failure to do so results in being charged for the missed time slot. Proof of current rabies vaccination is required at the first training session; non-compliance will result in session cancellation as a no-show.

Special Paws and its employees are not liable for any damage to persons, animals, or property during or after training sessions. While using accepted best practices, no guarantee is made regarding a dog’s future behavior. Trainees are responsible for restraining their dog and for any actions their dog takes against the trainer. Children under 16 participating in training must be accompanied by an adult. Training effectiveness relies on consistent reinforcement by the trainee outside of sessions. Special Paws reserves the right to cancel contracts for reasons including non-payment, returned checks, lack of engagement, or use of training methods inconsistent with those suggested.

Special Paws is a dog training business owned by Katalin Kerekes, dedicated to providing humane, dog-friendly training through positive reinforcement. They focus on strengthening the bond between dogs and their owners by making training a fun and rewarding experience for both.

Katalin, with a background in animal behavior research, is passionate about educating clients on understanding canine social behavior and body language. Special Paws explicitly avoids methods associated with “dominance” or the use of aversives like negative reinforcement or positive punishment.

They offer in-home lessons, primarily serving the Rockville, Kensington, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Frederick areas in Maryland, with services available outside this region upon request.

Accomplishments

Katalin (Laszlo) Kerekes, the owner and trainer of Special Paws, holds a B.S. in Zoology and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Environmental Biology, with a strong focus on animal behavior. She possesses over a decade of research experience in animal behavior, including extensive work with various monkey species.

Katalin has accumulated thousands of hours of professional dog training experience, working with puppies, rescue dogs, and shelter dogs. Her expertise covers teaching basic and advanced cues, as well as addressing a wide range of behavioral concerns such as potty training, leash pulling, excessive barking, jumping, digging, fearfulness, resource guarding, and on-leash aggression. She is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT).

How to Get Started!

To sign up for lessons or obtain more information, clients should contact Special Paws directly at 301-655-2678 or info@specialpawstraining.com, as the online form submission system is currently unavailable.

For behavioral issues, an initial free phone consultation is conducted to assess if the client’s needs align with Special Paws’ services. If lessons proceed, the initial part of the chosen package will involve an in-depth consultation on the specific behavioral concern. If it is determined that Special Paws cannot provide the necessary level of treatment due to the severity of the behavior, the client will be referred to a behaviorist and charged a $50 consultation fee instead of the full lesson fee.