Team Pit-a-Full

Team Pit-a-Full provides comprehensive dog training and rehabilitation with a balanced training method. Programs typically last 2-5 weeks, with weekly one-hour sessions. Clients receive homework assignments to practice techniques for approximately one hour or less per week.

The training incorporates a “dogs-teaching-dogs” approach, where the trainer’s own rehabilitated dogs (The Team) assist in the training environment, usually starting around week 3 or 4, once the client and their dog have basic control. They offer 24/7 support and teach “Defensive Dog Ownership” to help clients navigate real-world situations. They also provide low-cost training and rehabilitation for shelter and rescue dogs, available in-person or remotely via video chat, video demonstration, and instructional emails/texts.

Pricing Summary

Team Pit-a-Full offers affordable, one-on-one, in-home dog training and rehabilitation with no steep up-front costs or expensive, binding contracts. Payment is due at the completion of every one-hour training session by credit/debit card, cash, checks, PayPal, PayPal invoicing, or Venmo. Discounts are available for multiple-dog homes and for shelter/rescue dogs. The hourly rate is determined by the severity of the dog’s behavioral issues, as assessed during the free initial consultation.

Policies

Clients are requested to provide at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellations, except in cases of adverse weather. Training is postponed if it’s raining, snowing, high winds, or temperatures are under 40 or over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. If a client cannot make a scheduled week, they must respond to the weekly schedule email to remain on the roster; failure to reply for two consecutive weeks will move their file to archive, but training can be resumed by emailing the business.

All communication regarding homework, scheduling, and cancellations is conducted through email. Clients are expected to be prepared for sessions by having their dog’s leash and collar ready, and minimizing distractions. They are asked to be flexible with exact scheduled training times due to potential delays like traffic. The business does not endorse or allow retractable leashes, e-collars/shock collars, choke chains, pinch/prong collars, or gentle leaders; only standard nylon or leather fixed collars and 6ft fixed leashes are used, with exceptions for martingale collars or harnesses for dogs with esophageal issues or “at risk” dogs requiring muzzling/harness. They also enforce a “No Mixed Technique” policy, meaning clients should not be under instruction from two different trainers simultaneously. Health precautions include conducting all training outdoors/curbside, maintaining 6-10ft distancing, and no direct contact, with face masks used when close proximity is unavoidable.

Team Pit-a-Full Dog Training & Rehabilitation is a dog training business led by David Edelstein, offering comprehensive and “outside of the box” dog training and rehabilitation services. They aim to strengthen the human-canine relationship through public education, accurate information, responsible dog ownership advocacy, and training.

With over 30 years of experience, they specialize in working with exceptionally volatile dogs and addressing canine behavioral challenges, including those from backgrounds of abuse, neglect, or COVID-related issues. Their approach is based on current scientific data and evidence, combined with extensive practical experience.

A unique advantage is their “dogs-teaching-dogs” methodology, where their own rehabilitated dogs (The Team) assist in training new clients, demonstrating calm, stable, and obedient energy. They emphasize humane, comprehensive, and consistent leadership, treating dogs with trust, love, respect, and care.

They offer affordable, one-on-one, in-home training with immediate results often seen during the initial assessment. The programs typically last 2-5 weeks and include 24/7 support. They also provide low-cost training and rehabilitation for dogs in foster care, rescue facilities, and shelters.

Accomplishments

The trainer, David Edelstein, has over 30 years of experience in dog training, dog rescue, rescue transport, and living with his own pack of dogs. His experience began in 1990 after his time in the U.S. Air Force, when he started volunteering at a local shelter with their behaviorist and with local rescues. The business boasts a 95% success rate with clients.

How to Get Started!

To begin, clients are asked to fill out and submit a New Client Questionnaire. The process starts with a free, no-obligation behavioral assessment that lasts about an hour. During this assessment, the trainer evaluates the dog and the owners, provides a question-and-answer session, and explains how their techniques apply to real-world scenarios. Clients should have a standard nylon or leather fixed collar (properly fitted with ID tags) and a standard 6ft nylon or leather leash ready for the assessment.