The Balanced Dog

The Balanced Dog offers a variety of training programs tailored to different needs. Board and Train programs, conducted in the trainer’s home, include the 14-day HEAD START PUPPY Program (for puppies up to 12 months), the 14-day I’M A GOOD DOG! On-leash Program (for dogs 12 months and older, not for severe behaviors), the 14-21 day NAUGHTY BUT NICE Program (for behavior problems like reactivity, aggression, resource guarding, fearfulness, requiring an in-person assessment), and the 21-day I LOVE MY FREEDOM Off-Leash Program. All Board and Train programs include private follow-up lessons, free lifetime access to Group Obedience Classes, and all training equipment.

Private/In-your-home Lessons are offered on a case-by-case basis and include Basic Manners Private Training with Platinum, Gold, and Silver options. The Platinum program is typically 2 months or less and includes three virtual follow-up calls and one year of free Group Obedience Classes. The Gold program is typically 1 month or less and includes two virtual follow-up calls and one free round of Group Obedience Classes. The Silver program is a single 2-hour session for one specific behavior, including one virtual follow-up call.

Group Obedience Classes include Puppy Kindergarten (ages 2-8 months) and Beginner through Intermediate Obedience (ages 6 months and up), both 6 weeks long. AKC Canine Good Citizen classes and evaluations are offered for all levels (CGC, CGCA, CGCU, S.T.A.R. Puppy), with classes resuming in April 2025. Trick Dog Training is offered for AKC and Do More With Your Dog! titles, with classes resuming in April 2024, requiring a minimum of 3 dogs to start. Therapy Dog training is also available, with details linked to the Canine Good Citizen page.

Pricing Summary

Group classes, including Puppy Kindergarten, Beginner through Intermediate Obedience, AKC Canine Good Citizen, and Trick Dog Training, cost $200 for 6 weeks. The AKC Canine Good Citizen test only is $150. Board and Train programs require a non-refundable $250 fee to hold a spot, which is applied to the total cost. Payment plans are accepted, with full payment due by the halfway point of the board and train. Credit cards are accepted with a 3.5% service charge fee. Equipment used in board and train programs is included in the price, while equipment for private lessons is sold separately.

Policies

A non-refundable fee of $250 is required to hold a spot for Board and Train programs, which is applied to the total cost. Payment plans are accepted for Board and Train, but full payment must be made by the halfway point of the program. Proof of a current vet exam within three months is required for residency stays. Children under 15 must be supervised by a parent in group classes. No retractable leashes are allowed in group classes.

The Balanced Dog, led by Joanne Thompson (aka Joanne The Dog Trainer), offers comprehensive dog training and behavioral services. Joanne has 50 years of hands-on experience, working with tens of thousands of dogs and owners, from puppies to severely reactive/aggressive dogs. She treats each dog as an individual, assessing behavior and situations to determine the best approach for clear communication between owner and dog.

The philosophy at The Balanced Dog focuses on addressing the dog as a whole, emphasizing both mental and physical exercise. They believe in building a solid foundation in basics, including obedience, manners, and the dog’s mental state. They also work closely with owners to help them understand and communicate with their dogs through leash handling and body language interpretation.

Services include Behavior Modification, Private Obedience Lessons, Group Obedience Lessons, Day Training, Board and Train programs, AKC Canine Good Citizen preparation, Therapy Dog training, and Trick Dog training. They also offer Vacation Boarding. Joanne is a Professional Obedience Instructor, Certified Trick Dog Instructor, CGC Evaluator, S.T.A.R. Puppy Evaluator, Canine Conditioning Coach, and Stunt Dog Judge.

Accomplishments

Joanne Thompson, known as Joanne The Dog Trainer, has 50 years of hands-on experience in dog training. She is a Professional Obedience Instructor, Certified Trick Dog Instructor, CGC Evaluator, S.T.A.R. Puppy Evaluator, Canine Conditioning Coach, and Stunt Dog Judge.

Joanne holds a Professional Membership with the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and serves on the IACP Education Committee. She has trained, trialed, or titled dogs in various AKC disciplines including herding, obedience, rally, agility, conformation, tracking, and trick dog. She has also competed in UKC obedience, agility, rally, and conformation, AHBA herding, and BHA barn hunt, and DMWYD trick dog. Joanne has owned, trained, and handled multiple High In Trial, Reserve High In Trial, Top Ten, and #1 Top Herding Giant Schnauzers in the country for several years. Her continuing education includes courses from Stephanie Vichinky and Ivan Balabanov.

How to Get Started!

To get started, clients can contact The Balanced Dog via email or phone. For Board and Train programs, an assessment is completed to determine the best option for the dog, after which a drop-off/pick-up day is established. For Private/In-your-home Lessons, an in-person assessment is recommended for dogs with issues like leash reactivity, anxiety, fearfulness, resource guarding, or severe behavioral issues. For Trick Dog Training, a class can be started with a minimum of 3 interested dogs. For AKC Canine Good Citizen tests only, clients should contact Joanne to set up a time and place.