The Clever Hound LLC

The Clever Hound LLC provides a variety of training programs including group classes, private lessons, and online learning, all utilizing positive reinforcement.

Group classes include:
* **Clever Dog**: A foundational obedience and life skills class for puppies (8 weeks+) and adult dogs, covering basic cues like sit, down, come, and leash walking, along with socialization and body awareness. This six-week class is a prerequisite for many advanced programs.
* **Advanced Clever Dog**: Continues foundation skills for Clever Dog graduates, working towards the Canine Good Citizen Test.
* **Clever Hound About Town**: A field trip class for Clever Dog graduates to practice obedience and social skills in dog-friendly public locations.
* **All Around Hound**: A dog sports sampler class for Clever Dog graduates, allowing students to try various activities like scent work, tricks, fitness, lure coursing, agility, fetch, and rally.
* **Scent Work**: For dogs 8 weeks and older, introducing odors and searches for AKC and CPE Scent Work programs.
* **Rally**: Offers AKC Rally Novice for dogs 6 months and older with basic obedience, and AKC Rally for Competition for teams with a Rally Novice title.
* **Agility**: Includes Agility Foundation Skills and Agility Trial Preparation for dogs comfortable with equipment and preparing for competition.

Private lessons are available in-person or via Zoom, ideal for dogs not comfortable in group settings, addressing behavior challenges, or for individualized attention. These lessons include homework, video demonstrations, and access to a student Facebook group. Specialized coaching is offered for service dog tasks and breed-specific advice for PBGV/GBGV owners.

Online learning options include the full Clever Dog course and AKC Rally programs (Novice, Advanced, Excellent, Master). Additionally, free online Trick Dog and Canine Fitness classes are available via Facebook groups, and Megan Esherick can witness video titles for various AKC and Do More With Your Dog programs.

Pricing Summary

Group classes are generally priced at $180 for a six-week session, with Scent Work, Rally, and Agility classes costing $150 for a six-week session. Drop-in space for experienced teams in Scent Work and Rally is available for $30 per lesson.

Private lessons are offered in packages: a six-lesson package of 50-minute sessions costs $500. For experienced dog sport students, a package of six 25-minute lessons is available for $200. Class fees are non-refundable, but if a dog is deemed not ready for a group class, fees may be applied to a private lesson or online learning package within two months.

Policies

Class fees are non-refundable. However, if an instructor determines a dog is not ready for a group class setting, the class fees may be applied towards a private lesson or online learning package within two months. For private lessons, appointments can be rescheduled for the end of the package with 24 hours notice.

The Clever Hound LLC is a dog training business based in Berks County, Pennsylvania, offering private in-home and facility-based lessons, group classes, and online learning via Zoom. They specialize in positive reinforcement methods to help dog owners bring out the best in their dogs.

The business caters to a wide range of needs, from basic obedience and puppy training to advanced dog sports like agility, rally, and scent work. They also provide specialized coaching for service dog tasks and breed-specific advice for PBGV and GBGV owners.

Unique advantages include experienced certified trainers, weekly homework handouts with detailed lesson plans and video demonstrations, and access to a student Facebook group. They offer opportunities for dogs to earn AKC titles like Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog.

Accomplishments

Megan Esherick, the founder of The Clever Hound LLC, is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and Certified Trick Dog Instructor (CTDI). She is also a Canine Fitness Coach certified through Do More with Your Dog, an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, and an AKC-approved judge for agility and Junior Showmanship. Megan holds a bachelor’s degree in Small Animal Science and has over 30 years of experience in dog training, including 17 years as a service dog trainer before founding The Clever Hound LLC in 2016. She has trained the first GBGV to attain advanced titles in the U.S.

Kristina Schaeffer has been working with dogs since 2001 and is an approved AKC Canine Good Citizen tester. She actively trains and shows in Obedience, Agility, and Scentwork.

Stephanie Mays is a retired teacher with over thirty years of experience. She holds a B.S. in elementary education from Shippensburg University and a master’s degree from Kutztown University. Stephanie completed Canine Training and Management and Animal Behavior courses at Kutztown University. She is a certified Canine Good Citizen (CGC) instructor and has taught the STAR puppy kindergarten program for fifteen years. Stephanie is an active member and tester/observer for Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD), making hundreds of therapy visits with her certified therapy dogs.

How to Get Started!

To get started with group classes, clients are encouraged to email to reserve a spot, as class sizes are limited. Online registration is available for the Clever Dog class. For classes with prerequisites, registration requires emailing the business. For private lessons, clients can schedule their first session via a provided online link. Email is the preferred method of contact for questions and scheduling, as phone inquiries for training questions or appointments are not accommodated.