The Family Fido

The Puppy Passport Training Program is a structured day of play, training, and socialization designed to help puppies become confident, well-mannered, and resilient. It includes socialization with peers and adult dogs, exposure to new environments, and training in basic behaviors like polite greetings, obedience (sit, down, come, go to bed, leash walking), crate training, potty training, and tolerating vet/grooming handling. The program runs on Tuesdays (enrichment activities, socialization, private training) and Thursdays (half-day facility, half-day field trip), including 8 days of enrichment training and 6 group puppy classes.

The Day Training Program is for adolescent or adult dogs, offering a flexible and effective solution for obedience, behavior modification, and enrichment. Trainers develop a tailored plan based on the dog’s needs, addressing basic commands, impulse control, and specific behavioral issues.

The Board and Train Program is fully customized to meet each dog’s individual needs and goals, offering various packages for basic obedience, behavior modification, or advanced training. Clients are required to fill out a questionnaire to get started.

Private Training/Behavior Counseling sessions are one-on-one and can be conducted in the client’s home or where the behavior occurs. The initial 1.5-hour session involves gathering information, observation, designing a training plan, and starting training, with follow-ups scheduled as needed. Specialties include pre-puppy/adoption counseling, puppy development, adolescent support, socialization, confidence building, leash walking, separation anxiety, aggression, nipping, leash reactivity, jumping, hyperactivity, anxieties, fears & phobias, house-training, resource guarding, dog social skills, dog & kid safety, preventing destructive chewing/digging, stopping stealing, and addressing barking/howling/whining. Trainers assist with techniques that don’t cause pain, recommend management tools, identify enrichment activities, and teach positive reinforcement without lures/bribes.

Drop-in Sessions provide personalized, one-on-one coaching for adolescent dogs (4 months and older) to address everyday behaviors like leash manners, jumping, begging, nipping, house-training, impulse control, barking, place training, chewing, mouthing, accidents, bolting, digging, and over-stimulation. These sessions also cover enrichment ideas, private nose work, and children/dog safety. Reactive behaviors require longer private sessions.

Puppy Classes (currently on hold) provide essential guidance for new owners on crate training, housebreaking, basic obedience (come, sit, loose-leash walking, down), socialization tips, puppy enrichment, husbandry (vet/groom handling), leash/potty training, nurturing temperament, and corrections for biting/digging/jumping. Classes are 100% Positive Reward Based & Fear/Force Free, utilizing a 6-time punch card system for flexibility.

Pricing Summary

Daycare rates are $25 for puppies (up to six months) and $35 for adult dogs. Boarding is $55 per night, with medication administration included at no extra cost. Multi-pet discounts are generally not offered for boarding, but special circumstances may be considered upon request. An initial private consult is $150 for a 1.5-hour session. The Puppy Passport program, which includes 8 days of Puppy Passport and 4 group puppy classes, costs $600. Private Home Training: Adoption Counseling is available for $100 (on sale from $150) for a 1.5-hour home consult. Boarding costs are upfront, flat rate, all-inclusive, with no hidden charges.

Policies

Puppy classes are currently on hold. For classes, a 6-time punch card system offers flexibility, allowing clients to attend at their own pace over several weeks without weekly commitments. Multi-pet discounts are generally not offered for boarding, but special circumstances may be considered upon request.

The Family Fido is a dedicated team committed to improving the lives of both dogs and their families in Rochester and the surrounding areas. Founded by a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, they specialize in guiding owners through their dog’s behavior, providing effective solutions to set them on the right path. They pride themselves on fostering lasting, positive relationships between dogs and their families through compassionate and knowledgeable coaching.

The business accommodates all dogs, understanding that every dog has unique needs and that group play isn’t suitable for all. They tailor experiences to make dogs happiest and most comfortable, offering two separate playgrounds for dog daycare where dogs are placed in appropriate playgroups based on size and temperament.

The Family Fido provides 24/7 care for beloved companions, ensuring peace of mind for owners. Their services are crafted to develop a dog’s natural instincts and abilities through engaging enrichment activities, including Puppy Classes, Enrichment Sessions for Adult Dogs, and Private Lessons. These experiences help dogs build essential skills like confidence, optimism, self-control, focus, self-soothing, and playfulness.

They offer Fear Free Training through classes, private lessons, and day training, as well as Fear Free boarding and daycare, ensuring every dog feels safe, comfortable, and stress-free. The Family Fido explicitly states they do not use aversive training methods such as prong collars, shock collars, vibration collars, slip leads, punishment-based techniques, or outdated “alpha” philosophies, prioritizing the dog’s well-being, training success, and the lifelong bond with their owner.

Accomplishments

The Family Fido was founded by a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. Jessica Smidt, the owner and head trainer, is a Certified Veterinary Technician and a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner. She also holds a Certificate of Completion in the Master Course on Aggression in Dogs. Jessica has over 15 years of professional experience working with animals and has been a fear and force-free trainer for more than a decade. She trained and operated the Caring Canines therapy dog program at the Mayo Clinic and co-founded Forever Fido Puppy Rescue. All staff and programs adhere to American Veterinary Behaviorists recommendations.

How to Get Started!

To get started, clients can fill out a questionnaire for Board & Train or Day Training programs. For private training, clients can self-schedule an initial consult with Jessica. New clients for daycare and boarding can start by filling out a new client form. For the Puppy Passport program, clients purchase the program, and a team member will contact them to schedule the first day. A general form is also available for those unsure where to start.