Skip to content
English
Sign in
Visit Our Main Site
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Private Lessons

 (~8 min) Tailored coaching for obedience, manners, and real-life skills. At school or in-home one-on-one training sessions for you and your dog’s unique needs.

Overview

Private lessons give you focused time with a trainer to tackle specific goals—loose-leash walking, recall, calm greetings, place/settle, and more. Sessions are customized to your dog’s pace and your daily routine so you see practical wins fast, whether that be at the school or, at the trainer’s discretion, at home for convenience.

Note: At-home lessons do not address behavior cases (reactivity, aggression, severe anxiety). Those are evaluated via the PD360 Assessment and trained through in-school programs.

Topics

  1. Key Benefits & Features

  2. Scope & Limits (What we do vs. don’t do)

  3. Formats & 2025 Pricing

  4. Scheduling & Availability

  5. How It Works

  6. Booking & Onboarding

  7. Policies (Cancellations, Vaccinations, Holidays, Financing)

  8. Alternatives

  9. Common Questions & Answers

  10. Glossary

  11. Additional Resources

Key Benefits & Features

  • Personalized plan: Targets your dog’s goals, learning style, and pace.

  • Human coaching: We teach you timing, leash skills, and reward strategy.

  • Real-life practice: Doorways, sidewalk patterns, polite greetings, place/settle.

  • Clear homework: Short daily reps so progress sticks between visits.

  • Flexible format: On-campus, or in-home when appropriate and available.

Scope & Limits (What we do vs. don’t do)

Great fit in Private Lessons

  • Sit/Down/Stay, loose-leash & heel patterns, reliable recall, Leave It/Out

  • Polite greetings, threshold manners, crate/place routine, impulse control

  • Cooperative care basics, handler mechanics & household routines

Not covered in in-home lessons

  • Behavior cases (reactivity, anxiety/panic, resource guarding, any bite history) → require PD360 and a school-based behavior plan (e.g., Behavior Camp, Transform Camp, or behavior lessons on campus).

Formats & 2025 Pricing

  • At-School Private Lesson — 60 min — $179

  • At-Home Private Lesson — up to 90 min — $279
    (non-behavioral only; trainer discretion, service-area & safety requirements apply)

4-Pack Lesson Credits (valid 90 days; rollovers allowed within that window, billed monthly)

  • 4× At-School (1 hr each): $599

  • 4× At-Home (up to 1.5 hr each): $999 (trainer discretion)

Availability: Private lessons are subject to trainer schedule/availability and not offered on holiday closure days (see Holiday Hours).

Scheduling & Availability

  • Most weekdays (afternoon/evening blocks); limited weekend slots.

  • In-home offered case-by-case (trainer discretion, service area & schedule).

  • No private lessons on closure holidays; early-close days have limited availability.

How It Works (Session Flow)

  1. Mini assessment (5–10 min): goals, history, what’s working/not.

  2. Plan & criteria: define the behavior, marker words, and reward placement.

  3. Coached reps: you practice while we fine-tune timing and leash handling.

  4. Real-life setups: door greetings, sidewalk patterns, place/settle, recall.

  5. Homework & next steps: written takeaways + how/when to level up (5–10 min/day).

Booking & Onboarding

New to Partners or new to Private Lessons? 

  1. Online PD360 request (5–10 min). Submit your dog’s history/goals so our team can prep.

  2. Dog-only PD360 Assessment (4+ hours, on campus). We map engagement, thresholds, leash language, recall, and stress signals (with rest breaks).

  3. Parent review & coaching (1+ hour). Same day (or soonest available): review findings, see demos, align goals/safety/home routines, and leave with clear next steps.

  4. Plan & written estimate. We recommend the best path (Private Lessons vs. Behavior/Transform, DaySchool/DayCamp support, or classes), timeline, inclusions, and costs.

  5. Reserve & schedule. After PD360 approval, book your first private lesson in the Parent Portal, or call/email to schedule. Bring a flat/buckle collar, non-retractable leash, and your dog’s regular treats.

  6. Training begins. We coach your mechanics and setup short, winnable homework.

Already training with us?

  • Cleared for Private Lessons after PD360? Book in the Parent Portal, call the school, or email Enroll@PartnersDogs.com.

  • Moving from classes/day programs to Private Lessons for the first time? Ask your trainer if a PD360 refresh is needed.

Policies (Cancellations, Vaccinations, Holidays, Financing)

Cancellations & Deposits 

  • Payments/deposits are non-refundable.

  • ≥48 hours’ notice: eligible for store credit (use within policy windows).

  • <48 hours / no-show: may be partially/fully applied to administrative fees (reserved trainer time).

  • Some bookings may require a non-refundable deposit (transfers to future services; not cash-refunded).

Vaccinations & Health

  • Bordetella, Rabies, DHPP—each ≥1 week before attendance.

  • Symptom-free for 7 days before lessons/classes.

  • Flea & tick: required May–Nov; recommended year-round (see Health & Booking policies).

Holidays & Boarding

  • No private lessons on closure holidays; early-close days have limited slots.

  • Our boarding team still cares for overnight dogs 365 days/year (public services paused on closures).

Financing

  • Single private lessons: not eligible for financing.

  • Lesson packages (4-packs): eligible for third-party financing (approvals/terms by lender; financed services are not refundable).

Alternatives

Common Questions & Answers

How many lessons will we need—and how fast will we see results?
That depends on your goals, your dog’s learning history, and how consistently you practice. Many families begin with a 4-pack (weekly cadence) to build momentum, then taper to biweekly or monthly tune-ups. You’ll see small wins early (clean leash mechanics, faster sits/downs), while reliability under distractions takes a few weeks of short daily reps.

Can we do lessons at home?
Often, yes—for obedience/skills only and at the trainer’s discretion. In-home lessons are great for door routines, place/settle, and leash work in your neighborhood. We won’t conduct behavior cases (reactivity, guarding, bites, severe anxiety) in-home; those require on-campus behavior programs for safety and structure.

What’s the difference between a single lesson and a 4-pack?
A single lesson is a focused jump-start with homework. A 4-pack creates continuity—each session advances criteria and proofing so you get reliable behavior in real-life settings. 4-packs also offer cost savings, and credits stay valid for 90 days.

What do we work on in a typical first lesson?
We start with engagement, reward markers, leash language, and one or two priority behaviors (often sit/down/place or leash patterns). We’ll coach your timing and reward placement, then assign short daily homework (5–10 minutes) so your dog succeeds quickly.

Can my child participate?
Yes—family participation is encouraged. Your trainer may rotate handlers so reps stay safe and focused, and will keep criteria appropriate for each family member.

Will my dog practice around other dogs?
Private lessons are one-on-one. If your goals include working around dogs/people, we can schedule on campus during busier windows or pair lessons with Pet Parenting Classes or DaySchool/DayCamp for structured exposure.

Are there days you don’t offer private lessons?
Yes—no private lessons on closure holidays, and scheduling always depends on trainer availability. Early-close days have limited slots.

How long is each private lesson?
In-school sessions are 1 hour long, and at-home sessions are up to 1.5 hours.

What behaviors can be addressed in private lessons?
Private lessons are great for addressing specific commands, manners, minor inappropriate behaviors, and other reinforcement exercises. For behavioral challenges, we recommend our specialized behavior modification programs, which take place at the school.

Where do I start if I’m brand new?
Submit a PD360 Assessment request online. After we review your dog’s history and goals, we’ll recommend the right plan. Then you can book in the Parent Portal, or call your store location, or email Enroll@PartnersDogs.com to schedule.

Do lessons include homework?
Yes—short, specific reps (5–10 minutes daily) with criteria and targets. This is where progress compounds between sessions.

What if I miss a lesson?
Give us 48 hours’ notice and we’ll issue store credit you can apply within policy windows. Inside 48 hours, trainer time has already been reserved—late cancellations or no-shows may be applied toward admin fees. (See General Booking Policies for full details.)

What should I bring to each session?
Flat/buckle collar, non-retractable leash, your dog’s regular treats/food, and any tools we recommended after PD360. Comfortable shoes and pockets help!

Glossary

  • PD360 Assessment: Our intake process—online request, a 4+ hour dog evaluation on campus, plus a 1+ hour parent review—to place you in the right pathway.

  • At-School Private Lesson: 60-minute one-on-one session held on campus (most flexible option).

  • At-Home Private Lesson: Up to 90-minute session at your home (obedience/skills only; trainer discretion & service-area limits).

  • 4-Pack (Lesson Credits): Bundle of four lessons at a discount; valid 90 days with rollover within that window.

  • Store Credit: Non-cash credit issued when you cancel ≥48 hours before a lesson, usable under policy windows.

  • Holiday Closure: Dates when campuses are closed to the public (no private lessons); boarding care continues 365 days/year.

  • DaySchool / DayCamp: Day training add-ons—DaySchool (small-group, social) and DayCamp (1:1, ideal for less-social dogs).

Additional Resources

Private lessons focus on practical skills you’ll use every day. Gives you clear, focused training for everyday obedience and real-life manners, whether in-store (most availablity) or, when appropriate, in-home. Start with a PD360 Assessment so we can tailor your plan, then choose the format that fits — at location for precision, or at home (when appropriate) for real-life reps. We’ll meet you where you are, and build from there. we’ll help you choose a track that gets results and feels sustainable.