Frequently Asked Questions

Dogs are our passion!! And we want you to have the best relationship with your dog as you can. We believe in training dogs for the real world using real life distraction. Our goal is to be a canine resource for our clients and help them improve their bond with their dog. We specifically design our training programs to teach each owner and dog on a personalized level. We use a combination of canine learning theory, canine psychology and behavior modification (through counseling and instruction) to humanely and gently coach dogs and owners on dog-handling skills that will result in a strong and positive relationship. We train in a home setting, rather than a sterile training facility. We provide handouts, demonstrations and skill instruction designed to educate owners not just on the "how" of things but also the "why". We feel our client/canine relationship shouldn’t end with training so we continue to provide continuing education services such as an e-newsletter, trick of the month, workshops and our availability for our clients to call or email us with dog training questions.

At Acme Canine we believe in life-long dog training and coaching so our clients form a happy relationship with their dogs that lasts a life time!

Dog Training is constantly evolving. There is both an "ART" and a "SCIENCE" of training. The 'art' component evolves from the ability to communicate effectively to both the same species (the owner) and the foreign one (the dog). It looks a bit like magic when you see it transform a dog from an obnoxious liability to a calm, controllable and loving companion. The competent trainer's ability to get his 'information' across to the dog is the 'magic' part. Transforming that information into a salient image for the owner requires knowledge and skill. This is difficult to accomplish through reading a book or watching a DVD.

A professional trainer has a genuine interest and concern for the improvement of the mental and physical well-being of dogs. One of the most valuable skills a professional trainer has is his ability to utilize his techniques specific for the dog he is training. Training techniques should be based on evaluating the personality of the dog and the needs of his owner. From this a trainer can offer direction on raising that type, breed and temperament of puppy and later formulate an appropriate training program to successfully train the dog and educate the owners in handling and modifying their dog's behavior.

To an un-trained eye, dog training looks easy when they watch the 'dance' between handler and animal. What it actually is portraying is the skill and knowledge amassed over many years and many dogs. Not just the puppies but the adults too. The dangerous ones and the easy ones. Each dog is an equal contributor to a professional trainer's skills and education. There have been many new things learned about animal behavior, dogs in particular. Why do dogs do what they do? A Certified Professional Trainer (CPT) not only understands why, but is intuitive to the necessary changes that need to occur in order to intervene, avert and ultimately eliminate inappropriate behaviors.

All Acme Canine trainers have attended classes, passed tests and received certification from the National K9 School for Dog Trainers to professionally train dogs. In addition to being certified professional trainers they have a minimum of 5 years dog training experience, are AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluators and maintain memberships with the International Association of Canine Professionals, Pet Care Services Association, and other training and behavior focused organizations so that Acme Canine clients benefit from the latest knowledge of canine learning theory, canine psychology and behavior modification. To hone in on our skills our trainers attend continuing education conferences and seminars each year.

Acme Canine's certified professional trainers can give you insight from their experience with different dog breeds and can help you choose the right dog for your lifestyle. In addition we are trained to evaluate the personality, sociability, and potential trainability of a litter or individual puppy so that breeders and new owners have a reliable indicator of the breed that is truly right for you!

Acme Canine utilizes a variety of training methods to accomplish our client's goals and needs. We individualize our training techniques based on your dog's personality and temperament. This approach allows us to tailor our training to each dog/owner team's learning needs, and can be adjusted based on the dog's progress. We do this without drugs or punishment; rather we use praise, motivation and consequence to communicate with your dog.

Some trainers claim that they can train your dog with a stress free approach. The simple fact is that all living creatures experience stress every day of their lives. All forms of training cause stress, which in turn helps the dog to learn. Stress is a natural part of life and it would be impossible and unnatural to shield any living creature from stress all the time.

It is important to understand that the process is not simply a dollars and cents formula. Rather, it is a combination of money, time, energy, and ability of the owners as well as the behavioral issues of their dog. At times the choice is not clear which option to choose. The decision then rests with what suits your family's lifestyle. Acme Canine offers a variety of options; please contact us to discuss this further.

Yes. When we apply the balanced method of training we utilize training collars. We primarily use the standard training collar (slip collar) during our training. We can also use prong collars or e-collars (static electronic collars), if you would like. You will ultimately have the final say in the equipment we use. Many people have misconceptions about training collars. Most of these misconceptions arise from the simple fact that people do not understand how to properly use the collars. When used correctly these collars will never harm a dog. Acme Canine would never use any equipment or technique that would intentionally harm a dog.

When used correctly the training collar will never choke your dog. Corrections are given in a snap-and-release manner. The collar is simply meant to get the dog's attention. These collars should never be used to string the dog up.

Much like the standard training collar, corrections with the prong collar should be given in a snap-and-release manner. The prongs are designed to apply a quick tightening feeling to the dog's neck. This collar simulates the type of correction a dog would receive from the pack leader or that a puppy would receive from its mother.

No. This is one of the biggest misconceptions about the electronic collar. These collars do not pump electricity through your dog and will not burn them. The stimulus from an e-collar is similar to that of a static poke you would receive from shuffling your feet on carpet and then touching a door handle. When used properly the stimulus from the collar acts much in the same way as the correction from a training collar. These collars actually make it easier to train a dog since the dog learns his actions are the cause of the correction and that it's not coming from you.

Absolutely not. Actually, when performed correctly, a correction can help strengthen the bond you have with your dog. In the wild the Pack Leader maintains order by correcting his pack when they display undesired behavior; by doing so he earns the packs respect and they trust him to keep them safe. In order to be your dog's pack leader you must earn your dogs respect and trust. Maintaining rules and boundaries for your dog and giving corrections when the dog is disobedient helps to establish this type of relationship. It is, however, crucial that you understand how to give a correction. Corrections need to be fair, they need to release immediately, and you should never hold a grudge with your dog. Corrections should never cause physical harm to the dog and should never be given out of anger.

The earlier the better! In fact, Acme Canine offers pre-arrival consultations for that new puppy you're soon to get. It's very important to know what to do right away instead of waiting for problems to occur. Puppies begin learning at birth and their brains appear to be particularly responsive to learning and retaining experiences that are encountered during the first 8 to 16 weeks after birth. This means that breeders, new puppy owners, veterinarians, trainers and behaviorists have a responsibility to assist in providing these learning/socialization experiences with other puppies/dogs, with children/adults and with various environmental situations during this optimal period from birth to 16 weeks.

Our certified trainers coach you on how to expose your puppy to household appliances and tools that are not harmful to them; handle your puppy; demonstrate trimming your puppy's nails, grooming and bathing techniques as well as socialization exercises. These beginning steps help your puppy develop and grow into a well-mannered and well-socialized dog.

Exposing your puppy at an early age to a variety of sounds, sights and objects will build confidence and develop a bond between you and your dog. Through handling exercises the puppy becomes desensitized to sudden pats, nail trimming, veterinary check ups and new situations. Teaching a puppy how to fit into a domestic world also makes training easier. Puppy training should be a pleasurable learning experience for everyone involved. Acme Canine can also assist you with correcting playbiting, accidents in the house, barking and other behavior issues. Contact Acme Canine for more information

Yes you can. You should however avoid doing any training in public for example, where it might be exposed to diseases from other dogs. Between the ages of 7 and 16 weeks, puppies begin to form attitudes and opinions that will last a lifetime. It is crucial that you begin a fun, informal educational program with your puppy immediately. This early start is important in preventing potential behavioral problems and will simplify training your dog in the future. Acme Canine is dedicated to the best puppy in the world - - YOUR PUPPY! We believe that dogs should be trained for the real world, based on their individual personalities. We have spent years learning about all the variations of dog training methodologies and have worked to combine and refine the best of all methods in order to offer a training program appropriate for your puppy. We teach using a balanced scale of praise, motivation and correction.

Our Puppy Preschool program is built around 5 weekly group sessions which you are able to determine when and how often to attend. We evaluate the personality type and temperament of your puppy and offer direction on how to set your puppy up for success for the rest of its life. Class size is limited to 6 puppies in order to provide individualized attention.

Topics that will be covered include communicating effectively with your pup, house breaking, the importance of socialization, confidence building exercises, using nice leash manners, nutrition, safe toys and safe homes, grooming, basic problem solving (how do you stop that playbiting?), keeping your puppy healthy, and much, much more!

Sometimes people mistake their puppy's behavior for aggression when it’s really only playing roughly or teething. You can contact Acme Canine if you need help with this or other problems.

We do require that your dog is current on the following vaccinations prior to training: DHLP, Parvo, and Rabies. We also recommend keeping your dog current on his/her Corona and Bordatella vaccinations. Keeping your dog vaccinated against these diseases will help protect our trainer, our dogs, and your community, as well as yourself and your dog. Acme Canine reserves the right to refuse training to any dog that is not current on these vaccinations.

You absolutely can. It doesn't matter what age your dog is. Old dogs really CAN learn new tricks!

Yes, Acme Canine carries insurance specific to dog training. Proof of insurance is available upon request.

We require payment in full at the end of each training session. No further training sessions will be scheduled until previous training has been paid in full. Clients who chose to have their dog boarded and trained at our home facility make a deposit when they drop their dog off and pay the remainder of the training fee when their dog is returned to them. We accept cash, checks, IMS barter and credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express) as forms of payment.

We understand that life can be unpredictable. If you need to cancel a lesson we ask that you give us as much notice as possible. You can contact us via email or phone to cancel your lesson and/or to reschedule a lesson. In the event that Acme Canine will need to cancel a lesson we will contact you by phone (if a number has been provided). We will do everything we can to give you as much notice as possible. For more information please see our payment and cancellation policy page.

Acme Canine is located in Lewis Center, Ohio. We service Northwestern Columbus and surrounding suburbs within a ½ hour radius. We have trained dogs from California to North Carolina. Arrangements can be made to accommodate anyone, anywhere. Please contact Acme Canine for more details.

Although Acme Canine’s primary role is individualized training, we do offer puppy socialization classes on a rotating basis and other group oriented classes, so check back often for updates.

When you are ready for training contact us to schedule your canine assessment. After the assessment we can schedule your first lesson at your convenience.

The Canine Assessment is a one-hour session during which an Acme Canine certified trainer asks a number of questions in order to obtain background on your dog as well as learn what your goals and needs are. In addition we observe the dynamics of your dog in its home setting and its interactions between family members and determine your dog's personality and temperament. With this information we can give you tips and advice as well as design a specific training plan to successfully coach you in obtaining the well-mannered dog you desire.

Yes, advanced training is available upon request. Before any advanced training is given we will need to evaluate your dog and determine if he/she is ready for the training. All advanced training requires a solid foundation in obedience. Clients interested in advanced training must be dedicated to the high demands of advanced training and must demonstrate that they are able to handle their dog responsibly. Acme Canine reserves the right to refuse advanced training to any client/dog that we feel is not ready for the training. Advanced training offered by Acme Canine currently includes: therapy dog training, off-leash training, retrieval, and scent detection/tracking.

Acme Canine teaches a certified therapy dog course. It is an introductory course that is important for every dog owner thinking of having a well mannered dog. When your dog passes the test he will receive AKC certification, and with the facility’s permission you can bring your dog to nursing homes and libraries.

Depending on the situation, it is quite possible to help with the training of both dogs at the same time. When each dog has a distinct and different problem from the other dog however, two separate consultations would then apply. Please contact Acme Canine with more specific details.

We work with many dogs with housetraining issues and have a very high success rate. Most dogs that come to us are those who cannot distinguish where to eliminate and where to keep clean and usually have developed the habit who it is ok to sleep in their excrements.

Our training begins with teaching the dog that both it and its crate are to be kept clean. Your dog will be set up to be successful with numerous trips outside throughout the day and bathed each time it has an accident in its crate. Once your dog has an understanding, we move on to teaching the dog to eliminate outside on command in a certain location. We provide daily email updates and tips while your dog is with us and a progress report with suggestions when your dog is returned. Before any housetraining can occur we ask that your dog be up to date on vaccinations, not taking antibiotics, and also vet checked for parasites, urinary tract infection and receive a clean bill of health.

Rather than keep your dog for a month to establish the pattern, we send it home after 10-14 days on a strict schedule to enforce what the dog has learned. We find this helps the dog transition better to your home and the housetraining. We also include a take home session and a follow up session in your home to work with you and whatever housetraining problems may still exist. We've found that a bit of obedience helps with the process so in addition to establishing housetraining, we teach your dog some basic manners and the place command (which is similar to a crate without walls).

Since you ultimately need to continue with the housetraining pattern it is difficult to offer a money back guarantee unless you allow us to live in your home with you when your dog is returned.

Yes. Solving behavioral issues is a very important part of having a well behaved, balanced dog. We offer behavior modification within our training sessions for clients who want to rid their dog of unwanted behavior. We will start with a canine assessment with you and your dog and discuss the best approach to solving your dog's behavior issues. Almost 70% of all behavior issues can be solved through obedience training.

Absolutely! Acme Canine encourages the whole family to participate in the training of their dog. The more people who treat your dog in a consistent manner, the quicker your dog learns.

Acme Canine is located in Lewis Center. We service Northwestern Columbus and surrounding suburbs within a ½ hour radius. Arrangements can be made to accommodate anyone, anywhere though. We’ve trained dogs from California to North Carolina. Please contact Acme Canine for more details.

Acme Canine specializes in aggression, fear and anxiety behaviors. You can be assured that you are working with experienced professionals who can assist you with almost any dog behavior issue. We approach each dog as an individual. We will conduct a mini-interview with you over the phone or via email prior to scheduling an canine assessment. If your dog is determined to be aggressive then we will need to take the appropriate precautions to protect our trainer as well as you and your dog. All assessments of potentially aggressive dogs will require the dog to be on a leash and collar at all times. If you cannot physically handle your dog we will require that you have someone with you who can control the dog. Although we feel that most cases of aggression can be worked out during the training process, we do recognize that some aggressive dogs may be beyond our ability to help. We do reserve the right to refuse training to any dog due to aggression.