Frequently Asked Questions
1. What kind of dog training do you offer?​
At Strong Bond Dog Training, we offer private dog training lessons, psychiatric service dog training, and therapy dog training. Our customized programs cater to puppies, beginners, and advanced students, ensuring every dog and owner receive the guidance they need.
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2. What is trust-based dog training?
Trust-based dog training focuses on building a strong relationship between you and your dog through clear communication, leadership, and service. Instead of relying solely on obedience training, we prioritize understanding your dog’s needs and motivations. This approach leads to long-term behavioral change, making your dog more cooperative, responsive, and eager to follow your lead.
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3. Do you use positive reinforcement in your dog training?
Yes! Our dog training programs incorporate positive reinforcement techniques alongside gentle course corrections when necessary. We focus on clear communication and trust-building, ensuring your dog understands what behaviors are appropriate. Our goal is to create a calm, confident dog who listens because they trust you—and not because they fear you.
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4. How do you stop leash pulling in your training programs?
Instead of forcing your dog to walk in a rigid position, we teach them that leash walking is a partnership. We help your dog understand that being on a leash still allows them to meet their needs—whether it's sniffing, exploring, or saying hi to friends. We will guide you in choosing the right leash length and walk style to create a stress-free experience.
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5. Can you help with my reactive dog?
Yes! We specialize in training reactive dogs by investigating the root cause of their behavior. Whether your dog displays fear-based reactivity, aggression, or anxiety, our training techniques focus on building confidence, trust, and calmness. We use gradual exposure, structured exercises, and clear leadership to help your dog feel more secure and less reactive to triggers.
6. Do you offer off-leash training?​
Yes! Off-leash training is included in the advanced stages of our dog training programs. We focus on building reliable recall skills, ensuring that your dog listens and responds even in highly distracting environments.
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7. Can you help my dog with recall training?
Reliable recall is a core part of our dog training philosophy. Through trust-building exercises and reward-based reinforcement, we ensure that your dog sees you as their safest and most exciting place to be—no matter the stressors or distractions.
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8. Do you have any puppy training tips?
Yes! The best thing you can do is start puppy training early. Your puppy is always learning—so the sooner you teach them boundaries, communication, and establish your leadership, the easier it will be as they grow. Our puppy training programs focus on socialization, leash training, basic requests, and trust-building, ensuring your pup grows into a well-balanced adult dog.
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9. Do you train therapy dogs?
Yes! Our therapy dog training program prepares dogs for volunteer work in hospitals, schools, and community programs. We focus on advanced skills, behavioral stability, and social confidence, ensuring that your dog can remain calm and responsive in a wide-variety of environments.
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10. Where do you offer your in-person dog training services?
We offer private, in-person dog training in Boulder, Niwot, Longmont, Prospect, Louisville, Superior, and Broomfield, Colorado.
11. Do you offer group dog training classes?​
Yes! Our group training classes are available in the summer for clients who have completed our Pack Transformation (Part I) Program. These classes help reinforce leash manners, advanced skills, and socialization in a distracting environment while strengthening your dog's bond with you.
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12. Do you offer in-home dog training?
Yes, we offer in-home private dog training sessions when appropriate. A small travel fee may apply depending on your location.
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13. Do you have any online dog training courses?
Yes! We provide virtual dog training sessions and access to our online program materials. This is a great option for those outside the Boulder area who want to experience our trust-based training approach remotely.
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14. What is psychiatric service dog training?
A psychiatric service dog is trained to assist individuals with mental health conditions through specific tasks and behavioral support. Our service dog training program is designed for both the dog and the handler, creating team work and a healing lifestyle. At the end of our training, we offer a psychiatric service dog certification to qualifying duos.​
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15. What’s the difference between obedience training and trust-based training?
Obedience training focuses on making the dog comply with commands, often without addressing the root cause of behavioral issues. Trust-based dog training, on the other hand, looks at why your dog is acting a certain way and guides them through clear communication, calm leadership, and relationship-building. This leads to lasting behavioral change instead of just surface-level fixes.