Civil Canine practices relationship based balanced training methods. We value the relationship that exists and can flourish with training between dogs and their owners, and take pride in the bond we build with your dogs as well. We use e-collars in our adult programs to build clear and fair communication between you and your dog, and use prong collars when needed for on leash communication. We recognize there is no one-size-fits-all style of training, and we meet you and your dog at your needs. It's important to us to make sure that owners are thoroughly involved and educated throughout the entire process of training. This includes photos and videos while your dog is away at training, a personalized transfer manual and lesson at the end of board and train programs, printable digital homework files for private lesson programs, and text and email support throughout any training program. Our goal is to teach you how your dog's training works and how to communicate with them so that you can tackle anything that comes your way without any handholding from your trainer needed. Hit a roadblock and need some help, even years down the road? We'll be there to support you for the life of your dog, even after training is finished.

The best way to reach out is through our contact forms on the website. Once you've submitted a contact form, we'll reach out to you through the email provided to set up a free phone consultation to determine the right package for you and your dog.

We provide text and email support throughout training, answering questions, watching and critiquing any training videos you send us, and sending updates via photo, video, and detailed text when your dog is in our care. During board and train programs, we try to post regular updates about your dog's progress via posts, stories, or direct messages. After training, you have support for the life of your dog. This means even if 8 years down the line a training question pops up, we'll be there for you. Free follow up lessons are available for any refresher training needed.

Short answer: Nope! Long answer: We value these training tools and the ways that we've witnessed them benefit dogs and their owners alike and prefer to use them where applicable, but are always open to other methods of training. Just like people, every dog is an individual with unique needs, sensitivities, motivations, and quirks. While there are a lot of aspects that carry over consistently in dog training (ex: a rewarded dog will do that thing more, and a corrected dog will do that thing less), the specifics of the training are unique (ex: while one dog gets excited when you speak loud, another dog may cower in fear). While we do our utmost to teach dogs to associate these tools with good things and to understand them as a communication method, sometimes unique past experiences, or other roadblocks (stress thresholds, allergies, or other health restrictions like the inability to wear collars) can pop up. While not common, we don't limit ourselves to their usage.

We work with all dog breeds, big or small, young and old. We have experience with all kinds of training cases from anxiety and reactivity, to basic obedience and off leash training. At the moment we are not properly equipped for separation anxiety cases with our board and train programs and boarding.

Our program payments can be broken down into as many segments as necessary with the exception of a minimum 25% training start deposit on the first day of training. Payment must be completed in full by the end of the training program. Private lessons must be paid according to the progress (ex: half paid by the halfway point).