Does Virtual Training Really Work?
Over a year of zoom calls and online learning later, I know tons of us are just about ready to chuck the screens right out of the window. But let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. I’ll admit that we were a little skeptical in the beginning about how successful virtual dog training could be (despite the fact that there were lots of trainers already offering exclusively virtual consultations well before covid.) Now we’re not sure how we ever got along without virtual training as an option!
“So how does it work? Do I just sit my dog in front of the screen and you train them?”
Well, not quite! As much as I love that mental image, virtual training requires the same amount of pet parent involvement as in-person training does. (Which is to say, a lot!) Believe it or not, virtual training isn’t too different in how we structure our sessions.
We meet over zoom and first chat about your dog’s behavior history, your training experience, and your goals for working together. During this time we might ask to observe your dog’s behavior, have you show us the layout of the home and go over management together, and have the whole family share their observations and experience.
Next, we use screen share technology to show video examples of training exercises from our expansive library, helpful products we recommend, or any other resources that we believe will help you and your dog.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we have you practice and coach you in real time! The entire session is recorded so you have lifetime access to all of the training we do together. You’d be surprised how quickly an hour flies by.
Why do we still love virtual training?
It’s highly accessible! Virtual training allows us to safely work with clients all over the globe. Since there isn’t a commute involved, this also means we have much more flexible hours for scheduling at your convenience.
The leash stays in your hands. Have you ever had your dog behave perfectly for the trainer, but as soon as you give it a shot everything seems to fall apart? In virtual training, our goal is to teach you how to be an excellent trainer for your own dog by improving your mechanics and giving you a stellar training plan to follow.
It’s stress-free for all parties. Whether they get over-excited or nervous, having a stranger in the home is going to change behavior for many dogs. Virtual training allows us to get a plan together and onboard skills so you’re ready before the next guests arrive. As an added bonus, you don’t have to fret about making sure the whole house is clean before our session.
We have a wider set of resources to share. Working virtually means we have the entire internet at our fingertips. Talking through puppy setup is much easier and more engaging when we can show you the ideal setup, go through all of our favorite gear, link you to studies, and share lots of footage of past and current clients.
It’s safer for dogs and people when aggressive behaviors are involved. If your goal is to work through more complex behavior modification, there are a lot of safety protocols, core concepts, and management strategies we need to go through before working with you in-person or in a group class. We want to make sure you, your dog, and our trainers are all safe and sound for the whole training process.
Are there any downsides to virtual training?
It requires some technical savviness. We have absolutely had clients use their smartphones successfully for virtual training, but it does tend to help to have a larger screen and a good internet connection for the best session quality.
We don’t get to work directly with your dog. While our primary goal is to have you become a trainer, we’ve been working with dogs for years and years. And we’re good at it! Sometimes it’s helpful to have an expert kickstart a skill and rely on our extensive experience to help things go smoothly. (Luckily, for those of you in our service area, you can supplement your virtual training with training walks for that hands-on help!)
We miss working with you and your pups in real life! Don’t get us wrong, we love seeing those a-ha! moments play out via zoom. There’s just something extra magical about being able to celebrate those successes with you in person, though. And of course, we love being able to enjoy those real-life puppy snuggles, especially when they are hard-won displays of affection from a previously nervous or aggressive canine friend.
What can we work on with virtual training?
Here’s the best part: we can work on virtually anything! (See what I did there?
Do you have a new puppy? We can schedule a virtual session to tour your home, help you come up with a layout and setup that will work best, and establish a schedule for training, socialization, house training, and more.
Is your dog reactive or aggressive towards dogs and people? Via zoom we can discuss muzzle training and safety, go through counter-conditioning protocols, work on relaxation, and make sure you’re fully confident before we ever meet in person. Our online Reactive Rover Recovery class has been one of our most popular and effective courses to date!
Does your dog get anxious or upset at the groomer or vet? We can walk you through cooperative care procedures to work with your dog at home!
Are you looking to tighten up some advanced skills, work on tricks, or provide extra enrichment? We can meet you and your dog where you’re at and troubleshoot the nitty gritty parts of training you’ve been stuck on.
Is the thought of returning to work and leaving your dog at home anxiety-inducing for both of you? Separation anxiety training has been a massive success with virtual training!