About Sadie’s Rules K9 Training

Sadie's Rules K9 Training does one thing, and is unusually direct about the boundary: "We don't do any other kind of training" beyond family dogs, ruling out "no competitive obedience, dog sports, service dogs, or law enforcement training".

The programs and what they cost

Four residential programs are published with prices. The four-week program is for "the average family dog without major issues" at "$5,050". Six weeks at "$6,050" is aimed at dogs who "struggle with issues like leash reactivity, resource guarding, crate issues, fear, anxiety, and others". Eight weeks at "$7,050" is for "significant behavioral and state of mind issues", with the published examples "severe separation anxiety, severe anxiety in any context, aggression that's been practiced over many years, dogs with a significant bite history". A ten-week program at "$8,050" is reserved for what the business calls "our most intense trainees", adding the realistic caveat that "Everyone thinks their dog falls into the 'most intense' category, but very few actually do!"

What a dog learns

The published curriculum is concrete: "Obedience commands: sit, down, come, heel, place", "The ability to be obedient whether on or off-leash", crate calm, and "Good behavior in 'real life' settings such as a family home, stores, parks, soccer practices".

Why it is run from a house

Deliberately, and the reasoning is published: "Your dog will learn the behaviors and patterns they need to be successful at home in a home environment, not a sterile facility." The family is part of it – "my wife and kids (and dogs and cats) are involved in each dog's training" – because "The energy of kids (even teenagers) is very different from that of adults".

The owner is trained too

The business treats the handover as part of the product: "Our 'human training' includes thorough in-person lessons/coaching sessions, written guidance, 'homework' and lifetime support after graduation."

Origin

The business is named after a rescue dog whose aggression the owner rehabilitated after several trainers declined the case.