About Always Faithful Dog & Puppy Training of Traverse City MI

About Always Faithful Dog Training of Traverse City

Always Faithful Dog Training is a franchise network — "Founded by a United States Marine!" — and the

Traverse City location is run by Leanna, listed as "Owner/Pack Leader", alongside "Laura, Level 1 IDTA

Dog Trainer". The number is (231) 624 8762 and appointments are "made to suit your schedule!"

Method

The method has a name and a hard boundary on tools: "No Treats, No Clickers, No Shock Collars, No

Gimmicks". "The Always Faithful Dog Training method is designed to teach you the language of your dog.

We call it Leadership Dog Training. Dogs are pack animals. As part of your pack, you want your dog to

follow you. Our leadership-based techniques will enable you to be the pack leader."

The reasoning is published in the FAQ. On treats: "When we exchange treats for obedience, we create a

transactional relationship – a 'what's in it for me' attitude." On shock collars: "Shock collar training

creates results based on fear and has been labeled abusive by the American and Canadian Veterinary

Associations." The organization's own framing of its work is "All AFDT methods use positive

reinforcement only".

Training is delivered as "private in-home lessons".

Packages and published prices

– **Puppy Starter Package, $185** — "a single in-home lesson to assist you & your new puppy to get

started on the right foot. We'll cover house training, exercise, feeding routine, crate training,

socialization, responding to common behaviors like nipping & jumping and laying the right foundations

for leadership. Great for dogs 8 weeks old to 5 months old."

– **Beginner Package, $495** — "loose leash walking, sit, stay, come, down", plus "common household

behaviors like potty training, jumping, nipping and mouthing".

– **Intermediate Package, $795** — "Including all the same lessons from our beginner package, we add

off-leash training for the dog owner who needs their dog to listen inside and outside of the house."

– **Pro Package, $1100** — "In addition to the intermediate lessons, we add high distraction training

for the dog owner who needs the highest level of obedience no matter where you are."

– **Board and Train** — "This package enables us to bring your dog to our training facility for

specialized training. Please call for pricing".

A discount is published: "WE OFFER 10% OFF ANY TRAINING TO MILITARY, POLICE OR FIRE DEPT."

Certification and scale

"Yes, every single Always Faithful Dog Trainer is certified through AFDT and the IDTA. Our organization

has trained over 60,000 dogs in the last 20 years."

Intake

Age: "We start our puppy training as young as 8 weeks and have no age limit to training, if the dog is

healthy enough to train." Breed: "the AFDT method works on any dog, any age and any breed." On

aggression and on therapy and service dogs, the network answer is location-dependent: "Yes, many of our

locations offer these services. Please check out your local location to determine if that service is

offered near you."

On anxiety: "the most common cause of anxiety is lack of leadership… So, before you consider

medicating your dog, please consider training. We can help with all types of anxiety including fear,

overprotectiveness, and separation anxiety."

Service area

"Serving the following areas: Empire, Glen Arbor, Lake Ann, Old Mission Peninsula, and Traverse City".