About Better Built Dogs

Better Built Dogs describes itself by how it works: "We are MOBILE and train all over west Tennesee!" and, on the home page, "We are mobile! We can come to YOU." The scope is set just as plainly – "We train all breeds and ages".

Board and train, priced in public

The board-and-train page is unusually specific for a trainer of this size, listing four programs with prices and minimum ages. "Basic manners – $1700" is a two-week program covering "starting potty training, crate training, not jumping on people, curbing nipping, and not getting on furniture", open to puppies "12 weeks or older". "On-Leash Functional Obedience – $2500" runs three weeks for dogs four months and up. "Unleashed Functional Obedience – $3700" runs four weeks and is where the e-collar enters, described as giving dogs "the skills they need for offleash freedom and reliability with an e-collar as a wireless leash", with "$200 off of the price" for owners who already own one. "Elite Canine Citizen – $5000" is the six-week top of the ladder, "From on leash basics, to off leash freedom, and teaching your dog to behave in public." Every program includes follow-up sessions with the owner, and the business is blunt about why: "Your dog learned a bunch here. We arent going to hand them back over with a wave and a “Good luck.”" Dogs are not kenneled – "All of our board and trains live in our home with our family and our personal dogs."

Group classes at a named Jackson park

The classes page publishes the venues and times: "Liberty Garden Park", "24 Channing Way, Jackson, TN 38305", with "Saturday 10AM for Pupcamp" and "Saturday 11AM for Intermediate/Advanced Obedience"; a second weekly session runs at "Stockdale's – Paris TN". The entry class, "PUPCAMP", is described as roughly six weeks after which "you should expect your dog to be able to display functional obedience like sitting, laying down, come when called, walk on a leash, be tolerant of people, be tolerant of other dogs and allow handling for grooming." Above it sit "Advanced Obedience Classes", aimed at owners whose "goals are Rally, AKC obedience, off leash reliability, service tasks, or another sport".

AKC testing on site

The business publishes an "AKC Canine Good Citizen test – $150" and says "Dakota is an AKC Evaluator and can administer the CGC, CGCA, and GCGU tests." It also runs an "AKC Star Puppy Program" it describes as "a 6 week program we can do in conjunction with our pupcamp classes".

Method, stated rather than branded

Asked in its own FAQ "Are you positive only trainers", the business answers "No we are not.", saying it uses positive reinforcement primarily and putting that at "about 80% of the training." It sets no breed or age limits – "All ages and sizes of dogs can be trained."

What it will and will not take on

Two published statements pull in different directions. The services page lists "Specialized Training" and says "This includes advanced obedience and task training for service dogs and protection foundations." The board-and-train page, under "Custom Built Programs", hedges the same ground and refers it out: "We can do quite a bit and if we don't feel comfortable with ensuring the end product will be to our standard, our friends in the dog training industry can. Whether it is basic behavior modification, aggression issues, service dog task training, or protection training." Remote coaching carries a flat exclusion – "we do NOT work with aggression cases via zoom." Because the offer is hedged in one place and asserted in another, ask directly whether service-dog or protection work is something it takes on itself.