About Darbs ‘n Dogs

Darbs 'n Dogs works in Cary and the surrounding area, offering training alongside dog walking and overnight care. Its owner, Darby, writes that she "began my professional career working with dogs in 2014 while I was in school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill," has "been working professionally with dogs for over eight years now, and I have been training dogs for six," and has worked with more than 150 different breeds.

A method stated without hedging

The equipment policy is spelled out in full: "I am a positive dog trainer, which means that I teach your dogs through positive reinforcement, and NEVER use anything that will harm your dog or make him/her uncomfortable – No shock collars, prong collars, electric collars, leash jerking, yelling, corrections, or any other aversive tool or method of any kind."

What the training covers, and what it costs

The published range is "puppy training, to off-leash training, to dealing with problem behaviors, learning advanced obedience concepts and more," and the trainer lists cases she has handled as basic obedience, polite leash walking, severe aggression and anxiety, advanced obedience, destructive chewing, digging, barking and jumping up. Hourly training is $55; package rates "vary by need and are available upon request." A virtual mentorship runs at the same $55 an hour, created "out of demand from my clients," on the argument that "teaching humans to communicate effectively with their dogs is perhaps the most important part of my job."