About Loyalty Canine Services

Loyalty Canine Services is run by one person out of Gloucester – "Jerrid Cutter Owner and Trainer" – and it is one of the few trainers in this metro that publishes its full price list.

Door to door, with a stated radius

The logistics are set out precisely, which saves a phone call: "Loyalty Canine Services is located in the heart of Gloucester, Va. I travel to your location to pickup your dog and return to your house with your dog after training is complete. So that means you don't have to travel for my services! If your looking for lessons I travel up to 40 minutes from Gloucester Courthouse area of Gloucester County. If your looking for Board and Train options I will travel up to 60 minutes from Gloucester Courthouse area of Gloucester County."

Lesson packages, with prices

The entry package is aimed at puppies and easy dogs: "If you are looking to train your puppy starting as early as 12 weeks, or a good dog in a short period this is your package. You get 5 lessons scheduled 2 to 3 days apart during 2 weeks." It runs "14 days | $600.00". The next step up is for the everyday nuisance behaviors – "This 6 lesson package is designed for dogs with minor behavior issues such as jumping, mouthing, counter surfing, pulling, excessive barking, etc." – at "21 days | $900.00". A one-off custom lesson is "$100.00", and military and first responder discounts apply to any package.

Board and train, including the hard cases

The two-week residential is the general obedience option – "This package is for basic and the start of advanced obedience. This package is designed to train the dog to be proficient with recall "come", sit-stay, down-stay, loose leash to off-leash heeling, leave it, off, and place commands." – at "14 days | $2500.00", and it includes home pick-up and drop-off, owner education videos and a training leash. A one-week option exists for "a pretty good dog that just needs a little work" at "$1500.00".

The longer program is the one that sets this business apart, and it is described with unusual candour about what it is for and what it will not deliver: "These packages are designed for dogs that have issues with aggression towards other animals, people, resource guarding, extreme mouthing, bite history, overprotective, extremely under-socialized, or high anxiety. The goal with these packages is to work through the issues and begin to socialize the dog. Obedience will be the foundation so they will be taught come, sit-stay, down-stay, place, and loose leash heel. This is not an off-leash goal package." Price is "21-28 days | $3500.00 – $4500.00". Naming a bite history as an accepted case, and then explicitly lowering the expected outcome, is the opposite of how most residential programs are sold.

The approach

"With our training packages, the obedience is built in. Obedience is the foundation that allows many other things to change. I take the time to build a relationship with your dog before any training takes place. Your dog's trust and a good bond with me allow for a more pleasurable learning experience to take place." AKC testing is also listed among the services. No certification is claimed on the site.