About The Pals Canine Academy

About

The Pals Academy is run by Dagny, who introduces herself on the site as a scientist first: "I've been a scientist from day one, and graduated from MSU with a BS in Genetics. Along the way, I met my mentor and discovered that dog training is a perfect blend of my two passions: dogs and science." The business is named after her childhood dog, Pal, and was created "in an effort to improve the lives of people and their dogs."

Method

The headline position is "Force-free. Shock-free. Science-based," and the methods section explains the reasoning rather than just the label: "My methods are based on scientific evidence of how dogs perceive their worlds and learn new things. Bottom line, my methods involve a lot of positive reinforcement." The site argues the case by analogy – "If it's possible to train dangerous animals like killer whales and lions without the use of force (and yes, it is!) we can certainly train your dog not to knock over your guests."

Services

The services page lists private lessons and consultations delivered in-home: "If you live in the Greater Lansing area (MI), I will come to you and teach you how to train your dog and manage their problem behaviors right where they happen!" Sessions can also be held in public places to work on socialization and manners, and prices "vary depending on location, but start at $65." Also published: overnight boarding, a boarding-with-training program, video chat consultations of 30 minutes or one hour, and group classes, with class locations and availability handled by enquiry.

Scale

Boarding is described as deliberately small: "Whether your dog is reactive or easy-going, my small operation guarantees maximum comfort for your beloved pup!"