Financial Assistance for Dog Training

Here are general guidelines about how I currently price my sliding scale and to help you determine where you fall on it.

The highest dollar cost reflects the true cost of the service. It is the cost that the practitioner would charge all students in the absence of a sliding scale. 

This price is for you if you:

• Have access to financial security

• Own property 

• Have personal savings

• Would not traditionally qualify for sliding scale services. 

• Are able to pay for "wants" and spend little time worried about securing necessities in your life.

The middle cost reflects the practitioner's acknowledgement that paying the full cost would prevent some folks from being able to attend, but who do not honestly find themselves reflected in either descriptions for the highest cost or the lowest. 

This price is for you if you:

• Are struggling to conquer debt or build savings or move away from paycheck to paycheck living AND 

• Have access to steady income AND

• Are not spending most of your time thinking about meeting basic needs such as food, shelter, medical care, child care, etc.

However, if you can ask others, such as family members, partners, or friends, for financial support, please consider using those personal resources before you use the resources of the sliding scale and limit opportunities for others.

The bottom cost represents an honest acknowledgment by the practitioner that there are folks whose economic circumstances would prevent them from being a part of classes if there was not a deliberate opportunity made for them to access services at a cost that is reflective of their economic realities.

This price is for you if you:

• If you struggle to maintain access to needs such as health care, housing, food, child care AND/OR

• Are living paycheck to paycheck AND/OR

• Are in significant debt

You deserve a community that honors your price as an equal economic offering as the person who can pay the highest tier. 

Please be mindful that if you purchase a price at the lowest end of the scale when you can truthfully afford the higher ticket prices, you are limiting access to those who truly need the gift of financial flexibility. Being honest with yourself and your financial situation when engaging with sliding scale practices grows strong and sustainable communities. Additionally, when I am paid fairly, I am able to invest more time and resources to free and lower cost offerings.

Contact us here about these sliding scale options and let us know the details of your case, as well as what service/class you intend to use your sliding scale option on and which option you are applying for (Option B or C) that fits your situation.

Option #2: Dog Training Scholarships

NEXT SCHOLARSHIPS BEING AWARDED IN JULY 2024! APPLY NOW!

Every year, we offer a limited number of dog training scholarships for dog owners. These scholarships cover 100% of a single selected service/class that meets your dog specific needs based on the scholarship applied for. (Ex. If awarded the Fearful Dog Scholarship, you must attend a class/service geared towards helping fearful dogs or if awarded the At-Risk Puppy scholarship, you must attend a service/class geared towards puppies.) Only certain services/classes will be covered depending on the scholarship awarded.

Scholarships are only those that cannot financially cover dog training expenses on their own comfortably and their dog has an urgent need for training/behavior modification help to improve their quality of life. Please do not apply if you don’t need financial assistance covering dog training/behavior modification and leave these limited opportunities open for those who most need them.

To apply for a scholarship, please contact us via our Contact Form with a detailed history of your dog’s behavior and background, detail why you believe they meet criteria for the scholarship, how you intend to use the scholarship, and which scholarship you are applying for. The same household may only apply for one scholarship per calendar year.

You may not use a scholarship retrospectively on a service/class you already paid for. Please apply in advance before purchasing a service/class.

Scholarships are not guaranteed and we select students based on cases that are the most urgently in need of trainer/behavior consultant assistance. There are only a handful of scholarships given out each year and it will state below next to the name of the scholarship if that scholarship is no longer available for the year.

You and/or your dog must meet certain criteria to be awarded one of the following five scholarships:

Shelter/Rescue Scholarship - AVAILABLE:

The Shelter/Rescue Scholarship is geared towards staff members (not fosters) working in rescue/shelters who would like to use our services to train an adoptable dog from their shelter/rescue OR people who have proof of adopting the dog attending training in the last three months from a shelter or rescue and that dog has behavioral challenges relating to fear, aggression, or reactivity. If selecting the Behavior Guidance Call option, owner must be willing to properly document their dog’s gait and posture during a one week period via photos and video at home before their call, so we can thoroughly assess their case. A written vet referral documenting these behavior challenges can help in being awarded this scholarship.

Scholarship must be redeemed within 1 year of it being awarded and can only be redeemed for the dog you applied for it with. Scholarships cannot be “refunded” or transferred to other people or dogs for any reason.

The Shelter/Rescue scholarship covers the entire service fee for one of the following services: Behavior Guidance Call or Puppy Kindergarten (only for dogs not displaying fear, reactivity, or aggression), Basic Manners (only for dogs not displaying fear, reactivity, or aggression), Pattern Games for Reactivity, or Reactive Dog group class. You can attend these virtually or in-person as they are available to be scheduled.

You should be financially capable of covering any needed training supplies, gas to travel to your service/internet connection to attend class, webcam/camera to take any needed photos/videos, etc. on your own as they are not included.

Fearful Dog Scholarship - AVAILABLE:

The Fearful Dog Scholarship is geared towards dog owners who own a dog presenting with behavioral challenges relating to severe fear, aggression, or reactivity that is affecting their quality of life, their dog’s quality of life, or both. If selecting the Behavior Guidance Call option, owner must be willing to properly document their dog’s gait and posture during a one week period via photos and video at home before their call, so we can thoroughly assess their case. A written vet referral documenting these behavior challenges can help in being awarded this scholarship.

Scholarship must be redeemed within 1 year of it being awarded and can only be redeemed for the dog you applied for it with. Scholarships cannot be “refunded” or transferred to other people or dogs for any reason.

The Fearful Dog scholarship covers the entire service fee for one of the following services: Behavior Guidance Call or Pattern Games for Reactivity or Reactive Dog group class. You can attend these virtually or in-person as they are available to be scheduled.

You should be financially capable of covering any needed training supplies, gas to travel to your service/internet connection to attend class, webcam/camera to take any needed photos/videos, etc. on your own as they are not included.

Behavior Euthanasia Risk Scholarship - AVAILABLE:

The Behavior Euthanasia Risk Scholarship is geared towards dog owners who own a dog presenting with behavioral challenges relating to severe fear, aggression, or reactivity that is affecting their quality of life, their dog’s quality of life, or both, and the owner needs assistance in making a behavioral euthanasia decision. Dogs that have already received professional training/behavior services somewhere else unsuccessfully will be given priority. The owner must be willing to properly document their dog’s gait and posture during a one week period via photos and video at home before their Behavior Guidance Call, so we can thoroughly assess their case. A written vet referral documenting these behavior challenges can help in being awarded this scholarship.

Scholarship must be redeemed within 6 months of it being awarded and can only be redeemed for the dog you applied for it with. Scholarships cannot be “refunded” or transferred to other people or dogs for any reason.

The Behavior Euthanasia Risk scholarship covers the entire service fee for one of the following services: Behavior Guidance Call. You can attend these over the phone worldwide as they are available to be scheduled.

You should be financially capable of covering any needed training supplies, gas to travel to your service/internet connection to attend class, webcam/camera to take any needed photos/videos, etc. on your own as they are not included.

Senior Dog Scholarship - AVAILABLE:

The Senior Dog Scholarship is geared towards dog owners who are desiring to keep their senior dog’s mind sharp and their body active. They may not present with any behavior concerns and should be is good physical health for training. Blind and/or deaf dogs welcomed. Senior dogs with no training history at all will be given priority, as every dog should know the joys of training in their lifetime. Dogs must be 8 years old or older for apply for the Senior Dog Scholarship.

Scholarship must be redeemed within 1 year of it being awarded and can only be redeemed for the dog you applied for it with. Scholarships cannot be “refunded” or transferred to other people or dogs for any reason.

The Senior Dog scholarship covers the entire service fee for one of the following services: Enrichment sessions, or Basic Manners (only for dogs not displaying fear, reactivity, or aggression), Farm Dog (only for dogs not displaying fear, reactivity, or aggression), or virtual AKC Fit Dog Level 1 group class.

You can attend these virtually or in-person as they are available to be scheduled. You should be financial capable of covering any needed training supplies, gas to travel to your service/internet connection to attend class, webcam/camera to take any needed photos/videos, etc. on your own as they are not included.

At-Risk Puppy Scholarship - AVAILABLE:

The At-Risk Puppy Scholarship is geared towards dog owners who have a puppy under 6 months of age displaying behavior concerns related to fear, reactivity, or aggression OR puppies that came from documented high-risk-for-behavioral-concerns situations like shelters, puppy mills, abuse/neglect cases, are blind and/or deaf, or had a now-treated medical concern before their first 12 weeks of life that prevented them from being socialized (ex. parvo). If selecting the Behavior Guidance Call option, owner must be willing to properly document their dog’s gait and posture during a one week period via photos and video at home before their call, so we can thoroughly assess their case. A written vet referral documenting these behavior challenges can help in being awarded this scholarship. Dogs must be under 6 months old for apply for the At-Risk Puppy Scholarship.

Scholarship must be redeemed before the dog is 1 year of age and can only be redeemed for the dog you applied for it with. Scholarships cannot be “refunded” or transferred to other people or dogs for any reason.

The At-Risk Puppy scholarship covers the entire service fee for one of the following services: Behavior Guidance Call or Puppy Kindergarten (only for dogs not displaying fear, reactivity, or aggression), Basic Manners (only for dogs not displaying fear, reactivity, or aggression), Pattern Games for Reactivity, or Reactive Dog group class. You can attend these virtually or in-person as they are available to be scheduled.

You should be financially capable of covering any needed training supplies, gas to travel to your service/internet connection to attend class, webcam/camera to take any needed photos/videos, etc. on your own as they are not included.

Contact us here about these scholarships with details about your dog’s history and behavior, why your dog fits criteria for the scholarship, how you intend to use the scholarship, and which scholarship you are applying for specifically. You may only apply for one scholarship per household per calendar year.