Frequently Asked Questions

Placing red push pins into city street m

WHAT AREAS DO YOU SERVICE?

We provide positive reinforcement-based training to the City of Lansing and the Greater Lansing area, including DeWitt, East Lansing, Eaton Rapids, Grand Ledge, Holt, Mason, Williamston, Dansville, Okemos, and Haslett.

A lazy looking brown dog is relaxing on a bed with grey blanket and pillows behind it.

DO YOU OFFER "BOARD AND TRAIN" OR OTHER DAYCARE STYLE SESSIONS?

We do all of our private training sessions at home with you, and there are a few good reasons for that. First of all, transparency is very important to us here at Sycamore Creek Canines. We want you to know exactly what's going on with your dog's training every step of the way, and we encourage you to ask questions about how we train and what we are working towards. Training should be a two-way street! It's more about having a conversation with your pet than it is telling them what not to do. As the expert of your own pet, you know all those little quirks that we just won't know from a few sessions with them. Plus, we find that most dogs are comfortable and have the highest rates of success in their own homes.

A small, brown and black Yorkshire terrier in a red harness and leash sitting on pavement.

WHY POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT?

We are committed to using training methods that are both effective yet gentle, and to making your pet's well-being a priority. Our goal is to ensure your furry friend not only behaves well, but that you can feel good about the relationship you have with your pet. While quick fixes like electric or prong collars might seem tempting, they often tackle surface issues without getting to the root cause of the behavior. This can increase your pet's fear, anxiety, or even cause aggression issues to arise. Our training principles follow LIMA guidelines, meaning we strive for the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive way to teach an animal a new behavior. Please feel free to check out our resources page for more information.

If positive reinforcement can be used to teach polar bears to open their mouths for a dental exam or a tiger to volunteer for a blood draw from their tail, your dog can also be trained this way, too!

Polar Bear Training, Toronto Zoo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVOG94M6ca4

Tiger Training, Copenhagen Zoo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDGEuihopWs

A black and white dog faces the right side of the screen and is yawning, exposing all of their teeth.

WHAT IF MY DOG HAS BITTEN SOMEONE?

Dealing with a dog bite can be really scary for everyone involved, no matter how serious or who was bitten. Luckily, most of the time we can get a handle on and prevent future dog bites from happening using the right tools and know-how. It's important for us to look out for both the dog's well-being and the safety of everyone around to create the most comprehensive training plan possible. If you're in this situation, we'd love to chat with you in a free consultation to dig into the details and figure out the best way to help out in your specific circumstances.