Why have my dog trained?
If you truly want to enjoy the full pleasure of owning a dog, you should have him trained. A trained dog can go and do things with your family and not be embarrassing or ill mannered. People will enjoy having you and your dog attend a given event or place. A dog that listens and responds to your commands makes everyone's life more pleasurable. (Including the dog's)

Do I have to come to classes?
No. We actually take your dog from you for 7-10 days. We house them at our facilities. All of our training takes place at our facilities and in the village of Camden. You only need to come twice. Once to drop off your dog, which only takes about 15-20 minutes and again at the end of the training. You will need to allow about 1 1/2 hours for your lesson, and to see what your dog has learned.

How do you train a dog?
All of the training is on leash with a chain type training collar. This collar is used to teach and manipulate the dog, not to punish or choke. We do not use treats, prong or shock collars to train. Since our training is performed in the public, and we are extremely against any abuse to any animal, we do not hurt any dog to make them learn. (When searching for a trainer, it is important for you to know what technique is used, since some trainers have been known to be abusive.)

If you do all the training, how will it work at my home?
Our program is very easy and teachable. We will provide you with a guide when you drop your dog off so that you may learn the commands during the week that he is with us. When you come back for your lesson, You will have a one-on-one session with Mr. Petrie that also teaches your dog that everything he has learned with us, is also expected at home. Occasionally, Mr. Petrie will work your dog with his wife, Beth and son, Logan so that he will become used to other people handling him.

What do you charge?
Our fee is $275.00 for 7 days of training. We do not collect the payment until your dog completes his training. However, if we do need to keep your dog for additional time, we charge a $15.00 per day boarding fee. We accept check or cash.

I have already taken obedience classes and they did not work, why is your program different?
Classroom obedience may work for a few dogs, but your dog is not being socialized with the community and real life events. We find that many of our dogs that come to us are being re-trained from a classroom setting.

When can I get an appointment?
We train from spring (typically mid-April through November), depending on the snow and water freeze conditions. It is best to call early. In fairness, we work on a first-come, first-served basis, so the list fills up fast. We are currently scheduling for Fall of 2008.

I have children. Will the dog behave for them?
We encourage children to come the lesson. Since our program is so easy, we find that most children above the age of five grasp the commands very easily. We also encourage all family members that will be handling the dog.

After the training, will my dog be different and a genius?
You will see a remarkable difference in your dog’s behavior if you had a disobedient dog. However, it does not change their "personality." They will be just as loving as always. It is important that you review the commands occasionally with your dog to assure his good behavior.

I love my dog. I will miss him terribly. Will he remember me?
All dogs that come to us are very loved. They will not forget you and usually handle their visit with us better than you do.

What type of dogs do you train?
All breeds. Pure-bred AKC registered breeds, household pets, big, small and mixed breeds are accepted.

How old should my dog be?
It is best to train a dog as a puppy, 4-5 months old and above. However, we have trained dogs as old as 9-10 YEARS old. It is never too late for obedience training and old dogs can learn new tricks.

My dog has the potential to be a great show dog. Will you train him?
Yes. We will begin the basic obedience that show dogs need to further their training with a show dog trainer.

Do you potty train?
We will certainly advise you on potty training. However, potty training does need to be done at home.

Will my dog be safe?
Absolutely. Your dog is always in the presence of the trainer while in the community. He will not be exposed to anything dangerous. All the training is with a leash and collar and is very humane and painless. While the dog is not being worked, he will be in his private kennel.

What are your kennels like?
Our kennels are indoor and outdoor. They are built of steel walls, cement floors, chain link doors and a steel roof. Your dog will have any indoor house with a wind wall and will be pleasantly warm.

My dog has bitten before. Will this training work for him?
If you have a dog that has bitten before, we will assess his behavior while he is with us. We will make every attempt possible and have had success in the past. We will be very honest with you if your dog is a danger to society and will advise you on what action should be taken. If he is too dangerous to approach, Mr. Petrie will discuss the issue with you. Obedience training does not cure everything and people's saftey come first.

Have you ever had a dog fail?
No. Some dogs do better than others. However, we will keep a dog longer than the 7 days if we think he needs the extra attention. Our goal is the make your dog the best it can be and your relationship better. The only dogs that have "failed" are the ones that are too aggressive to work with.

How much time a day will you spend with my dog?
Your dog will be worked and trained privately with a one-on-one session approximately 1-3 hours per day. He will be given "free time" (on a leash) and exercised on our trail daily in addition to training time.

Do you offer advanced obedience training?
No. We believe that very good on-lead obedience training will lead to more advance training, ie: off-lead. We will most generally have a dog working off-lead within the 7 days. We will demonstrate this during your graduation lesson, not to impress you, but to impress upon you that your dog will have that kind of potential if your spend the time and effort yourself.

Do you still do protection training?
No. The demand for this type of training has waned and with the law suits and insurance costs so high, this type of training would be costly for the customer. My advise is to join an active schutzhund club or contact the area AKC and see what is available.

What do I need to bring?
We will need to have 7-10 days worth of your food. (We like to keep your dog on the same diet and time as you do at home.) You do not need to bring dishes. You will need to bring a training collar, chain type, that easily slips on and off your dog's head. If you do not have one, we will size one to properly fit your dog for $10.00 and it is yours to keep after the training. We also will need your leash. We prefer a leather or nylon leash about 6 feet long. A retractable leash will not work. Again, if you do not have this type of leash, we have them for $15.00. We find that many dog owners, will bring their dog's bed or blanket to lie on the floor or to remind them of home. (Bedding may get dirty.) Toys and treats are fine to bring also.

Where are you located?
We are located on Route 13 in between Pulaski and Camden, New York. We are about 1 hour north of Syracuse. 45 minutes southeast of Watertown and 50 minutes west of Utica.

I’m not located in New York State. Do you train dogs from out of state?
Yes. We have trained dogs from all over the United States and Canada. If you are coming from out of state, you may also rent our cottage while your dog is being trained. You may also board your dog if you are vacationing with us.

Can you train my dog while I am on vacation?
Yes, we will do whatever we can to arrange the dates to coordinate with your vacation date. If you are on vacation more than 7 days, we charge an extra $15.00 per day boarding fee over 7 days in addition to the training fee. Example, for 10 days, your total cost would be $320.00. We book up very early for popular vacation periods and holidays. You can also have your dog trained while you vacation with us. See www.giffordlake.com for information on our lakefront cottage rental.

Do you board dogs too?
Yes. We charge $15.00 per day for boarding if you are not having your dog trained or if you would like to have your dog stay with us while you are away. If he has already been trained by us, we will give him a little "refresher" course.

I have more than one dog, can you train both?
Yes. We offer a 2 dog price of $500.00. Please call us if you have more than 2. We will not keep large dogs in the same run. If you have smaller dogs that are inseparable, we will keep them in the same kennel if you wish.

How many dogs a week do you train?
We limit training to 2-4 dogs per week.

How do I book my dog?
Please call us at (315) 964-7731 or email us at apollocanine@juno.com to schedule your dog for training. We only train during the spring, summer and fall months and are closed to training during the winter. We are now scheduling for the 2008 season. We recommend that you call for a reservation as soon as possible. We will take your request for your vacation date but cannot guarantee kennel space for your date. We book very early for popular vacation periods and holidays.


Do you have more questions that we have not answered? Please call us at (315) 964-7731 or email us at apollocanine@juno.com.