Before you choose
New dog consultation: choose the right breed before you commit
A large share of the training problems our team is asked to fix began as a mismatch: a working-line herding dog in a one-bedroom apartment, a giant breed in a family that never planned for the size, a terrier in a home that wanted a couch companion. The cheapest moment to prevent that is before the dog arrives.
- $99per session
- Phone or Zoomone-on-one
- Anywherein the US
Who books it
The consultation is for the decision, not for a dog you already own.
This session is for people who are still choosing. You do not need a dog in the house to book. You need your questions, some honesty about how your weeks actually run, and a willingness to hear an answer you might not expect.
Our head trainer has worked with more than 900 dogs over 16+ years, which means our team has watched breed tendencies play out in real homes rather than in a breed description. That experience is what you are paying for: knowing which dogs settle easily in a crate, which ones need a daily job, which ones take longer to house-train and which ones bark at every leaf that moves.
- First-time owners who want to get it right
- Families with babies, toddlers or young kids
- Couples who disagree about size or energy
- Older adults choosing a dog that will not outpace them
- Anyone who has fallen for a breed online and wants a reality check
Your real lifestyle
We match the dog to the life you live on a normal Tuesday.
The first part of the call is questions, and they are specific. How many hours is the house empty on a workday? How long is the walk you will really take in February rain or August heat? Who picks up the dog when you travel? The table shows what we ask about and the kind of mismatch each question is designed to catch.
| What we ask about | Why it matters | A mismatch we see |
|---|---|---|
| Hours alone on a workday | Puppies and some breeds struggle with long stretches alone | A young herding dog crated through a full office day |
| Exercise you will actually do | Energy without an outlet becomes chewing, digging and barking | A high-drive working breed with owners who walk twenty minutes |
| Home, yard and neighbors | Size, stairs, shared walls and fencing shape the choice | A vocal hound in an apartment with thin walls |
| Children and visitors | Some dogs handle noise and grabbing hands far better than others | A tiny toy breed with a toddler who wants to carry it |
| Coat care and shedding | Grooming is time and money every month | A doodle chosen because it sounded low-maintenance |
| Training experience | Some breeds forgive beginner mistakes; others push every gap | A strong guardian breed as a first dog |
Beyond the breed
Age, source and the individual dog matter as much as breed.
Breed is a starting point, not a promise. Two Labs from different lines can feel like different animals, one bred to work all day in the field and one bred to relax at home. We talk about how to tell the difference before you meet a litter, and what questions to ask a breeder or a rescue about the parents, the foster home and how the dog behaves around kids, cats and strangers.
We also weigh puppy against adult. A puppy gives you a blank slate and months of sleepless nights, potty trips and teething. An adult dog from a good rescue arrives with a known size and energy level, and often with some manners already in place. Neither choice is better in general; one of them is usually better for you.
- Puppy or adult dog
- Breeder or rescue, and what to ask each
- Working lines versus pet lines within a breed
- Whether your current pet changes the answer
Come prepared
Bring your shortlist, your calendar and your deal-breakers.
The more real information you bring, the sharper the recommendation. A vague picture produces a vague answer, so spend a few minutes on the list below before the session.
- Sketch a normal weekday and a normal weekend hour by hour, including commutes, school runs and travel.
- List every person and animal in the home, with ages, plus anyone who visits often, such as grandparents or a dog-walker.
- Note your housing: stairs, yard size, fence height, and any lease or association rules on size or breed.
- Write your breed shortlist, even if it is only two names, and one sentence on why each appeals.
- Decide your non-negotiables on shedding, size, barking and monthly grooming budget.
- Keep any rescue profile, breeder page or listing open so we can talk about that specific dog.
What it is not
We give a trainer's opinion, not a health check or a breeder audit.
This is a conversation about fit, temperament and training. It is not a veterinary assessment, and it does not verify a breeder's health testing or a puppy's pedigree. Ask the breeder for documentation and talk to a veterinarian about the health issues common in any breed you are considering. We will point out the questions worth asking; the answers have to come from them.
We also cannot meet the dog for you. If you are deciding on one particular rescue dog, a video from the foster home helps us comment on what we see, but a short clip is not a behavior evaluation. Once your dog is home, a puppy or behavior consultation picks up where this call leaves off. To book, request a $99 session on our virtual dog training page and our team will confirm a time.
The programs
One call before the biggest decision.
The new dog consultation is a $99 virtual session by phone or Zoom, available to future owners anywhere in the US.
$99per session
Phone or Zoom, anywhere in the US
Virtual consultation with our head trainer
One-on-one guidance for behavior, a new dog, introductions or a new puppy.
Why pay for a consultation before getting a dog?
Because the wrong match is far more expensive than $99. A dog who does not fit your schedule, home or family can mean months of frustration, training costs and sometimes rehoming, which is hard on everyone, the dog most of all. One honest conversation up front narrows the choice to dogs you can actually live with.
Can you tell me the single best breed for my family?
We will usually give you a short list rather than one name, plus the breeds we would steer you away from and why. Within any breed, individual dogs vary, so we also explain what to look for in the specific puppy or adult dog you meet, which matters as much as the label.
Do you help people choosing a rescue dog?
Yes. Many of the people who book are deciding between rescues or between a rescue and a breeder. We talk through what the shelter or foster tells you, what to ask before signing, and what the first weeks are likely to look like with the type of dog you are considering.
Is a mixed breed a safer choice?
Not automatically. A mix carries the tendencies of the breeds in it, and you often cannot know which ones will show up most. A mix of two high-energy herding breeds will still need a job. We help you read the description and the dog's behavior for clues about size, energy and temperament.
What happens once I bring the dog home?
Plenty of owners book a second session in the first weeks, either a virtual puppy consultation for structure and routines or a behavior consultation if something unexpected shows up. Each session is booked separately at $99, so you only come back when you have a reason to.
Virtual session, $99
Talk it through before you commit.
Book a $99 new dog consultation by phone or Zoom from anywhere in the US and choose a breed that fits the life you actually live.