Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
In-Home Dog Training
In-home dog training means we come directly to your home to work with you and your dog. Sessions take place where your dog actually lives, so we can address the real behaviors that happen in your space. This approach minimizes distractions and tends to produce quicker, more consistent results.
With in-home training, your dog gets one-on-one attention from a trainer focused entirely on your pup’s specific behaviors and goals. There are no competing distractions from other dogs or owners, which allows for better engagement and a customized training plan built around your household.
Before your first session, make sure your dog has had a chance to exercise and go to the bathroom so they’re ready to focus. Be prepared to discuss your dog’s routine, personality, and any behaviors you’d like to improve. This helps Perfect Pup Training create a personalized training plan that fits your goals and lifestyle.
No. While we specialize in in-home dog training, we also work with dogs at outside locations when it supports their progress. Training sessions have taken place at PetSmart, dog parks, and other public settings to help dogs practice real-world manners and handle distractions.
Yes. We teach you the skills to work with your dog so you can maintain and build on their progress long after training ends. Our goal is to make you a confident canine leader, not just a bystander in the training process.
Yes. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation for dog owners in the Fort Wayne area. It is a straightforward conversation to help us understand your dog’s needs and find the right program for your goals.
Training Programs
We offer several programs to fit different needs and schedules: the Basic Package, Doggy Boot Camp, Paw 90 X, the Single Dog Premium Plan, the Multi Dog Premium Plan, single sessions, and Board and Train. Each program is designed around your dog’s behavior, energy level, and your personal goals.
The Basic Package is a 4-week program designed for new puppies or dogs that need a manners refresher. It covers basic obedience, sit, stay, down, basic leash skills, potty training, and custom goals. It is a strong starting point for building communication and eliminating unwanted behaviors.
The secret to lasting success is reinforcement.
Training doesn’t end when the program is over—it’s the foundation for a lifetime of good habits. We teach you how to confidently reinforce your dog’s training during everyday life so good behaviors become second nature.
For graduates who want to maintain their dog’s success for years to come, we offer our Keeping Your Perfect Pup Perfect monthly reinforcement program. For just $115 per month with no long-term contract, regular reinforcement sessions help prevent regression, strengthen existing behaviors, introduce new skills, and keep your dog progressing—cancel anytime.
Absolutely. Professional training isn’t only for solving behavior problems. It’s about creating a calmer, more reliable companion that’s enjoyable to live with every day. Whether you want better leash manners, stronger recall, improved impulse control, or greater reliability around distractions, our customized programs help turn a good dog into an even better companion.
Doggy Boot Camp is an 8-week program built for puppies just starting out or adult dogs who need a thorough manners reset. It covers basic obedience, loose leash walking, crate training, potty training, social manners, impulse control, recall training, and confidence building, along with custom goals.
Paw 90 X is a 12-week advanced training program. It addresses advanced obedience, loose and off-leash walking, reactivity and aggression training, behavior modification, confidence and calmness work, household manners, recall training with distractions, and social manners and public exposure. It is a good fit for owners who want thorough, lasting progress.
Yes. We offer a Multi Dog Premium Plan designed for households with more than one dog. Like the single dog version, it includes master class obedience, reactivity and aggression control, behavior modification, off-leash walking, recall training with distractions, and monthly reinforcement sessions.
Single Dog Premium Plan
The Single Dog Premium Plan is our most comprehensive training option. It includes 20 personalized training sessions that can be used as weekly lessons to build a foundation or saved for monthly reinforcement sessions to maintain progress over time. It is designed for owners who want long-term, customized results.
You can use as many sessions weekly as needed to build a strong foundation, then save the remaining sessions for monthly reinforcement. The plan is flexible so it fits your schedule and your dog’s pace of learning.
The Premium Plan covers master class obedience, loose and off-leash walking, reactivity and aggression control, behavior modification, calmness under pressure, manners and etiquette, recall training with distractions, and social manners and public exposure. Custom goals are also included.
Board and Train
Board and Train is a week-long program where your dog stays with us and receives focused one-on-one training. It is a great option for puppies and covers potty training, loose leash walking, and basic obedience commands including sit, stay, and down.
Perfect Pup Dog Training specializes in private in-home training as a personalized alternative to traditional Board & Train programs by teaching both the dog and the owner together.
While Board & Train can be a good option for some dogs, owners often miss out on the hands-on coaching needed to maintain those results at home. Since your dog lives with you—not the trainer—we believe it’s essential that you learn how to communicate with your dog, reinforce good behavior, and confidently handle challenges as they arise.
The exception is our specialized Perfect Potty Training Program, which uses a Board & Train approach specifically for potty training while still including in-home owner instruction to help maintain your dog’s success after returning home. Our private in-home training teaches both ends of the leash, giving you the skills to maintain your dog’s progress and enjoy lasting results long after training is complete.
The Board and Train program includes the week-long training stay plus a one-hour follow-up session in your home after your dog returns. Pick up and drop off is also available.
Our Perfect Potty Training Program is a specialized Board & Train program designed specifically for dogs struggling with potty training.
Because potty training requires consistent supervision, repetition, and immediate reinforcement throughout the day, having your dog stay with us allows us to establish reliable potty habits in a structured environment.
Many families choose to pair the Perfect Potty Training Program with one of our private in-home training programs for the full transformation. Once reliable potty habits are established, you’ll learn how to guide your dog toward calmer behavior, better manners, polite leash walking, dependable recall, and confident behavior around everyday distractions—the complete transformation into a Perfect Pup.
Yes. Board and Train is specifically noted as a great option for puppies. The focused, one-on-one environment allows for intensive work on foundational skills like potty training, basic commands, and loose leash walking.
Single Session
A single session is a one-time, one-week commitment where you choose what to focus on. It is a good way to polish specific skills or test the waters before committing to a longer program. Custom goals are set based on what matters most to you.
Yes. We offer 50% off your first training session. This applies to the single session option and gives new clients a low-risk way to experience our training approach before committing to a full program.
Behaviors We Correct
We work on a wide range of unwanted behaviors including separation anxiety, dog aggression, human aggression, potty training, destructive tendencies, excessive barking, loose leash pulling, resource guarding, and off-leash walking issues. If your concern is not on this list, we welcome a conversation about it.
Yes. Changes like moving, bringing home a new baby, adding another pet, or changing your daily routine can affect your dog’s behavior. Professional training helps your dog build confidence, adapt to new situations, and develop positive habits. Perfect Pup Training provides practical guidance that makes these transitions easier for both you and your dog.
Yes. We address both dog aggression and human aggression as part of our training programs. Reactivity and aggression work is included in our Paw 90 X program and both Premium Plan options.
Yes. Separation anxiety is one of the behaviors we work to correct. If your dog becomes distressed when left alone, this is something we can address through our customized training approach.
Yes. Stopping dogs from jumping on people is one of the specific behaviors we correct. We work on household manners and proper social etiquette so your dog behaves calmly when guests arrive.
Yes. Loose leash walking is a core skill we teach across most of our programs. We also address off-leash walking in our more advanced programs, including Paw 90 X and both Premium Plan options.
Obedience Skills We Teach
We teach a comprehensive set of skills including sit, down, stay, come, heel, leave it, wait, place, and recall. We also teach tricks like shake, roll over, speak, bow, and find it. If there is something specific you want your dog to learn, we welcome custom goals.
Yes. Recall training is part of multiple programs, including Doggy Boot Camp and both the Paw 90 X and Premium Plan options. Advanced programs include recall practice in distracting environments so your dog responds reliably in real-world situations.
Pricing and Payment
Our training sessions are priced from $99 to $185 per session. The total investment depends on which program fits your dog’s needs and your goals.
Yes. We offer financing options through Affirm, Cash App, and Klarna so you can train now and pay over time. Monthly payments start as low as $84.69 depending on the plan selected.
About Don and Perfect Pup
Don is the trainer at Perfect Pup. He has been working with dogs since his 20s, starting as a volunteer for a local Akita rescue where he has fostered, transported, and trained dogs for nearly 20 years. He trains all breeds.
We work with all breeds. Don’s specialty breed is Akitas, but he trains dogs of any breed or mix. Every program is customized to fit the individual dog’s personality, energy, and behavior.
Yes. Perfect Pup is affiliated with the Midwest Akita Rescue Society (MARS), an organization Don has volunteered with for nearly 20 years. MARS rescues, rehabilitates, and re-homes Akita dogs.
Many dogs begin showing improvement after their first few training sessions when owners consistently practice at home. The timeline depends on your dog’s age, personality, and the behaviors being addressed. At Perfect Pup Training, every program is customized to your dog’s needs, helping create lasting results instead of quick fixes.
Scheduling and Service Area
We are available Monday from 9am to 6pm, Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 9pm, and Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. Our flexible hours make it easier to schedule sessions around your week.
We serve the Fort Wayne, Indiana area. We come to your home, and we also offer Board and Train at our location, with pick up and drop off available.
You can start by requesting your free, no-obligation consultation. Reach us by phone at (260) 437-2240 or by email at don@perfectpupdogtraining.com. We will talk through your dog’s needs and help you choose the right program.