Foundation Training helps your pup learn foundational skills that will be built upon throughout life. These beginning skills will form a communication system that enables your dog to pick up a multitude of skills quickly without frustration and with maximum success. Success in training builds your puppy’s confidence and helps you bond with your dog as you too feel great about each accomplishment. When training goes well, owners remain positive and avoid interactions that may deter the pup from forming a healthy relationship with its new family. It is important for your pup to develop these foundation skills as early as possible. Many breeders, including Best Life Labradoodles, beginning working on pre-foundation skills long before the pup arrives at your family home. To optimize success, Best Life offers an intensive Foundation Training program. A pup in Foundation Training receives 24/7 training for 2-4 weeks, depending on the agreed-upon goals and each owner’s preference. Foundation Training cost is $750 per week. If you are feeding your dog Life’s Abundance, food will be provided. Owners participate in an hour of training and hands-on practice at the end of the program and additional time is spent walking you through the puppy’s routine and all of the most important do’s and don’ts to help prevent any pitfalls in your puppy’s success. Photos and narrated short instructional videos of your own dog in action will be sent throughout the week. John also offers additional support via text or phone to ensure a successful transition home and retention of skills that have been learned. Dogs who spend three weeks in Foundational Training typically go home with the ability to:

• communicate with you, and to look to you for direction (otherwise known as a “mand” or an “ask” which can be generalized to help your dog communicate needs in a positive manner)
• sleep through the night
• spend time in a crate safely and without distress
• sit on command
• experience fewer “potty” accidents
• respond to the activity level of those around them
• appropriately ignore distractions and attend to their owner
• socialize with other dogs and humans and a positive manner
• Additional goals that can be achieved if you have specific dreams for your dog’s Best Life in your home.

Looking to purchase a puppy or dog with advanced training skills? Learn more about our Trained Dog Program here.

There are many reasons that a dog’s training may fall off course. Re-homing, an unexpected traumatic event, lack of time to achieve strong foundational skills, as well as genetic disposition can impact each dog’s success. If your dog is struggling to successfully fit into your home and your family’s routine, we can help! Dogs in our Remediation program are in training 24/7 during their time with us. Our priority is to develop a schedule that matches your routine at home and make sure your dog can be successful upon return. Remediation Training cost is $150 per day or $850 per week. If you are feeding your dog Life’s Abundance, food will be provided. This program allows for pre-program consultation to set specific goals based on your hopes for your pup. Please note that we cannot accomodate dogs with aggressive tendencies as it poses a risk to our breeding animals and puppies. We are also unable to work with shedding dogs, as many of our Best Life families have severe allergies and they often visit us to test whether they will be allergic to our non-shedding Australian Labradoodles.

We know puppy training can be difficult. It requires time and patience and a full understanding of your puppy’s needs. We want you to LOVE training and spending time with your dog, so we make sure that happens. We will work with you to set goals that are meaningful and specific to you and your family and then we’ll address them with you one-on-one so you and your dog can have our full attention. We will help your pup develop a set of skills that will ensure success while addressing any questions or challenges that you bring to us each week. Some owners enjoy participating in each lesson and others find it easier to drop their dog off and return at the end of the dog’s lesson for communication with the trainer and answers that can help at home. Private training is typically a one hour $70 session. However, if you prefer to drop off for a longer period of time, your dog will be safely boarded before or after their lesson to allow lessons to conveniently fit into your schedule.

Sometimes families want to refresh their dog’s training or get things back on track if the family has been busy and unable to offer as much attention as usual. Sometimes owners just want to take their dog’s training to the “next level” to teach a special skill. Families will often consider Tune-Up or Fine-Tuning training while they are on vacation. This allows the dog a highly engaging boarding experience to stay busy while they are away. Think of it like Camp for Dogs! Fine-Tuning Training can sometimes be needed when a dog matures and gains more independence or an extended ability to consider behavior options other than compliance. Level-Up Training is an option for families who need their dog to learn a specific skill or set of skills, or for owners who want to pursue therapy dog certification and need support in preparing for the certification test. Tune-up, Level-up, or Fine-Tuning Training cost is $125 per day or $750 per week. If you are feeding your dog Life’s Abundance, food will be provided. This program allows for pre-program consultation to set specific goals based on your hopes for your pup.

Many owners feel very confident in providing the majority of their dog’s training on their own. If you feel confident, there is no better person to teach your dog and to celebrate with your dog as each skill is mastered! You may occasionally run into an obstacle or a setback. This is why we offer single private consultation visits instead of package deals that require a substantial commitment of time and financial investment that you might not be able to offer or even need.

Private single visit training and consultation allows you to receive the guidance you may need, only when you need it, at your convenience. 

Private sessions are conducted at our training facility in Peotone, IL, or in your own home to address specific issues in the setting where the behavior is most likely to occur.

Training and consultation services that are provided in person in your home or at our facility are $70 per hour.

A minimum $70 trip fee applies to home visits within 20 miles of our New Lenox or Peotone, IL locations. Additional fees apply for further distances. Travel fees can be estimated in advance for out-of-state requests or travel over 60 miles.

Zoom video or Phone conference consultation is available at $35 per half hour. Get dog training advice and answers to questions you have about your dog’s behavior from the convenience of your home. 

Send up to 20 minutes of video by uploading to Google drive and sharing with John for review, analysis, and feedback. Video your dog exhibiting any specific behavior or training difficulties that occur in your home. John will review the video and voice-over his comments with specific advice to help you get your dog back on track and maximize success. This can be particularly helpful for dogs who only exhibit certain behaviors in specific situations or environments and/or if you are dog tends to behave better when a dog trainer is present. A $70 per 20-minute video applies.