Family Dog Mediation

Serving Tucson, Sahuarita, Green Valley, Corona de Tucson, Oro Valley, & Marana (Travel charge may apply.)
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Private lessons are held either at our centrally located Tucson training facility, at your home, or in a public place.

In our private manners lessons, we guide you and your dog to achieve the behavior you have always wanted from your dog.

Both Manners and Family Dog Mediation programs are designed to meet the specific needs of your dog, with a number of sessions that ensures you will understand your dog and truly know how to reach their canine mind.

Why choose private lessons?

Convenience

Our facility is conveniently located in Tucson and is an easy drive from every direction. If at your home training is your preference, please contact us first to discuss if you are in our service area and possible start dates for services.

L.E.G.S

We will work with your dog's physical, emotional, and environmental conditions to improve the quality of their life. We incorporate details about their learning history, environment, genetics, and self-their individuality.

Do No Harm

We hold ourselves to a high ethical standard of doing no harm with the intention of doing good. Our positive approaches in Family Dog Mediation and dog training are humane. No fear, pain, or intimidation is necessary.

We can help you with fear or aggression

All Fretful Fido and Mentor Me programs begin with a one hour Zoom session ($125). Completion of our registration form is required and will be emailed to you once you schedule. Please email info@buildingbondstraining.com to set up the initial one hour Zoom session.

All programs have the option of a 30-minute Zoom interview ($60) if you would like to discuss the possibility of working together. We are currently requiring a two-hour behavior consultation in person or via Zoom for intra-household dog-dog aggression cases. Please contact us to schedule at info@buildingbondstraining.com.

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Barking & Lunging on Leash

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Dogs that overreact to environmental stimuli such as bicycles, cars, or other dogs are commonly referred to as having "leash reactivity". Environmental triggers cause stress and the dog's nervous system responds with behaviors such as lunging, barking, and growling. This is considered an overreaction because other dogs in similar situations would not react similarly. Leash reactivity can deteriorate the quality of a dog's life as well as their pet parent's quality of life. Our Reactivity Reimagined Program sets a solid foundation for both your dog and you to cope in the face of stressors and to find your dog's happy place again.

Our Reactivity Reimagined Program is designed to give you the skills, knowledge, and support you need to work through this issue with your dog. For in-person lessons, Reactivity Reimagined includes weekly Q & A sessions with your trainer, a 100+ video training library, training handouts and workbooks to keep you on track. All of this prepares you and your dog to hit the ground running successfully for your in-person lessons.

We also offer a trainer-supported online course that is budget-friendly. Online private training is also available. Email us to request this service.

Regardless of the option you choose, you will have an online consultation to discuss your dog and weekly Zoom Q & A sessions with your trainer and other students enrolled in the program.

Click here to learn about the program curriculum, all of our coaching and support options built into the various programs and pricing.

Ranges from $399-$1350

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Fretful Fido - Fear, Anxiety, Aggression

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There is a growing and fundamental problem facing pet dogs and their people in the modern world-a complicated truth. Many "behavior problems" are just symptoms of this greater issue. You must discover and address why behavior is happening before you can ask how to change it, because you cannot solve a problem you do not understand. If you are ready to go beyond antiquated dog training and find the whole truth, you are ready to meet your dog. We are ready to help you come together around new interventions, understandings and agreements in the relationship- for everyone's sake. Welcome to Family Dog Mediation. Family Dog Mediation is a process. We consider your dog's learning history, your goals and abilities, and the severity of the issues. Your dog is already on their journey. Are you ready to join them?

In our Fretful Fido programs we work with behavior problems like fear, guarding the food bowl, aggression towards people, dislike of veterinary visits, etc. If your dog has the issue of barking and lunging at other dogs and environmental stimuli while on leash, please review our Reactivity Reimagined program.

We will never use electronic collars, verbal or physical corrections, or any method intended to flood your dog with stress. You may schedule an interview with our certified Family Dog Mediator to discuss your dog and how many sessions may be suggested for you to improved the quality of life for you and your dog.

All Fretful Fido programs begin with a one hour Zoom session. The cost is $125.

A minimum Fretful Fido program typically starts with 4 - 6 sessions @ $600-$900

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Separation Anxiety

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TREATING SEPARATION ANXIETY

What is Separation Anxiety (SA)?
Separation Anxiety is your beloved canine friend panicking during your absence. SA is similar to the stress human kids can experience when separated from their parents when they are young.

How does a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) treat Separation Anxiety?
First, we must determine how long your dog can be left alone before they panic. Once their stress threshold is defined, an initial plan is developed. Treating separation anxiety is gradual, incremental desensitization of departures and pre-departure cues. The process is structured to keep the dog from panicking and remain under their stress threshold.

What is included in an initial Separation Anxiety Program with your CSAT Patti O’Farrell?

  • We’ll start by scheduling an initial 30 minute phone or Zoom call to discuss designing an individualized program for your dog. The fee for this phone or Zoom session is $60.
  • Understand the treatment of separation anxiety – what is desensitization?
  • Detailed education of canine body language.
  • Develop your skill in identifying your dog’s unique signs that indicate their level of stress.
  • Hands-on coaching and support with individually designed daily “missions” - approximately 20-30 minutes a day, 5 days a week with 2 days off.
  • Your CSAT tracks your dog’s process and performs a data tracking analysis.
  • Coaching and support every step of the way.
  • Your CSAT provides continued reassessments to adjust your dog’s plan accordingly.
  • Initial 28 day program fee is $989. Please click on the Schedule Now button to schedule a consult by email.

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    Mentor Me - Mentoring For A Year For Fear, Anxiety, Aggression

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    With a full year of training support, we will keep your dog's behavior modification program on track. While some behavior issues see resolution quickly, some behavior issues take more time to improve. Through mentoring, we help you get there. Mentor Me is great for dogs with human-directed aggression, fear, anxiety, or phobias. Treatment may include differential reinforcement strategies and/or desensitization and classical counter-conditioning. We will never use electronic collars, verbal or physical corrections, or any method intended to flood your dog with stress.

    Individualized for your dog's needs. Mentor Me includes an initial 2 hour consultation, seven 50 minute sessions followed by 10 monthly sessions @ $2500

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    Please note: When purchasing your behavior consultation or program and scheduling your first appointment, a $100 non-refundable cancellation fee is applied from your initial payment. Should you cancel your first appointment or behavior consultation you will be refunded your fee minus a $100 cancellation fee and the credit card processing fees. Once a training program commences, we do not provide refunds.


    We train Manners and Life Skills with you.

    In our private lessons, we will teach you how to build and maintain newly learned behaviors, and provide time between lessons for guided practice and practical application of the skills you are shown. Private lessons take place at our training facility, at your home, or at a public place you and your dog are both comfortable with.

    If you would like us to train your dog for you, we offer a customized dog camp at our training center or at your home. Contact us for your customized program.

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    New Dog 101

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    The ideal program for tackling a small number of life skills such as coming when called, not rushing out the door or learning to stay. This program is not suitable for problem behaviors related to fear, anxiety or aggression. If your dog is experiencing issues of on or off leash barking or aggression, please see our fear/anxiety/aggression programs above.

    Training Center Only: Three 50 minute weekly lessons at the training center for $375.
    At Your Home: Three 50 minute weekly lessons at your home for $450.

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    Perfect Pooch

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    Perfect Pooch is our private lesson manners and life skills program recommended for adult dogs. Together we will customize and build a solid foundation in dog manners along with practical and useful skills like listening to you (imagine that!), coming when called, and walking on a leash. This option is not suitable for dogs with fear, anxiety, on or off leash barking or aggression. If your dog is experiencing any of these issues, please see our fear/anxiety/aggression programs above.

    Training Center Only: Six 50 minute weekly lessons at the training center for $675.
    At Your Home: Six 50 minute weekly lessons at your home for $800.

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    Puppy Program

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    The Puppy Program is our private lesson manners and life skills program for puppies eight weeks to 12 months of age. Together we will customize and build a solid foundation in dog manners along with practical and useful skills like listening to you (imagine that!), coming when called, and walking on a leash. This program includes access to our Puppy Essentials online library and 10% off the following group classes: Puppy Preschool, Puppy Kindergarten Level One, Puppy Kindergarten Level Two, and Triumphant Teens. This option is not suitable for dogs with fear, anxiety, on or off leash barking or aggression. If your dog is experiencing any of these issues, please see our fear/anxiety/aggression programs above.

    Five Lessons - $700 Five 50 minute weekly lessons and Puppy Essentials online library.
    Eight Lessons - $1,040 Eight 50 minute weekly lessons and Puppy Essentials online library.
    Eleven Lessons - $1,320 Eleven 50 minute weekly lessons and Puppy Essentials online library.

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    Please note: New Dog 101, Perfect Pooch, and Puppy Programs are for general manners and life skills. For issues of fear, aggression, on or off leash barking, and other problematic behaviors, please see our options above.

    When you email us to start your New Dog 101, Perfect Pooch, or Puppy Program training program, we will schedule all of the appointments in your program to secure your place on our calendar and keep your training program on track.

    Please note, only some of our trainers offer in-person evening appointments. We do offer evening appointments on Zoom.

    We also offer online video sessions.

    Please note: When scheduling and paying for your first appointment in a training program or for a behavior consultation, a $100 non-refundable cancellation fee is applied from your initial payment should you cancel your first appointment, behavior consultation, or entire training program. Should you cancel your first appointment for a training program, your program fee will be refunded minus a $100 cancelation fee and a $10 processing fee.


    Not sure where to start? Schedule a consultation to learn about the best path to success.

    We look forward to helping you with all of your pet's behavior needs.

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    Behavior Consultation

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    In a 2 hour consultation, we will take a complete history of your dog and the presenting problem and help you set realistic expectations for improving your dog’s behavior. We will provide you with recommendations customized to work for your individual lifestyle to improve your dog’s behavior and an introduction to training and skills that will help you work with your dog’s specific needs. Behavior Consultations take place at our training center, at your home, or by Zoom.

    Includes a 2 hour in home consultation for $300. Ask us about whether a consultation at our training center better suits your dog. Different rate applies.

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    Video Consultation

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    During our video consultation, we will take a complete history of your dog and the presenting problem and help you set realistic expectations for improving your dog’s behavior. We will provide you with recommendations customized to work for your individual lifestyle to improve your dog’s behavior. Video consults are also available to clients who do not live locally. Please contact us if you would like to schedule a phone consultation instead.

    Two hour video consultation $225 (recommended for Fretful Fidos), one hour consultation for $125 or 30 minutes for $60. Or choose from our online training packages.

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    Important Updates Regarding COVID-19 & Building Bonds Services