The answer
On film the trainers answer this in two halves.
Obedience can be counted. A tough dog takes four. A Rottweiler, in his experience, takes about four on average, which is why he drills Deuce's heel as hard as he does. He backs it with a Lab who knew his commands but fought the handler, took about four sessions on the down, and went home as a service dog. Dolce's trainer tells her owners the obedience and proofing will be done "by probably next week."
Confidence cannot be counted. In the same breath, Dolce's trainer declines to date her bite and defence work: "I'll know more by the end of this week... it's just based off her her confidence." Kodak's trainer, on a fearful dog's first public walk, tells owners watching that a case like this needs a lot of patience and time, "which is why sometimes it can be more expensive." He says no single session produces the result. Twenty to fifty of them, stacked "on top of each other", do.
Programs are counted in days of training, not days in the building. Zeus's trainer calls them settling days, because training a dog before he knows his new surroundings "wouldn't be fair to the dog." A missed day is owed back.
When the dog is still improving at go-home, the trainers ask for more time and say why. He told the owner through the camera that without it the off-leash work might not be reliable, noted that an extension "is not always... a given", and gave up his own weekend to it. There is a pull the other way, which he names: families want their dog back, and kennel space runs out.
One trainer adds a point about spacing. Rufus had twelve to fifteen hours of training "spread out over like the last several weeks", and if that had all been in one week, "you're only going to get so much progress."
Dogs differ, and one trainer says so as a general point. On Clark Kent's store outing he explains that some dogs finish so well-mannered that the owner has little to do, while 'other dogs you know require much more time much more energy and commitment and that's totally fine' - like a classroom where some children learn an equation the first time and others need tutoring.
What is inferred: the trainers never give a total length for a program as a promise. The film shows ranges per command, days as units, and extensions decided case by case.
Angier K9 is a family-owned, play-based Board & Train serving Angier, Raleigh and the Triangle, with three full owner lessons.
What to do
Expect a timeline for commands, not for confidence. In Deuce’s trainer’s experience, most commands take one to three sessions. A tough dog or a fearful one takes much longer, and nobody can honestly promise a date for nerves. Don't read the first few days as wasted. If your trainer asks for more time, ask what it is for and what is still missing.
What the trainers say
for me with most dogs i can usually get each command okay in about one to three sessions all right so usually like it's basically just like a retriever or like a most labs right they fall in like the one to three range for each command um if they're a little tough maybe four four sessions right
All right, a roddy, in my opinion, on average, for me, it takes like four sessions. So we're working this heel a ton.
we're going to work about three sessions with him today so if he doesn't do good this time we still got two more of their makeup sessions right
so for the obedience and proofing that we'll have that part done by probably next week for that stuff the chasing and for like the bite in the defense I'll know more by the end of this week for that because like I said I just I it's just based off her her confidence
she's doing good with it it's just she's a rottweiler rottweilers aren't always the fastest at like wanting to do the fight stuff and like that part of it not like Belgians they pick that up pretty fast
yeah there's a lot of patience needed and a lot of time involvement for a case like this which is why sometimes it can be more expensive if you do have a dog like this
so like take this walk as like a microcosm it's a small example of what you can accomplish through these methods and if you stack um 20 to 50 of these training sessions on top of each other all of a sudden you have an amazing result an amazing behavioral change
the days are not tracked by how many days they have been with us, but rather how many days of training have been done. So like each session, unless there's multiple sessions in one day, each session will be marked as a day.
every dog has to go through a you know few days of just kind of settling in the first two or three days we don't train a whole bunch of dogs because it wouldn't be fair to the dog it wouldn't make sense we have to spend those first few days just kind of like getting them used to their new environment
however in a case like Zeus there's more going on there's a secondary step so it might be a little while before you get real like real training happening but I'm hoping to kind of in this video change your perspective on what real training is
do I send him home or do I get another four or five sessions in with him and see
that's just the truth of the matter. So, I'm not saying it to scare any, you know, Luna Luna, anybody that's watching this video, Luna's people, but that's why we're keeping it longer is because if we didn't, there would be a real chance that that off leash would not be as reliable as we would want it to be,
you know, we don't want to delay people. We very much try to run away from that because not only does it upset like, you know, the client cuz they want to see their dog again, rightfully so, it's a member of their family, but like another reason is that
12 to 15 hours in which is a lot yeah that's that's uh you can get a lot done in that time
other dogs you know require much more time much more energy and commitment and that's totally fine it's just like if you're going to be teaching a classroom full of children
How it looks, dog by dog
Deuce
Deuce missed a day in the week and had the weekend off, so he is high energy. His trainer will make up the day on a weekend, because every dog is owed its full program. The day is three short sessions, so if this one goes badly there are two more. Working the heel, he gives the numbers: one to three sessions per command for most dogs, four for a tough one, about four for a Rottweiler. He backs them with a Lab who knew his commands, fought the down for about four sessions, and went home as a service dog.
On film
for me with most dogs i can usually get each command okay in about one to three sessions
He took about four sessions to get the down, because it was a little tough when it came to the down.
Dolce
Dolce is a Rottweiler in a protection program whose obedience ran months ahead of her confidence. At her first owner lesson, the trainer gives a date for the obedience and proofing (about a week) and refuses one for the bite and defence work, because that depends on her confidence. He adds that Rottweilers are slower than Belgians to want the fight. Her arc records that the obedience broadly held up on that timetable. The grip was still not built when the footage ends.
On film
so for the obedience and proofing that we'll have that part done by probably next week for that stuff the chasing and for like the bite in the defense I'll know more by the end of this week for that because like I said I just I it's just based off her her confidence
she's doing good with it it's just she's a rottweiler rottweilers aren't always the fastest at like wanting to do the fight stuff and like that part of it not like Belgians they pick that up pretty fast
Kodak
On Kodak's first public walk, a fearful flight risk on a long line, his trainer speaks to prospective clients as much as to the camera. Cases like this need a lot of patience and time, and can cost more than standard obedience. The walk itself is a small example. The result comes from stacking twenty to fifty sessions like it.
On film
yeah there's a lot of patience needed and a lot of time involvement for a case like this which is why sometimes it can be more expensive if you do have a dog like this
so like take this walk as like a microcosm it's a small example of what you can accomplish through these methods and if you stack um 20 to 50 of these training sessions on top of each other all of a sudden you have an amazing result an amazing behavioral change
Finn
At the first owner lesson, asked whether they could take Finn home that day, the trainer (very probably Kelton) says technically yes, but he would not: 'I'm not quite there.' He offers the choice of four or five more days. At go-home he explains the decision. He could see Finn reaching off-leash, and knew the family wanted him home, and chose the extra sessions because there was more potential there.
On film
But I wouldn't do it if I were you.
do I send him home or do I get another four or five sessions in with him and see
because I'm like I can get this dog can be off leash I know he can so I'm glad I did that I'm sure yeah yeah no because I knew on the other end of that I'm like I know they want him home but I'm like I don't know I feel like I feel like it makes sense to just do a little bit more with him because there's some there's more potential there
Luna
Late in Luna's program her nerves come back up. Connor tells her owner through the camera that the program has asked for, and been given, an extra week, which is not always a given. He explains why without softening it. Without the extra time there is a real chance her off-leash work would not be reliable, and off-leash is either reliable or it is not. He is working both weekend days with her because she is behind. And he names the pull the other way: families want their dog back, and if too many dogs stack up the facility runs out of space.
On film
because of her nervous her nervous things are kind of popped back up. Um, unfortunately we did have to request an extension on her program which uh Luna people were really really nice and gave us gave us an extra week which is not always uh if something like like that happens unexpected um it's not always a given that you'll get that extra week.
that's just the truth of the matter. So, I'm not saying it to scare any, you know, Luna Luna, anybody that's watching this video, Luna's people, but that's why we're keeping it longer is because if we didn't, there would be a real chance that that off leash would not be as reliable as we would want it to be,
because she's a little behind I'll be working both those days with specifically her
we give dogs a lot of space because they're animals and they need that space to really exist but if we have too many
Bullet
On Bullet's first day, the first of a four to four-and-a-half week program by his count, Kelton sets the counting rule for the channel. Days are days of training done, not days at the facility. Several sessions in one day are still one day.
On film
So I'm going to do something where I'm keeping better track of which day of training is being done
the days are not tracked by how many days they have been with us, but rather how many days of training have been done. So like each session, unless there's multiple sessions in one day, each session will be marked as a day.
Zeus
A case like Zeus, who tried to bite handlers coming out of the crate, has an extra step before training, so real training may be a while. Heat and storms slow it further.
On film
every dog has to go through a you know few days of just kind of settling in the first two or three days we don't train a whole bunch of dogs because it wouldn't be fair to the dog it wouldn't make sense we have to spend those first few days just kind of like getting them used to their new environment
however in a case like Zeus there's more going on there's a secondary step so it might be a little while before you get real like real training happening but I'm hoping to kind of in this video change your perspective on what real training is
if it's too hot that slows training down because you can't train train outside in thunderstorms you can't train outside when it's 105 degrees or even like 95 degrees you can drink about 10 minutes before the dogs like and can't do anything more
Roofus
His trainer tells a shopper he has had twelve to fifteen hours of training, spread over the last several weeks. The same hours in a single week would have got far less done.
On film
12 to 15 hours in which is a lot yeah that's that's uh you can get a lot done in that time
period and it was it was spread out over like the last several weeks yeah because if that was all in like a single week yeah i mean you're only going to get so much progress but spread it out you can get a lot done
Clark Kent
On a store outing the trainer tells the camera that dogs differ in how quickly they get there. Some come out of their program so well-mannered that the owner has very little to do beyond learning the commands; others need much more time, energy and commitment - 'and that's totally fine'. He compares it to a classroom, where some children learn a new equation the first time and others need reminders or tutoring.
On film
other dogs you know require much more time much more energy and commitment and that's totally fine
commitment and that's totally fine it's just like if you're going to be teaching a classroom full of children
Why it works
As the trainers explain it: a command is a mechanical skill built by repetition, so it has a typical session count (Deuce); confidence and drive depend on the dog's internal state, which does not run on repetitions, so it cannot be dated (Dolce, Kodak). Results come from many sessions accumulating rather than any one session (Kodak) and from spacing - the same hours over weeks do more than over days (Rufus). The first days in a new place are not usable for training (Zeus). Off-leash reliability is all or nothing, so a program that is close is not finished (Connor, Luna), and a dog still visibly improving is worth more sessions (Kelton, Finn). Against that, families want their dogs home and kennel space is finite (Connor).
On film
for me with most dogs i can usually get each command okay in about one to three sessions
so for the obedience and proofing that we'll have that part done by probably next week for that stuff the chasing and for like the bite in the defense I'll know more by the end of this week for that because like I said I just I it's just based off her her confidence
which off leash is one of those things where it's in my opinion, there's no like kind of reliable off leash. It's either like super reliable or absolutely just doesn't work and there's not really like a in between there. I think it's reliable or it's not.
Inferred
The trainers' session counts are their own experience, not measured figures. Why spacing helps is not explained on film beyond 'you can get a lot done'.
Where the trainers differ
Hold the go-home date, or extend?
One view
Extend when the dog is still improving or not yet safe
On film
do I send him home or do I get another four or five sessions in with him and see
Another view
Avoid delaying people: families want their dog back, and kennel space is finite
On film
you know, we don't want to delay people. We very much try to run away from that because not only does it upset like, you know, the client cuz they want to see their dog again, rightfully so, it's a member of their family, but like another reason is that
How to read it
The same trainers hold both, and the film shows the judgement being made case by case, not a rule.
Many sessions a day, or spread over weeks?
One view
Three sessions in a day, so a bad one costs nothing
On film
we're going to work about three sessions with him today so if he doesn't do good this time we still got two more of their makeup sessions right
Another view
The same hours spread over weeks beat one packed week
On film
period and it was it was spread out over like the last several weeks yeah because if that was all in like a single week yeah i mean you're only going to get so much progress but spread it out you can get a lot done
How to read it
Not a disagreement in practice - Deuce's three sessions are short bursts within a multi-week program - but an owner could read the two lines as opposite advice.
Common owner mistakes
- Expecting one session, or one week, to change a dog.
On film
so like take this walk as like a microcosm it's a small example of what you can accomplish through these methods and if you stack um 20 to 50 of these training sessions on top of each other all of a sudden you have an amazing result an amazing behavioral change
Watch at 50:09 ↗ - Expecting training footage in the first days, and reading its absence as nothing happening.
On film
however in a case like Zeus there's more going on there's a secondary step so it might be a little while before you get real like real training happening but I'm hoping to kind of in this video change your perspective on what real training is
Watch at 2:53 ↗ - Taking the dog home before the trainer thinks he is ready.
On film
But I wouldn't do it if I were you.
Watch at 36:00 ↗
Questions owners ask
How many sessions does a command take?
Deuce's trainer's rule of thumb: one to three sessions per command for most dogs, four for a tough one, and about four for a Rottweiler in his experience.
On film
for me with most dogs i can usually get each command okay in about one to three sessions
All right, a roddy, in my opinion, on average, for me, it takes like four sessions. So we're working this heel a ton.
Can you tell me when my nervous dog will be fixed?
Not honestly, say the trainers. Dolce's trainer dated the obedience and declined to date anything that depends on confidence. Kodak's trainer says fear cases need much more time and patience, and the result is twenty to fifty sessions stacked, not one.
On film
so for the obedience and proofing that we'll have that part done by probably next week for that stuff the chasing and for like the bite in the defense I'll know more by the end of this week for that because like I said I just I it's just based off her her confidence
yeah there's a lot of patience needed and a lot of time involvement for a case like this which is why sometimes it can be more expensive if you do have a dog like this
Why wasn't my dog trained on his first days?
Program days are counted as days of training done, not days in the building.
On film
every dog has to go through a you know few days of just kind of settling in the first two or three days we don't train a whole bunch of dogs because it wouldn't be fair to the dog it wouldn't make sense we have to spend those first few days just kind of like getting them used to their new environment
the days are not tracked by how many days they have been with us, but rather how many days of training have been done. So like each session, unless there's multiple sessions in one day, each session will be marked as a day.
What if my dog isn't ready at the end of the program?
On film the trainers ask for more time and say why. Kelton gave Finn four or five more sessions because off-leash was within reach; Connor asked Luna's owner for an extra week when her nerves returned, and said an extension is not always given.
On film
do I send him home or do I get another four or five sessions in with him and see
because of her nervous her nervous things are kind of popped back up. Um, unfortunately we did have to request an extension on her program which uh Luna people were really really nice and gave us gave us an extra week which is not always uh if something like like that happens unexpected um it's not always a given that you'll get that extra week.
The lesson
The goal
The owner can set realistic expectations: session counts for commands, no dates for confidence, settling days at the start, and what an extension is for.
Learn first
The drill
Not a drill on film but a planning conversation, as run at Dolce's first owner lesson: separate the goals into mechanical ones (obedience, proofing) that get a date and emotional ones (confidence, drive) that get a review point instead ('I'll know more by the end of this week').
Watch out for
- Asking for a date for a fear problem.
- Counting calendar days instead of training days.
- Taking the dog home against the trainer's advice to keep a schedule.
Check yourself
Your dog's goals are a reliable recall and less fear of strangers. Which one can your trainer put a date on?