"He is your friend, your partner,
Your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, his leader.
He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."
--Unknown


Thank you for your interest in Maricopa Dog Training! We specialize in Obedience, but also offer Trick Training and the prevention/resolution of certain behavioral issues. At this time, we do not work with aggressive dogs, this includes aggression toward humans or other animals.

We are located in the city of Maricopa. We offer training through private lessons that are held in the client's home and other locations, such as dog parks, pet stores and other dog-friendly places.

A well-behaved dog is such a pleasure to have around! Unfortunately, dogs are not born knowing what we want from them or how we want them to behave. So, without training, dogs will be dogs...they will pee on your carpet, jump on you and your guests, make chew toys of your favorite shoes and run in the opposite direction as you chase them down the street yelling "Come here! Bad dog!". But it doesn't have to be that way. Dogs inherently want to please us. Once you've given them some basic training, your dog will be happier, more relaxed and more confident and you will enjoy him so much more!

There are differing opinions concerning what method is best for dog training. The training method we use is called Positive Reinforcement, which basically means a reward is used to teach obedience commands or desired behaviors. A reward can be anything your dog enjoys, including food and treats, praise, playtime and toys. The reward used most often, especially in the beginning of training, is food or treats, simply because most dogs are very food-motivated. Along with the reward, we also let the dog know when they've done something correctly by "marking" their behavior with either a verbal response
such as "Yes!", or by using a clicker. Your choice.

Although we never use e-collars in any of our training classes, they can be appropriate in certain situations. It ultimately depends on the goal of the training. If you're trying to resolve an issue that is putting your dog or a family member in danger and you need results fast, an e-collar might be an appropriate option. But for obedience, tricks and most behaviors, we've found they are best taught with a gentle hand. So, we don't use shock collars (e-collars), prong collars, or choke chains. Any "hands on" during our training is always gentle and used only to guide a dog into position or to assist him in performing a particular action. There is no yelling, pushing, or pulling and we will never use physical punishment of any kind. A reward makes dogs more likely to repeat a command or behavior, so positive reinforcement is one of your most powerful tools for shaping or changing your dog's behavior.

Our methods are proven, reliable and guaranteed. But since our classes are normally just 4 or 5 weeks long, you and your dog should continue practicing once you've completed your course, for the best results. Your dog will have an excellent foundation by the end of a course but may not be "polished" in all commands and behaviors. The more you work with your dog, the better behaved he will become. Training should be a lifetime endeavor. Besides the obvious advantages of training, there is also a great deal of bonding that is achieved, between you and your dog, in the process.

If you have questions or would like more information, give us a call, or if you prefer, send an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

God bless you and your furry friend(s)!

Robin Faller
Owner/Trainer
Maricopa Dog Training