Frequently Asked Questions

Please note, for your convenience, we changed the text of the extra-important things to RED, and sections pertaining to complex cases such as Fear, Reactivity, Aggression or Separation Anxiety, etc., are in GREEN.  

1. How to Contact Us

The best way to communicate with us is filling out the form on the website under the Contact Tab or calling the office at 913-269-7595, but please be aware Mike is not only the owner and trainer but also the one answering the phones and replying to emails (along with all the case notes and communication with clients…) We will respond as quickly as we can but responses during busy times can take up to a day or two (excluding weekends/holidays).

If you choose to call the office, please take note of our office hours below. Please be aware we do not return missed calls without a voicemail message, so if you would like a return call you must leave a message with details and your call back info.

HOURS:

2. Will you send homework after each session?

YES!!! We will add notes, videos, and even blogs for you to read. The notes will be added to each and every Outlook Calendar Event as an attached Microsoft Word document within 24-hours following your session.  Just click on the Outlook email notification following your session and you will find the attachment. (If you do not see it, please look in your junk or spam folder. If you still cannot find them, call us ASAP and we will resend a copy so you can review the things to work on.) If you choose not to do the homework, you will fall behind and will not get the full value of the sessions. Let’s face it if you are not going to practice the work, why hire a trainer???

Cases of Fear, Reactivity, Aggression, or Separation Anxiety will be considered Complex Cases and they are more expensive than regular training. Complex Cases are described at the following link.  CLICK HERE FOR SPECIFICS OF COMPLEX CASES.

Am I really responsible for communication with the trainer to keep him/her informed of my progress between sessions? And does this really include me sending videos?

YES, yes you are! You are the key to success in this process. It is our job to point you in the right direction, show you how to do the exercises, and send you video examples in many cases to review. If you are having issues, we need to see the issues instead of waiting for the next session. We want and expect you to send us small 30-second videos of your progress so we can help!

I would also recommend forwarding the notes and homework to your veterinarian so they can see what work we are doing and become part of the process! If we can get owner, trainer and veterinarian all pulling in the same direction, progress can be made much quicker!

3. How long does it take to train my dog?

Training a dog is really more about training the owner, so it really depends on how long it will take to train you! If you are frequent and consistent in working on the techniques and homework we leave for you, dog training becomes very easy. So, to answer your question with a question: How frequent and consistent are you willing to be?

4. How long are the sessions?

Our sessions are 45 minutes, that is the time we have seen that best fits both the dogs and owners from a focus and attention standpoint.

5. Why do you train owners, not dogs?

You want your dog to listen and pay attention to you, not us. Our job is to teach you DASL, or “Dog as A Second Language”.

6. Why do you charge a $100 Non-Refundable Deposit, require a signed agreement to the Fine Print & FAQs, and a Behavior History Questionnaire to schedule sessions or classes?

It takes the time and resources to call, discuss, answer questions, and get folks set up in the calendar or to reserve spots on class rosters. This non-refundable deposit will cover that time in the case of cancellations. So, it is critical that, if you choose to work with KISS Dog Training, you are as committed as we are to following through with the training. If you have any questions, please call the office before scheduling your appointments.  The balance of your training package is due by your first session, minus your previously paid $100 non-refundable deposit.  Once training has been booked, we do not offer refunds. Dog training is both a commitment in time and money, not only for the owner but also for the trainer as well. If there are any questions, please call 913-269-7595 and discuss them before signing up.

Your electronic signature agreement to our Fine Print & FAQs is required before we will schedule your appointments. We want to make sure everyone reads these documents in their entirety to know all our policies before they choose to begin training with K.I.S.S. Dog Training.

7. The Behavior History Questionnaire is required for EVERYTHING (training sessions, even consults and phone calls).  It helps us to plan and know what issues the owner is having, as well as giving us insights into what things have been tried and where we will be heading in training. It is also part of our legal and insurance protocols to ensure we are prepared and ready to meet you and your dog! We greatly appreciate your cooperation.

8. Why do you charge a “Rescheduling” and a “Day of Appointment Cancellation”? What happens if you choose not to pay them?

The cancellation/rescheduling fees are to compensate our time to call, set up, and do the back-office calendar work to accommodate your rescheduling needs. We also, in many cases, lose the ability to fill the original calendar slot by moving your appointment to a new slot on the calendar that could be used for a new client. Many months of the year we have up to a month’s wait time to get started with clients, so being able to handle the homework and appointment times chosen are critical to success.

Day of Schedule Cancellations have a $60.00 fee; any other rescheduling will have a fee of $40.00. We encourage you to call the office if you have extenuating circumstances.

RESCHEDULING FEES ARE DUE AT THE TIME OF CANCELLATION, NOT WHEN YOU WANT TO RESCHEDULE. PAYMENT OF THESE FEES WILL BE REQUIRED TO RESCHEDULE!

If you choose to not pay the fees, you simply forfeit that session, and it will not affect any of your other/future sessions.   

We want you to know that we value your time, so in the event your trainer needs to reschedule your session for personal reasons, we will add an additional in-home session for free (valued at $101-$145) to make it up to you! Fair is Fair.  

9. Why do you charge more for Aggressive Dogs?

Please see our website and information on complex cases (CLICK HERE) 

If you should choose to train a dog that falls into this category, or one that has a bite history, you accept all responsibility for the actions of this dog. Be sure you are willing to put in the time, attention, and practice with the dog, not to mention the civil and legal responsibilities.

10. Are you a certified dog trainer?

Yes! Mike Deathe is certified through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers. His credentials are “CPDT-KA” (“Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed”).  Certified Fear-Free Professional, Certified Evaluator for AKC Canine Good Citizen certification, Charter Member of HEART (HEARTland Positive Dog Training Alliance), Served two years as Trainer/Area Trainer for PetSmart.  Mike also holds a BA in Psychology from The University of Kansas.

Currently, there are no restrictions on folks becoming dog trainers or what they need to do beforehand. We feel strongly that if you are going to hire a trainer, that person should have taken the time and pride to educate themselves, certify themselves with a governing body, and be required to get yearly continuing education.

11. Are you insured?

Yes, we carry full dog training insurance for our trainers and the company through The Hartford Group. This is not only to protect our trainers and the company but you and your dog(s) as well. Again, if you are going to hire a dog trainer, they should be professional enough to protect not only themselves but their clients, with insurance.

12. What is the most important thing in picking a dog trainer?

You and the trainer must connect not only on a personal basis but also on a technique/philosophical basis. We will not be the right trainer for every person out there. In the end, you want a trainer that can help you and your furry friend get back on speaking terms. Here is an article that our owner/trainer, Mike Deathe, wrote several years ago on picking the right trainer for you.

13. Is it true that from time to time you will “fire” a client?

Yes, from time to time I find that the owner is not capable or willing to do the work. I do not want to waste your time or mine. I make every effort to let you know my training philosophies and expectations and hope that you will learn about my personality through reading our Fine Print & FAQs and watching the videos I have made publicly available on YouTube. However, there are times when personalities just do not mesh, and it is in the dog’s best interest to terminate the sessions so you can move on to another trainer that is a better fit for you and you do mesh. But in most cases, when I do actually “fire” a client it is because the client is consistently not prepared, doesn’t have the time, or is just simply not doing the homework. I hate to even put this on the website, but as we always strive to be as transparent as possible, I want you to see this here before deciding to hire us to work with you to learn how to train your dog.

14. Is it necessary to use technology as a part of the training process?

YES!  You must have an email address and be comfortable with electronic communication. We require clients to be able to complete online forms as well as retrieve homework with links that we post online.  Please be sure you are comfortable and/or capable of communicating by email and watching video examples of the training we are doing for homework.  We require all of these things with our clients to check on, adjust, and communicate about the training process . We frequently communicate with clients via email and through Outlook calendar invites where we send both notes and homework to you after each in-home session via an update to your scheduled session on our Outlook calendar.  This homework and updates will come to you via email – this email will look like an invite to the session, but you MUST read the content of that email and you will find all of your homework.

Mike Deathe, CPDT-KA

(913)269-7595