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Bringing Balance to Your Pet’s World

In-Home Dog Training and Pet Care Services for Peaceful, Happy Home

Service Area: Alexandria, Virginia

Our Services

Puppy Training 

Adult Dog Training

Behavioral Breakthrough Weekend

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  • How can I be sure the training will be effective in such a short time?
    After dropping off your dog, they'll undergo multiple formal training sessions with Lauren, interspersed with structured walks and exercise. If deemed safe, there's also a supervised play session with role model dogs. The day's effectiveness lies in this structured approach, expert guidance, and consistent training. Even within this short timeframe, the concentrated nature of the training yields noticeable results. The day concludes with a private 60-minute 1-1 consultation, ensuring you're equipped with the skills and knowledge to replicate your dog's newfound success at home.
  • What kind of support do you offer after the intensive training day is over?
    Following the intensive training, we offer a tailored follow-up program to ensure continued progress. Depending on your dog's needs and your preferences, this could be in the form of 1:1 sessions or participation in our group training. Our commitment is to provide the best route for you and your dog to maintain and build upon the skills learned during the intensive day.
  • How should I prepare my dog for the intensive training day?
    Ensure your dog has had a good night's sleep and don't feed them their breakfast. Bring along any favorite toys, meals, treats, or comfort items, and inform Lauren of any specific behavioral challenges or triggers in advance.
  • Will my dog be trained with other dogs or receive one-on-one attention?
    The intensive day training ensures each dog receives individual attention tailored to their needs, which is why spaces are limited. While there are controlled socialization segments, the primary focus is on personalized training, ensuring optimal results for every participant.
  • What exactly is "intensive" about the day training?
    Intensive dog training is a concentrated, full-day program tailored to address specific behavioral challenges and reinforce positive behaviors. Our Intensive Day training program is especially suitable for focusing on one or two of the following behavioral issues: Pulling on lead. Jumping up. Lead reactivity or aggression towards other dogs. Destructive behaviors. Crate training. Unlike regular sessions that may span weeks, this approach is about jump-starting your dog's training journey for impactful results in just one day.
  • What happens if my dog doesn't respond well to the training on that day?
    Each dog is unique, and while many show significant improvement, some may need additional private sessions. We assess each dog's progress and provide recommendations tailored to their pace and needs.
  • Is this program suitable for all dogs?
    The Unleashed Mastery Program is tailored to your dog's individual needs and pace of learning. It is suitable for dogs of all breeds who lack off-leash skills and recall. We assess each dog individually to ensure they'll benefit from our program.
  • Is a remote collar safe and humane for my dog?
    Yes. The remote collar used in our program is designed to be safe, humane, and effective. It is used to enhance communication with your dog and is not a punishment tool. It helps get your dog's attention without causing discomfort.
  • How does the remote collar work in the training process?
    The remote collar is an effective communication tool used in our Unleashed Mastery Program. It helps to get your dog's attention even in distracting environments and encourages consistent recall. The collar is not used as a punishment device, but rather a tool to reinforce positive behaviors and establish reliable communication. It's part of our commitment to ensure a humane and effective training process.
  • Can I enroll my puppy in the Unleashed Mastery Program?
    While we love working with puppies, the Unleashed Mastery Program is specifically designed for dogs that are at least 1 year old. The intensity and structure of the program may not be suitable for younger puppies. However, we offer separate programs suitable for puppies to help them learn basic obedience and socialization skills.
  • What is included in the cost of the Unleashed Mastery Program?
    For your investment in the Unleashed Mastery Program, you get a customized four-week training course led by Lauren, a professional canine behaviorist. The program encompasses sessions at your home and diverse outdoor locales, along with a top-grade remote collar. Furthermore, it guarantees enduring training results through Lauren's continued support and guidance after the program ends.
  • What happens if my dog doesn't improve after the program?
    While we strive to ensure every dog benefits from our program, we also offer continued support following the program. If you feel your dog hasn't made sufficient progress, Lauren is available to provide further guidance and troubleshoot any problems you might encounter.
  • How many dogs can you walk at once?
    Our private walks, which is your household's pet(s) only we will walk up to 4 dogs at a time. Our pack walks, we will walk up to 10 dogs in a pack. Our walkers are professionals who have been trained to handle multiple dogs at a time. Our typical pack has between 4-7 dogs in it.
  • What happens if there is bad weather?
    When the weather is bad, we have a few options for making sure your dog gets their exercise and potty break: We can adjust the visit time and come a little earlier or later to avoid the bad weather. If the weather’s not too severe and your dog doesn’t mind, we can go for our usual walk and towel your dog off when we get back. We can shorten the walk to a quick potty break and quick exercise. Occasionally, the weather is severe enough that it’s not safe for our dog walkers to drive to your house and we may have to cancel your walk for that day.
  • What type of clients do you work with?
    We work with Pet Owners in the Alexandria, who are searching for top-quality pet care and true peace of mind while they travel or when they have to leave their pets for long hours due to work or other obligations
  • What if a pet becomes ill and the client is out of town or can't leave work?
    If we suspect that something is wrong with a pet, we will call you at the emergency phone numbers we have on file. If the client believes the veterinarian should see the pet, we will transport him to the veterinarian’s office for examination and treatment. In the event we cannot reach the client, we will decide if the veterinarian should see your pet. If necessary, we will take your pet for treatment. You will be billed for any extra time we spend on these services.
  • What types of animals do you care for?
    Off Collar, we will take care of all types of pets including dogs (all breeds), cats, ferrets, rabbits, birds, fish, reptiles, horses. Honestly, as long as there are no spiders we got you.
  • How far in advance should a service be scheduled?
    We schedule on a first, come first serve basis and recommend booking pet sitting services as soon as you know your travel dates. Most of the time, booking 1-3 weeks in advance is sufficient, but during major travel holidays and other high-demand times we sometimes book up a month or more in advance. For dog walking we ask you book 72- hours in advance, we do take a last-minute booking with a $15 last-minute fee.
  • Do you administer medication?
    Yes, we will administer pet medication. We ask when you set up a booking with us to go over your medicine routine and have it written down as well. We don't charge extra for this service either.
  • What kind of services does Off Collar offer?
    Off Collar offers a comprehensive range of pet services including dog training, dog walking, dog sitting, and kitty sitting. Each service is tailored to your pet's specific needs and provided in the comfort of your own home.
  • Do you charge for additional pets?
    Yes we charge for additional pets. Private walks and Pet sitting: Additional dogs $22, Additional cats $5 Pack walks: we charge full price as space is limited. Discounts are based on frequency.
  • How is Off Collar different from other pet care services?
    Off Collar is not just a pet service provider; we are your pet's personal caretaker. Our in-home services ensure that your pet remains in a comfortable environment. Our dog training is led by a certified canine behaviorist and designed to address your dog's specific needs, focusing on improving their behavior and enhancing your bond with them. Additionally, our customers enjoy exclusive discounts across our range of services.
  • Are you hiring?
    Yes, Off Collar, LLC is hiring. We are looking for people who are dedicated Pet Care Professionals. We work with sitters who have practical experience in the pet care field and view their time with Off Collar, LLC as part of their career path. Second, we run an extensive screening process, which includes a face-to-face interview, followed by reference checks, followed by a complete background check. All sitters are then hired on a trial basis until we have followed up with enough clients to ensure that they are an excellent fit for Off Collar, LLC. ​ All applications can be submitted: www.offcollar.com/joinourteam
  • My pet needs to go to the vet. Can you take them?
    We do not currently offer any pet taxi rides. If your pet has an emergency while in our care, we will take them to the vet that you have on file or the emergency vet that you have chosen prior to service.
  • Do you offer discounts on services?
    Yes, we do! At Off Collar, we understand the importance of consistency in pet care and we want to reward our loyal customers. For our pet care clients who book dog walks on a monthly 3 times a week or more, we offer special discounts as a thank you for their commitment. Furthermore, our dog training clients receive exclusive discounts across all our services as part of our commitment to fostering a comprehensive and continuous care system for their beloved pets. By choosing Off Collar for your dog training needs, you're not only investing in superior, personalized training, but you're also gaining access to a range of our services at reduced prices.
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