Terriers have different care and training needs than other dogs. Get into the best possible position with your dog through this immersive, all-encompassing, customized, terrier-specific foundation program. Experience the life you’ve always dreamed of with your terrier.
How Does Foundations Plus+ Work?
__________Thorough Hour Intake Meeting
Week 1
Our first meeting is 1-1.5 hours via Zoom where we will discuss your foundations plan in detail, and all of your questions will be answered. Move forward feeling refreshed, in control, and ready!
A Month of Foundations Coaching
Weeks 2-5
Next we will continue to meet weekly for 45 minute meetings on a regular day/time via Zoom. Every week your one-on-one meeting with Emma will include Q&A, progress check-in, live training with your dog, and end with reassuring Q&A.
What Will We Accomplish in Foundations Plus+?
In Foundations Plus+ you will learn fantastic routines that work for your specific lifestyle, troubleshooting, how to communicate with and respond to your dog effectively, how to better your dog’s individual well-being in profound ways, and we will address critical terrier-specific foundations.
No Prior Tech Experienced Needed
All you need is WiFi and a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Fun Fun Fun!
Gone are the days of stressful group classes where your terrier is wildly distracted, or where you seek private help and are met with judgement. In this program you will feel supported and you will see your terrier transform into a more confident, relaxed, and focused dog who relishes working with you.
24/7 Support During Your Program
During this 5-week program you will be able to text message and email me any questions that you have about any and all aspects of your dog’s life. You will be encouraged to send videos for review. I am on your team and known for my supportive detailed approach. I will also work with your veterinarian if helpful.
Will I Need More Coaching?
After this program, those that are all set proceed onward and keep me updated, and those who are really excited about their progress and want to fast track to a higher level can request more coaching. Every case has different challenges and you will feel empowered to make this choice for yourself. Subsequent coaching is $547 per month.
A Foundations Plus+ Graduate
Concerning Challenges?
Common puppyhood challenges include house training issues, puppy nipping, poor recall, stealing “contraband” and parading around the house with it, trouble settling at quiet times, and difficulty getting your terrier’s attention and keeping their focus. If your challenges involve a bite history, resource guarding, safety concerns with children and/or other pets, or any other concerning challenges, please apply here:
What Alumni Think of Foundations PLUS+
Our dog, Meghan, was impossible to walk. She was wild. I could not go half a block. She is a pleasure to be with now. She has responded to Emma’s techniques very well. She would not respond to traditional methods.
To anyone thinking about working with Emma I say JUST DO IT
Training sessions with Emma are enjoyable. She addresses our specific concerns and issues rather than just a standard list of topics. Emma let’s us set the pace with our questions and needs. Emma has helped with training, feeding, housebreaking, and keeping both Stella and our furniture safe.
I had some doubts about online training, but it has been very easy. We can watch Emma demonstrate with Miles and then Emma can watch us work with Stella.
I think we have more respect for how hard Puck is working and trying to learn and please us. It feels more natural for us to focus on good behavior than focusing on “no” and negative reinforcement. He is so smart, and Emma’s training has helped us see that!
We think this is a great investment in helping us all live together happily!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why should I invest in coached foundations for my terrier?
Why does Foundations Plus+ cost more than Puppy Foundations?
Is your puppy already home?
Once your puppy comes home, they are learning in every single second. My puppy programs work through very targeted “training” sessions that you will do with your puppy for around 5-10 minutes a day… But, the bulk of the work and thought actually relate to your daily routines, and getting you set up for success and relief! If your puppy is already home and you are feeling a little overwhelmed, Foundations Plus+ is the right fit for you. It begins with a much longer meeting where we can back track a bit, come up with temporary solutions while you wait for your new recommended supplies, and we can make sure that you are on the right path forward.
Is your puppy over 4 months old?
Puppyhood is a precious time for terriers. Once your puppy is more than 4-5 months old, they will be past the socialization period. The socialization period is critical for terriers, not just because it is such a wonderful time for accelerated learning, but also because it is the age where clever little terrier puppies will very rapidly establish routines and associations. Rapid development of set behavior patterns can be a blessing, or a curse! Terrier puppies raised with routines that might work for a more classic “companion” type of dog can develop behavior challenges very rapidly. Maladaptive behaviors can escalate quickly in terriers and become quite challenging long before a dog is even a year old. It is not uncommon to be feeling overwhelmed very early on. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it is because strong and complex patterns have already been established, and it will take some careful organization and troubleshooting to unravel established behaviors.
A more intensive program
The Foundations Plus+ program is more intensive because we are no longer working from a preventive perspective. We will be regrouping in a major way. In Foundations Plus+, I will spend some valuable early time with you in the Assessment to really figure out what is currently going on, so that I can develop a plan to troubleshoot and address immediate concerns as efficiently as possible. I get it, you need relief and you need it yesterday. In the following month of coached sessions, your program will also include extra Q&A, and additional weekly notes and documentation.
My puppy/dog will be older than 4 months, but I don't have him/her yet. Is this program the right fit for us?
The first meeting is a 1.5 – 2 hour scheduled meeting via Zoom where we will look at your soon-to-be puppy or dog’s history, age, and we will talk about your lifestyle. We will look at the type of environment in which the dog was raised and develop a plan that will included all aspects of their new life with you: appropriate and important socialization plans, carefully set-up home environment and early routines, and more. Within 48 hours of our meeting you will receive a detailed 5-10 page plan that you can begin working on immediately.
My dog and/or I have had negative experiences with training before. Why should we work with you?
My approach is data and science-based, and is based overwhelmingly on positive reinforcement for dogs AND people. If you or the dog are stressed when you are trying to take in new information, you won’t be learning optimally. I want the best possible experience and outcome for everyone involved. Methods and routines should feel approachable and comfortable – and most of all, flexible! If something isn’t working, it isn’t because someone is “bad” or “wrong,” it is because we need to adjust things and fine-tune. Given that I work with very “creative” terriers, adjusting and fine-tuning routines to the individual at hand is my passion and speciality! I always start every meeting with, “How are things going? Do you have any questions?” This allows me to prioritize what YOUR foundation needs truly are.
To get more of a sense of my coaching method, I recommend that you check out the client story videos that are peppered around this website. They probably can speak best to what I am like!
Do you work with other breed types of dogs, or mixed-breed dogs?
Any dog with a spirited terrier-style personality is welcome! I love working with rescue dogs with unknown genetic lineage who are clearly part of the terrier family. I foster tough cases now and then and am a big fan of giving misunderstood dogs a second chance.
I am just one person, so I dedicate my time to terrier types. If I feel your concerns are more general, I will provide you with an expert referral.
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Non-terrier-types are 100% welcome to apply for Terrier Academy Courses or On-Demand programs. Training that is effective for terriers has to be pretty dang rock-solid… For your viewing pleasure, please enjoy the following video of my sister who is a very busy professional with her cats. She only had time for two sessions with me and these are the results for her rescue cats:
Do I need to be technologically savvy?
How do I book live online coaching?
For the Coached Sessions, can we meet at different days/times or with gaps in the schedule?
Foundations Plus+ is all about setting up a strong foundation for a successful present and long-term future for both you and your puppy. For the Coached Sessions portion of the program, is important that you are able to meet once a week with Emma on a set day/time. The good news is, even if your location shifts during the program, meeting virtually is very accomodating for travel or location changes.
Foundations programs are not scheduled where there will be planned gaps outside of the weekly format for the Coached Sessions. The first 4 weeks are absolutely critical. If you foresee that that this sort of scheduling may be challenging, you will still want to apply in advance, but you will want to share what month(s) in your application that would be ideal start times for you.
* Terrier Academy books on holidays, but never on weekends.
What do the online "Coached Session" look like?
About a week or so after we meet for the 1-1.5 hour Assessment and Immediate Plan, we will dive into foundations coaching. Foundations Plus+ includes a month of weekly meetings for the Coached Sessions portion. Each session is 45 minutes long and typically looks like this:
- We check in about how everything is going, and make sure all of the Immediate Plan setup, care, and health stuff is going smoothly. If there are any areas for improvement, we will discuss ways to streamline your routines to suit your pup and your lifestyle.
- I will explain the week’s topics, and run through the homework that is in your Terrier Academy account.
- Usually I will then demonstrate the exercise(s) with my dog Miles so you can see what you will be doing this week.
- Then you get to try! If you aren’t tech-savvy, don’t worry at all. I am a master at online coaching as I have been doing this for over a decade. You will feel supported and relaxed as you try the exercise(s) with your pup.
- I get to watch your dog and observe how they learn and what motivates them, and I can offer really exciting and unique tips and insight as we work together.
- At the end of the session, we check in again to ensure all of your questions are answered.
- After the session, you will have access directly from your Terrier Academy account to course materials, and the ability to text message or email me any and all questions you might have, and to send me video for review if you like.
What happens after I complete Foundations Plus+?
After you complete Foundations Plus+, your terrier will understand how to work with you, you will both learn how to communiucate with each other, and you will both have great socialization and home routines under your belts. At this stage, alumni are amazed at how different their relationship with their terrier is and surprised at learning who their terrier really is! At this stage, you may be inspired based on your success to go to the next level.
Advanced Foundations delves deeper into more advanced skills that you will both retain for life.
After completing Advanced Foundations, the sky really is the limit for what you can achieve with your terrier! Check out Terrier Academy Courses!
We did Emma’s Puppy Foundations program for our new Border Terrier, Mila. We knew we needed some guidance as I’d had terriers in the past and there were always some difficulties. Little did we know this would turn out to be the most worthwhile thing we could have done for our dog, and the best money I’ve ever spent on a service. Emma teaches you not only to train your dog, but understand them. She teaches you how to raise a happy, healthy dog whose needs are met, specifically terrier needs. Our puppy is 5 months now and the early training we did has already paid off immensely. I only wish I had done this work with my previous terriers. I can’t recommend Emma’s services enough and we will definitely be working with her again in the future.
-Christabelle & Xavier
Turns out you can teach old dogs new tricks. Steve and I have had Welsh Terriers in our life for 25 years and are starting again with our new puppy, Rowdy. We will be pushing 80 years of age if this puppy lives as long as our last Welshies and we are determined to have a dog that brings us our slippers at that point in life. Emma came recommended to us by our breeder. Who knew there was such a thing as a Terrier Trainer? We immediately made arrangements with Emma to help us before we even knew a dog would be available.
Our first appointment with Emma, before the dog came home, was filled with preparation suggestions that just made so much sense. This was the help we needed. We got busy preparing for puppyhood and soon our little Rowdy arrived. Emma was there to meet us each week. During the one on one Zoom sessions our concerns were addressed and new material was introduced. Her website is so easy to use and an exceptional support to the classes. The included demonstration videos were referred to frequently as we checked in on our techniques for training Rowdy. During the week, training questions or various other issues would arise. Emma encouraged us to text and/or send video of those moments. She would thoughtfully reply and provide us with the help we needed at that time.
The Puppy Foundations course has taught these old dogs new tricks. For the first time we feel prepared, equipped, and relaxed raising a new puppy. Our heightened sense of observation is teaching us how to communicate with our dog and Rowdy is showing us her eagerness to learn. Emma’s sincere care and support has been the key that has us all developing a warm relationship based on trust. We look forward to having a dog that is as crazy about us as we are about her, even if she steals the slippers as quickly as they are delivered.
Emma with her terrier specific training curriculum completely changed our lives with our 6 month old Airedale Dublin.
From our first training session, she gave us several training, trips and protocols to help us survive the craziness of a young terrier! As an example, we were really struggling to control him on a leash when he saw other dogs. He would bark and lunge almost to the point that I thought I might not be able to control him as he got bigger and stronger. Emma immediately had a solution. I was amazed at how well it worked and continues to get better as we practice with him.
Almost daily we are complimented on how well behaved he is as a puppy!
We feel fortunate to have worked with Emma and will continue to seek her guidance as we work toward Dublin becoming a happy and well behaved companion.
Pam P
Hi Emma, my puppy and I definitely benefitted from the training with you. It’s amazing how simple exercise are so valuable. When we were first learning the exercises I couldn’t see the connection, but just yesterday I got to use one in what could have been a critical situation. I used a back screen door at the cottage to go out for a minute and it didn’t latch. My puppy came running out and ran right past me, running like the wind/ I immediately felt a wave of panic but remembered to use our training to which he came running back. I didn’t even have treats on me. After we ran up the stairs inside I showered him with treats and lots of praise. Thank you Emma!!!! Please know that it’s the best money I spent when it comes to my sweet little man and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I had lost my sweet terrier last year and it was time to bring another pup into our home. We knew we loved the intelligence and bond we experienced with our last terrier… but did we really want to go through all the neurotic behaviors again? I deep dived into researching the type of terrier we wanted. We settled on a welsh terrier. I turned to many who owned the breed asking for recommendations on books for training a terrier. That is when I learned about Emma’s terrier academy. We were initially unsure of the cost and it not being “in person.,” but we knew there had to be a better way then putting our dog through what our last terrier had gone through in training (3 different dog training programs in the first 4 years of her life). I became convinced after combing through the reviews and reading Emma’s blog.that it was worth the investment. So we submitted our application. The puppy foundations really helped prepare us. The setup she recommends and diet helped us know the best path to go down. Our boy has yet to destroy anything in our house, he is potty training well, loves his pen area, and he seems very content in his surroundings. I feel like through this training we are able to set him up for the best possible life in our family. He is learning so quickly how to work with his humans. So far no neurotic behaviors. My heart feels so thankful to have found Emma and her training methods. I feel like we are honoring our last terrier by knowing better and doing better by our current puppy. If you on the fence about doing this training so soon, just do it! You will be saving yourself and puppy from so many issues ahead.