FAQs

About the classes

    • Individual Classes

    • Puppy Class

    • Teenager Training

    • Leash Walking & Encounters

    • Social Walk

    • City Training

    • Mantrailing

  • Every dog learns differently! If you’re unsure, tell me a bit about yours and I’ll help you find the perfect class.

    • Individual Classes: any age

    • Puppy Class: 12 Weeks to 6 Months

    • Teenager Training: 6 months - whenever you deem your dog no longer a teenager

    • Leashwalking & Encounters: starting at 8 months - ∞

    • Social Walk: starting at 8 months - ∞

    • City Training: starting at 8 months - ∞

    • Mantrailing: starting at 6 months - ∞

  • I teach in whichever language everyone in class can understand. If I need to translate to multiple languages I will.

  • I like to work with small groups as they are less exciting to the dogs and provide a better learning environment.

    • Puppy Class: max. 6 dogs

    • Teenager Training: max. 5 dogs

    • Leash Walking & Encounters: max. 6 dogs

    • Mantrailing: max. 3 dogs

    • Social Walk: max. 8 dogs

    • City Training: max. 8 dogs

  • Yes! Bring the whole family if you like. It’s important that everyone in your house is training in a similar manner and it’s great if everyone gets involved.

    As a rule whoever holds the leash is the one working with the dog.

    You’re welcome to bring kids to class as long as they are not disruptive.

Mantrailing

  • In mantrailing, a dog learns to follow a persons trail using that persons unique individual scent. The dog tracks this scent to locate the person. If there is no scent trail or if the trail ends, the dog indicates this.

  • The mantrail classes take place in different locations in or around the city. (Belair, Strassen, Mamer, Bertrange, Limpertsberg,…). I will communicate the exact location via Whatsapp the day of or the day before the class.

  • The essentials are:

    • a good pulling harness

    • a long lead ( 5 - 10m)

    • small, unopened trashbags (for the scent)

    • Jackpots: 2-6 (depending on training level) Tupperwares with food inside that your dog really enjoy! ( Cottage Cheese, yogurt, wet food, … )

    • 2 of your scent items ( Socks, Gloves, Bandanas… )

  • Yes! Mantrailing is great for any type of dog. If your dog has any physical issues we can adjust trail length to fit his needs. Reactive dogs can also take part in Mantrailing classes, as there’s just one dog out of the car at a time.

  • Yes. Mantrailing is great for reactive or shy dogs, as it can help counterconditioning their negative emotions towards other dogs, people or new environments. Since mantrailing is fun for them, they will add new positive learning experiences into their repertoire, that can help them become overall more openminded and less overwhelmed.

  • The groups are usually 3 - 4 dogs. On Sundays there are two groups of 3 following each other, so that the waiting times aren’t too long. The dogs wait their turn in the car, and their humans will assist with the previous dog.

Booking, Payment & Cancellations

  • You can book a class on this website with the scheduling tool.

  • You can pay with your credit card, just like anything if you order something online.

  • Cancellations are free up to 48 hours before your appointment. Late cancellations are charged.

  • Yes, if there is availability. For late cancellations, rescheduling is not possible.

  • Yes - you can get a gift voucher for any class or individual session.

  • I don’t offer free trial classes. You can buy a 2-class Try Out package, that will be more cost friendly to you. Or you can just buy and book one lesson at a time, if you’re not sure if you want to commit to a larger group package.

Training Philosophy

  • I work primarily through positive reinforcement. That means, I reward behaviour I like to see, while ignoring, avoiding or interrupting behaviour I don’t like. I usually work with a reward marker, which can be either a work or a clicker, to help the dog understand which behaviour is being rewarded.

  • A marker word or a clicker is a reward signal that we will teach to your dog. For example my word is Check my dogs have learned, that any time I say Check, reward is following. When I say reward, that can mean anything my dogs find rewarding, from treats, tugging on toys, jumping into puddles, running after a ball to sniffing at an interesting spot. Your imagination and your dogs likes are your only restrictions!

    The reward marker lets your dog know which behaviour exactly we liked. Let’s say I want to encourage my dog to look at me more, I’d start saying Check anytime my dog looks at me, and then I’ll reward.

  • Absolutely. Mental enrichment is just as important as physical exercise. A fulfilled dog is more balanced, relaxed and able to learn. My training always aims at both education and well-being.

  • No. I don’t believe that punishment is the way to work with a cherished family member, and I also don’t want to increase my dogs stress and insecurity around me. Your dogs deserve to feel safe around their humans.

    I also don’t use aversive tools for the same reasons.

  • Training is working if the behaviour you want to see is being shown more often and the behaviour you don’t want is displayed less frequently.

    With some things, like reactivity or fear training can take a long time, as there is no easy fix for the strong emotions that trigger these behaviours.

Group Class details

    • All individual & group classes in Parc Merl.

    • Social walk starts at Hotel Siewebure

    • City Training starts at Glacis (by the Schueberfouer entrance)

    • Mantrailing is in different locations near the city, that I will sent per whatsapp message the day before

  • That really depends on which class you want to go for. A well-fitting harness, a normal leash (no flexi-leash), lots of small tasty treats, water for your dog, poop bags and a fun toy are usually the basics. For Mantrailing you will also need to bring a long leash ( 5 - 8 M ) as well as food jackpots.

  • No, there is no uncontrolled free play. All interactions are carefully structured to ensure positive learning experiences and to avoid over-arousal or negative encounters.

  • Yes, in many cases. Some dogs are better supported in individual training at first.

    I am happy to advise you on the best option for your dog.

  • You can bring two dogs if you’re certain you’re able to handle two at a time, or if you bring a second person to handle the second dog.

    In any case if you bring a second dog, you have to sign up the 2 dogs, as the classes are limited by dog/class.

  • Classes are held as long as I deem the weather safe for us and the dogs. In cases of extreme rain, heat or thunder I will reach out to you and cancel classes. I may also cancel a class if I feel it won’t make sense for the dogs: e.g. very cold and light rain, may be a reason to cancel puppy class as I don’t want the puppies to get sick.

    The same conditions apply to mantrailing only that we don’t trail outdoors, if the temperature drops under -5°C or over 25°C. We might still trail indoors somewhere.

Individual Training

  • Anything your dog needs: reactivity, leash pulling, recall, home manners, confidence building, alone time, or fun tricks.

  • In Parc Merl by default.

  • Yes, but only if you live in or around the city and if you book two consecutive time slots. Travel time is included in those two hours.

  • If your dog is reactive, overwhelmed, or needs focused help, a private session is often best. It’s also a good starting point if you’re unsure of what your dog needs.

  • Yes, right next to Parc Merl there’s a parking.

  • Yes. The Individual Class is there to cater to your specific needs. If you want to work on both your dogs in situations that require both of them, you can bring them both. I might still recommend that you attend a few classes with each dog individually as it is easier to train one dog at a time and train with them together only when they are ready.