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"Doggy Day Schools are the new alternative to traditional obedience lessons and training. No longer do you have to send your beloved pet away for months without contact. Now, through Possum Hollow Doggy Day Schools, your pet can be stimulated, exercised and fulfilled and still remain a part of your family." Click Here to view package prices and sampler offer.
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For busy families. Your dog gets the training and conditioning it needs each day and you still get to spend quality time together at home. For lonely or bored dogs. No longer will your dog have to spend hours alone at home. Now he will have structure and fun! For out of control dogs. Annoying problems like jumping, running away when called, pulling on the leash, and many, many others will be solved. For dogs with emotional problems. Emotional problems such as fear of strangers, fear of other dogs, dog aggression, depression and many more will be greatly improved. For you. Finally, you can have the kind of pet you always wanted...obedient, pleasant, happy and healthy.
General Information
You select from a group of programs depending on how much driving you want to do. Depending on the program you select you would drop off your dog in the morning and pick it up in the afternoon, drop off your dog on Mondays and pick it up on Fridays, or let your dog stay with us the entire time and you visit it here. While at school, your dog will be given an obedience lesson, provided with time to rest and then allowed free play time in a fenced area. Each obedience lesson will be one of many that encompasses your dog's training program. Programs are a minimum of two months (although you pay monthly). During the first month we concentrate on your dog. With the second month we bring you into the mix by adding a complimentary private lesson once a week in which you will work with your dog and your trainer.
The Possum Hollow Doggy Day School is located at 371 CC Lovelace Road in Rutherfordton NC. Possum Hollow is a working farm with a wholesome atmosphere and plenty of activity. Fearful or shy dogs benefit greatly from the active and pleasant surroundings. Dogs become accustomed to all kinds of livestock including horses, sheep, goats and cattle. Tractors bounce by, stock trailers rumble around and our own working herding dogs move livestock from place to place all the time. People come and go all day and the general feel is one of family and good country living. This rural setting provides for a healthy change where dogs can learn and feel at ease while attending school. The farm is located on a small paved country road with family in surrounding houses so security is optimized and smiles are frequent. We welcome visitors and invite you to call for a tour. To find us click here for Directions.
All trainers working at Possum Hollow are trained here and certified in Pet Obedience and Canine Behavior. New trainers are required to work with master trainers for several months before being assigned a dog on their own. All trainers are taught to use the Natural Order methods and are talented in their work and ability to communicate and handle a variety of dogs. Your dog will be assigned a personal trainer that will work with you and your dog throughout his/her schooling experience. Your dog will develop confidence and trust in his or her personal trainer and will develop a positive working relationship. This relationship will allow your dog to learn quicker and develop a better attitude about obedience. Your dog's personal trainer will keep you informed of your dogs progress and will be available to you for questions or concerns. During your dog's second month you will become more aquainted with your dog's trainer as you are invited to participate in weekly complimentary private lessons with your dog and trainer.
When each dog arrives at school he/she is placed in a resting crate inside our Doggy Day Barn or into a play area for some early fun time. Once all of the dogs have arrived, each dog is taken on a training walk. When your dog returns he/she is placed back in a crate to rest for about an hour. Following this rest time, your dog is allowed more free play time in a fenced area. The Barn holding the resting crates is heated in winter and air-conditioned in summer. Crates are kept clean and dogs are given fresh water as needed. When working, each dog is taken out of its crate on a leash for training or placed inside a fenced area for free time with or without other dogs and walked for frequent potty breaks. Only when your dog graduates to off-leash training will it be allowed to work without a leash.
Training
is tailored to the needs of each individual dog. Each dog is assigned a
personal trainer to develop and implement the appropriate training
program. Standard training typically involves walking on leash, sit,
stay, lie down, stop, recall, and wait to go through doors. Training
also includes basic manners and learning patience. Special
needs may include stopping specific behavioral problems, confidence
building, socialization, and dealing with fears. All trainers use the
"Natural Order" approach to training which is based on the mother dog's methods of
training her pups and on the way adult dogs communicate with each
other. Training is kind, firm and consistent using positive and
negative reinforcement techniques. For more information about our
training methods click About PHCS.
All dogs are trained to
be comfortable in a crate. Dogs need a "den" in which they
feel safe and secure. Crates fulfill this need. Dogs are
trained to go into their crate on command and wait to come out until given
a release command. Crate training builds security and confidence and is
immensely helpful in aiding your housebreaking efforts at
home. Obedience sessions are 30-60 minutes for each
dog on any given day followed by a resting period and free time. It will
take at least two months to train your dog. Different dogs learn at
different rates. Older dogs can learn just as well as younger
dogs. Puppies can learn socialization skills and basic obedience
beginning at 10 weeks. Click for more information about our Herding
Dog Training services.
Dogs that are in need of socialization with other dogs are placed with other dogs at the request of the owner. Dogs are carefully paired to ensure a safe and pleasant socialization experience. We do not place large numbers of dogs together in one area unless the dogs all belong to a single household. Dogs allowed to run in large groups will begin to develop pack behaviors which may promote fighting for positions in the pack hierarchy. Dogs with more serious emotional, behavioral or physical problems benefit greatly as a result of the routine of a regular program. Dogs become comfortable with their school, develop a working relationship with their trainer, and gain confidence through experiencing multiple situations and events that only a busy day school can provide. Through the day school program, your dog can continue to develop a strong bond with you and still get the training, conditioning and handling it needs to be a well-rounded companion. We have worked with many rescue dogs including dogs rescued from Katrina and other traumatic situations and are well equipped to deal with fearful dogs.
As an owner of a Day School dog you can attend FREE weekly private lessons during your dog's second month where you, your dog and your trainer can work together. Additional private lessons are also available at a reduced fee by appointment. You will work with your dog and your dog's personal trainer to learn how to handle and maintain your newly trained and conditioned dog. Your primary responsibility is dropping off and picking up your dog. Homework consists of practicing good handling skills and monitoring your dog's nutritional needs. The rest is up to us!
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Requirements Required Vaccinations: All dogs must be vaccinated against kennel cough (Bordatella sp.) and be up to date on all regular shots. Puppies must have had their second set of puppy shots. Deworming: Dogs must have been dewormed with Drontal within 2 weeks of starting. Fleas and Ticks: All dogs must be on Frontline Plus or Revolution to control fleas and ticks and have had an application of Capstar for fleas the within 2 days of enrollment. Capstar is a mild one-time treatment that kills any fleas present on the dog's body at the time of application. It is inexpensive and comes in pill form. No dogs with fleas or ticks will be admitted until these parasites have been removed. Please bring a copy of most recent shot records showing Bordatella, Drontal and Capstar. No dogs having recent transferable illnesses will be admitted until provided with a veterinary health certificate. Attendance Programs The Doggy Day School is open Monday-Friday. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you need to drop off or pick up your dog outside of regular office hours, just let us know. Click HERE to see our yearly calendar and information about finding out if we are open during bad weather. In general our school is closed for national holidays and during inclement weather. The
Overnight
School is available for dogs needing to remain with us
overnight during all or part of their
training experience. These dogs will be housed in our Day School
Barn and handled similarly to the 5-Day Program identified above during
the day. At night they will be fed, watered and bedded down to sleep
in a resting crate. Dogs are fed a high quality
blend of Blackwood and Flint River Ranch Super Premium
Dog Foods. They will have lots of exercise and working fun!
Owners can visit as often as they like after the first two weeks (allowing
us time to develop a working bond before owners re-enter the scene).
A Note About Fees: All fees are due at the beginning of the scheduled service. Each month begins on the date of enrollment and continues until the same date of the following month.
Possum
Hollow personnel will be available to meet and greet you during the
following hours... We are often at the Day School before and after these hours but may not always be working where you can see us. Owners wishing to drop off or pick up their dogs outside of regular hours may make alternate arrangements. Security The Doggy Day School is located beside the owner's home and across the road from one of our trainers. The entire Day School area is fenced and gated. Gates are closed and doors are locked outside of regular office hours. We have security dogs on watch throughout the night and are well aware of all comings and goings. The Day School is staffed throughout the day with the exception of lunch time. The Day School gates may be closed during regular hours if we are working with dogs that need extra security. If you arrive during regular office hours and find a gate closed feel free to open it and come in as the office will be open. Please close the gate behind you. No dogs are allowed to run freely outside of the gated areas. Enrollment Information Tuition is due on a monthly basis. Your dog's initial tuition payment will be due on your dog's first day of school and then on that same date of each month. Tuition may be paid by check, money order or cash. Owners wishing to pay with a credit card may do so online using PayPal and send payment to info@possumhollowfarms.com . Payment plans are available for owners needing to make two smaller payments each month. A late fee of $5 may be assessed for each day that payment is past the regularly scheduled due date. A returned check fee of $15.00 will be assessed for any returned checks.
CALL
NOW AND GIVE
YOUR DOG 828-429-6388
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Inclement Weather Closings If
the county schools are closed due to bad weather, the Doggy Day School will also be closed. |
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How Doggy Day School Works...
Doggy Day School Location...
PHE Certified Trainers...
Housing...
Training
Programs...
Socialization
and Behavioral Needs...
Owner Training...
