About Jenny

Should I trust this trainer?

As a longtime dog show exhibitor and enthusiast, I learned a critical concept that applies to every dog: If you control what the dog is paying attention to, you have control of the dog. This ends up being a fallback position you’ll learn to rely on when you want to get your dog to stop chasing a child in the backyard…to stop barking at the front window…to stop worrying about the bicycle coming down the road.

Teaching you to reclaim your dog’s attention is a cornerstone of my training. I will show you specific and practical techniques and I’ll make sure you know how to perform them on a moment’s notice.

Many of you are taking on rescued dogs with uncertain backgrounds. Please do not trust a fearful or aggressive dog to a novice trainer. I have worked with many confusing and distressing problems, so your dog won’t be my first.

7 Reasons You Want to Work With Jenny

• Reason #1: My methods are targeted to your specific problem. I do not hand you a prefab curriculum. I work on what you want to work on, not a bunch of stuff you don’t care about.
• Reason #2:Specific handling techniques: I don’t just spout philosophy, I show you exactly how to hold the leash, move your feet, use your hands, etc.
• Reason #3:You’ll have fewer visits. I’m not cheap, but I’m very effective.
• Reason #4:To help fearful dogs, I often bring my Sidekicks, dogs from my own pack who help the frightened dog feel insulated or protected. My Sidekicks are valued members of my family who can get through to withdrawn or skittish dogs when fear makes it hard to trust an unfamiliar person.
• Reason #5:If your dog is aggressive or rude toward other dogs, my Sidekicks can help with that, too. They’re bombproof!
• Reason #6:I respect your role as your dog’s advocate. If what I tell you to do makes you uneasy, I’ll find a strategy that you can wholeheartedly embrace. People have been training dogs for thousands of years, and there is no one right way. A good trainer can adapt and find different ways to address a problem. I have not done my job if I tell you to do something that you cannot comfortably and confidently do after I leave.
• Reason #7:I offer the very highest level of skilled training by a professional with the accumulated experience of hundreds of dogs.

Testimonial

"We took our dog to two local trainers for help. Our dog learned bad habits from one trainer and we had a little success learning basic simple tasks with the other trainer.

My veterinarian told me to try Jenny Dickinson at In Home Dog Training. The vet said her prices might seem a little higher, but in the long run she is really a bargain. 

When Jenny came to our house it was really quite special to watch her get down on the floor with our dog and with ease, teach him and us what to do.  She involved our entire family so there was consistency and our dog did not become confused.  Our dog quickly realized that he must take orders from all of us.

Jenny taught our dog tasks in a specific order because they built upon one another. She would take a task and break it into several small steps.  To watch our dog learn these things, and have so much fun in doing so, it is really one of those things you have to see to appreciate.

Jenny was very effective. She came to our home, she worked her schedule around ours, and our dog was taught in the environment that he was living in. She made a difference in the quality of our lives."  

- M.B.,Rehoboth, Massachusetts

How do I set up your training?

• Step #1: Our first conversation 
  When you call me to make an appointment, you and I will look at our schedules and find a time that works for you and your family. I see clients between the hours of noon and 8 PM on weekdays. I also see clients on the weekends, because that's when most people are home!
• Step #2: See if I'm a fit 
  I like for clients to make one appointment and see how much we can accomplish together. I don't ask you to sign up for a series of lessons if you haven't had a chance to work with me. At the end of the lesson, IF you decide you would like to plan on six or more lessons, I reduce the fee 10% if you pay me in full at that first lesson. Or you can just pay me for the one lesson. Or you can pay as you go for as long as you like.  I will not pressure you to sign up for more than you want.   
• Step #3: Scheduling 
  You can space your lessons whatever way is convenient for you. You might have a regularly scheduled visit, or you might need to have different days or times. I am very flexible about that.  I do ask for at least 48 hours notice if you need to reschedule.
• Step #4: What is most urgent to you?
  As to the lesson itself, I generally ask that we start with what you feel is most urgent. If you have gotten to the point of calling a trainer, something is really worrying you. I do not insist on a set curriculum--I want to address the problem that prompted you to call me.  
• Step #5: Structuring strategies
  My method is to break behaviors into small components. There may be predictors before the undesirable outburst or misbehavior occurs. There may be a number of steps we need to install before we can break that chain. 
• Step #6: Assuring safety
  My first priority is SAFETY. Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how some trainers make the process a battle of wills and leave the family vulnerable. My first concern is that any dangerous behavior be prevented from happening again, and we do that by addressing PREVENTION FIRST.  A dog who is shot full of adrenaline is not in a state to learn.

I encourage you to have a lesson, knowing that I will not pressure you to do more, and see whether I am the right trainer for you.