K9 Workingmind, Training by Tara LLC

K9 Workingmind offers a variety of training programs tailored to specific needs. Group classes are 6-week curriculum-based courses, including Heeling, Advanced (for CGC test prep), Intermediate Agility, Basic Obedience (23 commands), Extreme (15 commands in high-distraction settings), Intermediate (17 skills, off-lead work), and Basic Agility.

Private sessions are 45-60 minute one-on-one sessions with trainers Tara or Laura, addressing specific issues, and can be held at their facility or in-home. Specialty sessions include Scent Detection & Tracking (private, group, or online), Reactive Walkers (6-week course, requires Leadership Program prerequisite), T-Dawg sessions for differently-abled dogs, and Specialized Working Sessions (e.g., Trieball, Controlling Prey Drives, Bite Inhibition, Tracking, Search for fun, Cart Pulling).

Stay & Train programs are recommended for 2 weeks to solidify commands, with options for Basic obedience, Behavior modification (mild reactivity, manners), and Aggression cases (require prior home program). They also offer “Misunderstood Boarding” for dogs with bite histories or aggression towards strangers.

Pricing Summary

Pricing varies by trainer and session length. Online private sessions/consultations require emailing for pricing. Behavioral Consultations with Tara are $150 at the facility or $175 plus mileage for travel. Behavioral Consultations with Laura are $90 at the facility. Behavioral Sessions with Tara are $175 at the facility or $200 plus mileage for travel. Behavioral Sessions with Laura are $125 at the facility.

Group classes are 6-week courses, with prices ranging from $250 to $300. Private sessions with Laura are $125, and with Tara are $175 for the first dog. Treadmill Training and Agility Variety sessions are $65 each. Pack Sessions are $85. Stay & Train programs have additional fees on top of boarding: Basic is an additional $20, Behavior is an additional $40, and Aggression is an additional $50 (plus Misunderstood Boarding fees). Misunderstood Boarding is $20-$25 per walk depending on the level of aggression. Additional dogs and time in session are extra for consultations and private sessions.

Policies

For Stay & Train programs, a 48-hour notice is required for cancellations to avoid fees. Same-day or no-show cancellations will be charged the full price for the quoted boarding stay.

K9 Workingmind, Training by Tara LLC, aims to help dogs and their owners achieve a calm, happy life through education, understanding, and rehabilitation. They focus on teaching owners how to communicate with their dogs by understanding dog body language and natural instincts, keeping dogs in a “working-mind” state for focus and calmness.

The business offers a range of services including small group classes, specialty sessions for specific skills, private sessions, and Stay & Train programs. They emphasize learning more in less time with small group class sizes (limited to 4 dogs) for more one-on-one attention.

K9 Workingmind also provides online education through on-demand webinars covering topics like body language and aggression, as well as handling and safety for boarding facilities, veterinary practices, and dog walkers. They also host a podcast where dog trainers discuss dog behavior.

Accomplishments

Tara Stermer is certified as a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator. She is also identified as the owner and a canine aggression and behavior expert.

How to Get Started!

To get started, clients can email k9workingmind@gmail.com to reserve a space for online private sessions/consultations or scent/tracking sessions. For behavioral issues, a Behavioral Evaluation Form needs to be filled out, which takes 20-30 minutes and cannot be saved. A consultation is required if the form indicates a need to observe the dog’s body language and reactions to determine training options. Clients can reserve their spot for various classes and sessions via the website.