How Does the Pd360 assessment work?
Drop-off Orientation & Goal setting
On the day of you scheduled PD360 Assessment, you’ll drop off your dog at one of our two locations (Cave Creek or Scottsdale) in the morning. You will meet with your trainer and discuss goals and behaviors you would like to address. This initial meeting should take about 30 minutes and gives us a chance to prepare for the day ahead. It also gives us a moment to see how your dog is with you, as well as without you. The assessment itself takes at least four hours, during which time our trainers observe your dog’s reactions to different stimuli, settings, and interactions with other dogs and people.
all-day Behavioral assessment & analysis
Our trainers evaluate your dog across 130+ behavioral metrics. These include:
- Obedience: How well your dog follows basic commands.
- Sociability: How your dog interacts with other dogs and people.
- Manners: Evaluating leash behavior, house manners, and more.
- Triggers: These are variables that ellicit a stress signal and behavioral response from a dog.
- Stress Signals: These are subtle signs that a dog will display after a trigger is presented.
- Behaviors: These are your dog’s responses after a stress signal is shown towards a known trigger.
- Tricks: We will gauge your dog’s current “knowledge” as well as capability to learn new tricks.
Pick-up debrief & Feedback
At the end of the day, we’ll sit down with you for a detailed discussion of our findings. You’ll receive:
- A comprehensive breakdown of your dog’s behavior.
- Insights into their strengths and areas needing improvement.
- Recommendations for the most suitable programs based on your goals, involvement and timeline.
- A personalized training plan that we will implement in the recommended program.
post pd360: Start training
If you decide to enroll your dog into the recommended program on the day of the PD360 assessment, we will credit the cost to your account. The results of the assessment will be saved into your dog’s file. These data points will be used to personalize each day of training and to track progress across their journey with us. We will also periodically check back on these goals to assure we are meeting milestones and exceeding expectations. At every step of the way, we will keep you involved so that our training at the school translates perfectly into your home.
Testimonials
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What exactly is included in the PD360 assessment?
The PD360 includes a full-day evaluation covering over 60 behavioral metrics, from obedience and socialization to stress management and response to various stimuli.
What if my dog doesn't get along with other dogs?
The PD360 is designed to understand the stress signals and triggers of reactivity. If we identify this in the PD360 Assessment, we will discuss program options that will best address the behavioral goals you have in place.
What happens after the assessment?
After the assessment, we’ll review the results with you and provide a personalized training plan based on your dog’s needs. This plan can include anything from camp, DaySchool or DayCamp, Private Lessons, Group Classes, and more depending on your dog’s behavior.
How long does the PD360 take?
The PD360 assessment is a comprehensive experience that typically spans a full day, lasting at least four hours. You will arrange for morning drop-off with your trainer, who will provide guidance at the outset. When you return for pick-up, you will have another meeting with your trainer to review a summary of the day’s activities, along with a tailored program recommendation and training plan.
How does the PD360 compare to other training programs?
The PD360 is unique because it provides a deep, individualized evaluation of your dog’s behavior across many variables. Instead of just a brief meet and greet, we take an entire day to understand your dog’s behavior, stressors, and triggers in a variety of environments. Most training programs start with a general approach, but the PD360 ensures that every step we take is personalized to target your dog’s specific goals and challenges.
What if I don't decide to proceed with training?
No problem at all! We will still provide a program recommendation and will save your results on file in case you change your mind in the future.
How will the PD360 help with my dog's anxiety or reactivity?
The PD360 assessment specifically evaluates stress signals and emotional triggers, which helps us understand the root causes of anxiety or aggression in your dog. Based on these insights, we create a tailored plan that focuses on desensitization, socialization, and positive reinforcement techniques to help manage and improve these behaviors.
What happens if my dog is shy, nervous, or reactive around strangers?
If your dog is nervous or reactive around people, our trainers take extra steps to create a calm and welcoming environment. Of course, we will evaluate their stress signals and triggers and include the best program recommendation and training plan to address these behaviors.