Beyond the Backyard: Public Manners Coaching

Your dog knows the basics at home, but out in the world is another story. Busy sidewalks, excited greetings, or noisy distractions can make even well-trained dogs lose focus. Without practice in public, manners slip and walks or outings can feel stressful instead of fun.

The Solution

Our public manners coaching gives you the guidance to help your dog be calm, polite, and reliable wherever you go. We’ll meet in real-world settings like parks, sidewalks, or pet-friendly spaces so your dog learns how to succeed outside your house.

Some real-life situations:

Staying calm in busy places like the farmers’ market or a street fair
Lying calmly under the café or restaurant table at your feet
Walking calmly through crowds or busy areas
Waiting at doors, sidewalks, and crosswalks
Staying focused around distractions like food, kids, dogs, and loud noises
Practicing self-control in public settings, no matter the distraction
Building reliability so your dog listens even under pressure

Who It’s For

This program is perfect if:

You’ve completed at least Foundation or Remote Collar training with us
Your dog has the basics down, but struggles with bigger distractions in public
You want the peace of mind of a dog that can join you anywhere without stress
You love the idea of a service animal or taking the Canine Good Citizen test

Beyond the Backyard is excellent for owners who know the basics but need help putting it all together in public.

How it Works

Email us your current training status, what you’ve been working on, and what you’d like to achieve.
We’ll meet you at a predetermined location and walk you through distractions and situations as they arise. It’s real-time coaching in public.

**Examples of Beyond the Backyard Sessions**

At the ice cream stand with your kids and dog
For coffee or wine at a local shop or dog-friendly restaurant
In the middle of busy downtown Salem (*Not October!)
At The Willows to enjoy French fries or ice cream
To go window shopping in Gloucester and go into pet-friendly stores
Anywhere you want better behavior!

Beyond the Backyard Pricing

Single Session

(1) Session of 1-on-1 training at an Agreed-Upon Location

$175.00

Three Sessions

(3) Sessions of Training at an Agreed-Upon Location

$450.00

Beyond the Backyard is offered as hour-long sessions, 1-on-1 with a trainer at a predetermined public location within 30 minutes of Dog Coach. Successful completion of Foundation or Remote Collar Training with Dog Coach is required. Some dogs may require Best Neighborhood Dog session(s) before Beyond the Backyard.