FAQ
Questions people ask before they write.
Straight answers about age, methods, safety, money, and the services that are not on this site.
What age can training start?
Short, kind practice can start in the first weeks a puppy is home: a name, a settle, and a potty rhythm. Older dogs can learn the same everyday skills. There is no single birthday that makes training useful or useless.
What methods does Stillfern describe?
The public approach is reinforcement for the behavior you want, plus management so the dog is not rehearsing the behavior you are trying to change. Painful tools and intimidation are outside the program described on this site.
How long is a session?
Home practice is usually a few minutes at a time, so the dog and the handler can still think. The length of a coaching conversation is part of the written plan for that dog.
Do you offer group classes?
No. Stillfern does not offer group classes or a drop-in night. The address on the contact page is the business address.
Do you board dogs or certify service dogs?
No. Stillfern does not offer board-and-train, service-dog certification, therapy-dog certification, protection sports, or agility.
Can training stop aggression?
No. Reactivity support is about distance, handler skill, and safety. It does not cure aggression and it does not replace a veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist when there is pain, panic, or a bite risk.
Will my dog be off leash?
Recall is practiced on a long line or in a secure area. Stillfern does not promise that a dog will be reliable off leash in public. Local laws and safety come first.
Do you come to my house or my city?
Home visits are not offered. Private training is one-to-one coaching. If you proceed, the place for a lesson is agreed in writing. The business address is 3959 2nd St S, St. Cloud, MN 56301, USA.
Do you teach online?
No. Stillfern does not offer online lessons or a video course.
What should I prepare before a conversation?
The dog's age, a short history, what daily life looks like, and the one or two moments that are hardest. A video can help later. You do not need special equipment to send the form.
What if the problem might be medical?
Sudden changes, pain, accidents in a previously house-trained dog, or fear that looks panicked belong with a veterinarian first. Training does not diagnose illness.
Are results guaranteed?
No. Progress depends on the dog, the handler's practice, health, and the situation. This site does not promise a timeline or a finished dog.
How do quotes work if there is no price list?
Describe the dog on the contact form. If the work is a fit, any fee is in a written note before you pay. The website has no checkout.
How do I ask for my form data to be deleted?
Email [email protected] and name the inquiry. The privacy policy explains what is stored and how to ask for a copy, a correction, or deletion.
The puppy basics guide goes further on early skills. Service details live under services.
If your question is not here
Call, email, or use the contact form, and include the dog's age. A confirmation means the inquiry was received. It does not reserve a lesson.