Dog Training at The Retreat – Expert Dog Training in Kalispell, MT

DOG TRAINING

THE RETREAT AT THREE DOG RANCH

At the Retreat at Three Dog Ranch, we offer customized training programs rooted in positive reinforcement techniques. Whether it’s basic obedience or advanced skills, our goal is to help your dog become a confident, well-behaved companion while strengthening the bond between you and your dog.

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Effective Training Solutions

Building Confidence

In programs like our Puppy Program, we prioritize creating secure, confident dogs who thrive in new situations. Confidence is the foundation for lifelong learning and adaptability.

Encouraging Communication

Our Family Dog Manners program teaches clear, positive communication between you and your dog, fostering respect and understanding that lasts a lifetime.

Personalized Support

Our tailored training addresses unique challenges and behaviors. By understanding your dog’s individual needs, we develop solutions that enhance harmony in your daily life.

EXPLORE TRAINING PROGRAMS

Hi, I'm Sam!

MY TRAINING PHILOSOPHY

I’m passionate about helping dogs and their owners build the kind of bond that lasts a lifetime. With years of experience and a certification in dog training, I specialize in positive reinforcement techniques that encourage good behavior while boosting your dog’s confidence and trust. I discovered that I have a deep passion for helping owners understand their dogs more fully. One of the most rewarding moments in training is when a dog “gets it,” that instant when they realize, “Oh, that’s what you wanted!” Working with dogs and their owners to solve problems and enhance their relationships is incredibly fulfilling, as it enriches the lives of both the dog and their owner. In my approach to training, it’s not about correcting unwanted behavior, but rather teaching and reinforcing the behaviors we do want. At no point should training compromise the relationship or the trust between you and your dog. My commitment to understanding how dogs learn and to interpreting their unique language only strengthens my passion. I have used the scientific principles of operant conditioning in my training for years, believing that consistency and patience are the true keys to success. I’m here not just to train your dog but to empower you with the skills and knowledge to continue that training at home, ensuring long-term success. Whether your dog needs basic obedience or just a loving place to stay, I’m committed to making sure both you and your dog have a great experience.

Podcast Spotlight:
Sam Torgerson, 2024 Rising Star

No Two Dogs Are Alike

OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS

Every dog is unique, which is why we customize training plans to suit their breed, age, temperament, and goals. From leash manners and recall to impulse control and socialization, our programs ensure effective, enjoyable learning for your dog

The goal of the Family Dog Manners program is to establish a mutual bond and appropriate relationship between families and the dogs living with them. Using methods based on positive reinforcement, I will teach you how to communicate with your dog. Skills, about 15 in total, such as attention, targeting, self-control, walking politely on leash, coming when called, sit, down, stay and more are taught.

A program that focuses on the developmental stages of puppyhood of which are CRUCIAL for the rest of their life. It’s important to build confidence and foundational skills that last a lifetime as well as jump start your relationship with your new puppy! This program sets your pup up for success and any additional training you incorporate. Multiple skills will be included such as potty training, crate training, mouthing and socialization. Regardless of our vision of how our dog will act or perform, a solid foundation is critical. This foundation must be built upon the dog feeling confident in whatever we are asking it to do. The dog needs to understand and trust the process. Dogs always do the BEST they can with the EDUCATION they are given in the ENVIRONMENT we are asking them to perform in.

Puppy Preschool Class: designed for socialization and confidence building. This program is best for puppies 8-16 weeks old. These are building blocks to set your puppy up for a lifetime of foundational skills such as hot to interpret novel sounds and visualizations as well as interactions with other dogs to build a ground base for how to engage with fellow canines. This class is 4 weeks long and rotational. A rotational class is beneficial for aligning with the timing of getting your new puppy. The classes are not sequential lessons, therefore you can start at any point and complete the four weeks.

Puppy Kindergarten Class: designed to provide basic obedience skills while supporting the mentality of the puppy. This program is best for puppies up to 1-year old starting at about 12 weeks old. Puppies do best with exciting and comfortable environments to build their confidence so in this course, we make all the behaviors we are teaching into games! Basic behaviors such as sit, down, stay, settle, no-leash pulling and many fun games to build a dog who learns to love training. This class runs for six weeks, plus an orientation meeting to kick off the course.

What do you and your dog need help with? If you have concerns about a particular behavior or would really like to build a specific behavior in your pup, give us a call. I will work with you to help you understand what might be driving your dog’s behavior and what a solution might look like. There are some types of behavior I’m not willing to work with and I would recommend a Trained Veterinarian Behaviorist. Behaviors I am willing to address with you are dog reactivity on-leash, fence fighting, reactivity at the front door, discomfort towards certain people, such as children, and other similar concerns.

AN IMMERSIVE TRAINING EXPERIENCE

NOW BOOKING: BOARD & TRAIN

Our Board & Train program combines professional training with luxury boarding. During their stay, your dog will receive daily training focused on essential skills, behavior improvement, and confidence building. Between sessions, they’ll enjoy our upscale amenities, including spacious accommodations, supervised playtime, and enriching activities.

INTERESTED IN BOARD & TRAIN?

Positive, Science-Based Technique

OUR TRAINING METHODS

We use clicker training to build trust and communication through positive reinforcement. This humane, force-free approach uses a precise marker (a “click”) to signal correct behavior, followed by a reward. It’s an effective method that enhances confidence and enthusiasm while fostering a deeper bond between you and your dog.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you use food until the behavior is a habit. Then use other reinforcers….a reinforcer is anything your dog wants including treats, toys, going outside, cuddling with you, sniffing a tree, etc. Our goal is to have our dogs working for us on or off leash, in or out of the house, and whether or not you have a clicker and a treat. The more you reinforce in the beginning, the stronger the behavior will be.

Yes it is, but there are a few special things about the clicker that make it more effective than just a treat or praise:

The marker acts like a tiny camera in the dog’s mind. It takes of picture of the exact moment he did the right thing. When using other positive training methods, treats and praise are usually delivered after the dog has performed the behavior making it harder to link the reinforcer with the action in his mind. This is why some people call clicker training ‘precision training’…it is very precise and fast.

When you use a marker signal, your dog will learn desirable behavior amazingly quickly. The marker provides a consistent, non-emotional marker so your dog always receives the same information. The marker is also distinct from other signals in the environment.

Your dog is undoubtedly very smart but he is not born knowing your spoken language. In clicker training we add the cue (or command) AFTER the dog has learned to do the behavior. In effect, we give the behavior a name once the dog is doing it. We add a name to the behavior, so that you can tell the dog WHEN to do the behavior. This can be a hard concept to get used to but it is extremely effective.

Absolutely. “Crossover” trainers are often amazed at the change that comes over their dogs when they switch to clicker training. Previously hesitant and shy dogs become enthusiastic and creative learners. To try clicker training with a dog previously trained with traditional methods, don’t begin with a behavior the dog already knows—try something completely new and fun…preferably a trick, and remember, Training Should Be Fun!

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Contact

(406) 407-1878

training@threedogranch.com

Address

301 Cardinal Ln,

Kalispell, MT 59901

Hours

By appointment only.

Training Consult

GROOMING

DOG TRAINING

Effective Training Solutions

Hi, I'm Sam!

Podcast Spotlight:
Sam Torgerson, 2024 Rising Star

No Two Dogs Are Alike

Every dog is unique, which is why we customize training plans to suit their breed, age, temperament, and goals. From leash manners and recall to impulse control and socialization, our programs ensure effective, enjoyable learning for your dog

Family Dog Manners

Puppy Programs

Personalized Training

AN IMMERSIVE TRAINING EXPERIENCE

Positive, Science-Based Technique

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have to use a marker forever?

Do I have to use food forever?

Why can’t I just use food or praise? Isn’t that still positive training?

My daughter wants to train the dog, can she use the clicker?

Do I always have to provide a treat after a click?

If I don’t use a command, how will my dog know what we are working on?

There is so much to know and it is all so new. What if I make mistakes?

Can a dog that has been trained “traditionally” learn with a clicker?

FILL OUT THE FORM TO
REQUEST A CONSULTATION

Contact

Address

Hours

THE RANCH IN WHITEFISH

THE RETREAT IN KALISPELL

DOG TRAINING

Effective Training Solutions

Hi, I'm Sam!

Podcast Spotlight: Sam Torgerson, 2024 Rising Star

No Two Dogs Are Alike

Every dog is unique, which is why we customize training plans to suit their breed, age, temperament, and goals. From leash manners and recall to impulse control and socialization, our programs ensure effective, enjoyable learning for your dog

Family Dog Manners

Puppy Programs

Personalized Training

AN IMMERSIVE TRAINING EXPERIENCE

Positive, Science-Based Technique

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have to use a marker forever?

Do I have to use food forever?

Why can’t I just use food or praise? Isn’t that still positive training?

My daughter wants to train the dog, can she use the clicker?

Do I always have to provide a treat after a click?

If I don’t use a command, how will my dog know what we are working on?

There is so much to know and it is all so new. What if I make mistakes?

Can a dog that has been trained “traditionally” learn with a clicker?

FILL OUT THE FORM TO REQUEST A CONSULTATION

Contact

Address

Hours

THE RANCH IN WHITEFISH

THE RETREAT IN KALISPELL

Podcast Spotlight:
Sam Torgerson, 2024 Rising Star

FILL OUT THE FORM TO
REQUEST A CONSULTATION