Sundog Training

Private lessons, in your home.Good training = Good dogs!

About

Introducing Lane Wilkins, a professional with over 50 years of experience in animal training and care. With a strong background as a Dog Trainer and former Zookeeper, Lane has left a mark on the industry. Having taught dog obedience classes and private lessons to over 3,000 dogs, she is known for her expertise in using science-based, force-free techniques.

Throughout her career, Lane has trained an array of captivating creatures, including Mountain Lions, Wolves, Ring-tailed Lemurs, Great Horned Owls, Chihuahuan Ravens, and more. She has also shared her wealth of knowledge as an Animal Healthcare Instructor at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell.

As a dedicated Board Member of the Roswell Humane Society and the Rio Pecos Kennel Club, Lane is deeply committed to animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. Her role as an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator further solidifies her dedication to fostering well-behaved and socially adept dogs.

With a profound love for animals and a genuine desire to make a difference, Lane continues to leave a lasting impact on both animals and their human owners.

Lane's current dog, Junibug, an American Rat Terrier, looks on with interest from the rear of Lane's ENMU-R classroom as Pat Burris lectures to students.

Lane holding Bret, one of two Mountain Lion cubs she helped raise and train at her home while she was a Zookeeper at Roswell's Spring River Zoo.

Lane taught the Animal Healthcare class at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell. Here she is congratulating one of her students at an ENMU-R graduation.

In-Home Services

TL;DR
Elite and Masterclass fastest.
Manners and Puppy E's affordable.Puppies! Not done with shots yet?
No time for Classes?
Too Hot/Cold Out? Too Windy?Adult dog with issues? Obedience school rebel?
Dog on medical crate rest? Owner with limiting physical disabilities?Fun, Reward-Based Training That Really Works!The Elite Series
4 weeks - $750 Let the pros do it!
Training happens FOR you, not WITH you.O We train your dog 3 times weekly while you relax.
O See faster results!
O We'll show you the ropes when we're done.

Initial Telephone Consult. You and Lane discuss your desires about training your dog, and establish a date and time to have Lane meet you and your dog at your home. Lane will ask for some specifics about your dog, such as breed, sex, age, weight, your vet, and its present training status. And what difficulties you may be having in its training. This is normally about a 30-minute conversation.

Assessment. Lane comes to your home to evaluate your dog and its surroundings. Often this can be a brief visit, to meet you, and to understand your dog’s training needs. Lane will also meet your dog with you for the first time. Please have a collar on your dog, and a leash available. At the end of this session, Lane will be able to give you an estimate of how many in-home sessions your dog may need. Together you agree on a date and time to start the training program. See the Sign Up page for a listing of possible programs.

Transfer Session. At the end of the last Training Session each week, Lane will set up a session with you to show what your dog has learned. She will transfer her procedure to you: How to ask for, get, and reinforce the new behaviors. She will also provide emails detailing your dog's progress through the week's training.

Follow-up Telephone Consult. Lane will schedule a follow-up phone call to see how you’re doing, typically two to four weeks out. At that point, she may be able to offer training suggestions to overcome any difficulties you may be having.

Behaviors I teach your dog, to be determined jointly depending on your dog's assessment and your desires:

Sit
Down
Stay
Wait at doors or gates
Come
Walk on a loose leash
Heel
Watch me
Leave it
Drop it
Quiet
Place
Advanced: Add distance, duration, and distraction to any behavior.
Advanced: Add off-leash to any behavior.
Advanced: Add hand signals to any behavior.
Behavior Modifications: Reduce Jumping, Nipping, Barking.

Too Hot to walk your dog? Dog on medical crate rest? Owner with limiting physical disabilities?

An increasing number of Force Free Dog Trainers are recognizing that incorporating mental challenges and enrichment into their client’s dogs' daily routines is highly beneficial. “And, in fact, it’s much more demanding for a dog to work mentally than physically. For example, 15 minutes of mental training is equivalent to about an hour of walking!** “
(**SPCA MONTREAL)Dog enrichment is providing activities and toys that help dogs use their natural skills and instincts. This can include things like puzzle toys, scent games, and playtime, which keep them mentally and physically healthy, and tires them out!Dogs have over a hundred times more nerves connecting their nose to their brain than humans do. The part of their nose that detects smells is 30 times bigger than in humans.In other words, enrichment can be defined as meeting all of an animal’s needs as closely as possible to how they would be met in the wild, in order to empower them to engage in species-typical behaviors in healthy and appropriate ways.I will create an Enrichment Program and set up a customized mobile enrichment area for your dog inside your home (or RV), and supervise an hour of mental stimulation. I will use unique shapes and textures, odors, & tasty treats to engage your dog’s foraging and hunting impulses, to help him get through these “dog days” of summer. Two in-home enrichment options have been added to the Sign Up page.

Please complete this form and I will contact you via email to schedule a phone call.

Sundog Training is Insured by Pet Care Insurance.

References:
Elaine Mayfield: Former Director of Spring River Zoo, President of Rio Pecos Kennel Club. [email protected]
Shirley Gill: Owner of Roswell Seed Co. [email protected]
David Sexton: Owner of Wildlife Safari Animal Emporium. [email protected]
Andrea Cole: Former Curator, Spring River Zoo. [email protected]
Mary Wright: Vice President of Rio Pecos Kennel Club. [email protected]

I do not work with dogs who are: Aggressive towards Dogs, or Aggressive towards People.This includes behaviors such as non-stop barking, lunging, nipping, or biting at other dogs or humans. Please understand that dealing with an aggressive dog is a long and complex process that can be dangerous.
However, sometimes a dog is mislabeled as aggressive when in fact they are just fearful.Reactivity is something that is commonly confused with aggression. Reactivity is also referred to as Leash Reactivity (aggressive lunging, growling, snarling). Reactivity is when the dog portrays an act of aggression out of frustration; usually on leash or on the other side of a barrier. Most of these dogs are actually friendly with other dogs in a social setting, but the restraint of the leash causes an outburst similar to aggression. The severity of your dog’s reactivity will determine the route of training.Of course any dog with a bite history with another animal or human will not be a good fit for my programs. If necessary I can recommend some online programs, wonderful books, and contact info for a couple of Certified Dog Behaviorists in NM. Some do online consultations.Please see the Resources page for more information.