Paws of Nature Services

Whether it is solving a behavioral problem or learning some basic manners, we offer a complete range of services to help pet dog owners create a pleasurable relationship and peaceful coexistence for both them and their dogs.

Paws of Nature is located in Westfield, MA. We offer Individual Behavioral Consulting & Training, Discounted Training Packages and Group Classes. Services are provided up to 30 miles from Westfield which enables us to serve many towns throughout Hampden & Hampshire Counties in Western MA and portions of CT.

Click on the topic of interest in the Table of Contents or click here for a printable description of our services (requires Acrobat Reader).

Our fees are based on travel distance from Westfield.
Service Area 1 - up to 10 miles driving distance from Westfield
Service Area 2 - 11 to 20 miles driving distance from Westfield
Service Area 3 - 21 to 30 miles driving distance from Westfield

Initial 2 hour Behavioral Consult
Service Area 1 - $90   Service Area 2 - $110   Service Area 3 - $130
Follow-up 1 hour Training Sessions
Service Area 1 - $55   Service Area 2 - $65   Service Area 3 - $75

If you are unsure of which service area you are in, click here for a list of towns or you may call or email us with your address. If you are out of our service area and would like to schedule a Behavior Consult, arrangements can be made at a training facility in Westfield. This facility has limited availability for appointment times and is not available in the evenings or on weekends.

Appointment Hours
Due to the backlog of appointments, there can sometimes be up to a 2 week wait for Behavior Consults.
  Tuesdays from 9 AM to 2 PM
  Wednesdays from 3 PM to 7 PM
  Thursdays from 9 AM to 2 PM and 4 PM to 7 PM
  Saturdays from 1 PM to 5 PM

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An Initial Behavioral Consult runs about 2 hours in length. The first hour is spent interviewing the owner extensively about their dog as well as interacting with and evaluating the dog’s behavior. The second hour is spent explaining the possible causes of the problem behavior and all the options available to fix or improve upon the dog’s behavior. You will get started on a training program and receive some reading material and training instructional sheets pertaining to your particular situation as well.

The Tough Stuff - Challenging Behavioral Problems – Fear, aggression, food & object guarding, separation anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorders may not be resolved through 1 or 2 sessions with a trainer. These behavioral problems can take a lot of time, effort, patience, and commitment, and many times with only slow and small signs of improvement initially. If after the consult it is decided that your dog falls into one or more of these categories, the level of severity will be assessed and thoroughly explained. You will be given all possible options for your situation, including non training options as well. Quality of life and safety issues for all humans and animals involved in the household is taken into consideration when discussing all available options.

Fees are based on Service Area:
Service Area 1 - $90   Service Area 2 - $110   Service Area 3 - $130

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Follow up Training Sessions run approximately 1 hour in length and are spent teaching you how to train your dog and progress to the next level. Your dog’s progress will be assessed at each session and the training program modified as needed. You will also receive additional reading material and training instructional handouts as well.

Fees are based on Service Area:
Service Area 1 - $55   Service Area 2 - $65   Service Area 3 - $75

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Save money on hourly rates by purchasing a training package specific for your dog’s needs. If you are unsure which package may be best for your needs, call or email us, we’d be happy to discuss it with you. Packages must be paid in full, or a deposit put down and paid in full by the 2nd visit. In order to get the most out of your training sessions, it is highly advised to meet weekly. All training packages expire 4 months after purchase date.

The 5 Session Training Package includes the Initial Behavioral Consult and 4 Follow Up 1 Hour Training Sessions

Fees are based on Service Area:
Service Area 1 - $300.00   Service Area 2 - $360.00   Service Area 3 - $420.00

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Dogs adopted from a shelter or rescue organization are eligible within 4 months of adoption date. Includes Initial Behavioral Consult and 4 Follow up Training Sessions.

Service Area 1 Only $280.00.

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Get started off with your new puppy on the right foot. Covers Socialization Training, Body Handling Training, Housetraining, Chew Toy Training, mouthing, relinquishing objects, Fetch & Retrieve & starting your puppy on some basic skills such as Sit, Down, Stand Up, & Come.

3 Sessions - 1st Session is 2 hours, 2nd & 3rd session 1 hour each.
Puppies must be between 8 and 14 weeks of age.

Service Area 1 - $185.00    Service Area 2 - $225.00    Service Area 3 - $265.00

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Paws of Nature highly recommends you enroll your puppy in a Puppy Class that provides off leash socialization time with other puppies. Puppy Package 2 is for those puppies who have completed the Puppy Starter Package. Review of the 3 positions (Sit, Down, Stand Up), Come, relinquishing objects, & Fetch & Retrieve. Learn Loose Leash Walking skills, Stay & Wait, polite greeting skills, Leave It, & more!

A total of 5 - 1 hour sessions

Service Area 1 - $265.00   Service Area 2 - $315.00   Service Area 3 - $365.00

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Having a baby is a life changing experience for everyone involved, including the family dog. Normally the center of attention, new parents will barely notice the family dog and have less time to interact with him the way he has been accustomed to.

We here at Paws of Nature have experienced this first hand. Our daughter, Summer Grace Rose, was born July 11, 2006.

If your dog has never spent significant time around babies, toddlers or young children, don’t wait until your baby comes home to discover potential problems.

Questions to consider:

• How will your dog react to the sight and sounds of an infant wiggling and crying?
• Does your dog have areas of his body he is sensitive towards being touched?
• Has your dog ever exhibited possessive or guarding behaviors around food, bones, toys or sleeping locations?
• Does your dog exhibit demanding behaviors such as barking for attention or climbing and pushing into you for petting?
• Does your dog shadow you from room to room and become anxious when separated?
• Has your dog exhibited any type of aggressive behaviors?
• How does your dog react to visitors coming and going from your home?
• Has your dog ever had any formal basic manners training?

These are just some of the things to consider when a new baby is on the way. “Diapers and Dogs” is a special training package dedicated to the specific needs of dog owners who are expectant parents. It includes:

• Two Hour Initial Behavioral Consult to evaluate existing or potential behavior issues.
• Thorough explanation of training and non-training options, and discussion over all areas of consideration when an infant becomes part of the family.
• Five Follow-Up One Hour Training Sessions consisting of desensitization and conditioning work, as well as other areas uncovered in the Initial Behavior Consult specific to your individual dog’s needs.

Package designed to help prepare the family dog for a new baby.
Initial 2 hour behavioral Consult and 5 follow up 1 hour Training Sessions

Service Area 1 - $355.00   Service Area 2 - $425.00   Service Area 3 - $490.00

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12 total sessions done within 4 weeks. 8 sessions will be the trainer working with the dog only, 4 sessions will be the trainer working with the owner and dog.

Prerequisite: Initial Behavioral Consult

Service Area 1- $635.00   Service Area 2 - $775.00   Service Area 3 - $875.00

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Did you know puppies learn more about the world around them between the ages of 3 to 14 weeks than any other time in their lives? This is known as the Critical Socialization & Learning Window. The window begins to close after 12 weeks of age. Once they reach maturity, it is much more difficult to socialize them to new experiences or fix problems such as fear and aggression that may arise from socialization gaps or bad first learning experiences during their puppy hood.

So much to experience and so little time! This class will thoroughly educate you on everything your puppy needs to be exposed to and the correct way to achieve that exposure through positive and gentle methods. You will also learn how to develop a beginning training foundation built upon positive reinforcement methods. You will learn about impulse control and how to teach the dog to “say please” for what she wants, house training techniques, how to build a proper chew toy habit, control biting and mouthing, preventative food and object guarding exercises, body handling exercises (yes, your dog can be calm while you trim his nails!), the basic positions of Sit, Down, & Stand, coming when called, & more.

Requirements: Pups must be between 8 and 14 weeks of age by the first day of class. Pups must have been recently wormed and up to date on their vaccinations relevant for their age. If your puppy is sick or your trainer sees signs of illness your pup will not be allowed to attend class.

Classes are held at The Dog Shop in East Longmeadow, MA.
5 Week Course - $100.00

Classes will resume in the fall of 2008. Please check back with us for the fall schedule.

Click here for Registration Packet or call 413-525-5005

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Puppy Manners Too is the next level class for puppies who have completed Puppy Socialization & Manners or for older puppies who were not eligible for Puppy Socialization & Manners. At this age the critical socialization window is now closing so the emphasis for this class will be more on Basic Manners training. Students will learn how to use Clickers to shape and capture desired behaviors. Students will teach their dogs the 3 positions, Sit, Down, & Stand. They will learn how to teach their dogs to walk politely on a leash, Sit when being approached by a stranger, on leash dog to dog greeting etiquette, Come when called, waiting politely at doors, Fetch & Retrieve, Drop It, Stay, and more.

Requirements: Puppies must be between 4 and 6 months of age by the first day of class. Puppies must be up to date on their vaccinations relevant for their age.

Classes are held at The Dog Shop in East Longmeadow, MA.
6 week course - $115.00

Classes will resume in the fall of 2008. Please check back with us for the fall schedule.

Click here for Registration Packet or call 413-525-5005

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Life long behavioral health is just as important as life long physical health for your dog’s well being. In fact, the two are closely linked. Providing structure and legal outlets for your dog’s mind and body make for a confident, well adjusted member of your family.

During this course you will understand how dogs learn and communicate. You will learn how to most efficiently and humanely bridge that communication, using clickers and rewards. You will learn how to train your dog utilizing everything in your dog’s environment which they find rewarding. You will learn how to troubleshoot why something isn’t working and how to adjust your training methods accordingly. You will learn the true meaning of “Dogs do what works”.

You will also discover how fun and exciting training your dog can be, once you have the right tools and knowledge. Watch as your dog’s “learning muscle” gets stronger everyday and the bond between you gets stronger as well. Gone are the days of tedious hour long drills. This is dog training structured for real life, day to day living.

Requirements: Dogs of any age are eligible, except for dogs under 5 months. Dogs must be current on all vaccinations. Female dogs in heat cannot participate.

Classes are held at The Dog Shop in East Longmeadow, MA.
8 week course - $145.00

Classes will resume in the fall of 2008. Please check back with us for the fall schedule.

Click here for Registration Packet or call The Dog Shop at 413-525-5005.

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This is an Intermediate Level training class for dogs who have completed a Puppy Socialization and Manners class or a Canine Good Manners class. Dogs who have gone through 5 or more private in-home training lessons through Paws of Nature may qualify as well. This class will teach you how to achieve longer stays and improved recalls amongst various distractions. You will learn how to teach your dog to heel alongside you amongst distractions and much more.

Requirements: Dogs of any age are eligible except for dogs under 5 months. Dogs must be current on all their vaccinations. Female dogs in heat cannot participate.

Classes are held at The Dog Shop in East Longmeadow, MA.
6 week course - $110.00

Classes will resume in the fall of 2008. Please check back with us for the fall schedule.

Click here for Registration Packet or call The Dog Shop at 413-525-5005.

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Gift Certificates are available for any of our training services. Please call 413-572-3075 or email us at woof@pawsofnature.com.