Where do you take the dogs out to, and how many go out with you?
Our favorite hikes are some of the trails in the Presidio, and the winding trails and cliffs at Ft Funston & Thornton beach. We also regularly go to Crissy Field & Beach, and occasionally Mountain Lake. Groups tend to stay at 6 “regulars”, but can range from about 2-9 dogs depending on boarders or pups out of town.  

Do you take new dogs for boarding?
Yes. New dogs must do a 24-hour trial stay: Thursday morning-Friday morning, Thursday evening-Friday evening, or Friday morning-Saturday morning. They will join a day of group walks, and stay over night. Safety is my priority, and this helps me make sure that everyone gets along!

What does my dog need to bring when he stays over for boarding?
Your dog will need her food, food bowl, leash/harness/collar, and her crate/bed if she uses one. Please make sure the collar and harness fits securely on your dog, and that your dog is unable to back out off or pull out of it, especially if she is a bit nervous. You are welcome to bring special treats, chews, or toys, but it’s not necessary; we’ve got that covered!

What are your training methods?
At SwiShing Tails, only science-based, force-free, positive reinforcement-based methods are used. I’ll work with you and your dog to get behaviors we want them to DO, instead of NOT. I do not use coercion, pain, or fear to motivate your dog, and I do not use punishment-based tools such as prongs, shock (e-) collars, or choke chains; these tools can also cause injury and fear-related side effects.

I don’t want to carry food all the time. Can we still train my dog?
Yes! But the reality is: dogs LOVE food (and so do I)! It’s a great way to reinforce your dog because he probably loves to eat, you can deliver many food rewards quickly, and reinforcing behaviors efficiently and consistently in the early stages of training makes it super clear to your dog what exactly you’re looking for. Also, did I mention dogs love food? We can also go over other ways to reinforce your dog, but be ready to do some treat prep!