Kristy Francis
Kristy Francis found her passion for dog training after hiring a trainer to help her with her fear aggressive puppy. This trainer introduced her to Jean Donaldson and The Academy for Dog Trainers, known as the Harvard of dog training. Kristy completed the rigorous 2-year program and obtained her Certificate of Training and Counseling (CTC).
Training Philosophy
Kristy Francis believes in providing humane, science-backed training and behavior modification that is force free and rewards based. She emphasizes that learning should not be painful or scary and avoids techniques or devices that could potentially cause harm. Her methods focus on motivation, using treats, fetch, play, or anything the dog desires as rewards for working and learning.
Services
Kristy Francis offers a variety of training and behavior modification services, including:
- Basic Manners: Sit, down, come when called, leave-it, hand-targeting, walking on leash, sit-stay, down-stay, and wait.
- Fear and Aggression: Addressing fear and aggression issues in dogs.
- Leash Reactivity: Helping dogs with reactivity on leash.
- Resource Guarding: Addressing resource guarding behaviors.
- Problem Behaviors: Addressing a wide range of problem behaviors.
- Puppy Training: Training for puppies, including crate training, play biting, and socialization.
Private Sessions:
- Initial Consultation: $160 for 90 minutes, includes assessment and action plan.
- Training by the Hour: $120 per hour.
- Packages: 4 sessions for $440, 6 sessions for $650, 10 sessions for $1,050.
Day Training:
- Initial Consultation: $160 for 90 minutes, includes assessment and action plan.
- Packages: 4 sessions for $440, 6 sessions for $650, 10 sessions for $1,050.
Private Basic Manners:
- Course Fee: $300 for 4 sessions, 45 minutes each.
Private Puppy Sessions:
- Training by the Hour: $85 per hour.
- Packages: 4 sessions for $325, 6 sessions for $450, 8 sessions for $600.
Group Classes:
- Puppy Kindergarten: $150 for 6 weeks, held Thursdays from 6:30 - 7:20 PM at BestFriends Veterinary Clinic in Albertville, MN.
- Basic Manners: $150 for 5 weeks, held Thursdays from 7:30 - 8:30 PM at BestFriends Veterinary Clinic in Albertville, MN, and Mondays from 6:30 - 7:30 PM at The Rescue Pack in Minneapolis, MN.
- Advanced Manners: $150 for 5 weeks, held Tuesdays from 6:30 - 7:30 PM at BestFriends Veterinary Clinic in Albertville, MN.
- Fun Scent Games: $135 for 6 weeks, held Mondays from 6:30 - 7:30 PM at The Rescue Pack in Minneapolis, MN, and coming soon at BestFriends Veterinary Clinic in Albertville, MN.
Certifications
Certificate of Training and Counseling (CTC) from The Academy for Dog Trainers
Specializations
Fear and aggression, leash reactivity, resource guarding, problem behaviors, puppy training
Training Methods
Force free, rewards based, science-backed, motivation-based, positive reinforcement
Customer Reviews
Tammy and Matt: 5 Stars!!! We have been working with Kristy via Zoom calls and email since we're in the middle of COVID-19 quarantine. She has helped us with so many things! Being a first time puppy owner, we've had many questions. Kristy's ideas and advice are easy to implement, make sense, and have worked for us. She is quick to respond to emails and is extremely helpful during our Zoom chats. Thanks to Kristy, we now have a manageable, happy, relaxed puppy!
Debbie and Al: Just want to say Thank You for all your help with Bailey. We could tell you were very experienced in your field. All the suggestions you gave us to try really helped us deal with Bailey's issues. You sure have a lot of patience and a way with dogs. Thanks to you Bailey is coming along really well.
Catie S.: We worked with Kristy on our shy/fearful dog. She is a gift to dogs and humans alike. Not only does she have the knowledge, she has the ability to make the dog AND the humans feel at ease, which is essential for everyone's learning and success.
Jennifer and Anthony: We worked with Kristy to address leash reactivity and prepare for a move with our very energetic 4-year-old lab mix and we are so impressed with the progress we have made in a short time. She has given us so much more confidence by providing us with a better understanding of his body language and giving us effective tools to work on his reactivity towards other dogs. Our walks have completely transformed from stressful to calm and enjoyable in a few weeks. Her positive, encouraging approach was a great fit for us and we have appreciated how she has really listened to us and customized our plan to work on our specific concerns. We cannot recommend Kristy highly enough - our only regret is that we didn't do it sooner!
Catherine M.: Kristy has been part of a major transformation in my life as well as for Luna, my dog. Luna has been quite the challenge for me. I love Luna and have been able to better understand her with Kristy’s help. She has helped me get through a very hard time with being able to handle Luna and we progress regularly.
Kristy has a lot of empathy and compassion. She deals with people at whatever level they are at, as well as their animals.
Meredith: We welcomed a wonderful rescue dog into our family in 2021, but soon discovered he was highly anxious and reactionary. We were nervous to involve trainers since we didn’t know what to expect and if our dog would gain anything given how anxious he was.
Kristy Francis Dog Training came to our house to do a consult and made sure both the dog and humans were comfortable. She was understanding, patient, and compassionate, and offered some real-world steps we were able to follow to start to acclimate our new family member, but at a pace and level that matched perfectly with where our dog was at the time.
Since the advice from Kristy Francis Dog Training worked so well, we advanced to the manners class. Kristy Francis Dog Training provided thorough training in a comfortable setting that improved our dog’s confidence and bonded him to other members of the family. Our dog made strides we never thought possible! It has been such a relief and joy for not only our family, but you can tell it has been for our dog, too.
We highly recommend Kristy Francis Dog Training. If you have a rescue, her compassionate and results-driven training is perfect for dogs that may need a little more.
We've got the answers for your questions
Seriously, if you have any questions about training your dog, we have the answers.
We have created a directory of licensed dog trainers specializing in positive reinforcement methods. These trainers are not affiliated with Dogo, and all information is gathered from publicly available sources. Each profile provides a brief overview of the trainer's experience and expertise.
Start by evaluating your dog's needs and identifying your training objectives. Each trainer's profile provides insights into their areas of expertise. Match these with your dog's character and your goals to find the ideal fit.
All trainers listed here are certified professionals with extensive knowledge of positive reinforcement techniques.
Positive reinforcement centers on rewarding preferred behaviors, ensuring a pleasant learning journey for your dog. This humane approach is scientifically proven to be the most effective long-term training method, strengthening the bond between you and your pet. By consistently rewarding good behavior, your dog learns to associate actions with positive outcomes, leading to lasting improvements and a happier companion.
Yes, they are. Trainers are adept in basic obedience or intricate behavioral challenges. Browse their profiles to identify a trainer who specializes in the particular issues you wish to address.
Simply click on the preferred trainer's profile to access their contact details. From there, you can get in touch to discuss your requirements and set up training appointments.
Group sessions offer a communal setting where your dog learns general obedience alongside other dogs. In contrast, private sessions grant focused attention, making them perfect for targeted behavior modifications or individualized training agendas.
All trainers are committed to positive reinforcement techniques and steer clear of any harsh or punitive methods. Their primary goal is to make training a joyous journey for you and your dog.
Results depend on factors like your dog's nature, the specific behaviors in question, and your training consistency. While many clients observe improvements in just a few sessions, it's crucial to be patient and persistent.
Reach out to the trainer you're interested in to discuss possibly attending a session. It's a great way to get a feel for their approach and see if it aligns with your expectations.
