Best Friends Fur Ever (BFFE), Baltimore’s premier dog care provider, has launched Dogversity, an innovative training program that provides individualized and ongoing training for pet parents and their dogs.
The announcement of the new program comes as area shelters have experienced heavy increases in the number of pets surrendered as eviction moratoriums and rental assistance programs put in place during the pandemic have expired. Other new pet owners are returning dogs because they did not anticipate the amount of training and care needed for a well-behaved pet.
“The sharp increase is a tragedy,” said Kelly Cullum, BFFE Owner and CEO. “The impact is deep for both the pet and the individual making this decision. Dogversity is designed to help pet parents create strong, trusting, and lasting bonds with their pets so they will never give them up.”
To help pet parents build lasting bonds with their dogs, BFFE’s newly launched Dogversity is staffed with certified dog trainers who graduated from Kennelwood Academy in St. Louis, MO, the leading dog trainer school in the U.S.
Unlike many other dog training organizations in the area that rely on negative reinforcement, BFFE uses the “Balance Training” approach, teaching dogs desired behaviors using both reward-based techniques and age appropriate and fair corrections. BFFE’s program is personalized to meet the specific needs of each dog and its parents. It provides ongoing training to continuously reinforce good behavior.
“St. Louis is the hub for teaching dog trainers,” Cullum said. “Our new trainers are talented and have skills that span every training venue. Every dog is different, which is why we don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach. Our trainers take the time to get to know each dog and its parents.”
BFFE is the first in the region to provide balanced training that spans the dog’s lifetime. This helps reinforce training for the dog and the parent, which can dramatically improve long-term outcomes.
BFFE’s Dogversity program is designed for all dogs, including puppies, adult dogs, and senior dogs. The program covers a range of topics, including obedience training, behavior modification, and agility training. BFFE’s trainers can also teach dogs everything from hunting and herding to dock diving.
“Unlike other trainers, our clients are never left on their own after training,” Cullum said. “We train your dog for a lifetime with regular touch ups to help the dog and its parents continue to progress and avoid backsliding after graduation with our affordable train and play model.”
“Our goal is to provide personalized, ongoing and effective training that helps dogs and their owners live happily and harmoniously together,” said Ashleigh Bryant, who has been at BFFE for 16 years of dog loving service. “We believe that this program will help dogs and their owners develop a strong bond, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact that it will have on our clients.”