Why Work With Us
Work with Mtn Hollow for training that goes beyond simply teaching commands. We focus on helping dogs think, make good choices, and stay connected with their handler in real-life situations. Our goal is to give both dogs and people the clarity, confidence, and skills they need to succeed together.
Dog Training in Lebanon , MO
Private Training & Group Classes
Mtn Hollow Has Come to Missouri
Mtn Hollow LLC is excited to now call the Lebanon, Missouri area home!
While we may be new to the area, we are not new to dog training. Mtn Hollow began in South Carolina, where we have worked with dogs and their families through private training, group classes, dog sports, and real-world training opportunities. Our South Carolina location continues with our instructors there while we begin building our Missouri program.
How We’re Getting Started in Missouri
We believe good training starts with getting to know the individual dog and handler in front of us. Because of that, we are beginning our Missouri services with private training.
Private lessons allow us to:
- Get to know you and your dog
- Evaluate your dog’s current skills and state of mind
- Identify what is working and where communication may be breaking down
- Help you develop clearer communication with your dog
- Work on the behaviors and goals that matter most to your family
- Prepare you and your dog for future group classes and real-world training
Training is not simply about teaching a dog to sit, down, stay or come. Those behaviors are important, but we also focus heavily on the relationship between the dog and handler, clarity, boundaries, confidence and helping dogs learn how to remain thoughtful in the world around them.
Classes Are Coming
As we become established in the Lebanon area, we will gradually begin adding group classes, walks and dog-sport opportunities.
Our goal is to build the program based on what dog owners in our community actually want and need. Future offerings may include puppy classes, obedience and CGC preparation, group training walks, Rally, scent work, canine fitness and parkour, herding opportunities and other dog sports.
We like our classes to be more than simply practicing exercises in the same room week after week. Whenever possible, we incorporate real-world environments and distractions so dogs and handlers learn how to use their skills where they actually need them.
Start With Private Training
If you're in Lebanon or the surrounding Missouri area and would like to get started, private training is the best place to begin.
Whether you have a new puppy, an adolescent dog testing the rules, an older dog who needs some help, or you're interested in taking your training to the next level, age is not a limitation on learning.
We look forward to becoming part of the Missouri dog community and building Mtn Hollow here one dog-and-handler team at a time.
Welcome to Mtn Hollow Missouri — we’re just getting started.
Additional Information
More Than Training Sessions
Sometimes the biggest challenges happen outside of a formal training lesson. Mtn Hollow also helps families with the everyday decisions and transitions that can make life with dogs easier and more successful.
We can help with integrating a new dog into your existing pack, including how to manage introductions, space, resources, routines and expectations so everyone has the best chance to adjust successfully.
If you are considering adding a dog to your family, we can also help with finding the right rescue or rehomed dog. Choosing a dog should be about more than appearance or breed. Temperament, energy level, household experience and compatibility with your family and current pets all matter.
We also offer guidance on setting up your home for success. This may include where dogs rest, eat and sleep, how to use crates, gates and designated areas, how to manage multiple dogs, and how to reduce unnecessary conflict or overstimulation in the home.
A predictable routine can make a tremendous difference for both dogs and people. We can help you create realistic schedules, boundaries and household rules that fit your lifestyle and give your dog a clearer understanding of what is expected.
K911 Phone Consultations
Need help but don’t necessarily need an in-person lesson?
Our K911 phone consultations are designed for questions that can often be worked through with conversation, planning and guidance.
We can discuss issues such as:
- Bringing home a new dog
- Introducing dogs to each other
- Household management
- Crate and sleeping arrangements
- Daily routines and schedules
- Boundaries and expectations
- Puppy questions
- Sudden behavior changes
- Multi-dog household concerns
- Preparing for changes in the home
K911 consultations are 30 minutes for $35 and can be done by phone, FaceTime or Zoom.
Sometimes a little guidance at the right time can prevent a small problem from becoming a much bigger one.
Request Pricing and Schedule Information
Meet the missouri Dog Training Team
Denise Miller
Could This Be You?
Could This Be You?
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE OWNER & MAIN INTRUCTOR
About Us
We are so glad you're here! There's a lot to see and explore, so don't be shy. And please, hit the FEEDBACK link below to let us know how we can help YOU and your pet be happier and healthier this year. It's our passion!
Sincerely,
Denise Miller
Owner, Instructor, Breeder
Could This Be You?
Could This Be You?
Could This Be You?
Could This Be You?
Mtn Hollow is growing, and we’re looking for the next generation of instructors and trainees.
If you have a passion for helping dogs and the people who love them, we’d love to mentor you in the Mtn Hollow Method.
No matter where you’re starting, every great instructor begins somewhere.
Reach out to learn more.
Dog Training in Lebanon MO
dog are never to young o
What Is the Best Age to Train a Dog?
People often ask, “Is my dog too old to learn?”
The answer is no.
Dogs can continue learning throughout their entire lives. In fact, adult and older dogs can sometimes be easier to teach than puppies because they often have a longer attention span and are better able to focus.
That doesn’t mean you should wait to start training. Starting young teaches a puppy how to learn. They begin learning how to communicate with you, work through problems, pay attention, and understand that their choices have meaning.
Puppies may have shorter attention spans, so their lessons should be brief and appropriate for their age. As they mature, their ability to concentrate and work for longer periods usually improves.
So when is the best time to start training?
Today.
Whether your dog is 10 weeks old, 10 months old, or 10 years old, learning can continue.
Age does not put a limit on learning. Training simply changes to meet the dog in front of you.
r old to learn.
Train the dog in front of you. unders
The best way to train a dog is to make learning clear, consistent, fair, and appropriate for the dog in front of you.
There is no single method that works exactly the same for every dog. Some dogs are very sensitive and respond to the smallest change in your voice or body language. Others are more confident, distracted, or persistent and may need clearer boundaries and more structure.
Good training starts with communication. The dog needs to understand:
- What you want
- When they are doing it correctly
- When they are making the wrong choice
- How to find the right answer
- When the exercise is finished
Reward the behaviors you want to see more often, prevent unwanted behaviors from being repeatedly practiced, and use consequences that are fair and understandable when needed. Training should never be about anger, intimidation, or overpowering a dog.
Just as important, pay attention to the dog's state of mind. A dog that is overwhelmed, frightened, frustrated, or overly excited may not be in the best state to learn. Sometimes the first lesson is not “sit” or “heel.” It is learning how to become calm enough to think.
The goal of training is not simply to teach commands. It is to build communication between the dog and handler so the dog understands what is expected and the handler learns how to guide the dog.
The best training method is the one that gives the individual dog the clearest path to success.
Or, in one sentence:
Train the dog in front of you—not the dog a book, video, or training philosophy says you should have.tand the learner and build on that
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That learning is fun.
Before worrying about perfect sits, downs, stays, or leash walking, teach your puppy that interacting with you is enjoyable and rewarding.
Training should feel like a game. Short sessions, lots of success, movement, praise, food, toys, and opportunities to figure things out help build a puppy that wants to participate.
When puppies learn early that working with you is fun, they also learn:
- to pay attention to you
- to try new things
- to recover from mistakes
- to problem-solve
- to enjoy training rather than avoid it
You are not just teaching behaviors. You are teaching your puppy how to learn.
That foundation can influence every lesson that comes afterward.
The first goal of puppy training isn’t obedience. It’s creating a dog that loves learning with you.
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With a puppy, punishment should be less about making something unpleasant happen and more about redirection, boundaries, and consequences they can understand.
Puppies are learning about the world. When they make the wrong choice, they often need us to show them what the right choice looks like.
If your puppy is chewing the furniture, redirect them to something appropriate to chew. If they are jumping for attention, remove the attention and reward them when four feet are on the floor. If they are getting too wild during play, calmly end the game for a moment and give them an opportunity to settle.
That is a consequence without creating fear or conflict.
Good puppy training includes:
- Interrupting unwanted behavior before it becomes a habit
- Redirecting the puppy toward an appropriate behavior
- Setting boundaries so they understand what is and is not allowed
- Managing the environment so they aren't constantly practicing the wrong choices
- Rewarding the correct choice when they make it
Boundaries are important. Puppies need freedom, but they also need structure. Too much freedom too soon often leads to behaviors we later have to undo.
The goal isn't to make a puppy afraid of making a mistake. It is to teach them, “That choice doesn't work, but this one does.”
Clear boundaries and thoughtful redirection help a puppy learn how to make better decisions while keeping training fair, calm, and understandable.
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How Long Does It Take to Train a Puppy?
Training a puppy doesn’t require hours of work every day.
A few short training sessions throughout the day, combined with clear boundaries and consistency, can make puppy training very doable.
Young puppies have short attention spans, so training for just a few minutes at a time is often more productive than one long session. You can also build training into everyday life—before meals, going through doors, putting on the leash, getting in and out of the car, or settling in the house.
The biggest progress usually comes from what happens between the training sessions.
If your puppy has clear boundaries, appropriate freedom, and consistent expectations, they are learning all day long—not just when you have treats in your hand.
Some behaviors can be learned quickly, while reliability takes more time and repetition. Puppies also go through developmental stages, so training is not always a straight line.
A few short sessions a day, good management, and proper boundaries can build a very well-trained puppy over time.
The goal is not to rush the process. It is to create good habits early and keep building on them.