Frequently Asked Questions About DOGGIE STEPS Dog Training in Chandler, AZ
DOGGIE STEPS Dog Training is owned and personally run by Mark Siebel in Chandler, AZ since 2005. He has trained over 7,000 dogs, holds a 4.9 star rating across 82 Google reviews, and uses positive reinforcement only, never a shock collar or choke chain. Below are the questions asked most often about his programs, pricing, and methods.
Programs and Pricing
It depends on how involved you want to be and what’s actually going on with your dog. Board and Train is the best fit if you want it fully handled: your dog stays with Mark and comes home already trained. In-Home and At My Home Dog Training are better if you want to learn the commands alongside your dog. For puppies who aren’t potty trained yet, Board and Train is usually the fastest path, since potty training makes up roughly half of most Board and Train stays. See Find Your Training Fit for a full breakdown.
No. Base prices cover a standard case. Aggression and anxiety cases, multiple dogs in the same household, and training locations further from Chandler can add to the cost. Mark confirms the real number with you directly before you book anything, so there are no surprises after the fact.
Yes. Board and Train runs $2,000 for one week or $3,900 for two weeks. Your dog stays with Mark and comes home with commands, potty training, leash manners, and a written summary of everything covered.
They can, because of the additional time and specialized handling they require. Roughly half of Mark’s total caseload is aggression or anxiety work, so this is not an edge case for him, it’s close to half of what he does every week.
Training Methods and Approach
Hands-on experience since 2005, over 7,000 dogs trained personally by Mark himself, a background in human and dog psychology, and a track record of real results with the hardest cases: aggression and anxiety. Reviews describe dogs that other owners had started to feel hopeless about becoming calm, social, and manageable within weeks.
Positive reinforcement only, using both verbal commands and visual hand signals. Shock collars and choke chains are never used, on any dog, for any service. Training is built on conditioning, routine, and repetition, individualized to each dog’s specific challenges.
A trained dog is a direct result of a trained owner. Consistent training prevents ongoing stress for both the dog and the household, and builds a lasting, clearer line of communication between the two of you.
No single breed is inherently easier or harder. What actually determines the outcome is daily command repetition, consistency, socialization, and positive reinforcement, applied the same way regardless of breed.
Yes. Mark’s own reasoning: it’s often harder to train the person than the dog. Understanding how an individual owner communicates and what their daily routine actually looks like is what allows training to be tailored, rather than generic, to both the dog and the household.
Aggression, Anxiety, and Difficult Cases
Yes. This is one of Mark’s specialties, not something he turns away. Roughly half of his total caseload is aggression or anxiety work.
Tell Mark what was tried before and what didn’t stick. Many clients come to Doggie Steps after another approach didn’t hold, and understanding what already failed is often the fastest way to figure out what will actually work for that specific dog.
Why Trust Mark Siebel with DOGGIE STEPS Dog Training
No. Mark’s expertise is built on over 7,000 hands-on training cases since 2005, a psychology background from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and his role teaching the dog training portion of Pet Care Team Training, a certification program for professional pet sitters and dog walkers, as one of five expert trainers in the course.
Positive reinforcement rewards the behavior you want to see more of, using treats, praise, or a marker like a clicker, rather than correcting or suppressing unwanted behavior through fear or physical correction. Leading veterinary behavior organizations, including the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, have moved away from dominance-based methods because they can increase fear and aggression rather than resolve it. Doggie Steps uses positive reinforcement only, verbal and visual hand-signal commands, never a shock collar or choke chain.
Look for real, specific outcomes in reviews rather than generic five-star praise, transparency about methods and pricing before you book, a trainer who tells you honestly if a program isn’t the right fit rather than upselling you into one, and direct, personal responsiveness rather than a call center. Doggie Steps publishes its pricing, its methods, and real client reviews for exactly this reason.
No service comes with a guaranteed outcome, and Mark is upfront about why: he’s working with animals, and results depend on the owner keeping up the routine after training ends, the same way a personal trainer’s plan only works if the client follows through.
Scheduling and Service Area
Board and Train draws clients from anywhere in the Valley, since the dog comes to Mark. In-Home and At My Home Dog Training cover Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley.
By the end of the business day, usually by email or text. Mark reads and replies to every message himself.
Group Dog Training is currently reserved for existing Doggie Steps clients whose dogs need socializing, offered by referral rather than open enrollment. Board and Train, In-Home Dog Training, and At My Home Dog Training are the programs open to new clients.
About the Author
Mark Siebel has run DOGGIE STEPS Dog Training in Chandler, AZ since 2005. He has trained over 7,000 dogs, working hands-on with every client himself. He never uses shock collars or choke chains, and he personally reads and answers every question that comes in through this site.