When Linda Hill struck a profession crossroads, she recognized she liked dogs, and she liked training them. She started investigating professions that would let her pursue that enthusiasm, and while doing so, she found the Zoom Room.
Southwest Florida’s very first Zoom Room Dog Training, part of a franchise devoted to training dogs in obedience and dexterity, held a soft opening at 7740 Preserve Lane, Suite 12, in North Naples, inside the Bougainvillea Center shopping center off Immokalee Road. A grand opening is slated for Aug. 19.
Prices of classes differ. For example, a three-month, eight-class package expenses $299. Class sizes are restricted to approximately 6 dogs, and there are yearly subscriptions used that consist of 36 to 52 classes annually also.
Zoom Room deals puppy preschool for 8- to 16-week-old puppies, Puppy Plus for 4- to 6-month-old puppies and obedience/advanced obedience, dexterity/advanced agility and puppy/little breed/medium breed play groups.
The latter alternative functions almost like an indoor dog park, Hill said, which works well provided the strength of the area’s summer season heat.
“My friends and I talked about how hot and humid it was for us and the dogs, not to mention the daily showers, preventing a minimal amount of socialization during the summer,” Hill said. “I thought, wouldn’t it be great to have an indoor dog park? I have so much interest in dog training and how humans are able to communicate with dogs. If you ever watch dog agility or rally tournaments, the bonding between them is fascinating. I actually get teary-eyed.”
Zoom Room likewise uses personal training and rent the space for dog celebrations.
The front of the business includes a store selling dog treats, natural dog chews, toys and puzzles, which can be filled with food for the dog to unlock.
“Some dogs are toy-motivated,” Hill said. “Other dogs are treat-motivated. If you desire them to alter the habits, you need to teach them to alter their habits.
“It can’t just be saying ‘good boy.’ It has to be a jackpot. We call it a high-value treat. You can’t give a piece of kibble. It has to be something they consider to be an amazing dinner.”
The course to opening Zoom Room has actually been a long one for Hill, with Hurricane Ian and other concerns postponing the opening from February. But Hill has actually put those obstacles behind her as she gets ready for the upcoming grand opening.
The dexterity equipment on hand corresponds what’s utilized at American Kennel Club occasions.
“Depending on their age, we teach them puppy kindergarten,” Hill said. “We make sure there are no problems with potty training. If they are beyond that, they can go to Puppy Plus training. It’s also a little bit of agility and tricks. If they are able to test out of the motor skills, they can go into obedience. They can go into advanced obedience.”
