“How can you teach a dog to heel if he doesn’t want to follow you?” -Dr. Ian Dunbar

Dog training classes in Reno:

Each class is 1 hour long.  Dogs attend each week.  Class sizes are small, so PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED – contact us to register for the class of your choice.   Children are more than welcome, but must be accompanied by a parent and may want to bring something quiet to do, so they don’t get bored (although they’re welcome to participate in the training as much as they can!)  Looking for something but don’t see it?  Just ask!

Where: The Dog Park! dog daycare, 15 Trinity Lane in South Reno (across S. Virginia from the Damonte Ranch Wal-Mart, behind the Shop-N-Go – here’s a map).

Basic Manners

This beginner level course is designed for dogs of all types and ages, and have had little or no previous formal training.  Basic obedience, house manners, and common problems are covered, as well as skills such as paying attention around distractions and self-control.  This class is carefully controlled to ensure the comfort and enjoyment of everyone, dog and human!  This is a foundational dog training class aimed at  teaching you how dogs learn, coaching you to communicate with your dog, and setting him or her up to be a well-behaved, fun companion or a responsive performance dog.

Prerequisites:  None.  Dogs must be healthy, non-aggressive, and vaccinated.

Price: $150 for the six week class

New classes begin reguarly.  Pre-registration is required.

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Puppy Kindergarten

This course is designed for puppies of all breeds who are younger than 5 months old.  This class is an opportunity for safe socialization, as well as teaching basic obedience and manners.  Puppy play time is carefully managed and separated by size and play style. Common puppy training difficulties are covered, such as mouthing, chewing, jumping up, and house training.  Skills such as paying attention around distractions and self-control are begun.  This is a foundational puppy training class aimed at coaching you through your dog’s puppy hood, maximizing their potential, and setting your puppy up to be a well-behaved companion or a responsive performance dog.  Click here to see pictures of a typical puppy class!

Prerequisites:  None.  Dogs must be healthy, non-aggressive, and vaccinated.

Price: $150 for the six week class

New classes begin regularly.  Pre-registration is required.

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Reality Romp (level 2 manners/obedience class)

It’s all well and good if your dog has learned to behave well at home and in the classroom, but what about the real world?  Reality check!  This class is your opportunity to make sure your dog can behave in all environments, outdoors and in, with you and other handlers.   (Animal trainers call this “proofing.”)  Each week this class meets in a different location to proof obedience and manners exercises and achieve additional socialization.   Off-leash exercises will be simulated, with an emphasis on recall training and attention work in distracting environments.  You’ll be in the company of an attentive instructor to teach you how to deal with the unexpected, so that you and your dog can achieve a level of training that will allow you to safely face all that Reno/Tahoe has to offer together!  This course is designed for dogs of all sizes and ages, but they must have completed 1 beginner-level dog training class either with us or with another approved instructor (just ask), or an equivalent level of training at home (again, just ask).

Prerequisites: Completion of a Basic Manners or Puppy Kindergarten class, or equivalent level of training.
Price: $150 for the six week class.  Pre-registration is required.

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Super Tricks! class

This course is a fun, fast-paced, outside-the-box dog training experience!  Teaching your dog responsiveness and good behavior, and building a team relationship with your dog, does NOT have to involve “Obedience.”  You’ll be amazed at how smart and eager to learn your dog is – and you’ll come away with lots of impressive, hilarious new tricks and a very close bond between you.  Ever wonder how they train those dogs in the movies? I’ll teach you!  This course is designed for dogs of all sizes and ages, but they must have completed 1 beginner-level dog training class, either with us or with another approved instructor (just ask), or equivalent level of home training (again, just ask).  Click here to view photos of the SuperTricks! class.

Prerequisites: Completion of a Basic Manners or Puppy Kindergarten class, or equivalent level of training
Price: $150 for the six week class. Pre-registration is required.

Waiting list has been formed - email to get on it!

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Control Off-Leash

Treat yourself to an easier, more fluid relationship with your dog – one that doesn’t require a leash!  Based partially on Leslie McDevitt’s work entitled Control Unleashed, and partly on my own experience and favorite attention-improving dog training games, this class will give you the tools to teach your dog that they are to pay attention to you, whether they’re on leash or not!  Recalling your dog is a fantastic skill to have, and we’ll perfect it, but by and large it should be moot – your dog should stick around because you taught him to, without having to be cued.  And by the way – having an “electronic leash” on your dog still counts as a leash!

Prerequisites: Completion of a basic obedience class or equivalent level of training

Cost: $150 for the  six week course. Pre-registration is required.

Waiting list has been formed - email to get on it!

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Intro to K9 Nose Work (R) *BRAND NEW!*

The newest urban canine sport.  Based on police K9 detection work, his fun sport taps into your dogs natural ability to explore their world through their nose.

Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and a natural desire to hunt.  The sport of K9 Nose Work is designed to develop your dog’s natural scenting abilities by using their desire to hunt and their love of toys, food and exercise.  It’s a great way for your dog to have fun, build confidence, and burn lots of mental and physical energy [from the website below].

To learn more about this sport, visit the official web site: http://funnosework.com/

K9 Nose Work dogs love boxes! Yes, that's a herding breed doing scent work. Wanna make something of it?

This sport is open to dog-reactive or fearful dogs, because only one dog is in a search area at a time.  Dogs must, however, be OK with humans.  It is also wonderful for retired competition dogs, injured, disabled, or elderly dogs who still need a job, or any dog who needs some extra brain exercise, as scent work is both exhausting and satisfying for the dog!

Prerequisites: None.  Dogs will however need to be crate trained or able to wait in a vehicle unsupervised.

Cost: $150 for the six week course. Pre-registration is required.

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Vehicles and Exteriors (2nd level K9 Nose Work)