Which class is right for my dog?

Each class description will explain which dogs that class is appropriate for. In general, the following applies:

 

Dogs and puppies 5 months and older with no prior training - Family Dog 1

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Puppies 9-16 weeks old - Best Beginnings Puppy Level 1 

Puppies 17-22 weeks old - Best Beginnings Puppy Level 1 (Older Puppy) (unless they have already graduated from Best Beginnings 1 already, then they should enroll in Best Beginnings Puppy Level 2)

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What is your physical address?

We have two training buildings at our training location. #305 is our main classroom and is located in the far back end of the parking lot. Pass the horseshoe type driveway and go into the next driveway, also marked 39 California. Take that long driveway to the back of the two story building. You will see our banner on the large roll up door. 

Our second building, #105, is located in the store front in the horseshoe like parking lot and can be seen from the street.

Be sure to check your email reminder for your class to see what classroom your class is in.  All Adult dog classes are held in #305 while puppy classes and socials are held in both #105 & #305.

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Why are your classes not refundable?

We are unable to issue refunds or credits after a class has started. This is because when you register for a class you are taking a spot in that class which means that the spot is reserved and not available to anyone else. We only hold a class if we have enough people enrolled, so if people want to switch classes or pull out of a class, we will not be able to fill that spot. 

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Are kids allowed to come to classes?

Absolutely! We encourage the whole family to attend our classes with the family dog. However, for families with small children, you may need an additional adult to help manage the children and dog.

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My dog barks at other dogs, can he still attend a class?

It depends. If your dog is aggressive towards other dogs or is upset around other dogs, a group class may be too overwhelming for him. We may recommend our Reactive Dog class or private training for your dog. If your dog occasionally gets excited around other dogs, we may create a visual barrier so your dog can better concentrate and learn. 

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What is reactivity?

When professional trainers refer to dogs as being "reactive" they usually mean that the dog reacts at other dogs while on leash. The reaction may be barking, lunging, or pulling towards the other dog. Reactivity can have different causes from over arousal to fear to feeling defensive around other dogs. 

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Do you offer make up classes?

No. Our classes are designed to be completed after a set number of weeks with each dog and handler team generally working through the same curriculum. Make up classes are simply not feasible for our training system.

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Do you offer gift certificates?

Yes! We offer gift certificates for any dollar value you choose which can be used for any of our services.

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We are a busy family and don't really have time to train our puppy. What do you suggest?

Our Puppy Day Training is a perfect option for busy people because we do the bulk of the work for you. You will still need to practice with your puppy, but we will get all the behaviors kick started for you while your puppy spends time with us during the day. Learn more about our Puppy Day Training here!

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Do you guarantee your services?

Unfortunately, we cannot make claims or guarantees on our services. Because the outcome of the training is dependent on many things including the dog's learning history, the skill and consistency of the training, the dog's genetic make up and owner's commitment. It would be unethical for us to guarantee the outcome of the training. What we can promise is that our classes are taught by qualified and knowledgeable instructors using scientific methods that have proven extremely successful for us.

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Why don't you use or allow shock collars in your classes?

Dodger's Paws was founded on certain principles one of which was to train dogs using methods that not only work, but that cause no harm to the dog. Our focus is on teaching the dog what we want them to do and then and reinforcing those behaviors. Shock collars rely on pain or discomfort to get the dog to stop doing something. We prefer to teach the dog to do something different, something that is acceptable to you and then reinforce that behavior. We understand that shock collars can sometimes be effective in stopping unwanted behaviors, however, they also risk not only confusing or frightening the dog, but also with creating negative associations which can be not only scary for the dog but potentially dangerous. In short, we do not feel that shock collars are a dog friendly training tool. 

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