General

 

ALL dogs must be current on vaccinations, in good health, AND have current flea preventative treatment any time they are on the facility property.

 

Do you offer any discounts? Yes. We are very grateful for our military, law enforcement officers, and first responders, so we gladly extend a discount to thank them for their service to our community and our country. A discount will also be extended if there is more than one dog from the same household training at the same time.

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What forms of payment to do accept? Cash, checks, PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp and credit card payments are accepted.

Will titer certificates count as proof of vaccination? If a licensed veterinarian attests to the validity of the titer certificate, it will be accepted as proof of vaccination for the period specified.

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How will we know if class is cancelled? A post will be made on our Facebook page. (We will eventually be able to send a group announcement using our Member Portal, once everyone has registered.) If the weather is questionable, please feel free to call. Decisions to cancel class are usually made right before the scheduled start, unless conditions are already such that it is obvious the training grounds cannot be utilized or the inclement weather is forecast to undoubtedly  continue for an extended period of time. (We often train even if it is “sprinkling” as long as there is no threat of lightning.)

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Are there restrooms at the facility? Yes, there is a unisex restroom in the kennel.

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Can you suggest a product, collar, leash, crate… that best suits our situation? Yes. We would be happy to share our experiences with you regarding what quality products have proven to be effective, but please remember, every dog & situation is unique. Proper care and use may affect the performance of different types of equipment, so if you are experiencing difficulty with your training items, feel free to ask for a demonstration, and we will be happy to assist, if we can.

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Can you help us decide on a dog to purchase/adopt? We thoroughly evaluate every potential family before adopting out the dogs we train to ensure a perfect match. If you are trying to decide on purchasing or adopting from elsewhere, and need guidance on a breed or a breeder, a size or a gender, we may be able to offer you our experience and perhaps a suggestion or referral. Please call or email to schedule a time to discuss your queries.

 

Boarding* & Doggy Day Care

*Boarding also indicates Board & Train

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All dogs must be housebroken and crate trained to participate in

Boarding, Board & Train, and/or Doggy Day Care.

 

What do I need to bring if my dog is boarding*? Enough food for the entire stay PLUS 2 additional days. Each meal must be individually packaged per meal (preferably in a plastic zipper sealed bag) clearly labeled with the dog’s name.

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What if I feed raw? Our facility has a large refrigerator/freezer than can accommodate raw diets. Each meal needs to be individually packaged and labeled. We are not able to mix, add, reconstitute, combine, puree, heat, or otherwise further prepare any meal. (This includes adding supplements.) Thank you for understanding.

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What if my dog runs out of food while boarding? If the additional 2 days’ worth of food was still not enough, you will need to order the food and pay for it online, then have it delivered directly to the facility. We are not able to pick it up, nor pay for it; a concierge shopping service (Postmates, Instacart, GoPuff, etc.) can be utilized for local suppliers, if you need food delivered more quickly.

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What if my dog requires medications to be given during boarding? Dogs must be healthy enough to participate in the activities of the facility and not contagious or a danger to the other dogs. Medications must be in the original container, labeled with the date, dog’s name, name of the medication, the dose, and dosing instructions. “Pill pouch” treats may be sent with the medication. There may be an additional fee if special efforts need to be utilized to administer the medication.

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Can I send toys, blankets, dog beds for boarding/board & train/doggy day care? Durable, non-edible toys may be sent, but blankets, beds, or edible treats (bully sticks, rawhides, Greenies, etc.) cannot be given.

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What do I need to bring for Doggy Day Care? Just bring your pooch! If feeding times will fall during the time at the facility, feel free to send a meal, if necessary. Each meal must be individually portioned and labeled with the dog’s name. A durable, non-edible chew toy may be left in the kennel. (You may also want to bring a towel for the ride home, just in case your dog is still wet from the pool party!)

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What do the dogs do during Doggy Day Care? There are alternating times of supervised play and rest throughout the day. There is full access to the agility equipment in the shaded outdoor play areas, pool time, (if they are interested) and rest time in the air-conditioned kennels. Dogs are exercised in groups according to temperament and size to ensure the best experience for all.

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Do you offer any extra boarding services- Treats/doggy ice cream? Baths? Housebreaking? Crate training? We are not currently offering any additional services, but we are looking forward to adding grooming services soon. Crate training and housebreaking services may be added in the future. All the dogs get treats throughout the day (unless declined by owners) but no additional treats are available at this time. Please share your thoughts/ideas with us, and maybe we will consider adding a service if there is enough demand. 

 

Training

 

How old must my dog be? Pups must be 12 weeks to participate in Puppy Conditioning and 16 weeks to enroll in the group Basic Obedience classes.

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What is required to enroll in Basic Obedience Training? A completed enrollment form & waiver, vaccination & health records, and payment is required to enroll in both obedience and protection training courses.

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What are the additional requirements to enroll in Advanced Obedience Training? Completion of Basic Obedience and a CGC is required. If you and your canine partner have already earned a CGC, it may be possible to test into the Advanced Obedience class with an evaluation. (An additional fee applies.)

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What are the additional requirements to enroll in Personal Protection Training? Protection training requires completion of Basic and Advanced Obedience, as well as a CGC. A temperament test and drive evaluation may be administered to determine if there is suitable potential as a protection candidate. There may be an additional fee for this service. Proof of liability insurance covering the canine is required.

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What should we bring to class?  Please bring a 6+ foot leash, a flat collar and/or a training collar, (prong, martingale, etc.) clean up bags, training treats, and a training pouch, if used. A “long line” lead (as long as 30 feet) is also useful. Dogs may not be on retractable leashes or bungee leashes. Harnesses may be worn during class, but the leash must be attached to a collar around the dog’s neck. Insect repellent and/or sunscreen may be advisable, as we do train outdoors.

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What are the requirements to join the Service Dog* Training program? There are 3 levels of Service Dog Training; depending on which type of training you require, there will be different criteria, but Basic Obedience, a CGC, & a Community Canine (CGCA) title are prerequisites for all 3 levels. An Urban CGC title will be required for Service Dog and Emotional Support Animal* training. An ADA recognized disability with professional proof/referral will be required to participate in the Service Dog training program. (Therapy Dog* training will require annual membership in a national organization once training is completed.) All dogs must be covered by liability insurance to participate in the training, whether on-site or off-site. All vaccinations must be current, and the canine must be healthy and clean. (Proof of vaccinations and flea preventatives is required.) A temperament test may be administered to evaluate suitability to train to be a working dog; an additional fee may apply for providing this service.

*Emotional Support Animals and Therapy Dogs are specifically NOT Service Dogs, but the training we offer is included in our Service Dog Training Program.

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Is there a minimum age to be able to train? Handlers must be 18; it may be possible for handlers that are under 18 and have displayed the ability and desire to train may do so with the instructor's consent, but a parental consent authorization form must be completed.

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Does my dog need to be “fixed”? No. Please remember to maintain control at all times, regardless if your dog is neutered or intact, as it is common for there to be multiple intact alpha males training simultaneously. Females in heat DO attend training and boarding, so please be vigilant.

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Do you train/board/welcome pit bulls, bully breeds, “aggressive breeds”? Yes, BUT if your dog has a bite history it MUST be disclosed! Failing to disclose a bite history will result in your training contract being nullified and you will be liable for any injuries your dog may cause and/or incur.

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Do you use muzzles? Remote electric shock training collars? In extreme cases, muzzles or remote collars may be necessary, either as a precaution or last resort, and hopefully only temporarily. It is not regular policy to use either. Most dogs respond well to the prong collar, and that is what is commonly used by the majority of handlers.   

 

AKC CGC

 

Why would we want/need an AKC CGC? The AKC Canine Good Citizen title indicates not only the obedience of the canine, but also attests to the commitment of the owner to act responsibly. This may be required for housing purposes, insurance, or participation in certain events or venues. It is a prerequisite to enroll in Advanced Obedience, Protection Training, and Service Dog Training.

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Do you offer AKC CGC testing for non-clients? Yes, if space is available, the evaluation can be performed for a fee. (The CGC evaluation is included in the fee for the Basic Obedience course.) To have the title acknowledged by the AKC, the paperwork must be submitted to the AKC with a separate registration fee. Evaluations for the advanced AKC titles are available, as well.

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What is an AKC PAL/AKC Canine Partners Registration Number? Why do I need one? AKC CGC titles are assigned to the dogs who earn them. If the dog is AKC registered, the title is assigned under that registration number, so it will be acknowledged on the pedigree and/or for other title purposes. In order for the AKC to assign the title, there must be a way to track the title, and they do this by assigning it to a specific dog that recognized by a unique number. (Think of it as a K9 SSN.) For purebred dogs that are not AKC registered, they offer a Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) registration number. For mixed breed dogs, there is a Canine Partners registration number. Your dog does NOT need an AKC number of any kind to earn and register the basic AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title, but MUST have one for the AKC to assign the title in order to have future titles such as the CGCU and CGCA assigned. The dog can still earn the titles without registering them, but you will not be able to get formal certificates or have the titles acknowledged for other title purposes.  Please note that the AKC charges a fee for the service of creating a registration number and for assigning each title to the registered number. Application and pricing information is available on the linked pages.