The Private Classes are by far the best way to train your dog because we can control the environment and work with you every step of the way. With control over distractions or other problems, we can advance you and your dog faster than with any other method.

We cover all the obedience behaviors listed below. We find most teams progress at a faster pace in private lessons, so we teach at your pace rather than each separate level. We also can work on any problem solving you may have with the dog around the house. This includes biting, chewing, digging, barking, housebreaking, behavior modification, aggression, anti-bite training, separation anxiety, or any situation that has you stumped.

The way the Smart Start program works is your dog stays with me for a period of time: three weeks for Basic or three weeks for Intermediate. During their stay, we work on training either basic or intermediate obedience skills.

Basic teaches all the formal commands: heeling or walking on a loose leash; five turns associated with heeling; sit, down and stand; stay in all three of these positions with distractions (such as people, toys, other animals or anything that can cause a dog to break the command); recall (dog runs to you and faces you); the finish (dog moves from a front sit to your left side); figure 8 (you are able to move in and around obstacles, with the dog in the heel position on your left side, without sniffing the obstacle or taking a short cut).
Intermediate expands on all these skills. This includes: introduction of off leash heeling; sit, down, and stand out of motion (as you walk or run, give your dog one of the three commands, and the dog will freeze in that position as you move away); down on a recall (you call your dog to you and as the dog is running to you, give the down command and the dog freezes in the down position); down out of play (the dog is in an excited, playful state and drops when you give the down command); and introduction of send out (dog runs away from you to a pre-designated spot).

Smart Start Obedience program is a 6 week course.

Puppy Problem Solving Class is for dogs 10 weeks to 6 month old. They need to have their second series of shots completed and shot records are required at your first class. You can also fax me the shot records before class.

Puppy class covers: socialization (learning how to interact with strange people and strange dogs); group recalls (calling the dog to you and away from other dogs that they are playing with); problem solving (biting, chewing, digging, jumping, stealing, barking and housebreaking); motivational training (teach heel, sit, down, stand, recall, finish and send out using toys, praise and play as a reward); boundary training (teaches the dog not to run into the street; it can also be used not to run out the front door, the garage, or to stay out of certain rooms in the house); and a little grooming, first aid and nutrition.

Basic Obedience is the starting point for training dogs 6 months and older. Yes, even dogs 8 years and older can still learn.

The commands in the basic obedience class are: heeling or walking on a loose leash, there are five turns associated with heeling; sit, down, and stand; stay in all three of these positions with distractions (such as people, toys, other animals or anything that can cause a dog to break the command); recall (dog runs to you and faces you); the finish (dog moves from a front sit to your left side); figure 8 (where you are able to move in and around obstacles, with the dog in the heel position on your left side, without sniffing the obstacle or taking a short cut).

The next level takes the Basic commands and expands on these skills. By teaching the dog in progressive steps, we get to our goal of off leash training a few simple steps at a time.

The commands in the intermediate obedience class are: introduction of off leash heeling; sit, down, and stand out of motion (you walk or run, give your dog one of the three commands, and the dog will freeze in that position as you move away); down on a recall (you call your dog to you and as the dog is running to you, give the down command and the dog freezes in the down position); down out of play (the dog is in an excited, playful state and drops when you give the down command); introduction of send out (dog runs away from you to a pre-designated spot); off leash recalls (dog runs to you from across the yard and passes another dog who is running to their owner, and sits down in front of you).

You 're almost there!

The commands in the Advanced Obedience class are: introduction of off leash heeling; sit, down, and stand out of motion (you walk or run, give your dog one of the three commands, and the dog will freeze in that position as you move away); down on a recall (you call your dog to you and as the dog is running to you, give the down command and the dog freezes in the down position); down out of play (the dog is in an excited, playful state and drops when you give the down command); introduction of send out (dog runs away from you to a pre-designated spot); off leash recalls (dog runs to you from across the yard and passes another dog who is running to their owner, and sits down in front of you).

In the Advanced Class we do all of the above commands in an off leash environment with as many distractions as possible

The agility course is an AKC regulation course which includes: 12' dog-walk, A-frame, teeter, table, solid tunnel, collapsed tunnel, weave poles, tire jump, high jump, bar jumps, winged jumps, and broad jump. (I also have the window jump and a selection of jumps from the police agility course.)

The class will be an skill based format, which means your dog will learn the skills necessary to solve most obstacle. We will not be pushing for competition; the class will be designed for a fun activity that challenges your dog.
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A perfect way to teach your dog about polite behaviors while on leash, as well as a perfect add on to a vacation stay. While you are away, your dog learns obedience.

Jump Start Course includes 14 days boarding, training (up to a hour a day), a manual, and two handling lessons to make sure the transfer is complete.

Gets your dog's training off on the right foot. It also serves as a excellent refresher course while you are away on vacation.

Short Courses includes 7 days boarding, training (up to a hour a day), a manual, and one handling lesson to make sure the transfer is complete.

8 week Basic Tracking (Short Course)
16 week Intermediate Tracking (Jump Start)
24 week Advanced Tracking (Complete Course)

The Buddy Pak is designed for those situations where You need to get you and your dog up to speed in a short amount of time. We put your dog through a 3 week Basic Obedience Course. Then we have a lesson when you pick up your dog so you can see what they learned and to start to get you on the right foot in coordinating your skills. After that we follow up with 2 In-Home Private Lessons to insure that everything is setting in. During these sessions we can also work on any problem solving that you might have around the house.

The Buddy Pak is an 5 week course. Buddy Pak Class covers: socialization (learning how to interact with strange people and strange dogs); group recalls (calling the dog to you and away from other dogs that they are playing with); problem solving (biting, chewing, digging, jumping, stealing, barking and housebreaking); motivational training (teach heel, sit, down, stand, recall, finish and send out using toys, praise and play as a reward); boundary training (teaches the dog not to run into the street; it can also be used to teach not to run out the front door, the garage, or to stay out of certain rooms in the house); and a little grooming, first aid and nutrition.

We can also work on any problem solving you may have with the dog around the house, as well as help you set up the perfect situation to manage your dog's life. These services include setting up dog runs, dog doors, hidden fence areas, or safe play areas for the animals.

The Best Friend's Complete Pak is designed for those situations where You want to get you and your dog up to the best that they can be, in a short amount of time. Over the course of 3 months we shape a new dog right before your eyes! We put your dog through a 6 week Smart Start Obedience Course. Then we have a lesson when you pick up your dog so you can see what they learned and to start to get you on the right foot in coordinating your skills. After that we follow up with 7 In-Home Private Lessons to insure that everything is setting in. During these sessions we can also work on any problem solving that you might have around the house.

The Best Friend's Pak is an 13 week course. Best Friend's Pak Class covers: socialization (learning how to interact with strange people and strange dogs); group recalls (calling the dog to you and away from other dogs that they are playing with); problem solving (biting, chewing, digging, jumping, stealing, barking and housebreaking); motivational training (teach heel, sit, down, stand, recall, finish and send out using toys, praise and play as a reward); boundary training (teaches the dog not to run into the street; it can also be used to teach not to run out the front door, the garage, or to stay out of certain rooms in the house); and a little grooming, first aid and nutrition.

We can also work on any problem solving you may have with the dog around the house, as well as help you set up the perfect situation to manage your dog's life. These services include setting up dog runs, dog doors, hidden fence areas, or safe play areas for the animals.

All of the above programs are offered to everyone, the only difference is travel expenses.

We begin by you sending me some information about your dog and your issues. Then we hook up by telephone with your list of prearranged questions (this helps so you don't lose time). You can record the call and even follow up with one or two e-mail questions.

Once we have all the details about your dog and their Arrival/Departure info, you send your dog to the best dog training program in the Silicon Valley.

A lot of people ask me if a Boarding Program can really solve all their dog behavioral issues. I mean how much can you really get done in one month? In fact, you'd be amazed at how many issues can be addressed in that amount of time.

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