Our most popular class!

This class is perfect for dogs that display inappropriate behaviors, including:

• Over-Excitement

• Jumping

• Excessive Barking

• Possessiveness

• Growling

Whether your dog is overly excited or displays fear-related behaviors like growling, barking, lunging, or other unseemly behaviors, this class will help. It is meant to address inappropriate “meeting and greeting” behaviors that may lead to unpleasant or unruly interactions with other dogs or people. The class will instill a sense of confidence in the owner/handler by giving you a thorough background of “dog handling” techniques to help you manage your dog in a variety of situations. The class will enable you to respond effectively when these behaviors are demonstrated. You will also learn and be able to identify when dogs are being friendly, and when they are not, through in-class demonstrations of friendly behaviors between dogs, primarily on-leash.

Once the group dynamics are established and leash management techniques are learned, we will move on to parallel walks as well as short on-leash interactions. Throughout this time we will learn a variety of techniques to quiet and de-sensitize the dogs to each other. Operant and classical conditioning exercises and techniques will be employed to shift the emotional disposition of each dog from “fear”, “discomfort”, or over-stimulation to greater comfort, less fear and more appropriate responses.

ABI (acquired bite inhibition) will be tested on all participants. Muzzles will be required for all dogs that have a “hard mouth” or for any dog that has bitten and caused serious injury to another dog or person previously. Good Citizen Dog Training reserves the right to turn down any dog that is deemed “too dangerous” to participate in this class. The initial class will be for owners only – no dogs until class 2.

A “one-time private” session (usually lasting at least an hour) is available, and is extremely helpful when done before the class begins, to help evaluate and assess your dog’s behavior. The session is meant to help you to gain additional control and to reduce your anxiety in class. Many dog owners really enjoy the one-on-one, hands-on training session for gaining a better handle on the behaviors that are most challenging for their particular pet. Please contact Deborah Rosen at (253) 752-6878 if you are interested in scheduling this type of session in conjunction with the upcoming group class. A discount is given on the private session for those also signing up for a group class.

Important Information: This is a 6-week course.