Frequently Asked Questions

+ Is there a limit to class participants?

Yes. In light of the current situation each class will be limited to no more than two people per dog. Our safe and socially distanced learning environment allows for a more customized training session while still providing ample opportunity for your dog to develop vital socialization skills. Children are welcome if they are non-disruptive. Children are not allowed to handle dogs in class unless they are physically strong enough to restrain the dog and mature enough to listen to and follow directions.

+ What happens if I miss a class?

Please enjoy my 'you have 4 months to make up one (1) missed class policy with a few reasonable restrictions. I do not offer make up classes for female dogs in heat. Please put some 'bitches britches' on her to keep the class space sanitary. I do not offer make up classes for dogs spayed or neutered while in class. My classes are not physically strenuous and your pet is in no danger of 'ripping his stitches out' in class. Or, attend class without the dog.

I cannot offer to start over in the next session if you miss several classes. You have bought a series of classes with a start and end date. Classes not attended cannot be 'used' in the next session.

+ Here's how to make up a class?

Come to the class you enrolled in. Enrolled in Family Pet Level One? Makeup in a Family Pet Level One class. You do not have to come to the exact week you missed. Remember that I have two locations to choose from to help you get that make up class, conveniently.

Please do not ask me what I will be teaching or what class to attend, so you only have 'new' things to learn. No matter when I see you and your pal will benefit.

This make-up class policy applies to one (1) class only. I do not offer more than one (1) make-up class per session, which encourages owners to keep regular attendance for maximum benefit.

+ What about vaccines and my Puppy?

Yes, pups must have started their vaccines to enroll in class. I cannot make absolutes about vaccines since each veterinarian has differing vaccine protocols. All we need to succeed is that each pup stays on his schedule; pups in class don't need to have the same schedule.

No, your pup does not need to have completed all of his vaccines to start. Waiting to start class until 'he's finished with his shots' is not necessary. My clients are the upper ten percent of Orange County's pet parents. No puppy, since I started teaching puppy class in 1979, has ever gotten sick from coming to my classes.

I teach classes on 'clean' surfaces.

Why don't I have everyone bring proof of vaccines? Asking people to find, collect and bring each page from all vet visits is more than most owners can manage. Calling and asking your vet to fax records to me adds hassle to hard working veterinarians.

What do I do when a harried husband shows up at the first class and forgot the vaccine paperwork the wife left out on the kitchen counter? Send him home? Do I sift through ten sets of veterinarian papers from ten different owners, maybe in date order or maybe not, upside down and with coffee stains on them while I lose valuable teaching time? Insist that people show me their vaccine history on their phone while I am trying to teach potty training

If you do not want to bring your pup to class until he has 'finished his shots' I am happy to see you as soon as he can come to class. But, remember that the critical period of socialization is from six to sixteen weeks. (This comes from the Scott and Fuller Bar Harbor experiments in 1954) Once your pup passes the sixteen week mark teaching him to be social with other dogs and human strangers becomes more difficult and with a worse outcome.

+ What if my dog has previously shown aggression towards people or other dogs?

I love all dogs. However, not all dogs can safely participate in a group class. Aggressive dogs cannot learn in a group class.

Such dogs are concentrating not on learning to lay down, sit or come- but their inability to be relaxed around other pets.

My obligation is to provide a safe atmosphere for dogs and people. If your dog demonstrates aggressive behavior, as decided by me, I will ask you to take your pet home where he is more comfortable. We’ll arrange for private training if appropriate.

People and their pets are not threatened, bitten or emotionally damaged while under my supervision. Group classes are designed for maximum safety for everyone.

Learn More About My Reactive Dog Program.

+ My dog is a rescue and is scared of everything- would a group class be good for him?

This really depends on the severity of your individual dog's past experiences. Many people do not realize that dogs can in fact be diagnosed with PTSD - a condition that dramatically affects their quality of life. I work extensively with dogs who have experienced extreme trauma and find that 9 times out of 10, it is best to start with a few at home training sessions. This lets me not only evaluate their current status, but also work on a few key points that will prepare them for a group class setting. Read more about Rescue and Reactive Dogs.

+ How many dogs are in each class?

Enough to make the class interesting and not so many I don't know each pet's name. Class size varies according to location, type of class, age of dogs and class specifics.

+ Can my kids join in for training?

Yes, children are welcome in class. However, children are not safe in a class unless they are mature enough to follow instructions, know not to approach or pet any dog but their own, are physically large enough to not be dragged by their pet and can sit calmly in a chair by you. If you want your child to train the dog in class they must be physically able to control the dog and not be dragged and listen to instructions meant for adults. My background and training are teaching adult brains and I do not have any background in teaching children and thus have no expertise in talking to or teaching children.

A dog training class is not a suitable place for children that are not yet able to participate safely.

Children may not wander away from class to play football, play tag or bounce balls off the nearby wall. If your children are distracting, your pet’s training suffers. Please decide what is best for you and the other participants in class.

+ I have two dogs I'd like to bring to group training. Can I bring them both by myself?

In my 40+ years of experience, I've come to recognize that one owner trying to corral and work with two dogs at one time is a bit like herding chickens. Neither of the three are able to fully focus or learn what is being taught- most of the class is spent trying to gain both dogs' attention and the poor owner leaves class feeling exhausted and defeated.

In the interest of everyone's education, I have a 1 dog per owner rule for my group classes.

If you have two dogs that both need training, I suggest the following solutions-

A. Bring Two Owners

B. Enroll the dogs in group class on separate nights, so each gets their own personalized attention- I teach on Sundays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays.

C. Contact me about my private in home training.

+ Waiting to spay or neuter your pet?

Your vet is the expert in your pup's health. Please be sure to ask her, not Dr. Google, your neighbor or me, for the following specific info until your pet's spay or neuter day. I don’t have the time in class to address these vital, issues of daily living with an intact dog.

For the boy puppies maturing with their knicky knacks attached.

How do I manage leg lifting? (Peeing on upright objects, furniture, kids' toys, other dogs and maybe you.) How do I manage increased aggression toward male dogs? How do I manage humping my leg, my kids and other dogs? What do I do with my dog's increased desire to roam? If I have a female dog in the home do I keep them separate? If I have a male dog in the home how do I keep them separate?

These problems are not solved with drugs, training or behavior interventions. They are hormone problems. When the hormone testosterone is removed these problems go away.

For the girl puppies.

How do I know when my pet comes in season? (Hint. It is weeks before the bleeding starts) What is a silent heat? Is there a relationship with breast cancer and waiting to spay? How do I manage the bleeding in the house? How do I manage the temporary loss of house training as she pees with increased frequency? Is my fence tall enough to keep neighbor dogs, and coyotes, from jumping over when she is in season? If I have another female dog in the house how do I manage fighting? How do I manage personality changes, including aggression? If I have a male dog in the house how do I keep them separate? How do I safely take her for walks and protect her from off leash dogs and coyotes? What does flagging mean and what does it look like? When is my pet 'breedable?' (Hint…not when you think) If my pet is accidentally bred how long do I have to make sure she does not have the puppies? Or, do I let my dog have the puppies?

Yes, your in season female dog can come to class. (Please put 'britches' on her to keep the training area sanitary) Yes, your intact (not neutered) boy dog can come to class. I do not offer make up classes for in season females. All dogs need to learn to get along with intact male and female dogs and listen to you. I have never had a problem with in season females or youngish intact males.

If your dog is spayed or neutered during the class session bring them to class. I do not offer make up classes for a spay/neuter absence. Bring the dog in his cone, or, a surgical suit. The surgical suits, available on Amazon, are cuter than a cone and lots more comfy.