Healthier, Happier, & More Confident Dogs!
Fun, purposeful activities that build confidence and provide opportunities for dogs to explore and engage in their world. We are here to meet your dogs’ individual needs by providing an alternative to training centers and dog daycares — we are WHAT DOGS WANT.
Full-Day Classes (Mon-THURS) • Half-Day Classes (Mon-THURS) • Private Tutoring
What is What Dogs Want Academy?
WHAT DOGS WANT is a unique place dedicated to understanding and providing for dogs' needs. Most of our pet dogs do not have the original jobs their ancestors were specifically bred to do, so they are left to fill that void in other ways. We created an environment that allows dogs to meet those needs—running, digging, water sports, scent work, working independently, working in a group, problem-solving, creative thinking, and more!
Our team is comprised of certified and licensed Family Dog Mediators: dog behavior professionals who understand and appreciate each individual dog and can craft fulfilling and purposeful days for them. We find ways to help dogs feel comfortable and confident exploring and navigating the world around them.
While our commitment is certainly about making dogs' lives the best they can be, we are also committed to our dog parents. We are here to help you develop stronger bonds with your dog, gain insights, and learn enrichment plans to keep the fun and learning going at home with the people they love the most—YOU!
The Academy is located in the heart of central Phoenix on a half-acre mini farm. It is a cozy, friendly, and safe setting. Everything here is considered from a dog's perspective. New and novel objects are here for exploration. We have thousands of activities to build stronger minds and bodies and plenty of sensory enrichment, too, with sniff stations, wind chimes, water features, and even an edible garden. We are WHAT DOGS WANT, the only enrichment center of its kind.
Check us out on Your Dog's Friend YouTube Channel and enjoy our webinar on Canine Enrichment! Click here to watch!
Check us out on the PawsGo Pawdcast! Click here to listen!
How Do We Help Your Dog?
Our one-of-a-kind Enrichment and Learning Center is where dogs spend the day learning life skills such as problem solving, building focus, impulse control, creative thinking, body awareness, conflict resolution and more! Working on fun, purposeful, educational activities builds confidence and engages both body and mind. Training using games and activities that are fun for dogs creates happier learning and lessons that stick. We believe in giving dogs tools so they can think for themselves and choose appropriate behavior instead of being punished or using aversives that focus on stopping undesireable behavior.
We also allow plenty of time in the day for exploration, play, relaxation and free choice. We have scent gardens and nose work opportunities around our property, sand boxes, climbing structures, water play and more. We are always adding fun features and novel objects for the dogs to engage with and explore. Dogs work individually as well as in a group so students can learn social skills from other dogs and build confidence around others.
We understand that each dog is a unique, sentient being, so we focus on their individual needs, learn who they are and discover what each dog wants!
Academy
Private tutoring
Our private tutoring sessions are for dogs who may not enjoy a classroom environment. Perfect for dog selective, reactive or shy dogs, enrichment can build confidence, improve behavior and build stronger bonds between dogs and their humans.
Academy
Consultations
Reviews
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