Academy
Creating More confident dogs
Let your dog spend their day with us learning important life skills and meeting their needs while having fun! Small class sizes, a safe environment, a staff of canine behavior experts plus a thoughtful curriculum makes this program truly What Dogs Want!
Program
Requirements
Tuition
Location
Our Program
At our center, we provide your dogs with fun activities that engage both body and mind. Dogs work on puzzles, games, and activities that build confidence, build resilience, improve body awareness, teach problem solving and reinforce polite behavior. They learn conflict resolution as they think creatively and navigate through challenges. They think, sniff, dig, run, jump, socialize, work, and play in safe, fun, appropriate ways.
We practice settling, calm behavior, lowering arousal, and learning manners. Dogs learn to share space with others, are allowed to communicate with other dogs and receive positive reinforcement for working next to or with other dogs. We love exposing the dogs in our care to as many new experiences, smells, tastes, sights, and textures as we can as these opportunities provide a full spectrum of experiences that will build confidence, enhance their days, expand their minds and strengthen their bodies.
What is an enrichment center?
We consider ourselves an "enrichment center" but what IS enrichment? Enrichment is something that enhances life. It is something that the dogs choose to do. It is having opportunities to try and experience new things that help develop or engage both mind and body. It is having the opportunity to engage in natural behaviors and have the freedom to do things dogs enjoy in a safe, supervised environment. Enrichment is meeting the needs of each individual dog that walks through our door. Having staff that consists of certified experts in this field allows us to recognize that enrichment can mean different things for different dogs; it is not one-size-fits-all.
We believe in welfare over "obedience" and being adaptable to not only meet every dog's needs the best we can but also meet changing needs as dogs age, experience life changes, or develop new interests. We are here for the dogs and develop relationships with them as well as their families. Dogs who attend our program sense we have their best interests at heart—because we DO!
Why is enrichment important?
Enrichment is a crucial component of mental and physical health for everyone, including our dogs, especially as the world evolves and makes less and less sense to them. Dogs that have been bred for specific jobs no longer have these jobs available, but that does not mean their genetic predisposition to work has gone away. Many pet dogs have little choice in their day or opportunity to think creatively, problem solve, feel purposeful or “work.” Some do not even enjoy quality time with their families.
Providing activities that challenge your dogs’ bodies and minds is the key to having a happy, healthy, confident dog. Providing occupational enrichment (like we focus on here at the Academy) also builds secure social bonds; reduces reactivity; and improves confidence, focus, and impulse control. Dogs have fun being part of a team, learning how to develop a ‘plan b’ when necessary, and thinking creatively.
Welfare over obedience
Along with our unique curriculum of games and activities, what makes us unique and effective is the continual feedback each dog receives throughout their day. Our philosophy is to let dogs know when they are doing great things with positive verbal cues or a thumbs up. If a dog is participating in something that is less great they are redirected or relocated to an area with more appropriate activities.
We use language, predictability and routine to set the dogs up for success. We are firm believers in using more ‘YES’ than ‘NO.’ Yes is more fun and positive, whereas no just becomes white noise and does not give helpful information to the dog. We use very few cue words and do not like the word ‘command.’ We give dogs options, let them have as much choice as we can, and let their positive choices work for them. It is fun, effective learning that actually allows a dog to THINK about how he can control his environment. He doesn’t always need to be told what to do (does telling your dog ‘no jumping’ really get them to stop jumping?)
Socialization
It is important for dogs to learn from and be around other dogs but not all dogs enjoy playing with other dogs. Dogs can be dog social, tolerant, selective, or aggressive and all of these behaviors and feelings are NORMAL.
When dogs play or interact with each other at the Academy, they are supervised 100% of the time and receive continual feedback about their behavior. If their play is mutual, fun and safe they are allowed to continue. If their play or interactions with others is one-sided, bossy or bully-ish they are told that too and are redirected or removed to settle. We allow and encourage communication between dogs (and do not correct growls) because that is part of their learning process.
What kind of dogs attend the academy?
All breeds and all ages can enjoy and benefit from the activities and experiences we have at the Academy. We tailor the program to meet each dogs’ needs, whether they are young and can benefit from exposure to novelty or senior dogs who enjoy gentle scent work in the yard. We have a lure course for dogs that love to chase, a sandbox for dogs who love to dig, and even herding balls for dogs that love to herd (and it’s not just for border collies!). We are always adding new activities and sensory opportunities and have weekly staff meetings to talk about how we can do right by each dog student. The only dogs who may not enjoy attending the Academy are dogs who are uncomfortable in a group setting, and we offer private tutoring for these dogs! See Private Tutoring for more info.
Requirements
- Vaccines - We do require all dogs to be current on vaccinations and you will need to provide proof upon acceptance of your dog into our program.
- Neuter/Spay requirements - Males must be neutered by 7 months and females must be spayed before their first heat. Unfortunately we are unable to make exceptions.
- Bus Behavior - If your dog will be riding on the bus, they must display cooperative behavior toward the other dogs, be able to share a seat and travel in close proximity to other dogs. Dogs are harnessed in for safety. Excessive barking or reactive behavior while riding may be cause to discontinue transportation services.
- Social Skills- Your dog must be socialized with humans and other dogs. They do not have to be social butterflies but they must be tolerant of other dogs in their class. We are very succesful in working with timid dogs or introvert dogs but this is not the place to help aggressive dogs learn to be comfortable around other dogs or people. We can not have dogs that would make the other dogs uncomfortable.
