Academy
Creating More confident dogs
Let your dog spend their day with us learning important skills and having fun! Small class size, 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, improve body awareness, teach problem solving and reinforce polite behavior. They learn conflict resolution as they are encouraged to come up with a 'plan B' or 'plan C' if necessary. 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 together 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?
Teaching Polite Manners
Socialization
It is imporant 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 personalities do the dogs have?
Educational Fun!
After 12 years of experience working with groups of dogs in a unique, intimate setting like this, we know what maximizes fun and learning with minimal chaos and stress for all dogs. We do not believe there are “bad” dogs or “good” dogs. There are just dogs whose behavior and personality is a combination of their learning, experiences, genetics, and their individual, unique self. It is our job to understand your dog’s needs, understand what they are trying to communicate to us and the other dogs, ensure your dog is comfortable here, leaves with positive experiences, and receives tailored “educational fun” that helps bring out their best. This is What Dogs Want.
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.
Pricing
