Preparing for Training
Read this page for helpful items and important info for group classes or private lessons
What to bring
Yourself and anyone else who will be involved in training or living with your dog (partner, family in your household, roommates, etc.)
Kids are allowed and encouraged in class, as long as you feel you can focus on the lesson. Parents should maintain control of the leash during class for kids 12 and under, but kids are welcome to practice with the dog by giving cues, clicking, and treating as they are able to.
Treat pouch/bag
Any small bag that can carry treats is fine. You probably won’t want to use your pockets or a bag that can’t attach to your body somehow. Treat pouches without drawstrings tend to be easiest to manage.
We love the Doggone Good pouches, and there are some unique pouches on Etsy. Some students also use rock climbing pouches, or other small fanny packs or bags.
Vaccination records
For group classes, please send a copy of your dog’s vaccination records to your instructor prior to class.
Optional - Mat
Optional: A small mat, towel, or blanket that your dog might like to lay on during class. Eventually, we'll use a mat in class. I will provide mats for class time use, but if you want to get one in advance, I'd recommend a bath mat, a yoga mat (possibly cut to size), or a dog mat such as a Mutt Mat.
Your dog, wearing a standard leash and properly fitted collar or body harness.
A harness can be a great way to keep your dog's neck safe from pressure if they get excited and pull on the leash, and a harness can help reduce pulling behavior.
Body harnesses we recommend: Freedom Harness (sold at our training school), Balance Harness, Ruffwear Harnesses (Hi & Light or Front Range), or Bau Mutt, or Perfect Fit
NOT ALLOWED: Choke chains, slip leashes, prong collars, e-collars, other correction collars, and retractable leashes are not allowed or advised.
If you have been using any of these pieces of equipment to manage your dog’s behavior, please talk to us. We understand that these types of equipment may be helping you to feel safe or may have even been recommended by another trainer. We will support you in finding something that helps you feel safe and confident when you’re out with your dog.
Potty considerations
Bring poop bags anywhere you take your dog.
If your puppy is coming to class and is not currently going outside for potty at home, you may want to bring a potty pad to create a potty spot.
Travel water bowl
Bring a travel water bowl wherever you take your dog. At our training school, we always have water available for the dogs in class, but it’s a good idea to get into the habit of bringing water in your dog’s go-bag whenever you leave the house with them.
Other notes
Treats
Preferably something soft and stinky.
Dog treat ideas: We carry some dog treats at the training school. At home, you can use any treats your dog will work for. In high distraction environments (like class), consider freeze dried treats or soft jerky treats. Pick something that stinks, that’s easy to break into small pieces, and that your dog absolutely loves.
Food treat ideas: Hot dogs, pieces of string cheese, cream cheese in a travel lotion bottle, pieces of rotisserie chicken, scrambled eggs
Test your treats with your dog outside to make sure they motivate your dog to stay engaged with you.
If your class or lesson will take place close to meal time, it’s usually a good idea not to feed your dog right before class. If they’re full, they may have less motivation to work.
Toys or chews
It can be helpful to have something your dog can play with on breaks or chew on as a way to keep them occupied during lecture time. Bully sticks and yak chews are common. A small tug toy can also be a good way to engage your dog while giving them a break (and, it can be a great reward during training). We carry a variety of Tug-E-Nuff brand tug toys at the training school.
Orientation Email - Be sure to review your orientation email after you’ve registered for a class or private lessons as it contains some additional important information.
Training at Home - Create a plan for practicing your dog’s training regularly between training sessions or classes. You should plan to practice with your dog for at least 15 minutes per day, at least 5 days per week in order to see progress.
Location & Parking - For group classes, our training school is located at 4305 Euclid Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105. We have a parking lot in the back of our building. You can park and then come around to our side door or front door.
Retail - At our training school in City Heights, we do carry some limited training supplies, including treats, toys, harnesses, clickers, leashes, etc. We offer them for sale to our clients at prices that are generally less than their online price. Feel free to ask us if there’s something you’re looking for or browse the supplies when you get to class! You can also view the items we offer at our online store. Purchases can be made in person or online, as long as they’re picked up in person (no shipping). Students in private lessons may arrange or their trainer to bring items to their home if they have sessions at home.
More information about use of tools - For information about why we can’t and don’t recommend the use of aversive tools and punishment in training, you can read the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB)’s position statement on Humane Dog Training or Dr. Susan Friedman’s paper Effectiveness Is Not Enough, which includes the now-commonly-referenced Humane Hierarchy. Our trainers’ professional certifications base their standards on these position statements and science-based recommendations.