Affordable classes at every level

Our classes use positive reinforcement to teach dogs how to problem solve and make good decisions on their own.  They promote positive, trusting relationships and effective communication practices between you and your canine pal.

Classes Offered

Puppy Preschool

For age: 10 weeks – 6 months

Fee: $219 (6 sessions, held weekly)

Discover how to provide outlets for normal puppy behavior, minimize potty accidents, and manage and control inappropriate behavior like jumping, chewing on shoes and other items, hard mouthing and nipping. Learn commands such as Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Go to Your Mat, Leave it and more!

Click below for more information including prerequisites, upcoming class dates and nonrefundable registration.

Basic Manners

For age: 6 months+

Fee: $219 (6 sessions, held weekly)

Motivate your dog to work with you in all situations! Using safe, positive, on- and off-leash handling, we’ll help you maintain control even in distracting environments. It’s the difference between having a dog who only listens when you have a treat or force them, vs. a dog who can’t wait to hear what you want!

Click below for more information including prerequisites, upcoming class dates and nonrefundable registration.

Reactive Rover

For age: 6 months+

Fee: $259 (6 sessions, held weekly)

Is your dog PEOPLE-FRIENDLY, but barks/lunges at other dogs?  Reactive Rover will help you understand and modify your dog’s reactivity, using positive methods and working at each dog’s individual level so that we can change the dog’s response to triggers.

Click below for more information including prerequisites, upcoming class dates and nonrefundable registration.

Special Classes

Crate Games

Feel guilty about leaving your dog in a crate? Don’t! You can teach your puppy or dog to love their crate! This class helps with impulse control, and is also handy when the doorbell rings or whenever you need your dog to head to a safe space.

Fee: $219 (6-session class)

Special Seminars

Rockin' Retrieve - Give your dog a job they'll love!

Would you love to have your dog bring you just about anything and then, put it in your hand?  Playing through this program will help you work through your dog’s desire to run off with things and have a party of one!  Do you have a dog that tends to resource guard things or food?  Then this hands-on, play-with-your-dog workshop is for you! It will create a brilliant game of “Fetch” so that your dog will bring you anything, anytime, anywhere!

Fee: $120 (2-hour workshop, limited to 6 students with their dogs)

Puppy Socialization - Play and Body Language Seminar

For puppies 6 months and under, who have had their first round of puppy shots (minimum), this hour-long class includes structured and guided play (socialization) and a body language discussion. New puppy parents with questions for a certified trainer are welcome! Please, no young children.

Fee: $20

Stay tuned for the next class announcements! 

Reactive Rover - Prerecorded Seminar

Do you have a dog who tends to over-react on leash? Check out our “Living with a Reactive Dog” seminar to help understand why dogs can overreact. In this __ minute prerecorded seminar, we share management tips and tricks to help bring peace back to your walks.

Fee: $25

Be the first to know about open spots and new dog training classes at HSHV!

Please note: Dogs who are reactive to people or have bitten are not appropriate for any of our group classes, and should look into individual training.

Interested in Individual Instruction?

We highly recommend all of our trainers, and they offer individual instruction outside of HSHV! Contact:

brown and white dog who's sitting, waiting

Frequently Asked Questions

What if a class is full or there are no classes open currently?

Complete the form above to get on our e-mail list! You’ll be the first to be notified when new classes open.

What training methods does HSHV use?

We only use methods that are recognized and supported by the top training experts in the field of behavior modification and learning theory. Our training classes are all progressive, science-based, positive reinforcement techniques that are proven effective and reinforce (versus damage) the canine-handler relationship and bond.

What training methods does HSHV not recommend?

Any kind of punishment-based, corrective training, such as training that involves choke chains, prong collars or leash corrections. These methods are not science-based, humane or effective. Do they work? In the moment, yes. But they are painful, unnecessary and damaging to your relationship with your dog. These techniques also fail to produce long-term results and require that you forever painfully correct your dog. They give the illusion of being effective because they work in the moment (through instilling fear) but in terms of long-term change and progress, they are completely ineffective.  Since these techniques aren’t humane, necessary or effective in creating long-term change, we don’t use them!  Our rule of thumb:  If it doesn’t feel good to do and your dog isn’t excited about it, we don’t do it! 

What sets HSHV dog training classes apart from other dog training?

Most dog training classes teach owners how to control their dog in class, and teach a few predetermined commands. However, owners often leave without the in-depth knowledge on how their dog thinks, learns, and feels, which is required for a successful, happy relationship.

Our classes actually teach owners to understand how their dog processes thought and learns from his environment so that guardians can continue their learnings after they leave the classroom. Our classes welcome the distractions that will help them apply the commands they learn to real-world experiences such as going to the vet, walking through the park, or having guests over.

Our classes simulate those real-world experiences so that owners leave feeling confident that they know how to control their dog during highly distracting and difficult times. Too often we hear people say “Sure, they did it in class but then guests came over and he couldn’t focus!”  Well, no more! Our classes focus on these type of difficult distracters so owners feel confident and excited about training in all situations!

We were told not to use treats when training. Do you use treats?

Yes! Gone are the days of training with the “Because I told you so” mentality. This was recommended by trainers back when we knew very little about canine learning and motivation. Using the “because I said so” mentality when training is like someone telling you to work without a paycheck “because they said so.” Does it work? Maybe – if you punish enough when they do not offer the behavior. But it’s not the best and most clear, humane training style. Dogs learn and are motivated in the same way we are. The way to get the most reliable, trusting and obedient dog is through a system of teaching them to earn what they want in life through being attentive, well behaved and offering a behavior when their owner asks. To do this, we use food, toys or praise as a motivator to encourage dogs to happily, and quickly, give us the behavior we’ve asked. Another benefit: this motivates dogs and reinforces our relationships with them.

Will my dog always needs treats to listen?

The opposite is actually true. We use a great system to help teach handlers how to use food when teaching a behavior but then slowly, and effectively, wean off using food. Using our system, behaviors will be more reliable and you won’t have a dog who only listens when you have food or when there are no distractions. Similar to how children in kindergarten classrooms get stickers for making good choices, doing good things and listening to the teacher, we use treats in the learning phase to increase motivation and create good behavioral habits. However, by 6th grade, our kids no longer need stickers for cleaning up their toys. We know now that dogs learn in very similar ways and by accommodating their learning style, we create more trusting, reliable dogs.

What if my dog is reactive in class?

Please note: Dogs who are reactive to people or have bitten are not appropriate for any of our group classes, and should look into individual training.

All of our classes are designed with the safety and comfort of all dogs in mind. For everyone’s sake, dog-reactive dogs, must first take Reactive Rover course first, and then be approved by a trainer to take other classes offered at HSHV (including basic manners).  Reactive Rover includes dogs that growl, excessively bark or lunge at or in the presence of other dogs. Reactive Rover is for people-friendly dogs only. If your dog shows aggression toward people or has bitten or done damage to another dog, please seek private instruction.

If your dog must be removed from a class due to aggression or reactivity, you may forfeit your registration fee.  An attempt to fill your spot will be made and a partial refund will be issued when possible. We would encourage you to add your information to our Reactive Rover waitlist if your dog meets the class criteria.  If you have any question about which class you should be in, please first contact a trainer before you sign-up.

Dogs who are reactive towards other dogs are often in a heightened state of stress the entire time during a traditional training class. Those dogs cannot learn effectively in a class with up to 8 dogs while they are lunging, barking and growling at other dogs in the area. Reactive dogs can also make learning difficult for dogs near them who are being barked or lunged at. This is why we offer Reactive Rover classes which are small classes with no more than 4 dogs at a time. The small learning environment and state of the art, science-based training curriculum ensures that reactive dogs will get what they need and that the rest of our classes can remain calm, safe places for those dogs who do not struggle with reactivity. We thank you in advance for welcoming this great, low-stress model for running canine classrooms. Regardless of where your dog falls on the scale, he/she will thank you as well.

Can my spouse/partner/child/roommate/etc. attend class with my dog and me?

Normally, yes, we welcome, and encourage, any and all family members who will be working with your dog to come. But with Covid-19 considerations, we need to limit the number of people attending to 1 person per dog. The good news is that we have greatly expanded our supplemental resources during this time (videos, handouts) so that family members who cannot attend will still receive content.

What if I need to miss a class or cancel my registration?

We encourage a commitment to attend all classes. In the event you may miss a class, please contact the trainer to let them know and to receive any missed material. Class registrations are non-refundable.  We cannot refund registrations or missed classes.

Reactive Rover students MUST be able to attend ALL sessions, as they build upon one another and other participants depend on your participation. If you miss more than one class, we regret we’ll need to remove you from class and cannot issue a refund.

Please check the class dates and requirements carefully. We cannot issue refunds for enrolling in the wrong class. If you need to disenroll, please do so as soon as possible by writing dogtraining@hshv.org.

What if I have other questions?

If you’re already enrolled, please email your trainer. If not, please email us at dogtraining@hshv.org.

What people are saying