This page has important details about what to bring to class, etc. Please read it!
Welcome to Growly Dog! The goal of this class is to help you learn how to keep your dog from going “over threshold” (barking, lunging, or growling at other dogs) and to start teaching them how to make more appropriate choices when they see another dog. You’ll learn the hands-on skills you need to make your (and your dog’s) life more enjoyable by cutting down on the number of explosions you deal with on a day-to-day basis.
Your class will be held at Ahimsa Dog Training. Click here for directions. For most sessions, we will be working outside for about 45 minutes, so bring appropriate clothing like rain gear, gloves, sunscreen, or sunglasses.
If you haven’t done so recently, please fill out the Canine History Form at least 1 week before your class. It’s important for us to have a truthful, in-depth history on your dog. Expect to take up to an hour (most take around 30 minutes). If you filled this out for your Reactivity Evaluation it will be provided to your Growly Dog Instructor. If you have any updates to your form or it is more than a year old please submit updates via email or complete a new form.
Class structure:
Growly Dog is designed to set you and your dog up for success by minimizing the risk of an explosion so that your pup can get more practice being calm around other dogs. There will be some time in each class without any dogs present so that we can answer your questions without distraction.
We will have owners come into the training center without their dogs for the first 10-15 minutes of each class to check in, answer questions, etc. After check ins we will spend roughly 45 minutes doing instruction or Growly Dog Clinic set ups. If the weather is warm, please make arrangements so that your dog will not overheat during their downtime in the car. (Park in the shade, bring a friend or helper to take them for a walk or hang out in the car with them, etc.) The dogs will not be going in and out of the room, so there is no need to park in the Ahimsa parking lot, though you are welcome to do so if there is room. We will not be stacking cars (unlike in the Reactivity Evaluation), so if the lot is already full please find nearby street parking.
Please bring the following to class with you:
- Your dog on a harness, head collar, or a regular buckle/snap collar. If you’re used to using a correction collar (i.e. slip/choke chain or prong collar), please talk to your instructor about whether a harness or regular collar is a safe alternative.
- A regular 4-10 ft leash, preferably soft nylon, cotton or leather. Please don’t bring your dog to class on a retractable leash.
- An obscene amount of small, amazing treats. You will need about one *full* sandwich bag of treats, maybe more if you have a large dog. We recommend having a mix of very high value treats (basically anything that will have your dog asking, “What did I do to deserve this?” like deli turkey, steak, stinky sardines, string cheese, Real Meat treats, Zukes Z-Filets, Etta Says freeze-dried liver, Baa-Baa Q’s lamb lung, etc.) and low to moderate value treats (dog biscuits or kibble).
- Clicker (optional, will be provided in your first week of class)
- Muzzle (optional, if you’re ready to do close-up work and have already gotten your dog comfortable wearing a muzzle) Basket muzzles are best for this type of training. We recommend the Baskerville Ultra, though for some dogs with very long noses it may not fit as well. Muzzles for short-nosed breeds like boxers are available at dogmuzzle.com. Watch Chirag Patel’s video on muzzle training for some guidance on introducing your dog to the muzzle. Starting training that as soon as you can.
- Water and water bowl, especially in the summer. It’s important to keep your dog (and you!) dog cool and hydrated during your sessions.
- Treat pouch – some way to easily access your treats. A plastic bag in a sweatshirt pocket does okay, but much, much better would be an official treat pouch or a fanny pack. We sell pouches at the training center.
- Tug / squeaky toy if your dog is into them. These can be useful during brain breaks when your dog needs a rest.
- Poop bag
Supplemental Resources:
- The Ahimsa Dog Training Manual – 100+ pages of instruction on how to teach a variety of important obedience behaviors that can help build the relationship between you and your dog as well as help keep them occupied when triggers are present..
- Reactivity Checklist (optional) – If you’d like to track your progress, you can download this worksheet to keep a log of your training sessions. This can help keep you on track, notice small progress, and identify when things have gone sideways.
- Additional books you might find useful: Don’t Shoot the Dog! by Karen Pryor, Control Unleashed by Leslie McDevitt, and My Dog Pulls, What do I Do? by Turid Rugaas. For aggression, some books we like are Feisty Fido, by Patricia McConnell, Fight! by Jean Donaldson, and Help for Your Fearful Dog, by Nicole Wilde.
Absences & Course Cancellations: If your dog is not feeling well, please notify your instructor ASAP and do not bring him or her to class. Please also read our cancellation policy, if you haven’t already. While we will do our best to accommodate absences due to illness or emergencies, because of the nature of Growly Dog classes we are very rarely able to have students do make up sessions in other Growly Dog classes. Please do your best to attend all of the dates of your Growly Class and let your instructor know as far in advance as possible if you’ll have to miss a class.
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Have your vet fax us proof of vaccinations (Distemper, Parvo, Rabies, etc.) to (206) 866-6786. You can also email them to admin@doggiezen.com).
We look forward to helping you and your dog have a wonderful class experience and a great relationship. Please contact us if you have any questions.
See you in class!
