Category: Instructions

This page has important details about what to have ready for your class, etc.

Check out this page again before your class, as we may add more files for you to reference.

Please download or view the following:

• This class will introduce new skills so if you have not used your clicker or verbal marker (e.g. “Yes” or “Good”) in a while be sure to look at page 53 of  the Ahimsa Training Manual – 100+ page PDF with step-by-step instructions on tips for teaching many of the behaviors that we’ll cover in class.

• Sound sensitive dog? Read our blog article about how to keep your dog from being afraid of the clicker

• Dogs are often working in close proximity outside the pens in this class in order to prepare your dog for real life scenarios. Dogs in this class must be friendly and comfortable with other dogs and people, able to focus on their person and stay calm while working within 5 feet or less of other dogs.

• Tips for Keeping Dogs Quiet in Class – Please read this article before class if your dog tends to be barky, or if they’ve attended classes and had a hard time being quiet.

• Directions to the training center, which is located at 925 NW 49th Street in Ballard, Suite C (Seattle).

• Send in a Student Evaluation at any time. We take your feedback very seriously.

Please bring with you to class:

• Vaccination records. Please email admin@doggiezen.com a copy of your vaccine records – a photo is fine.
• Lots of tiny treats (you may feed something like 100 to your dog, so small is good).
• Comfortable shoes (with backs) on your feet. 
• Clicker (optional, will be provided in your first week of class)
• Treat pouch – some way to easily access your treats
• Your dog on a harness, head collar, or a regular buckle/snap collar. There will be no correctional collars allowed during class or during the test.
• A regular 4-10 ft leash and a 10-15 ft training lead preferably soft nylon, cotton or leather. Please don’t bring your dog to class on a retractable leash.

• NOTE: This class is not a first training class and is for dogs who have had previous manners-type classes and is not for dogs who growl, bark excessively, or are otherwise ‘reactive’ to other dogs or to people. If your dog has reactivity issues, please contact us ASAP to see if the Growly Dog class, Focus and Control, or private lessons are more appropriate. We can apply your class fee to those sessions if you contact us with enough notice before your Advanced Manners class starts.

Your class will be held at the training center for Ahimsa Dog Training in Seattle, located at 925 NW 49th Street, Suite C in Ballard, just off Leary Way.  Click here for directions.

Absences & Course Cancellations:  If your dog is not feeling well, please do not bring him or her to class.  Click here for more info on missing class.

WHAT IS REQUIRED:

Previous training experience. This class is suitable for dogs that have graduated from Basic Manners or Puppy Elementary. If you are uncertain whether this class is a good match for your dog please email us at info@doggiezen.com.

Your dog’s current vaccination records. Please email your vaccination records to admin@doggiezen.com. Alternatively, have your veterinarian fax ( 206-866-6786 ) it to us before you start your classes.

***If you are enrolled in a virtual online class, you will be emailed a Zoom link at least 1 hour before the class starts***

WHAT TO BRING:

Treats. Bring lots of tiny treats. There will be other people and dogs in the class that might distract your dog. Yummy treats such as string cheese or boiled chicken will help you keep your dog’s attention and focus.

Dog mat. You will need a portable dog bed, towel, blanket or mat for your dog to lie on.

Clicker. You will receive a free clicker in your first class. Please remember to bring it to all your classes. If your dog is afraid of a clicker or is unable to hear a clicker please feel free to use a verbal or visual marker.

Treat pouch. It will keep your treats easily accessible while keeping your hands free.

Harness. Have your dog on a harness or a regular collar. No choke or prong collars please.

Leash. Preferably soft nylon, cotton or leather leash about 6’ long. No retractable leashes please.

Comfortable shoes. Please do not wear high-heeled shoes, open-toed sandals or flip-flops. Sneakers or boots work best.

 

WHAT TO KNOW:

Please arrive at the training center 5-10 minutes before class. Many classes run back to back and a previous class might be still in progress if you arrive sooner.

When you enter the classroom, find an available training station and keep your dog busy using food puzzles, bully sticks, bones or his/her favorite toys. You can also play games with your dog that will boost your relationship and improve your dog’s attention. Visit our blog post Marley to Lassie in seven days for an example of such a game.

Keep your dog quiet in the class. Please read our blog post Stop barking! before class if your dog tends to be barky, or if s/he has attended classes and had a hard time being quiet.

Download our free Ahimsa Dog Training Manual – 100+ page PDF with step-by-step instructions on tips for teaching many of the behaviors we’ll cover in class, in case you need some extra help!

Multiple family members are encouraged to attend classes. Please keep in mind that parents have to supervise their children during the entire class. No running or yelling is permitted. There may be restrictions on the number of humans who can be inside the classroom at the same time. Please ask us for more information if you have questions.

Please do not let your dog, child or self greet other dogs without the permission of the owner. Some dogs in the class may be shy or fearful, and not comfortable with such interactions.

If your dog is not feeling well, please do not bring him/her to the class. You are welcome to attend the class without your dog to keep up with the lessons so you don’t fall behind. Please click here for more information on absences and course cancellations.

This class is not for dogs that growl, bark excessively, or are otherwise ‘reactive’ to other dogs. If your dog has reactivity issues, please contact us at info@doggiezen.com to see if other classes or private lessons are more appropriate. We can apply your class fee to those sessions if you contact us with enough notice before your Intermediate Manners class starts.

Click here for directions to our training center

See you in class!

This is an open letter from Dr. R.K. Anderson, who encourages veterinarians and puppy guardians to make puppy socialization a first priority.

Robert K. Anderson DVM
Diplomate ACVB and ACVPM
Professor and Director Emeritus, Animal Behavior Clinic and
Center to Study Human/Animal Relationships and Environments
University of Minnesota
1666 Coffman Street, Suite 128, Falcon Heights, MN 55108
Phone 612-644-7400
FAX 612-644-4262

Puppy Vaccination and Socialization Should Go Together

TO: My Colleagues in Veterinary Medicine:
Common questions I receive from puppy owners, dog trainers and veterinarians concern: 1) what is the most favorable age or period of time when puppies learn best? 2) what are the health implications of my advice that veterinarians and trainers should offer socialization programs for puppies starting at 8 to 9 weeks of age.

Puppies begin learning at birth and their brains appear to be particularly responsive to learning and retaining experiences that are encountered during the first 13 to 16 weeks after birth [Dr. Anderson is saying that the prime time for puppy socialization stops somewhere between 13 and 16 weeks, although your puppy’s socialization still develops after that time]. This means that breeders, new puppy owners, veterinarians, trainers and behaviorists have a responsibility to assist in providing these learning/socialization experiences with other puppies/dogs, with children/adults and with various environmental situations during this optimal period from birth to 16 weeks.

Many veterinarians are making this early socialization and learning program part of a total wellness plan for breeders and new owners of puppies during the first 16 weeks of a puppy’s life — the first 7-8 weeks with the breeder and the next 8 weeks with the new owners. This socialization program should enroll puppies from 8 to 12 weeks of age as a key part of any preventive medicine program to improve the bond between pets and their people and keep dogs as valued members of the family for 12 to 18 years.

To take full advantage of this early special learning period, many veterinarians recommend that new owners take their puppies to puppy socialization classes, beginning at 8 to 9 weeks of age. At this age they should have (and can be required to have) received a minimum of their first series of vaccines for protection against infectious diseases. This provides the basis for increasing immunity by further repeated exposure to these antigens either through natural exposure in small doses or artificial exposure with vaccines during the next 8 to 12 weeks. In addition the owner and people offering puppy socialization should take precautions to have the environment and the participating puppies as free of natural exposure as possible by good hygiene and caring by careful instructors and owners.

Experience and epidemiologic data support the relative safety and lack of transmission of disease in these puppy socialization classes over the past 10 years in many parts of the United States. In fact; the risk of a dog dying because of infection with distemper or parvo disease is far less than the much higher risk of a dog dying (euthanasia) because of a behavior problem. Many veterinarians are now offering new puppy owners puppy socialization classes in their hospitals or nearby training facilities in conjunction with trainers and behaviorists because they want socialization and training to be very important parts of a wellness plan for every puppy. We need to recognize that this special sensitive period for learning is the best opportunity we have to influence behavior for dogs and the most important and longest lasting part of a total wellness plan.

Are there risks? Yes. But 10 years of good experience and data, with few exceptions, offers veterinarians the opportunity to generally recommend early socialization and training classes, beginning when puppies are 8 to 9 weeks of age. However, we always follow a veterinarian’s professional judgment, in individual cases or situations, where special circumstances warrant further immunization for a special puppy before starting such classes. During any period of delay for puppy classes, owners should begin a program of socialization with children and adults, outside their family, to take advantage of this special period in a puppy’s life.

If there are further questions, veterinarians may call me at 651-644-7400 for discussion and clarification.

Robert K. Anderson DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Behaviorists

This page has important details about what to have ready for your session, etc.

Session location & timing

The location of your session was designated as either In-Home or at the Training Center when you signed up. If your session was scheduled as In-Home the training center is usually not available so please email the trainer if you are out of our service area.

In-Home Private Sessions

Training Center Private Sessions

In-home sessions can take place at your home or another location within our service area. Your first session should be in a location with minimal distractions so that you and your trainer can talk and train without interruption. For follow up sessions, you should confirm the exact location with your trainer via email if you would like to arrange to meet somewhere other than your home. Please allow a 30 minute window (15 minutes before the time and 15 minutes after) for your trainer to arrive, as they’ll likely be driving across town, through traffic to get to you.

If you signed up for a Training Center session at Ahimsa, it will be at our training center in Ballard (click for directions). If you arrive at the training center before your session time, please wait until your reserved time to knock on the door. We may be working with a dog who is fearful and/or aggressive, and knocking on the door will disrupt their session. Your trainer may be arriving from another location, so please do not panic if you come early and no one is there. 🙂

 

If you aren’t sure about your session location, please contact us as soon as possible to confirm the location. We want you and your trainer to show up at same location when your session is supposed to be taking place!

Before the session

Please download or view the following files:

• Canine History Form.  If you have not had a private session with Ahimsa before, please fill out the questionnaire at least 3 days before your session. If it is filled out too late, we can’t guarantee that the trainer will have a chance to read it before your session. The questionnaire can take up to an hour (most take around 15-30 minutes) to complete the form.
  • If you have already done a session with us, you probably don’t need to fill out the questionnaire again.  If that is the case, please forward the old form to your trainer. Their email address is firstname@doggiezen.com (for example, wynona@doggiezen.com)
• Ahimsa Dog Training Manual (over 100 pages – optional before you session). This is a great resource for client who learn through reading, or who want reminders about how to train additional behaviors your trainer recommends in your session.

Here’s what to have ready for your session:

• Pen and paper or other tools for taking notes!
• Dog on a regular buckle/snap collar, head collar, and/or harness (a harness is usually preferred).
• Leash – 4-6 foot soft nylon, cotton, or leather.
• An obscene amount of small, amazing, preferably soft treats – For our regular training, we often use (among other things) Zuke’s Mini-Naturals or moistened dog food. You will need about one *full* sandwich bag of treats, maybe more if you have a large dog.  Variety also helps, so have a few different types ready.
• 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.
• Tug / squeaky toy if your dog enjoys them.

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No-Shows and Cancellations:  Please read our CANCELLATION POLICY.

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Please feel free to let your vet know that you’re doing private lessons with us.  Ask him or her if there is anything in particular that your dog should work on.

We look forward to helping you and your dog have a wonderful experience and a great relationship. Please contact us or call 206-364-4072 if you have any questions.

This page has important details about what to have ready for your class, etc.  A link to this page should be in your confirmation email, so save that for future reference. Check out this page again before your class, as we may add more files for you to reference.

Please download or view the following:

• Marley to Lassie in 7 Days – If you want to do some homework before class, start this now!
• Sound sensitive dog? Read our blog article about how to keep your dog from being afraid of the clicker.
• Ahimsa Dog Training Manual – 100+ page PDF with step-by-step instructions on tips for teaching many of the behaviors we’ll cover in class, in case you need some extra help!
• Directions to the training center

Please bring with you to class:

• Vaccination records. Contact your vet to have them fax us proof of vaccinations (Distemper, Parvo, Rabies, etc., this is usually a receipt) to (206) 866-6786. Have them write “Ahimsa Dog Training class” on the first page or cover sheet. You can also bring them yourself and give it to your trainer.
• Lots of tiny treats (you may feed something like 100 to your dog, so small is good).
• Comfortable shoes (with backs) on your feet. This is an especially active class, so you’ll need to make sure your shoes can stay on your feet and you won’t hurt yourself moving quickly in them!
• Rug, towel, thin dog bed, or mat to practice relaxing on in class. We have loaner towels, but having your own bed is best.
• Clicker (optional, will be provided in your first week of class)
• Treat pouch – some way to easily access your treats.
• 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. Many nylon and chain are painful on your hands and flexi-leashes are often disasters in class.)

 

NOTE: This class is not a good first training class, and is not for dogs who growl, bark excessively, or are otherwise ‘reactive’ to other dogs or to people. If your dog has reactivity issues, please contact our store ASAP to see if the Growly Dog class, Focus and Control, or private lessons are more appropriate. We can apply your class fee to those sessions if you contact us with enough notice before your Sports and Games class starts.

Absences & Course Cancellations:  If your dog is not feeling well, please do not bring him or her to class.  Click here for more info on missing class.
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When you first come into the classroom, please find a spot to sit, then calmly massage your dog or work on training.  Please do this instead of having your dog meet other dogs.

We look forward to helping you and your dog have a wonderful class experience and a great relationship!

We’ll be teaching your teenage puppy using a lot of positive reinforcement, so you’ll want to bring them to class ready to work for what you’ve got! That means bringing a variety of high-value treats, toys and your best goofy puppy voice, and making sure that they haven’t just eaten a meal or completely tired themselves out.  It may be helpful to give them a moderate amount of exercise before class so that they aren’t too excited, but overly tired puppies can be cranky with each other.

Class Structure
This is a series class, meaning each Puppy Jr. High class has a fixed start and end date. As with our other series classes, Puppy Jr. High is great for students who like structure and can commit to attending the scheduled time. Puppy Jr. High is less flexible than our ongoing classes, since you can’t swap in and out of class dates, so please make sure to sign up for a class that you’ll be able to get to each week. If your dog is going to have surgery or you will be absent during this class, you might consider signing up for an ongoing class like Intermediate Manners.

Please download or view the following files:

• Ahimsa Dog Training Manual (about 110 pages)
• Tips for Keeping Dogs Quiet in Class (you may want to read this, even if your dog isn’t a barker)

Your class will be held at the training center for Ahimsa Dog Training in Ballard. Click here for directions. The phone number is 206-364-4072.

Absences & Course Cancellations:  If your dog is not feeling well, please do not bring him or her to class.  Click here for more info on Missing Class. Please also read our Cancellation Policy, if you haven’t already.
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Here’s what to bring:

• Contact your vet now to have them fax us proof of vaccinations (Distemper, Parvo, Rabies, etc.) to (206) 866-6786. Have them write “Ahimsa Dog Training class” on the first page or cover sheet. You can also bring them yourself and give it to your trainer (this is usually a receipt from your vet).
• Please bring your dog into the training center ON LEASH, preferably on a harness.
• Many different kinds of treats, especially small or easily breakable, stinky treats – string cheese, Real Meat treats, Zukes Z-Filets, Etta Says freeze-dried liver, Baa-Baa Q’s lamb lung, deli meat, etc.  You are often trying to compete OFF LEASH with other dogs!
• Treat pouch – some way to easily access your treats. Preferably an official treat pouch or a fanny pack, something you can get treats out of easily.
• Tug / squeaky toys – we do have several at the training center. Most dogs prefer other dogs’ toys, but some dogs prefer their own.
• Bring your clicker if you have one. Your instructor will have clickers available at your first session.

Please do NOT let your dog, child, or self greet the dogs without permission of the owner. Some of the dogs in your class may be shy and it would be scary to get too close, even if your dog is the friendliest dog on the planet.  When you first come to class, please find a spot to sit, then calmly massage your dog or work on training.   The idea is to teach your dog to pay attention to you and relax in the presence of other dogs.

Please do not have your dog in any sort of correction collar (pinch collar, choke chain, Illusion collar, etc.). These collars are not allowed in our training center.

Please let your vet know that you’re taking a class with us (Ahimsa is pronounced Uh Him Suh)!  Ask him or her if there is anything in particular that your dog should work on in class or at home.

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!

What to do before class:

1. • Before your first Session: Proof of your puppy’s vaccinations. Please have your vet fax to 206-866-6786, or email to admin@doggiezen.com.
   • A hungry puppy on a regular collar and/or harness with a 4-6 foot leash (no flexi-leashes)
   • An obscene amount of tiny treats – You will need about one *full* sandwich bag of treats and kibble, maybe more if you have a large dog.  Variety also helps, so bring a few different types.  For younger puppies, you’ll want to use more kibble (dog food) and less treats, as a big bunch of treats at once can cause diarrhea.
   • Treat pouch – some way to easily access your treats.
   • Comfy dog bed or towel to practice “stay” with in class.
2. What to Expect:
   • Please find a spot to sit, write your dog’s name on the board at your station.
   • Put out your puppy’s bed and reward your puppy for giving you attention or give them something to settle with like a bully stick or chew toy.
   • You will receive a clicker from the instructor.
3. Veiw & Swap Sessions lets you look up your puppy class reservations and change them. You have 6  reserved classes, beginning on the date you selected when you registered. You need to contact the office at least 48 hours in advance by email or phone to change any of your puppy kindergarten classes but if you log in you can change them as late as 24 hours in advance.
4. Download your free Ahimsa Training Manual. (110+ page PDF). Hard copies are available for purchase from Ahimsa.

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Ahimsa Puppy Class Rules:

1. Your puppy must be less than 22 weeks old to attend each class. We will happily convert the value of your remaining classes to store credit toward Puppy Elementary if your puppy is or becomes too old for puppy class.
2. Only small or shy puppies are allowed in the Small breed puppy class.   So if your puppy is not shy, s/he cannot be in the Small breed puppy sessions unless s/he is under 5 pounds or will grow up to be less than 15 pounds.
3. If your puppy is sick (coughing, vomiting, red or runny eyes, etc.) PLEASE don’t bring him/her to class. Click here for more info on absences.
4. Puppies with reservations can come in late and still get to stay.
5. Your puppy should not be at the dog park or daycare while in puppy class. Some puppies will only have one set of shots when they’re attending classes here, so please do not put other puppies at risk.

We look forward to helping you and your dog have a great relationship. Please contact us if you have any questions.

DOG PARKS AND DAYCARE

• Do not take your puppy to a dog park or daycare if you are registered for and/or attending puppy Playtime. Many puppies will only have one or two sets of shots when they’re attending classes here and could be susceptible to germs other puppies bring in, so please do not put them at risk.

THINGS TO DO AHEAD OF TIME

• • Vaccination records. Please email your puppy’s latest vaccination records to admin@doggiezen.com unless we already have the latest records on file. You can also ask your vet to email it to us.

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU:

• 1. Your puppy, already wearing a harness.
• 2. Please bring high value treats so you can take part in training your puppy around distractions.
• 3.  A clicker (or a verbal marker is fine if that is what you have been using/plan to use in Kindergarten)
• 4. Yourself! Plan on being an active participant in playtime to support your puppy in developing good play skills. Also be prepared for some short training breaks using the high value treats and clicker you brought.

LOCATION AND PARKING

• • https://ahimsadogtraining.com/directions/

HEALTH

• If your puppy is sick (coughing, vomiting, really tired, red or runny eyes, diarrhea, nasal discharge, etc.) PLEASE don’t bring him/her to puppy Playtime and inform us immediately

FOOD AND TREATS

• Make sure to feed your puppy at least half of their breakfast before playtime. Research indicates that similar to humans, dogs perform better and have better self-control after eating breakfast.
• In order to keep puppies’ tummies happy throughout playtime, we feed them freshly cooked chicken and chicken broth. If your puppy cannot have chicken, please bring freshly cooked meat that your puppy can have (e.g. turkey, lamb).

RESCHEDULING OR REFUNDS : Puppy Playtime can be fully refunded if Ahimsa is notified by email at least 7 calendar days prior to your first purchased session date, or you can receive a gift certificates if Ahimsa is notified at least 2 calendar days prior. If Ahimsa is notified by email after your puppy Playtime begins, you will receive a pro-rated gift certificate starting with 2 days after your cancellation, charged at the regular (non-package) price for sessions used. Please see our cancellation policy

 

Here’s some info about play:

• A bouncing play bow means “Just Kidding!” and is meant to excuse the puppy for any biting, pinning, or chasing that follows. It also is used to get another dog to engage in play.
• A T-stance, where one puppy puts her head or body over the other dog’s neck, can be confrontational. Usually, the bottom dog will just wriggle out or the puppy will change her mind and do a play bow instead. But sometimes they get “stuck” in a T-stance and it moves into a growling match.
• Puppy biting (or jaw sparring, which looks kind of like the dogs are making out, with teeth) can be bad or good. If the bites are short and slow, with mostly open mouths, that’s great! Bite & Hold or Bite & Shake are moves that can be more threatening, so we interrupt puppies when they’re doing that. If they have a hard time finding another way to play, they may be too excited or even stressed out by the situation.
• Chasing can be bad or good. A bow plus running away means, “Chase me!” but a slinking run away with no bow or tail tucked means the puppy is fleeing. If you aren’t sure, grab the chaser in this game and see if the puppy that was being chased comes running back for more.
• Uneven, non-reciprocal play should be interrupted immediately. For example, if one dog is spending more time on defense than the other, or the “bully” is stiff and not bouncy. But even a dog that is playing may overwhelm a shy puppy and should be redirected or possibly given a time out for 5-15 seconds if they do not listen to a shy puppy’s cut-off signals.
• Cut-off signals include: sitting, turning away, yawning, sniffing the ground, moving extra-slow, hiding under furniture, crouching as if to get away. More extreme cut-off signals can be growling, baring teeth, or air-snapping.
• Never pin a puppy down as punishment. They love play enough that taking away their chance to play will be punishing enough for rude behavior. If your puppy is having a hard time respecting other dogs’ boundaries, have him play with a well-socialized adult dog that can correct appropriately through avoidance and possibly a growl or airsnap. An adult dog’s timing and understanding of what good play looks like is much better than most humans can do.
• If your puppy is growling out of fear, we do not reprimand her, but rather get her to a safer place asap.

 

RECOMMENDED READING

• Puppy socialization and training: 
  • Ahimsa Dog Training Manual pdf version of which comes with Puppy Kindergarten and Puppy Camp
  • Social, Civil and Savvy: Training & Socializing Puppies to Become the Best Possible Dogs by Laura VanArendonk
  • The Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnel and Brenda Scidmore
• Housetraining: 
  • Way to Go by Patricia McConnell and Karen B. London
• Prevention and treatment of separation anxiety:
  • I Will Be Home Soon by Patricia McConnell
• Introducing your puppy to your adult dogs:
  • What to expect: Introducing your puppy to your adult dogs online article by Laurie Luck: https://www.clickertraining.com/what-to-expect-introducing-a-puppy-to-your-adult-dogs
• American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior position statements on Puppy socialization:

https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Puppy_Socialization_Position_Statement_Download_-_10-3-14.pdf

Punishment:

https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Punishment_Position_Statement-download_-_10-6-14.pdf

Dominance:

https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Dominance_Position_Statement_download-10-3-14.pdf

 

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We look forward to working with you. Please contact us if you have any questions.

This page has important details about what to bring to class, etc. 

Recommendations before attending this class:

• Be familiar with set ups, either from Growly Dog classes or private sessions.
• If you need to change your reservations, you can log in on our website to view your current reservations and the possible options for swapping them. You can use your 6 Growly Dog clinic reservations for any Growly Dog clinic class within 3 months of your first reservation.

Your class will be held at Discovery Park

For Growly Clinic we park on the street at 36th Ave W and W Lawton St, which is quite a ways north up 36th from the Discovery Park entrance. Park on the side of the street opposite the homes, not in front of a home. If it’s your first session, once parked, please leave your dog in the car and walk through the empty parking lot and up the white railing stairs to get to the upper parking lot. If we’re not there we’ll be around the building on the grassy hillside. It’s not as confusing as it sounds. 🙂 Watch out for your classmates. Your instructor will be looking for you either by the cars or up at the practice site. They should have provided a phone # if you have any doubts, or should be able to receive an email.

For your remaining sessions, please make sure it is clear, and then you are welcome to bring your dog right up to the practice site when you arrive. When walking around the space with your dog, always keep an eye out for other students or passersby and give them plenty of space. The session is set up for you to spend most of the hour doing a set up with other students, but please feel free to take breaks as needed for you and your dog.

We will be working outside, so bring appropriate clothing like rain gear, gloves, umbrella, sunscreen, or sunglasses.

Items to bring 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.
• A second leash or a 10-15 ft long line to practice long leash skills during Growly Dog clinic. (Optional)
• 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)
• Muzzle (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.

 

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.
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If you haven’t done so recently, have your vet fax us proof of vaccinations (Distemper, Parvo, Rabies, etc.) to (206) 866-6786. Please let your vet know that you’re taking a class with us (Ahimsa is pronounced Uh Him Suh)!  Ask him or her if there is anything in particular that your dog should work on in class or at home.

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!

This page has important details about what to bring to class, etc.  Please read it!

Welcome to Growly Dog Advanced! The goal of this class is to move further in the transition from behavior management (keeping your dog from going over threshold) to rehabilitation (teaching them how to manage their own stress levels, encourage pro-social behavior, etc.) To that end, we’ll spend time talking about when and how to use treats, how to handle closer greetings with other dogs (when your dog is ready for them), and how to decide when to step in and help versus when to let your dog manage their own behavior.

For most sessions, we will be working outside for about 45 minutes, so bring appropriate clothing like rain gear, gloves, sunscreen, or sunglasses.

Class structure:

At the beginning of class, please come into the training center leaving your dog in your vehicle and check in with the instructor. 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.) After check ins we will spend roughly 30 minutes doing set ups, followed by about 10 minutes of wrap up discussion.

Please bring the following to class with you:

• Your dog on a harness, head collar, or a regular buckle/snap collar.
• A regular 6-8 ft leash, preferably soft nylon, cotton or leather. Please don’t bring your dog to class on a retractable leash.
• A second leash or a 10-15 ft long line to practice long leash skills. (Optional; also available for purchase).)
• 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)
• Muzzle (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 break from training.
• Poop bags.

Supplemental Resources:

• 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.

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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You can email us a copy (or photo) of your dog’s vaccination records or have your vet fax us proof of vaccinations (Distemper, Parvo, Rabies, etc.) to (206) 866-6786. 

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!

This is a series class, meaning each Puppy Elementary School class has a fixed start and end date (unlike our Puppy Kindergarten classes which are rolling admission). This structure means that your puppy will have time to get to know their classmates since it will be the same puppies each week, and that you’ll have a chance to build on the skills learned in previous weeks. A drawback to this format is that Puppy Elementary classes have less flexibility than our ongoing classes since you can’t swap in and out of class dates and there are no makeup classes.

Motivators!

We’ll be teaching your puppy using a lot of positive reinforcement, so you’ll want to bring them to class ready to work for what you’ve got! That means bringing a variety of high-value treats, toys and your best goofy puppy voice, and making sure that they haven’t just eaten a meal or completely tired themselves out.  It may be helpful to give them a moderate amount of exercise before class so that they aren’t too excited, but overly tired puppies can be cranky with each other.

Please review the following files:

• Ahimsa Dog Training Manual (over 100 pages in PDF format)
• Tips for Keeping Dogs Quiet in Class (you may want to read this, even if your dog isn’t a barker)
• If you plan on taking the AKC Puppy S.T.A.R test, please review AKC Responsible Dog Owners Pledge and Test Elements.

Your class will be held at the training center for Ahimsa Dog Training. Click here for directions. The phone number is 206-364-4072.

Absences & Course Cancellations:  If your dog is not feeling well, please do not bring him or her to class.  Click here for more info on Missing Class. Please also read our Cancellation Policy, if you haven’t already.

Here’s what to bring:

• Vaccinations (in advance). Contact your vet now to have them fax us proof of vaccinations for Distemper, Parvo, Rabies, etc. to (206) 866-6786. Have them write “Ahimsa Dog Training class” on the first page or cover sheet. You can also email a receipt from your vet to admin@doggiezen.com
• Please bring your dog into the training center ON LEASH in a harness or flat collar.
• Many different kinds of treats, especially small or easily breakable, stinky treats – string cheese, Real Meat treats, Zukes Z-Filets, Etta Says freeze-dried liver, Baa-Baa Q’s lamb lung, deli meat, etc.  You are often trying to compete OFF LEASH with other dogs!
• Treat pouch – some way to easily access your treats. Preferably an official treat pouch or a fanny pack, something you can get treats out of easily.
• Tug / squeaky toys – we do have several at the training center. Most dogs prefer other dogs’ toys, but some dogs prefer their own.
• Bring your clicker if you have one. Your instructor will give them out if you don’t have one.

Please do NOT let your dog, child, or self greet the dogs without permission of the owner. Some of the dogs in your class may be shy and it would be scary to get too close, even if your dog is the friendliest dog on the planet.  When you first come to class, please find a spot to sit, then calmly massage your dog or work on training.   The idea is to teach your dog to pay attention to you and relax in the presence of other dogs.

Please let your vet know that you’re taking a class with us (Ahimsa is pronounced Uh Him Suh)!  Ask him or her if there is anything in particular that your dog should work on in class or at home.

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!

Please read the instructions below carefully. If someone else will be picking up or dropping off your puppy, please share the instructions with them as well.

AGE LIMIT:  Your puppy must be between 10 weeks and 18 weeks old during Puppy Day Training.

RESCHEDULING OR REFUNDS: Puppy Day Training is a series class so we cannot offer make up days and we need at least 7 days notice for rescheduling or refunds. Here is our cancellation policy.

LOCATION AND PARKING

Directions

There is free street parking. Please do not park in our neighbor’s reserved spots; they will tow your car!

THINGS TO DO AHEAD OF TIME

Intake form. Please fill out Puppy Day Training Intake Form online. We need your form by the Friday before your session.
Vaccination records. Please email us your puppy’s latest vaccination records to admin@doggiezen.com.

Puppies cannot attend puppy day training unless their intake forms and their vaccination records are submitted. 

PUPPY DAY TRAINING REPORT CARDS AND LINK TO PUPPY DAY TRAINING GUIDE

You will receive a paper copy of your puppy’s report card at the end of every day. Next to each of your puppy’s 3 behaviors, the report card will list the number of the exercise and the difficulty level that your puppy was working on that day. These numbers correspond to the exercises in the Ahimsa Puppy Day Training Guide.

WHAT TO BRING WITH YOU ON Tuesday MORNING

1. Lunch Please bring your puppy’s kibble in 3 plastic containers labelled with your puppy’s name and day of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). Each container should contain the amount of kibble that you normally give your puppy for lunch. If you feed your puppy a home-cooked or raw diet, please bring their lunch on a daily basis to ensure that it is fresh. If your puppy does not eat lunch please bring a small portion of their dinner. During the day training puppies are more active and get much more exercise than normally at home so they might appreciate having a midday snack, and they will not feel left out during lunch time.
2. Harness If your puppy has a harness, please have him/her wear it to day training. If your puppy does not already have a harness, we might ask you to put one of our harnesses on your puppy when you drop him/her off.
3. Blanket Blanket that smells like puppy’s home will provide your puppy with sense of safety and security, and will help him/her cope with the new environment while being away from you. Please be sure to bring a blanket instead of a bed because blankets are easier to use for day training.

DROP OFF AND PICK UP

Number of people

Please keep in mind that only up to two people are allowed into the training center to drop off and pick up the puppy. Too many strangers in the room can overwhelm and scare some puppies.

Drop Off and Pick Up Times

Drop off time is from 7:30am to 8:00am.
Pick-up time is from 11:00am to 11:30am.

Late Fee

We are not set up to care for puppies outside of the hours reserved for puppy day training. If you are late and we need to take care of your puppy beyond 11:30am, there will be a $60/hour charge, billed in fifteen-minute increments. Payment must be submitted the same day via the online payment system.

Instructions for Drop Off

Text. When you arrive at Ahimsa please send us a text on 206-909-0429 (this is not the Ahimsa main number, please add it to your phone) with your puppy’s name stating that you arrived. All drop offs and pick ups will be done on a first come/text, first serve basis.
Wait in your car for reply. Please wait in your car until we text you to come in. Hearing/seeing people in front of the Ahimsa garage door can often scare puppies or make them restless and have difficulty calming down as they are expecting the arrival of their family member(s).
Come in. When you enter Ahimsa please stay in the airlock area (between the front door and the gate), lock the front door behind you by pushing in the button on the door handle. Take the collar and leash off of your puppy, leave the harness on, unless instructed otherwise. Open the airlock gate and send your puppy into the front play area.
Remain in the airlock area for quick check-in. Please remain in the airlock area as we ask you if there is any new important information concerning your puppy’s health or behavior that we should be aware of.***

***On Tuesday there will be an extended check-in – see below for details

Instructions for Pick Up

Text. When you arrive at Ahimsa please send us a text on 206-909-0429 (this is not the Ahimsa main number, please add it to your phone) with your puppy’s name stating that you arrived. All drop offs and pick ups will be done on a first come/text, first serve basis.
Wait in your car for reply. Please wait in your car until we text you to come in. Hearing/seeing people in front of Ahimsa garage door can often scare puppies or make them restless and have difficulty calming down as  they are expecting the arrival of their family member(s).
Come in. When you enter Ahimsa please stay in the airlock area (between the front door and the gate), lock the front door behind you by pushing in the button on the door handle. One of us will ask you to open the gate, stand in the airlock area and call your puppy to you.
Remain in the airlock area for quick check-out. Please remain in the airlock area for a brief under 1 minute check out.***

***On Tuesday and Thursday there will be extended checkouts – see below for details

CHECK INS AND CHECK OUTS

Meet with your puppy’s trainer during your Tuesday and Thursday check out. On Tuesday and Thursday, you will meet with your puppy trainer who will provide you with more detailed information on your puppy’s day in the puppy day training, and the exercises that s/he was working on. These check outs are limited to approximately 5 minutes per puppy to ensure that we can check out everyone comfortably and in timely manner.  On Thursday, we will also point out to you any behaviors that we observed during the puppy day training that might develop into more serious behavior problems in the future if not addressed, and recommend books, exercises or videos that will help your puppy. Please make sure to arrive before 11:30am if you would like your trainer to meet with you.
Tuesday check in. During Tuesday check in you will meet with one of our trainers who will go with over the three behaviors that you selected on your report card, and cover all essential first day check in information. These extended check ins are limited to approximately 5 minutes per puppy to ensure that we can check in everyone comfortably and in a timely manner.
Wednesday check ins, and Wednesday check outs. These are brief under 1 minute check ins and check outs during which you remain in the airlock area. Puppies consider puppy day training their safe space and for some of them strangers coming in and out can be overwhelming and scary. These short check ins and check outs  with limited access to the training center ensure that all puppies feel relaxed and comfortable as possible.

BREAKFAST AND TREATS

Feed breakfast. Make sure to feed your puppy at least half of the breakfast before day training. Research indicates that similar to humans, dogs perform better and have better self-control after eating breakfast.
Food in day training. In order to keep puppies’ tummies happy throughout day training we feed them their own kibble, freshly cooked chicken and chicken broth only. We provide freshly cooked chicken and homemade chicken broth. If your puppy cannot have chicken, please bring another cooked meat such as turkey breasts, a lean cut of beef or pork, or salmon cut into small pieces. Consider bringing the protein that your puppy is currently eating in his/her puppy food. Please bring about 0.5 cup for big puppies and 0.25 cup for small puppies per day. Please do not bring ground meat as it can contain a high percentage of fat.The reason we don’t use packaged treats is that often they are too rich and can make puppies sick when given the amount needed over several days of puppy day training. If you have any other questions about what food to bring please contact wynona@doggiezen.com for further directions.

SICK PUPPIES

If your puppy is sick (coughing, vomiting, really tired, red or runny eyes, diarrhea, etc.) please don’t bring him/her to puppy day training and inform us immediately.

DOG PARKS AND DAYCARE

Do not take your puppy to a dog park or daycare if you are registered for and/or attending puppy day training. Many puppies attending our classes or day training only have one or two sets of shots and are more susceptible to germs other puppies bring in, so please do not put them at risk.

PUPPY KINDERGARTEN CLASSES

Unreserve and move your class the week of your puppy’s puppy day training. If your puppy is attending day training and is enrolled in the puppy kindergarten class on the same day please unreserved and move your class at least 24 hours in advance. Most puppies are very tired after the puppy day training and attending the day training and the class on the same day is be too much for them.

DOG WALKERS

You can have a dog walker pick up your puppy and bring him/her to your house.

RECOMMENDED READING

Puppy Socialization Handout
Ahimsa Dog Training Manual
Ahimsa Puppy Day Training Guide
Social, Civil and Savvy: Training & Socializing Puppies to Become the Best Possible Dogs by Laura VanArendonk.
The Puppy Primer by Patricia McConnel and Brenda Scidmore.
Way to Go by Patricia McConnell and Karen B. London.
I Will Be Home Soon by Patricia McConnell.
What to expect: Introducing your puppy to your adult dogs online article by Laurie Luck.
Decoding Your Dog by American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior Position Statements on: Puppy socialization, Punishment and Dominance. 

 

 

 

This page has important details about what to bring to class, etc.  Please read it!

Please download or view the following files:

• Ahimsa Dog Training Manual (100+ page PDF). Hard copy is for sale at Ahimsa.
• Tips for Keeping Dogs Quiet in Class

Your class will be held at Ahimsa Dog Training. Click here for directions.

Absences & Course Cancellations:  If your dog is not feeling well, please notify your instructor asap and do not bring him or her to class.  Click here for more info on Missing Class. Please also read our Cancellation Policy, if you haven’t already.
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Have your vet fax us proof of vaccinations (Distemper, Parvo, Rabies, etc.) to (206) 866-6786. You can also bring them yourself and give it to the person running the store (this is usually a receipt from your vet).

You will at least need to bring the following items. We will be adding more to this list:

• Dog on a regular buckle/snap collar, head collar, and/or harness. You will not need any sort of correction collar.
• Leash – 4-6 foot soft nylon, cotton, or leather (many nylon and chain are painful on your hands and flexi-leashes are often disasters in class.) Leash is generally attached to the dog. 🙂
• Treats – Bring an obscene amount of small, amazing, preferably soft treats – You will need about one *full* sandwich bag of treats, maybe more if you have a large dog.  Variety also helps, so bring a few different types.
• 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 store.
• Tug / squeaky toy if your dog is into them.
• Optional: harness or head halter
• Clicker: Bring you own or we’ll provide one for you.

When you first come into the classroom, please find a spot to sit, then calmly massage your dog or work on training.   The idea is to teach your dog to pay attention to you in all environments.

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!

This page has important details about what to bring to class, etc.  Please read it thoroughly!  

Please download or view the following:

• Marley to Lassie in 7 Days – If you want to do some homework before class, start this now!
• Sound sensitive dog? Read our blog article about how to keep your dog from being afraid of the clicker.
• Ahimsa Dog Training Manual – 100+ page PDF with step-by-step instructions on tips for teaching many of the behaviors we’ll cover in class, in case you need some extra help!
• Tips for Keeping Dogs Quiet in Class – Please read this article before class if your dog tends to be barky, or if they’ve attended classes and had a hard time being quiet.
• Directions to your class

NOTE: This class is not for dogs who growl, bark excessively, or are otherwise ‘reactive’ to other dogs. If your dog has reactivity issues, please contact our store ASAP to see if the Growly Dog class, or private lessons are more appropriate. We can apply your class fee to those sessions if you contact us with enough notice before your Basic Manners class starts.
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Bring these items to your Basic Dog Manners class, unless otherwise specified.

• Vaccination records. Contact your vet to have them fax us proof of vaccinations (Distemper, Parvo, Rabies, etc., this is usually a receipt) to (206) 866-6786. You can also email them to admin@doggiezen.com
• Lots of tiny treats (you may feed something like 100 to your dog, so small is good).
• Rug, towel, dog bed, or mat to practice relaxing on in class. We have loaner towels, but having your own bed is best.
• Treat pouch or some way to easily access your treats.
• 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.
• Regular 6 foot leash. Please don’t bring your dog to class on a retractable leash.

Please do NOT let your dog, child, or self greet the dogs without permission of the owner. Some of the dogs in your class may be shy and it would be scary to get too close, even if your dog is the friendliest dog on the planet.  When you first come to class, please find a spot to sit, then calmly massage your dog or work on training.   The idea is to teach your dog to pay attention to you and relax in the presence of other dogs.

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.

Absences & Course Cancellations:  If your dog is not feeling well, please do not bring him or her to class.  Click here for more info on missing class. You are welcome to attend without your dog to keep up with the lessons so you don’t fall behind!

See you in class!

NOTE: Dogs will wait in the car until their turn. When you arrive at the facility, come in without your dog for a briefing on what we will be doing and for the order the dogs will come into the classroom.

Before class:

1. Vaccination records. Email us your vaccination records (a picture is also fine) or contact your vet to have them fax us proof of vaccinations (Distemper, Parvo, Rabies, etc., this is usually a receipt) to (206) 866-6786. Have them write “Ahimsa Dog Training class” on the first page or cover sheet.

You will need to bring the following items to class:

• Dog on a regular buckle/snap collar, head collar, and/or harness. (We prefer for dogs to be on harnesses if that is a safe option for you and your dog. Please do not bring them to class on a correction collar.)
• Leash – 4-6 foot soft nylon, cotton, or leather (no chain or flexi-leashes)
• An obscene amount of small, amazing, soft treats – You will need about one *full* sandwich bag of treats, maybe more if you have a large dog.  Variety also helps, so bring a few different types.
• Treat pouch – some way to easily access your treats.
• Tug / squeaky toy – If your dog loves toys, this is a great time to use them in your training! Bring their absolute favorite, or even get a new one to turn into their agility-only toy.
• Food puzzle – You may want to bring a stuffed Kong (or two!), a bone, or other long-term chew to help  your dog relax during their down time.

Our priority in this class is to ensure that all of the dogs and owners are safe and comfortable. Please do not get your dog our of the car until the previous dog is secured in their car.

See you in class!

Absences & Course Cancellations:  If your dog is not feeling well, please notify your instructor asap and do not bring him or her to class.  Click here for more info on missing class and our cancellation policy.

This page has important details about what to bring to class, etc.  Please read it!

This class is for HUMANS ONLY, please leave your dog at home if your class is in-person.

***If you are enrolled in a Leash Aggression 101 virtual online class, you will be emailed a Zoom link about 1 hour before the class starts***.

Please download or view the following files (it is not required that you do this before the seminar, though it may help you get more out of the class):

• Ahimsa Dog Training Manual (over 100 pages) – A fairly comprehensive manual on dog training do’s and don’ts. We recommend that you read at least the counter-conditioning and information on how to do set-ups.
• We recommend that you bring a notebook.
• The code to access the slides and to register for the Reactivity Evaluation will be given at the end of the Leash Aggression 101 lecture.
• Enter Code to View Slides

Absences & Course Cancellations:  Please also read our Cancellation Policy, if you haven’t already.
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We look forward to helping you have a wonderful class experience and a great relationship with your dog. Please contact us if you have any questions.

 

See you in class!