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!
