The Pet Connection offers a low-cost obedience training and behavior consultation with the guidance of our highly qualified staff: Melody Kelso, Jason Huff, Jenny Caiharr and Penny Minniear.
The number one reason why people relinquish a dog or a cat is for relatively common behavioral problems. These classes help educate individuals on how to fix these problems. The classes use positive reinforcement to teach dogs how to live with their owners and to teach the owners how to communicate with their dogs. The training class is a beginner level course designed to teach puppies and mature dogs the basic commands; such as to sit, down, stay and steady. Time is also devoted to house breaking and crate training, leash work, problem behaviors and leadership exercises that reinforce the natural bond between people and animals.
Obedience classes are an excellent idea, since training has changed drastically in recent years. It now teaches the pet owners how to effectively give clear messages; so training is easier and the areas of concern are quickly addressed. Additionally, the dog has the opportunity to be properly socialized in a controlled setting so that it can succeed in future situations. The key to training is consistency, understanding, praise and more praise.
These classes are designed to address and handle problem behaviors. Classes are available to low-income families and to the animal community at a discount. The behavioral classes are open to everyone. Our lessons are based on each animal's individual needs.
Session Fees:
$0 for adopters
$5 for TPC members
$10 for non-members
Classes are one hour and are held on Thursdays at 7:15 & 8:30 pm and on Sundays at 7:15 pm.
OPEN ACCESS OBEDIENCE CLASS: Have a problem, just show up. Members $5.00 per session; Non members $10.00 per session and individuals who adopted from here FREE (weather permitting/excludes Holidays).
Additional Information
For general advice for common pet obedience and behavioral issues, feel free to browse our Owner Education Section.
You can also seek online assistance from our experts through Our Online Behavioral Services.
The
behavioral team at The Pet Connection consists of highly qualified
individuals who have a goal. They want each and every person that they
come in contact with to learn something about their animal. There are
no gimmicks and no money making schemes. The classes are priced low so
that lower income people can be privy to the same information. Training
classes are getting more and more expensive and dog trainers range in
qualifications all over the metro. The proceeds for the behavioral and
training center go to help operate programs.
The training staff work with animals on a day to day basis. Animal behavior, training, and developing training protocols for problem animals is something that we have been able to mainstream and simplify for the general public.
We keep the classes inexpensive because we know that the person fed up with their dog isn’t usually motivated to spend a bunch of money on an animal he doesn’t even want. For some reason, our society feels powerless over many pet related problems. We help them at their capacity to help their pets. We get a lot of very positive feedback about our classes. I have included some comments from adopters regarding the classes, but it is important for people to realize that it is not just for adopters. It is for people that are looking for inexpensive advice, information about dog or cat training or behavior.
We do something “different” than a lot of places. We do what we call an OPEN ACCESS class. It is like open gym…or a walk in clinic. People show up, we don’t know who is coming. We make our class agenda 15 minutes prior to class based on what our students have said is their priority for the evening. We have 3-5 trainers per classes and people are divided up according to their needs. It can get a little crazy at first as we have a small facility, but it’s great fun. We are also a rare treat for people that have pit bulls or for people that have dogs with social problems with dogs or people. We let dogs play together in a controlled environment. It’s a great place to let your dog come for supervised play.
In addition to the OPEN ACCESS class, we run Day Camp twice weekly. If you are an adopter, you are in such luck. Every quarter we offer the program for free to adopters who are having more advanced problems because of a special needs dog or difficult dog they adopted. Adopters who want to come for training enhancement or for socialization play pay $15 per session. This is also a service that is open to the public. Unlike your typical Day Care, this is Day Camp. The sessions are supervised by a behavioral consultant and the dogs are there to work on specific problems.