Puppy Training in Glendale AZ with FurBabies & Friends

In-home training gives your puppy the best start in a familiar, low-distraction environment. Kristie, your force-free dog trainer, will come to you to work through common puppy challenges while tailoring sessions to your family’s lifestyle.

This 4-session program is ideal for puppies under 6 months who need structure, positive exposure, and a strong behavioral foundation.  However, puppy training covers core foundational building blocks that are often overlooked so puppy training can also be beneficial for newly rescued puppy's and dogs too.  Moreover, positive reinforcement puppy training creates trust and a healthy working relationship between owner and puppy that lasts a lifetime.

*  Humanization don’ts & a puppy's learning process
*  Surviving the initial days & weeks with your new puppy
*  Importance of early socialization, experiences, & exposure & how to facilitate positive interactions
*  Outlets for both physical & mental stimulation
*  Housebreaking & positive potty training
*  Crate training, importance of a set schedule, & prevention of separation anxiety
*  Preventing bad behaviors like jumping, chewing, or demanding attention
*  Nipping, biting, & enforcing soft mouth/no bite
*  Tactics to avoid resource guarding including:
     >  Leave It
     >  Drop
     >  Food Bowl Handling
*  Appropriate introduction to walking & grooming tools
*  Early leash walking skills and structure
*  Body handling for grooming & vet care
*  Name game for recall training

*  A complete Training Guide covering all fundamental puppy training topics, additional education, videos, practice exercises, & a variety of puppy specific information.
*  Homework worksheet to guide at home practice
*  Real life relevance practice worksheet
*  Complimentary training treat bag provided at the first session

Service Area: Glendale, Peoria, and surrounding Phoenix West Valley neighborhoods.

Not everyone has the time or ability to train a puppy multiple times a day.  That’s where day training comes in. Our Perfect Puppy Day Training program provides hands-on training support from a professional puppy trainer while you go about your day.

This 4-week program is ideal for puppies 14 weeks to 5 months old. Training takes place 3x per week in your home or nearby setting, with weekly family reviews to keep you in the loop. Your puppy gets consistent, personalized training and exposure during their most impressionable stage of life.

The goal is to positively shape your pup’s view of the world while introducing essential skills, proper dog-dog etiquette, and new experiences during the critical early development window.

*  Training is held in your home 3 times per week for 30 minutes each session
     >  Families do not need to be available during these sessions but are always free to participate if available

*  Every Saturday Kristie will review training topics & concepts with family & allow practice time for feedback

*  All family members must commit to training practices 1-2 times a day for 10-15 minutes a piece

*  Training completed by Kristie Halverson, using only force free, positive reinforcement puppy training methods

Beginning Cues:

*  Name recognition & response for recall
*  Leave It & Take It
*  Drop
*  Off (people & things)

In Home Training Focus's:

*  Potty Training
*  Crate Training
*  Soft Mouth/No Bite
*  Food, Toy, or Resource Handling
*  Touch Desensitization 
*  Tool introductions (grooming/walking)

Out of Home Training Focus's:

*  Car Travel
*  Socialization Trips
*  Playgroup Social 
*  Interactions With Kristie's Dogs

*  Printed and digital Training Guide provided covering all fundamental puppy training topics, additional education, videos, practice exercises, & a variety of puppy specific information.
*  At home practice homework worksheet
*  Practice worksheet for real life scenarios
*  Free training treat bag provided at the first session

Area of Service: Glendale, Peoria, and surrounding Phoenix West Valley neighborhoods.

In this engaging class, your puppy will practice essential skills like coming when called, walking nicely on leash, sitting calmly for petting, and more covering all of the skills tested in the 20-step AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy exam. We also focus on critical early socialization with people and other dogs.  Each session includes supervised play or group exercises to build confidence. We’ll answer common puppy questions on house-training, nipping, chewing, etc., and provide handouts so you can continue training at home. By the end of eight weeks, you and your pup will be ready to shine in the S.T.A.R. Puppy test.  Of course, successful pups earn a medal and a frameable certificate from the AKC! It’s a paw-some way to start your puppy’s journey toward becoming a Canine Good Citizen.

*  Canine participants must be under a year of age and have their Rabies, Bordetella & at least 3 distemper/parvo vaccines.
     >  Proof of vaccinations required before class start date
*  No shock collars, e-collars, prong collars or choke chains allowed in class or for the test.
*  Only puppies that are behaviorally healthy and show no dog or human aggression signs.
*  Rewards, food, physical & verbal praise allowed during the final test

OWNER BEHAVIORS:

1. Maintains puppy’s health (vaccines, exams, appears healthy)
2. Reads & acknowledges Responsible Dog Owner’s Pledge
3. Pet parent describes adequate daily play & exercise plan
4. Must attend at least 6 classes by an AKC Approved CGC Evaluator
5. Always cleans up pet accidents & is prepared
6. Proof of ownership & safety measures like ID for puppy-collar tag, etc.

PUPPY BEHAVIORS:

7. No aggression toward people during at least 6 weeks of class
8. Aggression toward other puppies in class not present
9. Tolerates collar or body harness of owner’s choice
10. Family can can hug or hold puppy (depending on size)
11. Puppy allows owner to take away a treat or toy

PRE-CANINE GOOD CITIZEN® TEST BEHAVIORS:

12. Allows (in any position) petting by a person other than the owner
13. Grooming-Allows owner handling and brief exam (ears, feet)
14. Walks on a Leash-Follows owner on lead in a straight line (15 steps)
15. Leash manners b other people-Walks on leash past other people 5-ft away
16. Sits on command-Owner may use a food lure
17. Down on command-Owner may use a food lure
18. Comes to owner from 5-ft when name is called
19. Reaction to Distractions-distractions are presented 15-ft away
20. Stay on leash with another person (owner walks 10 steps and returns)

*  AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Training packet both printed & digital with detailed step-by-step instructions, explanation on test items, exercises to implement for each test item, troubleshooting, and corresponding videos.
*  Weekly homework handouts
*  Real-life enrichment and confidence-building exercises
*  Certificate of completion (for all graduates) to register with the AKC
*  Official AKC S.T.A.R Puppy certificate (for passing students)
*  Receive a free training treat bag at the first class

💡 Bonus: Retake the group class once for free if needed!

After completion, keep the momentum going by registering for the AKC Canine Good Citizen Group Class.