SPCA Monterey County — © 2024 All rights reserved.

Basic Manners Classes

If you click a class link, and you do not see the class, please scroll down!

Family Dog 1: Saturday: $200
SPCA Location: SPCA's Training Center
Carmel Location: Pet Food Express in the Crossroads Shopping Center

Open to all dogs 7 months and older.

This Family Dog Level 1 is a hybrid class (homework will be emailed after class) that gives you the skills to have a better relationship between you and your dog by learning how to teach important basic manners such as sit, down, wait, loose-leash walking, and more. In addition, you will learn about dog behavior, dog communication, and how to solve basic behavior problems. Find out how personal coaching by SPCA experts can help you feel successful! For equipment, we recommend at minimum a flat or martingale collar with a 6-foot leash. Sometimes we will suggest the addition of head halters or front hook harnesses, If you need a harness we can sell you one after class. Please, no choke or pinch collars, or retractable leashes. We have found that good training with comfortable, non-aversive equipment will enable your dog to perform consistently better! Sign up here for the SPCA class or here for Carmel.

Out and About Advanced Class: Saturday $35/single class, 5 and 10 pack pricing available 
Location: Various locations on the Monterey Peninsula 

Have you ever thought "my dog is perfect in class, but is distracted out in public?". This one-hour class takes you and your dog into real-life situations on the Monterey Peninsula to teach reliable manners and walking skills despite the distractions of everyday life. We will meet at parks, in town, stopping by cafes, or doing a shopping center walk-through. Reservations are required for these stand-alone hour classes. Open to dogs who have already passed In Person Family Dog Class at the SPCA. This class is not for dogs that react to other dogs or people on leash. For equipment, we recommend at minimum a flat or martingale collar with a 6-foot leash. Sometimes we will suggest the addition of head halters or front hook harnesses, If you need a harness we can sell you one after class. Please, no choke or pinch collars, or retractable leashes. We have found that good training with comfortable, non-aversive equipment will enable your dog to perform consistently better!

Prerequisite - Family Dog 1 in person

Virtual Basic Manners and Behavior Support Class: Saturday: $200
Location: Online
Open to all dogs 6 months and older.

Open to all dogs 6 months and older. This virtual class is meant for dogs that are uncomfortable being with other dogs or people, or for dogs that might bark or be difficult to handle in a group class setting. It is meant as a behavioral support class that will help you create a training relationship with your dog, as well as provide you with basic behavior modification techniques to help you with common behavior problems. The class is taught by a certified behavior consultant.

All of us have emotional relationships with our dogs, but when faced with behavioral issues, a training relationship is essential for communication between you and your dog. This class includes important basic manners such as sit, down, wait, come, and loose-leash walking all from the comforts of your home! In addition, we work on potential behavior problems such as jumping, digging, barking, and house-training, or the needs set by class clients. This is also a great class to take before joining the 8 week-long Reactive Rover class, or for those clients that want to take our in-person Family Dog class but need to master some skills first.

Week 1 we will meet to familiarize everyone with the new format online and go over what you will need and learn in the following weeks. No technology experience is needed. One or two days before class begins, a class instructor will email a link for the virtual class meeting. You'll be surprised how easy it is!

Refunds are issued prior to the first class of a course and up to 24 hours after the first class (minus a $25.00 processing fee). We understand if something unexpected makes it impossible for you to continue with one or more of the classes, and we will do our best to accommodate you in an upcoming course. If you decide to stay in class, but cannot attend the virtual classes, we will still send you the homework.

Equipment: 

For equipment, we recommend at minimum a flat or martingale collar with a 6-foot leash. Sometimes we will suggest the addition of head halters or front hook harnesses, If you need a harness we can sell you one after class. Please, no choke or pinch collars, or retractable leashes. We have found that good training with comfortable, non-aversive equipment will enable your dog to perform consistently better!

 

<- Return to Main Page