Class Descriptions | Daycare & Train | Socialization | Instructor Bios

Downtown Dogs strives to offers a rewarding learning experience for dogs and their people in and around the Silicon Valley. Whether this is your first dog or your 15th, you and your dog will benefit from our variety of training and behavior modification services. Our instruction is specially designed to strengthen the human-animal bond while improving your dog's behavior.

We are proud to say that all our training staff are graduates of the SF SPCA Dog Trainers Academy and promise to bring you the highest quality training available. In doing so, we use your dog's instinctive abilities, personality and spirit to unleash your dog's fullest potential!

Descriptions

Puppy Kindergarten (Pups aged 10-24 weeks) - 6 weeks
This 6-week class is designed to get your pup off to the right start by developing positive feelings towards strangers, children, dogs, and other common experiences, as well as teaching appropriate puppy manners. Your pup will have the opportunity to play with other people and pups in a safe environment while working on basic skills and self control, such as Sitting for attention, Walking on a leash, Stay, Leave it and Wait. We will also address common puppy problems including chewing, puppy mouthing, house training and crate training. Course begins the first week with a dog-free Orientation. Puppies must have received their first round of vaccinations by the start of class.

Basics - Level 1 (Dogs aged 6 months and up) - 6 weeks
This 6-week class is designed for adolescent and adult dogs with no prior training experience. Your dog will learn manners and self control through basic obedience exercises such as Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Leave It, and Wait. You will learn how to modify your dog’s behavior in a safe, enjoyable way that will enable you to solve common problems such as barking, jumping, digging, and chewing. Course begins the first week with a dog-free Orientation. All dogs must have current vaccinations to attend.

Basics - Level 2 (Dogs aged 6 months and up) - 6 weeks
This class is for people who want to sharpen their dogs' skills. In this class we will fine tune basic behaviors, learn new behaviors and introduce some fun tricks. This class is designed to help you build reliability and a quick response time, while adding in real world distractions. This class is open to dogs who have completed a Puppy Kindergarten, Basics Level 1 class or has equivalent skills. Dogs must already have mastered sit, down and can focus on you. Some of this class will be taught off leash, so no aggressive dogs please. If you are unsure if your dog is appropriate for this class, please contact us to discuss.

Agility for Fun - 6 weeks Introduce your dog to the sport of agility in a fun and safe way!  Teach your dog to go through tunnels, over jumps and start learning to do the weave poles, dog walk and teeter.  This class will introduce your dog to several pieces of agility equipment and the handler to basic agility handling maneuvers.  Dogs are required to have basic obedience including sit, down, stay and come in a distracting environment.  Dogs must also be dog and people friendly.  Bring your dog to the first class on a regular flat buckle collar with lots of tasty tiny treats.  Humans should be comfortably dressed and ready to be active.

Stop Jumping - 1 Class (2 Hours)
For any dog who loves to jump on people.  Learn some effective methods to help your dog stop jumping on people when greeting. We welcome lots of people in class to help us practice our non jumping skills.

Loose Leash Walking -  1 Class (2 Hours)
For any pooch that likes to pull.  Learn why your dog pulls and why this so difficult for many dogs.  We will be practicing several exercises to help get his attention focused on you rather than dragging you down the block.  

Reliable Recall -  1 Class (2 Hours)
Learn techniques to help your dog come to you when he is called.  We will practice exercises, gradually adding in distractions, working towards off leash situations.

Price $35

Reactive Rover - Leash Manners - 7 weeks
Does your dog bark, growl or lunge at other dogs while on leash? Do you feel frustrated, embarrassed and hate taking your dog out on walks? Our Reactive Rover class is designed for dogs who act aggressively towards other dogs while on leash. In this class you will learn techniques to manage your dog’s behavior in stressful situations where you might encounter unfamiliar dogs. We will help your dog learn to focus on you, walk calmly in the presence of other dogs and create a positive association with other dogs so your dog can be less reactive. This class is limited to 6 dogs.

Prerequisites:
In order to determine if this class is right for you, all applicants are required to complete the Reactive Rover Questionnaire and a pre-screening evaluation. Once the application is submitted, we will review your questionnaire and then contact you. Please check back with us if you do not hear from us within one week of submitting your questionnaire to ensure that it was received.

Canine Good Citizen Preparation - 5 weeks
This 5 week class focuses on practicing and polishing the skills needed to pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. The CGC program is open to both pure and mixed breed dogs. The ten step test covers the basic exercises needed to make your dog a welcome canine companion including sit, down, stay, walking nicely on leash, appropriately greeting humans, polite behavior around another dog, etc. Dogs are required to have completed a basic obedience class before taking this class. Please bring your dog, lots of tasty treats and proof of current vaccinations (including Rabies and DH2PP) to the first class.

Canine Good Citizen Testing
The AKC Canine Good Citizen is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. The CGC program is open to both pure and mixed breed dogs. The test will be conducted by an approved AKC CGC evaluator.

For more information check out the AKC's website

Downtown Dogs University

Does Rover need to learn his basic commands? Or, does he need tutoring in a specific subject? If so, have him attend Downtown Dogs University, our unique daycare and train program. At DDU, we make learning fun. Your dog will attend daycare several days per week to frolic with friends, burn some energy, and of course attend class. Our trainer will work individually with your dog to learn and practice new skills. Homework is provided nightly to assist each student in sharpening his skills. At the end of each course, parent/teacher conferences are scheduled to review all that was learned, and discuss the student’s progress.

Please Note - Owner's must be active participants in order to achieve success with this program!

Basics 101 - 2 week program
This program is designed for a beginner student with little to no previous training. We will teach your dog: sit, down, stay, come, attention, wait- to go through doors and leave it. This program includes three training days per week, nightly homework and two- 30 minute review sessions with owner (One at end of each week). For all courses, dogs must be dropped off before 9 am and picked up after 5 pm.

Price $275 + cost of daycare

Jumping 1A - 1 week program
This program is designed for dogs who love to jump up on people. This program includes three training days, nightly homework and one-30 minute owner meeting at end of week.

Price $125 + cost of daycare

Loose Leash Walking 1A - length varies
This program is designed for dogs who pull on leash. The program includes a 30 minute orientation with trainer, three training days per week, nightly homework and one- 30 minute review sessions with owner. Requires pre-evaluation to determine number of training sessions and price. For all courses, dogs must be dropped off before 9 am and picked up after 5 pm.

Price $125 - $250 + cost of daycare

Reliable Recall - 1 week program
This program is designed for dogs who have difficulty "coming" to their owners when called. This program includes three training days, nightly homework and one-30 minute owner meeting at end of week.

Price $125 + cost of daycare

Custom Classes - length varies
Don't see what you're looking for? We'll be happy to customize a program to meet your individual goals .

Price Varies

About the Instructors

Kelly Alves Helsing, CPDT, CTC
Kelly has been working and training dogs at daycare for over eight years. Her specialty is dog behavior and group play. She is a graduate of the San Francisco SPCA Dog Training Academy and earned a Certificate in Training and Counseling. Kelly also continues her education by attending a variety of seminars, conferences and workshops.

Kathy Sterbank, CTC
Kathy is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a graduate of the prestigious Academy for Dog Trainers at the San Francisco SPCA. She earned both a Certificate in Training and Counseling (CTC), and a Special Topics in Advanced Counseling (STAC) Certificate in Dog-Dog Aggression under the tutelage of Jean Donaldson (Fight), and Janis Bradley (Dogs Bite).

Kathy has a background in Ecology and a Masters degree in Education from the University of California, Berkeley. Her expertise in teaching and curriculum design combined with her training experience gives her a unique ability to communicate with both dogs and their people while providing effective techniques to solve their problems.

Wendy Krehbiel, CPDT, CTC
Wendy is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and a graduate of the San Francisco SPCA Dog Training Academy having earned a Certificate in Training and Counseling. Wendy teaches basic manners and obedience, is an AKC CGC evaluator and also teaches Agility. Wendy has been competing in agility with her dogs for 4 years and her dogs have earned several agility titles.