Dog Training
Center
Training Courses
Choose a group course that fits your schedule where your dog and you can learn and bond together.
Balanced Puppy Training Program (Puppy 1)
$200.00 for 5 weeks
When
Start Dates:
May 4th (Thursday) – 4:00-5:15 pm
*NO CLASS MAY 18TH*
Puppies from 8 weeks to 5 months:
- Socialization
- Learning basic commands
- Addressing puppy problems/habits and how to fix them
- Please bring your Puppy with on FIRST DAY of class!
2-Day Therapy Dogs 101 Seminar
$25.00 per team (handler and dog)
When
(Please note that masks will be mandatory for Sunday only, to simulate going into facilities.)
Dogs need to be at least 1 year old!
Saturday, April 29th, will be without dogs, from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 30th, will be with dogs, from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m
- This seminar is limited to 10 people, both days will be in the Puppy Room.
- No more than one dog per person.
- Online registration only. Must prepaid.
Join us for this 2-Day seminar where you will learn about the different organizations, skills, and requirements to become a therapy dog team.
Meet Our Trainers
Don and Stephanie are a husband-wife team with almost 40 years of combined experience as therapy dog handlers. Their hearts are with the giant breeds – rare mastiffs, in particular. They also focus on rescuing giants in need. Over the years, they have owned a Tosa Ken, also known as a Japanese mastiff; a rescued Saint Bernard; a rescued Great Dane mix; two rescued Neapolitan mastiffs, sometimes referred to as an Italian mastiff (think Fang from Harry Potter); a rescued Dogue de Bordeaux, also known as a French mastiff (think Turner & Hooch); and a rescued Irish Wolfhound. Most recently, they adopted a Newfoundland in June 2021 and an Olde English Bulledogge in October 2021.
Don and Stephanie began volunteering in animal-assisted activities with their Japanese mastiff, Majo, in 2002 through Therapy Dogs Inc., now known as Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD). Majo’s nine-year career focused on the elderly, with most of her visits in nursing homes. But in 2010, Majo started working at an adult detention center, the beginning of what would turn into a fulfilling new path for Don and Stephanie in the correctional system. Their second registered therapy dog, a rescued Saint Bernard named Gaag, worked for nearly five years with ATD, regularly visiting an adult detention center, a juvenile detention center and hospice patients. Napolean, their Bordeaux, visited for about a year at a number of correctional facilities in the area, including a juvenile detention facility, two area adult detention centers and a federal medical facility.
In August 2011, Don became a tester/observer with ATD, and in June 2016, he was elected to its Board of Directors. In July 2018, Don was elected ATD treasurer. In July 2021, Don was elected ATD vice president. Ila, their Newfoundland, and Henry, their Olde English Bulldogge, are in training to hopefully become their next registered therapy dogs.
Kim graduated from National K-9 School for Dog Trainers in 1995 with her Master Dog Trainer Certification. National K-9 focused on Basic and Advanced Obedience, Therapy Dog Work, Police training and bite work, Scent Detection and Kennel Management. In 2006 Kim attended and graduated from No Limitations/Sit Means Sit K-9 School located in Las Vegas, Nevada where she received her certification in Remote Collar Dog Training, Bite Safety Instruction and Dog Swimming Instruction.
Furthermore she is also certified in Pet First Aid and Canine Hydrotherapy. She has taken courses in Emergency Animal Sheltering and FEMA Emergency Management with her focus on animal emergency crisis.
Kim has done extensive training with high risk breeds and aggressive cases. She enjoys letting dogs be dogs and helping owners create a balanced and happy animal household.
In her spare time she is a very dedicated MN Twins Fan, GO TWINS!! and loves to golf and travel. Originally from the Twin Cities area she moved to the Rochester area in 2001. Currently, Kim is teaching Puppy 1 & 2, Basic Obedience and Advanced Obedience and doing private lessons.
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