Building Bonds
Ranked #1 in Tucson and #9 in Arizona
Service area: Serving Tucson, Sahuarita, Green Valley, Corona de Tucson, Oro Valley, & Marana. Travel charges may apply.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Competition / Agility
- Behavior Modification
Specialty Focus Areas
- Basic Obedience
- Puppy Training
- Leash Pulling
- Reactivity / Aggression
- Jumping on People
- Barking Excessively
- Separation Anxiety
- Biting / Nipping
- Potty Training
- Fearfulness
- Stealing Food
- Recall
Training Formats Offered
- Private Lessons
- Group Classes
- In-Home
- Private Facility
- Day Training
- Video Calls
Program Formats
- One-Time Consultation
- Sessions Package
- Ongoing Weekly
- Intensive Program
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
- Senior (8+ years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Positive Reinforcement Only
Equipment:
- ✓ Clickers
- ✓ Food Rewards
- ✓ Harnesses
- ✓ Flat Collars
- ✓ muzzle
Building Bonds offers a comprehensive range of training programs tailored to various needs and ages. Their Group Classes feature unique, game-based curriculums designed to build a shared language between owners and dogs, with small class sizes and supplementary instructional videos and handouts. These include Puppy Start Right programs (Preschool, Kindergarten Levels 1 & 2, Teenager Edition) focusing on early development and resilience, and All Ages & Stages classes covering manners, life skills, and specialized topics like reactivity (Online BAT Deep Dive, Semi-Private Reactive Dog Program), loose leash walking, confidence building for shy dogs, and AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy and Canine Good Citizen test preparation.
The Happy Vet Visits Annual Membership is a specialized program aimed at making vet visits stress-free for pets exhibiting low to moderate fear, anxiety, and stress levels. It includes an initial assessment, eight trainer-guided hospital visits, two educational events, and access to a Fear Free resource library.
Family Dog Mediation Private Lessons provide customized, one-on-one support, addressing problem behaviors like fear, aggression, reactivity, and separation anxiety through a “L.E.G.S.” approach (Learning, Environment, Genetics, Self). These sessions can be conducted online, in the client’s home, at the Building Bonds Behavior Center, or in public locations. Specific private programs include Fretful Fido for complex behavior issues, Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) for reactivity and fear, and programs for general adult dog manners, puppy & adolescent development, and loose leash walking.
For busy owners, the In Your Home Day School offers expert trainers who work with dogs in their home environment on manners, life skills, puppy training, or reactivity, with regular “parent-teacher” conferences to transfer skills to the owner. Additionally, Building Bonds provides Online Training options, including self-paced courses like “Reactivity Reimagined” and video consultations, allowing clients to train from the convenience of their home.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
Group classes range from $120 for four 30-minute sessions (Lunchtime Learners) to $275 for six 45-60 minute sessions (e.g., The G.O.O.D. L.I.F.E. C.L.A.S.S., Confidence that Clicks). AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy and Adult Dog Manners classes are $225. Online Behavior Adjustment Training Deep Dive is $199.
Private training options include a 30-minute video interview for $60, 60-minute video consultation for $125, and 120-minute video consultation for $225. In-person behavior consultations are $300 for 2 hours with a 30-minute follow-up. Loose Leash Walking Lessons are $600 at the behavior center or $745 at your home for one 50-minute session plus six 30-minute sessions.
Specialized programs include the Happy Vet Visits Annual Membership for $409, with an additional $81.99 veterinary consultation fee for non-Rolling Hills patients. The Semi-Private Reactive Dog Program is $650, which includes an online course, a one-hour consultation, and a five-week class. The Reactivity Reimagined Self-Paced Online Course is available for $249.
Day School programs are priced at $2325 for Manners & Life Skills or Puppy Day School (three times a week for four weeks). The Reactivity Reimagined Day School program is $3400 for a minimum six-week commitment. Fretful Fido programs for fear, anxiety, stress, aggression, and reactivity range from $1205 (initial Zoom + 6 sessions) to $2435 (initial Zoom + 14 sessions). The Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) package is $1925. An initial 28-day Separation Issues program is $989, following a $125 initial Zoom session. Payment plans are available through LendingUSA.
Policies
Building Bonds has a strict no-refund policy for group classes once a client has registered or for missed classes. If a dog’s behavior issues are deemed dangerous, disruptive, or exacerbated by group class participation, the trainer may discontinue sessions, offering a refund (less a $50 administration fee) for unused classes or credit toward private lessons.
For Happy Vet Visits memberships and other services, all payments are non-refundable, including for unused sessions or portions of a membership. Once purchased, participants are not eligible for refunds, credits, or transfers.
For private sessions and consultations, a $100 non-refundable cancellation fee is applied from the initial payment if the first appointment or entire program is canceled. If the first appointment for a training program is canceled, the program fee will be refunded minus a $100 cancellation fee and a $10 processing fee. No refunds are provided once a training program commences.
Testimonials
“Kim Silver gave us some amazing BAT sessions with our rescue who was quite fearful of everything but mostly men. I highly recommend her gentle approach and experience to training fearful dogs. We are very pleased and have many tools for continued use and training at home.”
– Terri B.
“Building Bonds was recommended by a friend and we are grateful! Our pup came from an environment that had not afforded her opportunities to play and she had very limited leash skills. Kim has helped our very shy pup emerge into a confident walker and a playful pooch- eager to engage in games and learning. Kim has been responsive to all our questions and willing to work around the restrictions Covid 19 has imposed. The training is professional/ respectful, helpful and fun!”
– Joyce S.
“Building Bonds has an exemplary POSITIVE training program. My two young dogs (Wylie 20 months/Buzz 10 months) and I do multiple classes and have learned great skills while having fun! In addition to the lively classroom the instructors provide multi-media materials as reference. Try it with your furry friends-you’ll love it!”
– Pam O.
About the Trainer
Building Bonds is a dog training business dedicated to helping dog owners create a strong, trusting relationship with their canine companions. They offer specialized programs for dogs of all ages, with a particular focus on puppies and young dogs under two years old during their critical developmental period. For dogs who may have missed early positive experiences, the business provides resilience-building programs designed to help them overcome fears and build confidence.
The training philosophy at Building Bonds is rooted in humane, ethical, and force-free methods, prioritizing positive reinforcement and reward-based techniques. They explicitly state that they do not use shock, choke, prong collars, corrections, or physical manipulation, aligning their ethos with the Pet Professional Guild and the Pet Professional Accreditation Board. Their approach aims to make training fun, engaging, and effective, fostering clear communication and a lasting bond between dogs and their families.
Building Bonds offers a variety of training options including group classes, private lessons, in-home day school, and online courses, catering to diverse needs and busy schedules. Their unique advantages include convenience, speed in achieving results, customized training plans based on a dog’s Learning, Environment, Genetics, and Self (L.E.G.S.), and specialized classes. Clients can also have peace of mind knowing their trainers possess extensive education, experience, and certifications, adhering to high ethical standards.
Beyond general manners and life skills, they address complex behavioral issues such as fear, anxiety, stress, reactivity, and separation issues. They also offer a “Happy Vet Visits” membership program to make veterinary experiences stress-free for pets. The business is committed to transforming the dog training experience by providing game-changing insights and interventions that positively impact the lives of dog families.
Accomplishments
Building Bonds is owned by Kim Silver, who established “Kim’s Canine College” in 2012, later rebranding to Building Bonds in 2016. Kim is a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant and Professional Canine Trainer accredited through the Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB). She is also a Karen Pryor Certified Training Partner (KPA CTP), a Certified Behavior Adjustment Training Instructor (CBATI-KSA), a Fear Free Certified Professional Trainer, and a Family Dog Mediator. Kim holds a master’s degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine with a special interest in canine health and wellness, and is currently enrolled in the Companion Animal Sciences Institute behaviorology program, specializing in canine aggression.
The team includes Patti O’Farrell, a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT), Karen Pryor Academy Training Partner (KPA CTP), Puppy Start Right Preschool Instructor, licensed educator with Family Paws Parenting Education, certified Level 1 TAGTeach, and a graduate of Animal Behavior College (ABCDT). Patti has volunteered weekly at Rancho Coastal Humane Society for nine years. Michele Almeida is a Certified Family Dog Mediator and an apprentice-level trainer pursuing certification through the Dognostics Dog Trainer Certificate Program, with a background in Elementary Education. Susan Sparks, MSEd, PDT, CTDI, is a retired public school teacher and reading specialist, and has been a certified professional humane dog trainer for 13 years, holding CPDT-KA and CPDT-KSA certifications. She has competed in agility and conformation and continuously attends advanced training seminars with renowned experts.
How to Get Started!
To begin, clients can schedule an initial consultation or a 30-minute video interview to discuss their dog’s behavior and potential training paths. For private session programs, an initial Zoom session is required, followed by the completion of a registration form. For cases involving intra-household dog-dog aggression, a two-hour in-person or Zoom behavior consultation is currently required. Clients can also directly register for group classes online. A scheduler link is provided for immediate booking, and email contact is available for inquiries or to get started with specific programs.

Contact Information
Availability
- Weekdays
- Morning
- Afternoon
Certifications
- CPDT-KA
- CPDT-KSA
- KPA-CTP
- Other (CBATI-KSA)
- Other (Fear Free Certified Professional Trainer)
- Other (Family Dog Mediator)
- Other (CSAT)
- Other (Puppy Start Right Preschool Instructor)
- Other (Family Paws Parenting Education)
- Other (TAGTeach Level 1)
- Other (ABCDT)
- Other (CTDI)
- Other (PPAB Professional Canine Behavior Consultant)
- Other (PPAB Professional Canine Trainer)
Associations
- AKC
- APDT
- IAABC
- PPG
- Other (PPAB)
- Other (Karen Pryor Academy)
- Other (Family Paws Parenting Education)
- Other (Doggone Safe)
- Other (Society of Veterinarian Behavior Technicians)
- Other (CCPDT)
Languages
- English
Misc Features
- Women-owned
- wheelchair accessible entrance
- wheelchair accessible parking
- wheelchair accessible restroom
- restroom unisex
Other Services Offered
- Pet supply store
- Pet trainer