Dog Days Dog Training

Dog Days Dog Training offers weekly classes available on days, nights, and weekends. Classes are small in size and require pre-registration.

For puppies aged 8-20 weeks, they offer Puppy Kindergarten. For pups older than 18 weeks, classes include Puppy Control Unleashed (for proactive training to reduce potential reactivity), Companion Dog 1, 2, and 3 (Advanced Companion Dog), Canine Good Citizen, Really Reliable Recalls, Loose Leash Walking, Over-Greeters Class, Control Unleashed, Tricks!, and Cooperative Care.

For those interested in competition, programs include Foundations for Performance (highly recommended), Rally Obedience, Competition Obedience, Control Unleashed, Conformation Handling, and Nosework. They also address behavioral issues with specialized classes like Over Reactors (for dogs that bark and lunge at other dogs) and Control Unleashed (for dogs with difficulty focusing and working near other dogs or people).

Pricing Summary

Pre-registration is required for classes, and fees are non-refundable once classes have started. A full credit or refund is issued if Dog Days Dog Training cancels a class. For client cancellations, a full credit or refund is provided minus a $5 processing fee if cancelled 14 calendar days or more in advance, or minus a $10 processing fee if cancelled less than 14 days in advance. No refunds are given for any portion of a class missed due to personal schedule conflicts. All cancellations and transfer requests must be submitted in writing, and some instructors may have different policies.

Facility rental for events costs $300 per day for one classroom or $600 per day for the entire building, with a cleaning deposit required for whole-day events. Approved handlers can rent the facility for their own training or practice at $20 per hour for one handler, plus $10 for each additional handler.

Policies

Dog Days Dog Training implements strict COVID-19 precautions, requiring individuals who are unwell or have been exposed to COVID-19 to not attend class, and emphasizing social distancing, waiting outside until prior students have left, and designated equipment placement. A 10 MPH speed limit is strictly enforced on the premises for safety, and barking dogs in parked cars are not tolerated.

General policies state that any dog deemed uncontrollable, unpredictable, or aggressive by the instructor may be removed from a general class and referred for private instruction or specialty behavior classes. Handlers aged 8-17 must have a parent or responsible adult present, with one adult over 18 serving as the primary handler. Children under 8 must be accompanied by a non-participating adult at all times, with one adult per child. All dogs must remain on a short leash and owners must clean up after their dogs. Female dogs in heat may attend class if wearing protective britches. It is recommended that two dogs from the same household or two dogs that know each other very well do not attend the same beginner-level class. Owners are asked to be aware of their dog’s behavior on leash and to ask permission before allowing their dog to sniff another person’s dog. All dogs must be in good health and protected from disease. Make-up classes are not available.

Dog Days Dog Training is a facility located in the Hazel Dell area of Vancouver, WA, dedicated to providing dog and human-friendly training. They emphasize positive reinforcement and operant conditioning, focusing on building strong relationships between dogs and their owners based on leadership, trust, and cooperation. Classes are kept small to ensure individual attention and are designed to be efficient, effective, and fun for all participants.

They offer a wide range of group classes for puppies and older dogs, covering everything from basic obedience and behavior modification to various competition sports. The training facility spans 4000 square feet, featuring special shock-absorbing matted flooring for joint protection, heating, and air conditioning. It also includes a fenced potty area and ample free parking.

In addition to classes, Dog Days Dog Training provides facility rental options for events or private training sessions. They are committed to safety, implementing COVID-19 precautions and enforcing a strict speed limit on their premises.

Accomplishments

Dog Days Dog Training was founded by Joan Armstrong, who has been studying learning science, dog behavior, and competition obedience since 1994, learning from experts such as Karen Pryor and Ian Dunbar. Joan is a member of APDT and IAABC, and her dogs have earned numerous AKC and ASCA titles in obedience, rally, agility, and tracking.

Dee Pigman, the new owner since January 2022, is a member of APDT and a Certified CGC & Tricks Evaluator, with her dogs having earned AKC titles in Obedience, Rally, and Agility. Beth Fabel has been training dogs and humans since 1992, bringing an occupational therapist’s perspective to her training, and has titled several breeds in obedience and agility.

Cheree Roberts is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), a certified instructor for CCC (Connection, Cooperation & Control), and a certified Control Unleashed instructor, as well as a Karen Pryor Puppy Start Right instructor graduate. Susan Fletcher, a CPDT and Certified Evaluator for CGC and Trick Dog, has been training professionally since 1989 and has attended many continuing education seminars with prominent speakers. Kris Sharp is a CPDT-KA with extensive experience in private and group classes, focusing on leash reactivity, anxiety, and distraction. Lore Joplin has been training and competing in agility, obedience, and rally since 2006, and K9 Nose Work since 2011.

How to Get Started!

To sign up for a class, clients should first read the information on the specific class webpage. If the page instructs to email the instructor directly, that should be the first step. Otherwise, for Puppy and Companion Dog 1 classes, registration is done using the form provided on the class page. For all other classes, clients must use the Class Registration Form, which is available as a fillable Word document or a PDF.

Payment can be made by mailing or bringing a check, or by using PayPal or Venmo if arrangements have been made with the instructor. Credit and debit cards are not accepted. Additionally, a Class Health form, requiring a veterinarian’s signature, is necessary.