Dog Training by PJ

Dog Training by PJ offers weekday-daytime, evening, and weekend classes, designed to accommodate various training needs. They also provide private training, behavior modification, and consultations at your home.

Classes are limited in size to provide optimal training experiences, ensuring individual attention. Electronic materials recapping weekly sessions and additional materials for raising well-balanced puppies or increasing reliability for adolescents and adult dogs are provided. Each scheduled class runs on the same day and time until complete, typically six weeks.

Workshops are one-hour sessions focusing on specific behaviors or activities like loose leash walking, recall, agility, scent work, and confidence building (Brave Puppy/Dog). They also offer guided group hikes.

Classes are structured in levels: Level I (Puppy Kindergarten 101, Toy Puppy & Toy Dog, Adolescent Dog 101, Pits & Bullies) is for dogs with no or minimal prior training. Level II (Brilliant Buddy, Fun With Tricks) is for dogs who have attended a group training class, focusing on increasing reliability and consistency with distractions.

Level III (Ulti-Mutt Consistency, Amusing Agility, Rally “O”, Danc’n With Dogs, Canine Dressage) is for dogs who have successfully completed Brilliant Buddy, aiming for higher skill proficiency and preparing for therapy dog training. Level IV (CGC Prep w/Exam, 2nd Skill Level of Rally “O”, Danc’n With Dogs, Canine Dressage) is for dogs who have completed Level III, working towards obedience titles, therapy, or service dog training.

Specialty workshops are topic-specific, often for humans only, covering subjects like introducing dogs to babies, dog bite prevention, and decoding dog behavior. They also offer 4 play groups: toy puppy/dog play, puppy play, soft dog play, and adolescent play, available to dogs not necessarily attending classes but with good social skills.

Pricing Summary

Most six-week class fees range from $165 to $220. Workshops are $30 each, and the CGC Exam is $25. Fees are payable on the first day of class via checks or cash only, as credit/debit cards are not accepted.

A $10 discount is available for the first class for various groups, including Squeeze In EggHead Breakfast Club, IGT Employees, Washoe Co Employee Association members, St Mary’s employees, Veterinarians & their staff, AARP, Veterans, Casino Employees, Shelter dogs, and Multi-Dog Households Attending the Same Class. Only one discount can be applied per family and cannot be combined.

Class fees are separate from private training sessions, and fees for classes cannot be switched to private sessions. Full refunds are only issued if Dog Training by PJ cancels a class. For client cancellations, a non-refundable administrative fee of $45 per reservation is assessed if less than 48 hours’ notice is given before the class begins. To avoid this fee, notification must be given by noon the previous business day and 48 hours before class starts.

No refunds are given for non-attendance of any class session once the class begins. Partial refunds for attended classes are subject to a $45 administrative fee and must be requested in writing before the second session; no refunds are given after attending two sessions. Makeup sessions can be scheduled as private consultations at an additional fee.

Policies

Dog Training by PJ has a flexible cancellation policy. For class reservations, a non-refundable administrative fee of $45 per reservation is assessed if cancellation notice is not provided at least 48 hours before the class begins. To avoid this fee, clients must notify Dog Training by PJ by noon the previous business day and 48 hours before the class starts.

Clients may transfer their attendance to another class if unable to provide 48-hour notice, but the administrative fee will still apply if they do not attend the transferred class. No refunds are given for non-attendance of any class session once the class has begun. Clients are responsible for attending all scheduled sessions.

Makeup sessions can be arranged as private consultations with an instructor, but these are charged as a separate one-hour private consultation fee. Electronic class materials are provided for missed sessions. Full refunds are only issued if Dog Training by PJ cancels a class.

For partial refunds, a written request (via email or snail mail) must be submitted prior to the second session of the class, and a $45 administrative fee per reservation will be collected. No refunds are given after attending two sessions of a class series. The remaining class fees for sessions not attended will be partially refunded after the administrative fee. Transfers to different classes are subject to availability and previous attendance, and Dog Training by PJ reserves the right to not issue a refund. Class fees are separate from private training fees and cannot be switched to private sessions.

Dog Training by PJ is Northern Nevada’s leading training and educational resource center, offering a variety of classes and services to help dog owners achieve their training goals. Their philosophy is to do no harm, nor inflict fear or intimidate the dog or owner, employing operant and classical conditioning methods to make training comfortable and fun for all involved.

They provide weekday-daytime, evening, and weekend classes, along with private training, behavior modification, and consultations at the client’s home. The training center features an indoor, climate-controlled facility with a sanitized concrete floor, highly recommended by local veterinarians for young puppies due to strict sanitization protocols.

Classes are limited in size to ensure individual, hands-on instruction for all breeds, ages, and skill levels, including specialized classes like Toy Dog/Puppy Class and Pits & Bullies Class. They offer electronic materials recapping weekly sessions and additional resources to support owners.

Beyond core classes, Dog Training by PJ hosts one-hour workshops on specific behaviors like loose leash walking, recall, and confidence building (Brave Puppy/Dog), as well as activities such as agility, scent work, and guided group hikes. They also offer play groups for various dog sizes and ages, focusing on safe socialization.

The trainers can assist with service dog task training, though they do not certify service dogs. Dog Training by PJ is a Better Business Bureau Accredited Business with an A+ rating and is frequently referred by local veterinarians and other dog professionals. They are also active volunteers for local shelters and rescue groups, fostering dogs and providing donations.

Accomplishments

Dog Training by PJ is recognized as Northern Nevada’s leading training and educational resource center, with over 65 years of combined experience in training. They are a Better Business Bureau Accredited Business since 2002 with an A+ rating and are highly recommended by local veterinarians and other dog-related professionals. The trainers continuously pursue education in behavioral sciences, learning theory, canine studies, ethology, and human learning.

Pamela “PJ” Wangsness, AABP-CDT, CPDT-KA, is the first trainer in Northern Nevada to earn an international Level I certification from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CPDT-KA) in 2002. She is an Animal Behavior Specialist and a “train-the-trainer” mentor for Animal Behavior College, having trained nearly 50 new dog trainers since 2010. PJ is a regular guest speaker for the Veterinary Technician Program at Truckee Meadows Community College. She graduated with Honors from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers’ Canine Socialization and Psychological Development for Puppies Certificate Program in 2014 and earned a Certificate in Comparative Psychology & Animal Cognition in 2022.

Susie Jensen, ABC-DT, CPDT-KA, CBC, became a Certified Canine Behavior Consultant (CBC) in April 2022 and a CPDT-KA in June 2018. She has completed certifications in Canine Behavior Consultant – The Human in the Middle, Canine Cognition, Pet-CPR, Canine Massage, Learning Theory, Lessons in Fear and Aggression, and Understanding Canine Behavior.

Traci Hopkinson, CPDT-KA, became a CPDT-KA in 2022. She holds an AAS in Graphic Communications and an ISSA personal training certification. Traci has worked at two veterinary clinics and volunteered at the humane society.

How to Get Started!

To register for any classes, clients should call or text 775-828-0748 or send an email to dogtrainingbypj@ymail.com. Clients need to provide their name, class choice, dog’s name, and phone number. An email confirmation will be sent with class selection details and information on what to bring. A Dog History Form must be downloaded and completed prior to attending classes. For workshops and one-hour classes, clients must RSVP to attend.