Dog Training by Valerie

Dog Training by Valerie offers a variety of force-free training programs tailored to different needs and ages. For puppies, they provide a comprehensive “Puppies Raised Right” program which includes Puppy Essentials for socialization and confidence building, Puppy Kindergarten for basic manners, and weekly Puppy Socialization classes for off-leash play. They also offer a drop-off Puppy Day School and in-home private puppy consults.

For older dogs, group classes cover basic good manners, building on basics for advanced cues, loose leash walking, and addressing jumping. Specialized behavior modification programs include private behavior consultations for issues like aggression, fear, and reactivity, and an intensive online program for separation anxiety. They also offer a “Reactive Rover” class for on-leash reactivity.

Beyond basic manners, the business provides a “Dogs in Our Community” therapy dog track program, preparing dogs for CGC, CGCA, and therapy dog certifications. Recreational classes like Fitness & Recreation, Tricks, Canine Cognition, and Rally are also available to deepen the dog-human bond and engage dogs mentally and physically. All training emphasizes positive reinforcement and is conducted in a controlled, clean facility.

Pricing Summary

Behavior Consultations: Initial Consultation is $225 for 1 hour. Follow-Up consultations are $185 for 1 hour. Payment is due in full at the time of booking.
Separation Anxiety Treatment: Initial Assessment is $185 for 1 hour. Weekly Training packages are $125 per week, which includes 5 training plans and a weekly Zoom check-in.
Group Classes: Most 6-week group classes are $245. Kindergarten-Extended is $165 for 4 weeks. Reactive Rover is $295 for 5 weeks. Puppy Socialization is $25 per session, pay as you go. Payment for group classes is due in full during online registration.
Puppy Day School: Half Day is $65, Full Day is $115. After School is an additional $10 per half hour up to 7pm.
Private Puppy Consults: $185 for 1 hour.
Private Dog Park: $25 per session, pay as you go.

Policies

For group classes, payment is due in full at registration. Withdrawals with more than one week’s notice before the course start date receive a refund minus a $35 administrative fee; less than a week’s notice results in no refund. Transfers to another course within a week of the start date are free, but less than a week’s notice incurs a $35 administrative fee. Once a course starts, no transfers without new payment, and payments cannot be credited to private lessons. No pro-rating or credits for missed classes, and make-ups are not available unless a class is canceled due to bad weather.

For behavior consultations, payment is due at booking. With a week’s notice, payment can be transferred to a new date; less than a week’s notice results in payment forfeiture and requires a new payment for rescheduling. Lessons cannot be canceled or refunded. Late arrivals will have their lesson conclude at the originally scheduled time without pro-rating. Proof of vaccination is required for all dogs. Dogs do not need to be spayed or neutered, but females in heat cannot attend, and intact males who mark repeatedly must wear a belly band. Children aged 4 and up are welcome in class with an adult and are encouraged to participate.

Dog Training by Valerie offers comprehensive force-free dog training and behavior modification services in Charlottesville, VA. The business is led by Valerie Balwanz, a highly certified and experienced trainer, along with a team of certified trainers. They focus on strengthening the dog-human relationship through communication and understanding.

Services include a wide range of group classes for puppies and adult dogs, private behavior consulting for various issues, specialized separation anxiety treatment, and a unique Puppy Day School drop-off program. They also provide supervised indoor playtime opportunities through their Private Dog Park. The facility is a 5,000 sq ft climate-controlled space, meticulously cleaned daily to ensure a safe environment for all dogs, including young puppies not yet fully vaccinated.

Accomplishments

Valerie Balwanz is certified as a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC-KA), a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT), a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), and holds a certification from the Peaceable Paws Academy (PMCT). She is a member of the Pet Professionals Guild and a certified CGC tester for the AKC.

Her training services have received the Charlottesville Family Favorite Award and the Daily Progress Reader’s Choice Award several years in a row. She has been featured in The Whole Dog Journal and Reader’s Digest. Many local veterinarians recommend her services and bring their own dogs to her for training and behavior modification.

How to Get Started!

To get started with Dog Training by Valerie, clients can register for group classes, behavior consultations, or separation anxiety initial consultations via online booking links provided on the website. For behavior consultations, a detailed questionnaire must be submitted prior to the initial consult to help plan the first session. For separation anxiety treatment, an initial assessment via Zoom is the first step. For the Private Dog Park, existing clients can email to inquire, while new clients must email a request including dog’s name, age, breed, and interested group. It is not unusual for there to be a several week wait time for appointments.