For the Love of Dogs & The Dog Tank

For the Love of Dogs & The Dog Tank offers a variety of training programs. Day Training, or Doggie Boot Camp, involves professional trainers working with dogs Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at their Mendota Heights location, focusing on basic obedience and addressing rude behaviors, including a weekly private lesson.

Barn Hunt classes include “Introduction to Rat and Instinct and Indication” for beginners and “Barn Hunt Skill Building” for experienced teams, both 3 weeks long. They also offer Barn Hunt ring rentals and private lessons. The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) class is a 5-week program preparing dogs for AKC CGC certification, covering polite behavior and basic commands.

Dock Diving classes introduce dogs to the pool and the sport, with an “Intro to Air Retrieve” class for advanced skills. Pool rentals and private lessons are also available. Flyball Fundamentals is a 4-session course designed to introduce dogs to the sport of flyball.

Manners/Rally classes include “Basic Manners Level I” for foundational skills, “Intermediate Manners Level 2” for strengthening habits, “Out of the Box: Engagement” and “Team Building and Engagement” for advanced teamwork, “Rally” for AKC Rally preparation, and “Competitive Obedience” for polished competition skills. Additionally, they offer Nosework/Scent Work, Conditioning & Fitness, Tricks, and Senior Enrichment classes.

Pricing Summary

Class fees are $85.00 for 3-week courses like Barn Hunt Instinct and Indication or Skill Building, and $90.00 for the 5-week Canine Good Citizen class, which includes testing. Online payment is required for all classes and is due upon receipt of the registration invoice to secure a spot.

If a cancellation occurs 1 week or more before the class start date, a refund (minus the PayPal processing fee) or a date change is possible. No refunds or changes are given for cancellations less than 1 week prior to class or for missed sessions. Classes may be rescheduled if there are insufficient registrations 72 hours before the start, and an additional week will be added to the end of a class if it is cancelled due to bad weather.

Policies

All class fees require online payment upon receipt of the registration invoice to secure a spot. Cancellations made 1 week or more before the class start date are eligible for a refund (minus PayPal processing fee) or a date change; no refunds or changes are provided for cancellations less than 1 week prior or for missed sessions.

Classes may be moved if there are not enough registrations 72 hours before the start, with registered students being notified. In case of bad weather or other cancellations, an additional week will be added to the end of the class session. Bitches in season may be asked to stay home or attend with panties after contacting the facility, but are not allowed in dock diving classes until their cycle is complete.

Sick dogs, including those exposed to a sick dog in the household, are not permitted in the facility; for kennel cough, a two-week symptom-free period is required. Handlers may attend class without their dog if the dog is ill or in season. All attendees must follow CoVid-19 procedures. Instructors reserve the right to excuse any dog/handler team that is a danger, out of control, ill, injured, or disruptive.

Students are responsible for the behavior of their dogs, children, and guests. Children handling dogs under 14 require prior approval, and a responsible adult must attend if the handler is under 18. Dogs must be kept quiet when not working and leashed at all times unless directed by the instructor. Dogs must be healthy and up-to-date on rabies, parvovirus, and distemper vaccinations (titers accepted), with Bordetella recommended and annual fecal exams/deworming required. Appropriate, comfortable footwear is required, with no wet shoes on blue foam matting.

For the Love of Dogs & The Dog Tank offers comprehensive dog training services, focusing on humane, positive reinforcement methods grounded in canine behavioral science. They provide a wide array of programs, including Day Training (Doggie Boot Camp), various manners and obedience classes, and specialized sports training like Barn Hunt, Canine Good Citizen, Flyball, Dock Diving, Nose Work, Conditioning & Fitness, Tricks, and Senior Enrichment.

A key advantage of their Day Training program is that professional trainers work with dogs throughout the day, integrating training into everyday life for effective results. Beyond classes, they also offer ring and pool rentals, as well as private lessons for specific sports, allowing for tailored practice and coaching. Their mission is to help dogs become well-mannered family companions and to enable owners and their dogs to explore diverse canine activities together.

Accomplishments

The head trainer, Kristin Elmquist (also known as Kristin Powell), is a professional dog trainer with over 30 years of experience training and showing her own dogs. She has been teaching agility and obedience classes for more than a decade and founded For The Love of Dogs in 2005.

Kristin is an ABCDT (Animal Behavior College Dog Trainer), a CSMT II (Canine Sports Massage Therapist II), and a Canine Good Citizen evaluator. She is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and the International Association of Animal Massage Bodywork (IAAMB). Kristin is a strong advocate for science-based, humane, positive reinforcement methods and regularly attends workshops with industry leaders to stay current with canine behavioral science.

How to Get Started!

To enroll in a class or event, clients should first select their desired class from the available list. Next, they need to complete the online enrollment form. An acknowledgement email will then be sent, containing a payment link. The final step is to make the payment to confirm the spot, as class registration is not held until payment is received. If a class fills before payment is confirmed, the client will be placed on a waiting list.