Happy Dog Basic Obedience
Ranked #8 in Fresno and #313 in California
Service area: Fresno, CA. Training sessions take place in the client’s home, front/backyard, and/or local park.
Service Overview
Types of Dog Training
- Family Dog
- Service Dog
- Therapy Dog
- Competition / Agility
Specialty Focus Areas
- Basic Obedience
- Puppy Training
- Leash Pulling
- Jumping on People
- Barking Excessively
- Biting / Nipping
- Recall
Training Formats Offered
- Private Lessons
- In-Home
Program Formats
- One-Time Consultation
- Sessions Package
Age of Dogs Trained
- Puppy (<1 year)
- Adolescent (1-2 years)
- Adult (2-8 years)
Dog Training Methodology
Methods:
- ✓ Positive Reinforcement Only
- ✓ Positive with Some Corrections
Happy Dog Basic Obedience provides one-on-one, in-home training sessions tailored to the specific needs of the dog and owner. Programs range from puppy head-start through advanced obedience. The average amount of sessions for a puppy to obtain all the basics is about 5-6 sessions, with puppy packages based on 1/2 hour lessons to accommodate younger dogs’ attention spans.
They offer Canine Good Citizen training and evaluation, AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program, and advanced courses covering task training and agility. Training sessions are held in the client’s home, yard, or local park. Family members who handle the dog are strongly recommended to be included in the sessions. They also work with individuals desiring service dogs who qualify under California State and Federal Law.
Pricing & Policies
Pricing Summary
Happy Dog Basic Obedience offers single lessons and pre-paid packages, all of which are non-refundable. Single lessons for dogs 1 year and older are $100.00 per hour, while dogs between 12 weeks and one year old are $75.00 per ½ hour. Task Training (Advanced Training) is $100.00 per hour.
A “Care Package” for clients who have completed a basic package is available for $50.00 for a 1/2 hour session every other month. Pre-paid packages include the Canine Good Citizen Test only for $50.00, or with training and test for $350.00 (requires completion of a basic training package). Advanced Package A (5 one-hour lessons with 1 maintenance visit) is $400.00 for dogs over one year old. Intermediate Package B (5 one-hour lessons with 1 maintenance visit) is $350.00 for dogs 1 year old. Basic Package C (5 half-hour lessons) is $250.00 for dogs between 12 weeks to 1 year old. Discounts of 15% are offered to military personnel, veterans (with scholarships for disabled veterans), emergency services personnel, and senior citizens over 60.
Policies
No refunds are given for training packages. If circumstances prevent the completion of a package plan, clients have several options: accepting an apology and two additional lessons, donating leftover lessons to the Pet Veteran’s Fund (which provides free lessons to disabled American veterans), or gifting the remaining package to a friend or relative within the service area.
Cancellation of appointments by the client is allowed for sickness, medical emergencies, and life events. Clients can reschedule an appointment twice within the life of the package. If the trainer cannot make an appointed time, they will reschedule and offer a free lesson at the end of the package, making every effort to notify clients in advance unless it’s a quick medical emergency.
Testimonials
“Happy Dog Basic Obedience helped me claim my place as the leader of my pack of 3 dogs. My “problem child” was my 2 yr. old Cavachon. She pulled on leash, was very excitable, and lunged at other dogs on our walks. Happy Dog Basic Obedience taught me to remain calm and use the proper amount of correction to make Georgie pay attention. The key for me was remaining calm. Now, on our walks. if she does begin to get excited when she sees another dog, I simply make her sit as the dog passes, and then we move on. There are even times (getting more frequent) when we can simply pass by, if I make the correction soon enough. I learned that, for the most part, “it’s all about me.” My other problem was the craziness of all 3 dogs when the doorbell rang. Once again, once I became calm and assertive, my dogs paid attention, stayed back on their special spots, and gave me and my visitor space, until they were invited to say hello. What a change! I’ve always loved my dogs, but now I can really enjoy them so much more. Happy Dog Basic Obedience reminded me that no matter how much I love my dogs and call them my babies, they really are dogs, and need to have a leader with confidence to help them learn their rules and boundaries. We have a much happier home now!”
– Elizabeth D.
“Rowan is AMAZING. My 10 month old Border Collie has so much energy that he developed some behavioral issues. In one assessment turned lesson, my dog quit yanking me out of my shoes and coul loose-leash walk with me in my yard. I love his philosophy and commitment. He scared the hell of me when my dog was licking his hand and he suddenly yelped loudly and jumped up holding his hands. I thought he had been bitten before learning it was a way to teach a ‘people-pleasing dog’ to feel empathy. My dog has not nipped at me since. While I taught some basic hand commands and received good response, Rowan redirected some of my techniques into much more effective methods…pleasing to both me and my dog. After a couple of hours of Rowan’s presence and lesson, my dog put himself to bed in his crate and, 4 hours later, is still napping. If you know anything about Border Collies, you should know they have spastic energy. This is the longest time (except at night) my dog has been still since I got him. Kudos to Rowan and his techniques. I give him 4 paws UP! UPDATE: After just two months of working with Rowan, my dog and I have an unbreakable bond and can read each other’s body language to know what to do. Cody will run along side me (leash free) while I ride my bike. He has so many wonderful new habits and the ‘corrections’ have nearly vanished. Today we tried rolling over, speak and catching toys in the air. From behaviorally challenged dog with a frustrated owner to a relationship of love and respect… I cannot recommend Rowan highly enough to do him the justice he deserves but I cannot imagine life without his input ever being as good as my dog and I have it today…and it keeps getting better!”
– Kimberly L.
“When I called, I was beside myself. My dog, Olive was out of control. She was causing stress in our family and my husband was threatening to take her to the Pound. Olive was a rescue, we found her when she was a puppy and adopted her without knowing her breed. It turned out that Olive was a high-strung, high energy Pit Bull mix. When visitors came to our home Olive would bark and jump on them almost knocking them over because she was so excited. Olive was destroying our home and would not respond to any command. Out in public she was even worse! At the dog park she would “herd” my son and I and not let any dogs near us; she’d bark and try to bite others dogs as they approached us. It was a nightmare. When I read the Happy Dogs reviews I sarcastically thought “yea right…” dog training would never work for me. To my complete amazement it worked! After the first session, Happy Dogs trainer taught me the first and most valuable lesson… that I was IN CONTROL not Olive. Today we finished our last basic training session and I feel like I have a new dog. Olive follows my commands; she is relaxed and generally seems content. Our lives and Olive’s life has been changed forever. Thank you for everything, you are the best. I now officially have a Happy Dog!”
– Likeyourstyle
About the Trainer
Happy Dog Basic Obedience provides one-on-one, in-home dog training for owners and their dogs, ranging from puppy head-start through advanced obedience. They strive to offer a fun, constructive, and educational experience using innovative dog training and relationship-building techniques. The business designs programs to meet specific needs and works with all breeds, sizes, and ages of dogs, as well as owners of all ages and abilities.
They focus on positive and practical solutions to dog behavior issues through private, in-home sessions, emphasizing a friendly, down-to-earth, and straightforward approach. Happy Dog Basic Obedience does not work with aggressive dogs, defined as those threatening harm through snarling, growling, snapping, biting, or lunging. The trainer, Dawn Lawrence, has a lifetime of experience training various animals and aims to help people and their dogs build a deeper connection and enjoy their relationship.
The business is licensed in Fresno and is an insured business. They offer a free, no-obligation consultation to help clients get started.
Accomplishments
Dawn Lawrence is a certified evaluator with the American Kennel Club (AKC) for both the Canine Good Citizen Program and the S.T.A.R. Puppy Program. She is a member in good standing with the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) and the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP).
Dawn is pursuing classes in animal behavior, specifically dogs, to receive her certification in professional dog training. She has a service dog with over 1000 hours of specialized training, which she trained with the help of two other trainers.
How to Get Started!
To get started, clients can call or email Happy Dog Basic Obedience for a free, no-obligation consultation. Appointments are advised to be scheduled as soon as possible due to trainers’ schedules filling up quickly. All calls are returned within 24 hours.
Contact Information
Availability
- Weekdays
- Weekends
- Morning
- Afternoon
- Evening
Certifications
- Credentialed
Associations
- AKC
- APDT
- Accredited
Languages
- English
Misc Features
- Women-owned
- wheelchair accessible entrance
- wheelchair accessible parking