Havana Dog Training

Havana Dog Training offers a comprehensive range of programs designed to meet various needs. Group Classes are 5-week sessions, meeting once a week, focusing on practical, real-life skills. Foundations classes include weekly Q&A and two months of free HDT Membership. Offerings include Puppy Manners (8 weeks to 6 months), Basic Manners (over 6 months), Advanced Manners (requires Foundations 1), Rally Obedience, Tricks for Treats (includes AKC Trick Dog testing), Summer Style (focuses on public manners), Kids & Canines (for children 5-12), Hav-an-a Fun Time (engaging games), and Canine Good Citizen Prep Class. Most advanced classes require completion of Foundations 1 & 2.

Day Training is a training-focused alternative to traditional daycare, operating Monday through Thursday. Dogs receive one (Basic) or three (Elite) training sessions daily, supervised playgroup, and relaxation time. Daily report cards are provided, covering skills like loose leash walking, recall, focus, and polite greetings.

Private Lessons offer one-on-one, customized training for specific skills or advanced behavior modification. These can be conducted at their training center, in the client’s home, or virtually via video or phone. They address general manners and behavior modification for issues like reactivity, aggression, resource guarding, and separation anxiety. Behavior modification packages include an initial online week followed by three in-person sessions.

The Board & Train program involves dogs staying in a trainer’s private home, receiving real-life training on house behaviors and formal training sessions. Training is customized to individual goals and includes potty breaks, exercise, playtime, digital report cards, and transitional training for longer stays. An evaluation via a private lesson or group class is typically required for new dogs, and the program has limitations for severe aggression or separation anxiety.

Online Learning, accessible through the HDT Membership, provides self-paced courses with text and video demonstrations. This includes Foundations 1 & 2, Socialization, Behavior Modification courses (Resource Guarding, Separation Anxiety, Reducing Reactivity), Puppy courses (Potty Training, Crate Training, Family Integration, Puppy Biting, Chewing), and Skill Specific courses (Loose Leash Walking, Reliable Recall, Intro to Tricks, Fantastic Focus, Greeting People Politely, Intermediate Tricks, Boredom Blues). The membership also offers exclusive blogs and a discussion forum for trainer feedback.

Pricing Summary

Group Classes are $155 for a 5-week session. Private Lessons vary by type and location: at the training center, General Manners are $60 for 30 minutes or $100 for 60 minutes, while Behavior Modification is $90 for 30 minutes or $150 for 60 minutes. In-home Private Lessons are $150 per hour for General Manners and $190 per hour for Behavior Modification, with a one-hour minimum and potential mileage fees. Virtual or phone consults are $50 for 30 minutes or $80 for 60 minutes.

Behavior Modification packages are available for $270 plus an HDT Online Membership, including an initial online week and three in-person sessions at the facility. Board & Train rates are $130 per night (3-night minimum), $780 per week (buy 6 nights, get one free), $1,560 for a 2-week Puppy Power Up, and $3,560 per week for a 4-week stay. Field trips can be added for $30 per trip.

Day Training offers Basic at $50 per day (one training session) and Elite at $65 per day (three training sessions). Packages include 10-day Elite for $62.50/day (expires in 2 months), 20-day Elite for $60/day (expires in 3 months), and a 20-day 50/50 package (10 basic, 10 elite) for $55/day (expires in 3 months). Unlimited Day Training is available through monthly auto-renewing packages: Basic for $725/month or Elite for $1000/month. The HDT Online Membership is $25 per month. CGC & AKC Trick Testing costs $25 per test. Grooming services start at $30 for a Bath, $60 for a Bath & Neaten, and $70 for a Haircut, with various add-ons available.

Policies

For Board & Train, dogs with human aggression, dog aggression, or severe separation anxiety are typically not accepted, though exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis, and these behaviors are accepted for private lessons. The business reserves the right to deny access to this program for any reason. Board & Train nightly rates require a 3-night minimum, and weekly/4-week rates must be consecutive.

Day Training packages have expiration dates: 10-day packages expire in 2 months, and 20-day packages expire in 3 months. The Unlimited Day Training package auto-renews monthly, and clients must register before the 1st of the month. Day Training operates Monday through Thursday.

Group classes have prerequisites; for example, Advanced Manners requires completion of Foundations 1, and most specialty classes require Foundations 1 & 2. The Kids & Canines class requires all attending dogs to be friendly and non-reactive. Private lessons in your home have a one-hour minimum, and a mileage fee applies for locations more than ten miles from the training facility. The HDT Online Membership is a subscription service that can be unsubscribed from at any time.

Havana Dog Training is a group of trainers dedicated to training dogs and educating owners. They aim to be a training facility, a community, and a resource for dog owners, focusing on helping owners develop clear communication with their dogs. Their programs go beyond basic obedience, emphasizing practical, real-life skills to foster well-rounded dogs.

They are committed to fair training methods that promote mutual respect between canine and owner, recognizing each dog’s unique personality, goals, and needs. Havana Dog Training offers a variety of services including Group Classes, Day Training, Private Lessons, Board & Train, and Online Learning. They also provide professional grooming services, offering a luxury spa experience with compassionate care and quality products.

A unique advantage of their Board & Train program is that dogs are boarded in a trainer’s home with their family, kids, and other dogs, providing real-life house behavior training. Day Training focuses specifically on training and structured play, rather than just traditional daycare. Online learning offers flexible, self-paced instruction through text and video demonstrations. The team has over 40 years of combined experience and has worked with over 2,000 dogs.

Accomplishments

Havana Dog Training boasts over 40 years of combined experience in education and canine training, having worked with over 2,000 dogs of various breeds, sizes, and ages. The trainers are committed to continuous learning, attending classes with their own dogs, participating in seminars, competing in dog sports, and mentoring other trainers.

Megan Wimer, the owner and trainer, holds a degree in education and began her professional canine training career in 2016, officially starting Havana Dog Training in 2017. She is an AKC CGC & Trick Dog Evaluator and actively competes in agility, conformation, rally, and trick dog sports, with her Malinois training for mondioring. Ali DuChene, Trainer & Day Training Manager, has a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and specializes in Companion Animal Behaviors, having completed a mentorship with Havana.

Susan Breamer, a trainer and AKC CGC & Trick Dog Evaluator, started her dog training journey in 1998 and began competing in 2005. She has competed and trained in a wide array of sports including flyball, agility, fastcat, barn hunt, disc, dock diving, pheasant hunting, obedience, and rally. Evelin Cuellar, Trainer & Groomer, entered the grooming industry in 2020, completed a grooming program in 2021, and received extensive mentorship from a world-renowned, master certified groomer, Susan Hatch, learning detailed, breed-specific grooming. Jurnee Wilson and Kendra Wilson are also trainers who initially started as clients before joining the Havana team.

How to Get Started!

To get started with Havana Dog Training, clients can register for various programs directly through their online booking system. For Board & Train, if the dog has not been met by the trainers, clients are asked to schedule a private lesson or group class for an evaluation and recommendations. For employment opportunities, interested individuals can send their resume and answers to specific questions via email. General inquiries can be made via email, phone, or text.