House of Dog Training Center

House of Dog Training Center offers a comprehensive range of programs tailored to different dog ages and behavioral needs. Their group classes include Puppy Kindergarten (for 8 weeks-5 months), Puppy K2 (6 months-1 year), and Good Dog (1 year+), which cover basic obedience, socialization, impulse control, and common behavioral issues, with some leading to Pet Dog Ambassador or AKC certifications. Advanced drop-in classes like Excellent Dog, Superstar Dog, and Real Life Dog build upon these skills, incorporating distractions and public settings, with Real Life Dog preparing dogs for AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen and offering service dog referrals.

Specialty classes include Fun-gility for basic agility techniques and Fun With Your Nose for nosework, both designed for exercise and mental enrichment rather than competition. They also offer “Obedience, Tricks&Fitness, OH MY!”, “Come When Called” for recall issues, and “Tricks, tricks, tricks!” for fun cues.

Their Dayschool program provides individualized training for puppies, adults, and adolescents, often described as a daytime Board & Train, with flexible full or half-day options and training increments. A unique Cautious Dog Dayschool is available for dogs that cannot yet play with others. For behavioral challenges, they offer a Growl Class for on-leash reactive dogs and a Reactive Dog Package for fearful or aggressive dogs, both requiring an initial assessment. The Separation Anxiety Relief Package is an intensive 4-week program, modeled after Malena deMartini’s Mission Possible, involving Zoom sessions and daily exercises to help dogs overcome panic when left alone. Private lessons are available at their facility or in-home for specific behavioral issues.

Pricing Summary

Pricing information is available on their website’s price page. Dayschool offers flexible payment options including pay-as-you-go or packages, with a 10% discount on class prices when purchased with Dayschool. Clients receive a free 30-minute private lesson (valued at $75) after completing 5 hours of Dayschool training. The Separation Anxiety Relief Package costs $775, with financing and weekly payment options available. They also offer a discount through “Project Trade” for clients who exchange shock, prong, or choke collars.

Policies

The business has a “Cancel/Refund Policies” section linked on their website, but the specific details of these policies are not provided in the given text.

House of Dog Training Center is a dog training business committed to positive reinforcement-based methods and the least intrusive techniques to strengthen the bond between dogs and their humans. They avoid aversive stimulation, positive punishment, and negative reinforcement, believing these methods are unethical, inefficient, and can harm the human-animal bond. The center is passionate about reducing pet overpopulation and keeping dogs in their forever homes through effective training and behavior change programs.

They offer a wide range of services including group classes, private lessons, day school, and specialized programs for puppies, reactive dogs, and dogs with separation anxiety. Additionally, they provide overnight boarding, daytime social (doggie daycare), and host events like K9 birthday parties. The business operates from two locations in Colorado Springs: a Boarding & Behavior Center and a Training Center.

Accomplishments

The team at House of Dog Training Center boasts a wealth of experience and notable certifications. Co-owner Stevie Fields is a Canine Behavior Science Technologist (CBST) and founded the business in 2012 after an apprenticeship with Angie Neal. Co-owner Astrid Tryon is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA), the first in Colorado Springs to hold this certification in 2013, and is an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Brian Moore, another owner, brings over 20 years of Tai Chi principles to his training and is a Professional Canine Trainer – Accredited (PCT-A).

Angie Neal, a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) with over 27 years of experience, is a highly respected mentor who established an apprenticeship program that produced five certified trainers. She was voted “Best Dog Trainer in Colorado Springs” multiple times by the Colorado Springs Gazette and published a DVD on Flirtpoles. Stephanie Dowdell is a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) and Professional Canine Trainer – Accredited (PCT-A), having developed the center’s separation anxiety program. Melanie Gantt is an Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer (ABCDT) and Certified Professional Dog Trainer: Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA), a Fear Free Certified Dog Trainer, and completed the Aggression in Dogs Master’s Course. Pamela Meyerhofer holds a Professional Dog Trainer certification from Absolute Dogs, and Jordan Fox is a Professional Canine Trainer – Accredited (PCT-A) with a passion for working with fearful, blind, and deaf dogs.

How to Get Started!

To begin, clients can schedule a free 15-minute “GET TO KNOW YOU CALL” to discuss their needs and determine the most suitable service. For specific programs, assessment appointments are required: a 30-minute “Parent Puppy Day” appointment for B&B Puppy School, Puppy Daytime Social, and Puppy Boarding; a 15-minute “Trainer Call” appointment for Adult & Adolescent Dayschool; a 30-minute assessment for Cautious Dog Dayschool; and a 60-minute assessment for Reactive Dog programs and a 30-minute assessment for the Separation Anxiety Relief Package. These assessments help trainers evaluate the dog’s behavior and establish training goals.