Mountain Paws Dog Training

Mountain Paws Dog Training offers a comprehensive range of programs including group classes and private/specialized training. Group classes cover Puppy Kindergarten (for socialization and basic commands, including AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy), Bow Wow Basics (beginner obedience), Polite Pup 1 & 2 (intermediate to advanced obedience with distractions), and Advanced K9 Good Citizen (focusing on AKC CGC test items). They also offer specialized group classes like Let’s Go For a Walk! (loose leash walking), AKC Trick Dog, Rally Obedience, Reactive Rover Prep and Reactive Rover (for reactive dogs), and various NoseWork classes (Beginner I & II, Intermediate, Advanced, Drop In). Agility training is available through Intro to Agility Foundations I, II, and III, leading to Fun Run Agility.

Private training is available both in-studio and in-home, offering customized one-on-one sessions for obedience, behavior modification, agility, and NoseWork. Initial consultations are required for private sessions to assess dog behavior and training goals. They also provide a Drop In class for obedience class makeups and extra practice. Additionally, they host an Indoor Dog Park for safe play and a Brew Dog Club for practicing manners in public settings.

Pricing Summary

Group classes range from $15 for a Drop In class to $225 for Agility Foundations. Most 6-8 week group classes are $175-$205. Private in-studio obedience consultations are $115 (90 min), with follow-up sessions at $85 (1 hour) or packages from $240-$675. Behavior modification consultations are $135 (90 min), with follow-up sessions at $105 (90 min) or packages from $300-$855. Agility private sessions are $115 for initial consult (90 min) or $95 for follow-ups (1 hour), with a 3-session package for $270. NoseWork private sessions are $55 for 30 minutes.

In-home private obedience consultations are $145 (90 min), with follow-up sessions at $115 (1 hour) or packages from $330-$945. In-home behavior modification consultations are $165 (90 min), with follow-up sessions at $135 per hour or packages from $390-$1,125. Travel charges apply for in-home sessions 15-30 minutes from the studio.

Studio rentals range from $35/hour for small groups to $100/hour for agility parties. An Advanced NoseWork subscription offers a $10 discount per 4-week cycle, auto-renewing for 3 cycles.

Policies

For private sessions, a 48-hour cancellation or reschedule notice is required. A second rescheduling request incurs a $20 fee. Cancellations within 48 hours result in loss of deposit. For group classes, a 7-day notice is required for cancellation or class switching. Cancellations under 7 days receive a 50% refund, and within 3 days, no refund. No-shows for any class receive no refunds or rescheduling. For the Advanced NoseWork subscription, early cancellation requires paying back any savings received. No refunds are given once a cycle charge has gone through.

Mountain Paws Dog Training is a dog training business located in Colorado Springs, CO. They offer a variety of training services including group classes, private and specialized training, and studio rentals. Their philosophy centers on positive reinforcement methods, emphasizing that training should be simple, positive, consistent, and fun. They welcome dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, believing every dog deserves to be educated.

The business aims to help dog owners build strong relationships with their pets through compassionate, science-based training techniques. They focus on teaching good daily habits to create well-behaved and confident dogs, ensuring a long and wonderful life for pets and their owners.

Accomplishments

Trudi Schoening attended Animal Behavior College in 2007 and has engaged in mentorships and seminars. She ran her first training business, Golden Companion Dog Training, for 11 years. Trudi has been competing in dog agility since 2009, earning multiple championship titles with her dogs.

María Plaza started working with dogs in 2014 as a Pet Nutrition Specialist. In 2016, she completed the Petco Positive Dog Training Instructor Program and was promoted to Head Trainer. She volunteered as a Puppy Trainer at Victory Service Dogs and later became a trainer there, working with Service Dogs in Training. María is also an AKC CGC Evaluator.

LeNore Ralston has over 15 years participating in dog agility and over 10 years in scent work, with 4 dogs achieving multiple titles. She has been a teacher for most of her life, instructing in various topics including performance dog activities.

Julie Summers graduated from Victoria Stillwell’s Academy, focused on positive training, and holds her CPDT certification. She competes in dog sports like scent work, conformation, and rally, achieving success with her Labrador Retriever, Aspen.

Becky Clippinger has been active with the Colorado Wyoming Vizsla Rescue Group since 2013, fostering dogs. She has had success in the show ring and excelled in scentwork with her dog, Manny.

How to Get Started!

For group classes, dog owners can sign up directly online via the provided links. For advanced group classes, if the dog has not attended a Mountain Paws class before, a free evaluation can be scheduled to test into the class. For private training, an initial consultation and training session must be booked first to discuss training goals, observe the dog’s behavior, and get a history. This consult requires a 50% deposit. For Reactive Rover, a Reactive Rover Prep class may be required if the dog has not taken a class with them before, to ensure basic skills are in place.