Mountain View Dog Training

Mountain View Dog Training offers a variety of classes for different stages and goals. Basic classes include Puppy Kindergarten (for puppies 9 to 22 weeks old), AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy (for puppies up to 1 year old), Family Dog, and Canine Good Citizen.

For those looking to advance, they offer CGC/Therapy Dog Prep, Obedience Bridge (preparation for competition), and Tricks! Competition-focused classes include Competitive Obedience (all levels), Rally Obedience (all levels, AKC and USDAA), and Agility (all levels, all venues).

They also frequently offer special classes such as Shy Dogs, Treibball, and Canine Parkour. A class progression guide is available, starting with AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy or Good Dog!, leading to CGC/Therapy Dog, Agility Prep School, Rally, Tricks!, Body Awareness, and Canine Parkour. Agility classes are available after completing the second level of Agility Prep School.

Mountain View Dog Training, established in the 1990s by Averill & Ken Ring and Cathy Hughes, focuses on dogs and their interaction with people, emphasizing the bond formed through training. They aim to demonstrate the rewards of positive interaction, involve entire families in training, and provide knowledge of dog behavior to prevent future problems. They also foster responsible pet ownership and prepare students for agility and obedience competitions while ensuring fun.

Their training methods are force-free, utilizing science, experience, and positive reinforcement. They do not use painful devices such as shock, prong, or choke collars. Instead, they teach new behaviors by rewarding correct responses, with consequences for mistakes primarily involving withholding rewards or issuing time-outs.

Mountain View Dog Training provides canine obedience and agility training in Warrenton and Amissville, VA.

Accomplishments

Mountain View Dog Training was established in the 1990s by Averill & Ken Ring and Cathy Hughes. Averill Ring has taught dog training classes since 1985, having trained and exhibited Saint Bernards and Australian Shepherds in obedience and conformation. She has participated in numerous conferences, seminars, workshops, and camps on dog behavior, training, and agility performance, and currently competes in agility.

Sally Petty has taught dog training classes since 1990, managed an animal shelter for 11 years, and started clicker training in 1991. She has attended many seminars and workshops to improve her skills. Sally is deeply involved in therapy dog volunteering, having been a team with six Goldens and two Aussies since 1993. She became a Tester/Observer for Therapy Dogs Incorporated (now Alliance of Therapy Dogs) in 1994 and founded the Waggin’ Hearts Therapy Dogs group and Books & Barks Reading Partners Program. Sally is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluator. Their students have achieved AKC Trick Dog Performer (TKP) titles.

How to Get Started!

For Puppy Kindergarten, S.T.A.R. Puppy, and CGC/Therapy Dog classes, puppies or adult dogs are to be brought to the first week, along with vaccination records (including proof of rabies), payment, a flat collar or harness, a 6-foot leash (no Flexi-leads), soft treats, a tug toy, a chew toy, a mat, and water. Dogs should not be fed before class unless they are tiny toy breeds. Dogs are not to be brought to the first week of Family Dog class. For class selection guidance, clients are encouraged to contact the business.