Olde Towne School For Dogs

Day Care Training is their most popular program, consisting of 30 minutes of training three times a day, four days a week for three weeks. Dogs attend school Tuesday through Friday, from 9 am to 4 pm, with drop-off as early as 7:30 am and pick-up as late as 7:00 pm. This program includes three one-hour private sessions for owners to see their dog’s progress and learn how to apply the training. Exercises covered in the basic course include heel, automatic sit when stopping, sit-stay, down-stay, come when called, and down from a distance. Dogs work on both six-foot and fifteen-foot leashes and are trained around distractions such as other dogs, traffic, squirrels, and joggers. The program also teaches owners how to use training tools to address problems like barking, jumping, digging, or destructive behavior. Graduates receive a diploma and an “honor student” bumper sticker. Dog taxi services are available for transportation.

The Private Lesson program consists of six one-hour lessons where owners are taught to train their dog with a private instructor. The instructor focuses on the owner’s specific handling techniques and the dog’s learning style. Each week, a new exercise is taught, and previous weeks are reviewed. The exercises are identical to the basic exercises taught in day care training. Owners and their dogs are expected to complete all assigned homework for optimal results.

The Puppy Head Start course is designed for puppies 8 to 18 weeks of age and consists of three private sessions. This course covers essential information for raising a puppy during this critical period, including housebreaking, surviving the teething stage, vocabulary using food, learning to walk on a leash, socialization to sights and sounds, and positive motivation for whistle recall. They also assist with grooming techniques specific to the puppy’s coat type. Trainers are available during business hours to answer puppy-related questions.

Advanced Off-Leash training is offered for exceptional students who have completed basic training. This program covers all basic exercises along with advanced commands such as drop in motion, drop on recall, and come when called around distractions in the park. The off-leash course can be taken as part of either the day school or private lesson program.

Olde Towne School for Dogs is a family-owned and -operated full-service facility for pets and their owners, established in 1975 by Carlos and Sandy Mejias. Located in the heart of Alexandria’s historic district, the school has grown to 7,000 square feet dedicated to training, retail, and grooming.

They pride themselves on a highly qualified training staff, with instructors completing a rigid one-year apprenticeship program. Carlos and Sandy personally oversee instructor training and student progress.

The school has trained over 40,000 dogs and their owners since 1975, using an owner-friendly method that emphasizes consistency, structure, fairness, kindness, motivation, repetitive steps, and praise. They offer various training programs including Day Care training (their most popular program), Private Lessons, Puppy Head Start, and advanced Off-Leash training.

They also provide quality grooming services to breed standards with premier groomers and state-of-the-art equipment, and a pet supply department with a diverse selection of dog and cat supplies.

Accomplishments

Olde Towne School for Dogs was established in 1975 by Carlos and Sandy Mejias. Carlos began instructing at Capt. Haggerty’s school for dogs in 1968 and is an accomplished groomer, having graduated from the New York School of Dog Grooming. He has trained dogs for the obedience ring, earning Utility titles with his own dogs and helping clients achieve titles. His grooming expertise extends to training staff and grooming Portuguese Water Dogs to breed championships. Carlos’s areas of expertise include problem dogs, theatrical training, service dog work, conformation ring work, and guard dog training. He has also served on the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s board of directors for five years.

Sandy began her dog training career at Capt. Haggerty’s Schools for Dogs in 1973 after graduating from Hollins College with a BA in English. She avidly showed her Irish Terrier in both breed and obedience rings as a child and has put numerous AKC titles on her own dogs while helping clients achieve their obedience goals. Sandy developed an instructor course that she and Carlos have used to train countless dog trainers, many of whom have gone on to become successful business owners. Both Carlos and Sandy have a special interest in service dog work and have trained numerous dogs for the disabled.

The school has trained well over 40,000 dogs and their owners since 1975, and their apprentice program has successfully produced top-quality dog trainers and instructors.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the organization by browsing their website. They can contact the school via e-mail, telephone, or by visiting in person with any questions or comments. An “Evaluation Sign Up” form is available for those interested in starting services.