PuppyK

PuppyK offers a comprehensive range of training programs. “Puppy Training in Your Home” provides private, tailored lessons covering house and crate training, preventing play biting and jumping, and teaching basic commands like sit, down, stay, come, drop it, leave it, walk with me, heel, off, look, and touch, along with games and tricks. These sessions are particularly beneficial for families, involving children in the training process.

The “Best Start for Pup” Combo Deals combine a six-week group puppy class with one or more private in-home sessions, focusing on critical early learning such as house training, managing play biting, and establishing good habits. The “AKC STAR PUPPY Group Class” is a six-week program for young puppies (under 5-6 months, depending on breed size), featuring monitored puppy play for socialization and instruction on basic commands and polite home behaviors, leading to AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certification.

For older puppies and adult dogs, the “Advanced Puppy” class builds on foundational skills, focusing on real-world distractions, polite greetings, socialization, heeling, and preparing for the Canine Good Citizenship Test, while also introducing dog sports like Rally, Agility, and Nose Work. The “Good Manners Class” is an introductory group class for dogs over five months, emphasizing practical skills like not jumping, polite greetings, settling calmly, reliable recall, attention under distractions, and loose leash walking, alongside position changes and fun tricks.

“Private Adult Dog Training” offers customized sessions for adult dogs to address basic training needs or problem behaviors, excluding severe aggression cases. “Canine Good Citizen Classes and Test” prepares dogs for the AKC CGC test, focusing on practical skills for everyday life. Additionally, PuppyK provides “Beginner Agility for Adult Dogs” and “Agility for Adolescent Dogs,” taught by an experienced agility competitor, focusing on physical and mental challenges, equipment mastery, and handler skills. “Fun Tricks” classes teach a variety of impressive tricks, with the goal of earning Novice and Intermediate AKC Trick Dog Titles.

Pricing Summary

Private puppy training is available at $189 per hour-long visit for individual classes. Packages are offered at $165 per visit for four classes and $149 per visit for six classes. “Best Start for Pup” Combo Deals, which combine six group classes with one to four private sessions, range from $449 to $899. Advanced Puppy classes cost $349. Beginner Agility for adult dogs is $298, and for adolescent dogs, it is $297. Private adult dog training has an initial session fee of $199, with a $25 discount if also signing up for the Good Manners group class; discounted package deals are available after the initial session. Group class payments are non-refundable if health clearance is not met, but can be applied towards private classes.

Policies

For group classes, one missed class can be made up in the next session. If a puppy’s health clearance does not come through in time for a group class, refunds are not provided, but the payment can be used toward private classes. Jutka, the head trainer, will be out of town for the month of June. For private adult dog training, PuppyK does not specialize in aggression cases where a dog has bitten a person and broken skin, recommending clients with such issues seek a specialist.

PuppyK is a dog training business led by Jutka Terris, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA), who is also the owner and head trainer. They are dedicated to helping dog owners achieve well-behaved and happy puppies and dogs. Jutka employs positive, motivational, and science-based training methods, adapting her approach to each dog’s unique personality and learning style, and emphasizing empathy and humor in her interactions.

PuppyK offers a variety of training programs, including private in-home lessons tailored to specific needs, and group classes that combine training with essential puppy socialization. Their curriculum covers fundamental obedience commands, addresses common behavioral issues like house training, play biting, and jumping, and prepares dogs for real-life distractions.

Beyond basic obedience, PuppyK provides specialized classes in dog sports such as Agility and Fun Tricks, and offers preparation for official certifications like the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program and the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test. They also assist in training dogs to become therapy, emotional support, and service dogs. The business prides itself on small class sizes to ensure individual attention and guidance for both dogs and their owners.

Accomplishments

Jutka Terris, the head trainer and owner of PuppyK, is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) by CCPDT. She is an approved trainer for the American Kennel Club’s S.T.A.R. Puppy Program and a certified evaluator for the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test, AKC Community Canine Test, AKC Urban CGC, and AKC Trick Dog. Jutka also conducts temperament tests for Therapy Pets Unlimited. She previously trained and was deployed with her Search-and-Rescue K9 partner, Juno. Since launching PuppyK in 2013, she has helped thousands of dogs achieve various titles and become therapy, emotional support, and service dogs.

Sherri Fries, another trainer at PuppyK, is a long-time Masters Level Agility Competitor with over 20 years of experience in competing and teaching Agility. Her dogs have earned multiple Master Agility Championship (MACH) titles and competed at AKC and USDAA Nationals. Sherri is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.

How to Get Started!

To begin training with PuppyK, clients can email info@puppyk.com to schedule their first private class, including their address for in-home service area determination, or details about problem areas and training goals for adult dog training. For group classes or combo deals, clients can register via specific links provided on the website, which typically involve filling out a contact form and making payment. After registration, clients are required to email up-to-date vaccination and fecal test records for their dog. For Canine Good Citizen classes, interested clients should email PuppyK to express interest, and a class will be started once enough dogs are enrolled; new clients should describe their dog’s previous training.