Pups Dog Obedience Training

The cornerstone program is the 8-week Basic Group Obedience Course, which is progressive and focuses on three goals: achieving reliable obedience (including readiness for off-leash work), establishing a strong owner-dog relationship with the owner as a capable leader, and building the dog’s temperament and confidence by teaching them to regulate adrenaline. This class emphasizes mental work and physical praise as rewards, without using treats, and includes individual behavior modification tailored to each dog’s genetics and traits.

Upon successful completion of the Basic Course, dogs can advance to the 4-week Advanced Obedience Course, which further enhances obedience and transitions dogs to off-leash reliability. Private lessons are available for the Basic Obedience Course and other services. For puppies aged 10-18 weeks, PUPS offers Puppy Sessions designed to set them up for success. They also provide training for dog sports like Rally O!! Cynosport! and American Schutzhund/IPO, as well as Individual Modification Programs for specific behavior issues, and Boarding/Training Services.

Pricing Summary

The 8-week Basic Group Obedience Course costs $450, with an option to repeat the course for free within a year of graduating. The 4-week Advanced Group Obedience Course is $250, while the private version costs $350. Private Basic Obedience Course sessions are $125 each, and other private lessons are $100 per session. A mandatory assessment for reactive/aggressive dogs is required prior to orientation, costing $125. Discounts include $25 for active military personnel and $50 for additional dogs, with only one discount applied per dog.

Policies

PUPS offers a “Guaranteed Results” policy for their Basic Obedience Course: if the program’s three goals are not met to the highest potential by the end of the 8-week course, or if a young dog needs further channeling, clients can repeat the course one time free of charge. If a client has to drop out during a course, they are allowed to join a new class one time for free within two months. For dogs that are reactive or aggressive on leash towards dogs or people, a mandatory private assessment/behavior modification session is required prior to orientation to ensure group class suitability and to provide initial handling instruction.

PUPS Dog Obedience Training is a dog training business founded by Karen Decker, with her daughter Kristin Clark also serving as a trainer. They offer a comprehensive range of services, with their progressive 8-week Basic Group Obedience Course being the cornerstone of their programs.

Their philosophy is centered on individually assessing each dog, recognizing breed traits, and building a strong, trusting relationship where the owner is established as a capable leader. They use specialized obedience training as a vehicle to create confident, thinking dogs that can handle new or stressful situations with ease, focusing on mental work and physical praise rather than treats in their basic course.

PUPS specializes in working with high-drive working breeds and dogs with various temperament issues, including all forms of aggression, separation anxiety, fearfulness, and low confidence. They also provide puppy sessions, advanced obedience, private lessons, and training for competitive dog sports like Rally O and American Schutzhund/IPO. Additionally, they offer boarding/training services, facility rental, and seminars.

A unique advantage is their “Open Door to Repeat the Program for Free” policy, allowing clients to repeat the Basic Obedience course once at no charge if the program goals aren’t fully met or for young dogs needing further channeling. They are highly regarded and referred by many vets, shelters, and rescue organizations in Maryland and surrounding areas.

Accomplishments

Karen Decker has been training dogs full-time since 1990, inspired by the successful rehabilitation of her own aggressive Rottweiler/Lab mix, Kelso. She has trained and mentored under world-level trainers and competitors, including Debbie Zappia, who won the 2015 WUSV. Karen’s German Shepherd, Beda Van Den Heuvel, has earned BH, IPO1, IPO2, and IPO3 titles.

Kristin Clark, Karen’s daughter, grew up with dogs and developed a passion for training. She trains and competes in IPO (Schutzhund) and PSA with her Cane Corso, Grand’s Cianna, who holds BH, IPO1, IPO2, CGC, World Cynosport Rally I, Cynosport Rally 1 Award of Excellence, and Rally II titles. PUPS Dog Obedience Training is highly regarded and receives referrals from numerous veterinarians, shelters, and rescue organizations in Maryland and surrounding areas due to their success in improving aggressive behaviors.

How to Get Started!

To enroll in the Basic Group Obedience Course or view the current schedule, clients can visit the online calendar page, call 443-545-9598 or 443-545-9597, or email pupsmd@aol.com. For scheduling a private Advanced Obedience course, clients should call or email. Dogs with aggression or reactivity issues require a mandatory private assessment/behavior modification session prior to orientation, which costs $125 and can be scheduled by emailing or calling 443-545-9598 or 443-452-7200. For Rally O classes, dogs must be graduates of the Basic Obedience Course or pass a test-out session. Private lessons are scheduled by phone at 443-545-9598 or email at pupsmd@aol.com. Virtual sessions via Zoom are also available by contacting pupsmd@aol.com or calling/texting 443-545-9598.