Rebecca’s Canine Academy

Rebecca’s Canine Academy provides dog training services across various disciplines including Agility, Obedience, Rally, Tracking, IPO, Nose Work, Trick Dog, Behavior Modification, Conformation, and Canine Good Citizen at all levels. Both group and private instruction are available Monday through Friday.

Programs cater to all breeds and mixes, offering basic obedience through AKC STAR Puppy and companion dog levels like CGC, CGCA, and CGCU. Specialized sports training includes Agility, focusing on teamwork and speed; Rally, a course-based obedience sport; Tracking, which highlights a dog’s scenting ability; IPO, a three-phase working dog sport covering tracking, obedience, and protection; K9 Nose Work, involving scent detection; and Conformation, for evaluating breeding stock.

Behavior Modification is offered through private, hourly appointments for addressing unwanted or dangerous canine behaviors.

Pricing Summary

Behavior modification appointments are $75 per hour. Classes must be paid in full prior to the start date, and cash or check are accepted.

Policies

For the safety of all dogs and handlers, dogs must be leashed or crated when not actively working. The facility maintains a smoke-free environment across its entire grounds. The use of flexi leads is prohibited in classes due to entanglement risks, though they are permitted for exercising dogs outside of class, provided a 4-6 foot leash is used during class. Handlers are required to clean up after their dogs, with disposal pails and bags available on-site.

Rebecca’s Canine Academy, established in 2000, offers comprehensive dog training services to the greater Binghamton, NY area. The academy is led by Rebecca Letson, who holds AAS, BT, and MAT degrees in Animal Sciences with graduate work from Cornell University.

Rebecca’s training philosophy is rooted in learning theory and canine ethology, emphasizing positive reinforcement alongside operant and classical conditioning principles. Programs are continuously reviewed and tailored to meet the specific needs of each dog and handler team, ensuring all are treated with respect.

The facility, built in 2009, features an outdoor fenced agility arena, a climate-controlled classroom, and an indoor arena with Juta sport turf installed in 2017 for advanced sports footing. All classes are conducted on-site.

Beyond training, Rebecca’s Canine Academy also engages in dog breeding, specifically Standard Poodles and Giant Schnauzers, with past litters mentioned. The academy promotes sportsmanship, encouraging clients to support and recognize the achievements of all teams.

Accomplishments

Rebecca Letson holds an AAS, BT, and MAT in Animal Sciences, with graduate work completed at Cornell University. She is a member of the APDT, Giant Schnauzer Club of America, Working Riesenschnauzer Federation, and Schutzengel Working Dog Club, where she serves as training director and holds a board position. She is also a Canine Good Citizen evaluator for the American Kennel Club.

Rebecca personally competes in Agility, IPO, Rally, Nose Work, Obedience, Tracking, Barn Hunt, and some Herding, demonstrating a proven record at local, regional, and national levels in many canine sports. Her dog, Hemi vom Engelskotten, received invites to the 2015, 2016, and 2017 AKC Agility Invitationals and participated twice in the Westminster Masters Agility Championship. The academy also celebrates the achievements of clients, including Jim Turner and Mysti, who were the AKC Invitational 2018 16-inch champion and AKC Top MACH Dog of the Year in 2016 and 2017.

How to Get Started!

To enroll in programs, clients should email rletson@stny.rr.com. Required documentation includes a copy of the most current rabies certificate and vaccination history for distemper/parvo. Annual titre results are accepted as an alternative for distemper and parvo. All classes must be paid in full before the start date, with cash or check accepted for payment.