Ruffians’ Charm School

Ruffians’ Charm School offers a variety of training programs. Group classes include Puppy Essentials and Puppy Kindergarten for young pups (8-19 weeks), focusing on socialization, confidence building, and basic manners like sit, down, come, and leash walking. Kindergarten-Extended bridges the gap to more advanced training. Basic Good Manners is for dogs 20 weeks and older covering similar foundational skills. Building on Basics is a Level 2 class for more advanced cues and challenging situations. Specialized classes include Loose Leash Lassie for leash manners, Bouncing Benji for jumping, and Reactive Rover for on-leash reactivity (requires a private behavior consultation pre-requisite).

They also offer a three-stage Therapy Dog Track Program (Delightful Dogs, Hounds Around Town, Therapy Dog Class) which prepares dogs for CGC, CGCA, and therapy dog certification. Recreational classes like Fitness & Recreation, Canine Cognition, and Tricks are available. Private Behavior Consultations address issues such as aggression, fear, anxiety, resource guarding, and complex potty training. Separation Anxiety Treatment is an intensive, customized program conducted via Zoom and Google Sheets, with daily plans and weekly live reassessments. Puppy Day School is a drop-off program for puppies under 24 weeks, offering structured play, training, confidence building, and rest.

Pricing Summary

Initial Behavior Consultation is $225 for 1 hour. Follow-Up consultations are $185 for 1 hour. Group classes are generally $245 for a 6-week course (1 hour per class), with some exceptions like Reactive Rover ($295 for 5 weeks) and Tricks/Canine Cognition ($245 for 5 weeks). Puppy Socialization is $25 pay-as-you-go. Puppy Day School is $65 for a half-day and $115 for a full-day. Separation Anxiety treatment is $185 for the initial assessment and $125 per week for training packages. Payment in full is due at the time of booking for consultations and group classes. Payments for group classes cannot be credited towards private lessons.

Policies

For group classes, payment is due in full at online registration. Withdrawals with more than one week’s notice from the start date receive a refund minus a $35 administrative fee; less than a week’s notice forfeits payment. Transfers to another course within a week of the start date are free; less than a week’s notice incurs a $35 fee. Once a course starts, no transfers without new payment, no pro-rating for missed classes, and no credits for future classes or private lessons. Make-ups are not available for missed classes unless the class is canceled for bad weather.

Proof of vaccination (DAPP/equivalent, Rabies, Bordetella) is required for adult dogs; puppies need at least one round of vaccines a week prior to attendance and must be up to date for their age. Titers are accepted. Dogs do not need to be spayed or neutered, but females in heat may not attend, and intact males who repeatedly urine-mark must wear a belly band. Children aged 4 and up are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult and encouraged to participate safely. The facility is cleaned and sanitized daily.

Ruffians’ Charm School, led by Valerie Balwanz, offers comprehensive dog training and behavior consulting services in Charlottesville, VA. Valerie, a highly certified professional, has been training dogs since 2009 and operates from a 5,000 sq ft facility on Harris Street. The business emphasizes force-free training methods, utilizing treats and clickers, and explicitly avoids prong, shock, choke chain, or pinch collars.

They provide a wide range of services from puppy socialization and basic manners to advanced behavior modification for issues like aggression, fear, and separation anxiety. The facility is meticulously cleaned daily, especially for puppies, and offers a safe, climate-controlled environment with recycled rubber flooring for comfort and safety.

Ruffians’ Charm School is recognized for its professionalism and dedication to strengthening the dog-human relationship, with many local veterinarians recommending their services and even bringing their own dogs for training. They have received local awards and been featured in national publications.

Accomplishments

Valerie Balwanz is certified through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers as a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC-KA) and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). She is also a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) and holds a certification from the Peaceable Paws Academy (PMCT). Valerie is a certified CGC tester for the AKC and a member of the Pet Professionals Guild. Her training services have received the Charlottesville Family Favorite Award and the Daily Progress Reader’s Choice Award several years in a row. She has been featured in The Whole Dog Journal and Reader’s Digest. Lu Shannon and Caiti White are Karen Pryer Academy Certified Training Partners (KPA-CTP).

How to Get Started!

To get started, clients can register for group classes or behavior consultations via online scheduling links. For behavior consultations, a detailed questionnaire must be submitted prior to the initial consult to save discussion time. For separation anxiety, an initial assessment is scheduled via Zoom. For the Private Dog Park, existing clients can email to inquire or may receive an invitation after aging out of Puppy Socialization or completing a group class. New clients for the Dog Park should email a request including dog’s name, age, breed, and interested group.