SIRIUS Puppy & Dog Training

Classes are structured by dog age and progression: Puppy Kindergarten (8–12 weeks), Puppy Training I (12–18 weeks), Puppy Training II (up to 8 months, requires Puppy I), and Dog Training I (19 weeks+). Each class is 5 sessions long and held in indoor facilities. Students receive free access to the Top Dog Academy online platform with 170+ video lessons, eBooks, and webinars to reinforce training at home. Classes focus on socialization, off-leash control, and resolving common puppy behaviors like biting, barking, and potty training.

Pricing Summary

Group classes are $249 for 5 sessions. Puppy class bundles offer savings up to $100. The Essential Puppy Training Course is $200 as a standalone digital product. The Top Dog Academy subscription is $20/month, providing access to the Essential Course and dozens of other training resources.

SIRIUS Puppy & Dog Training, founded in 1982 by veterinarian and animal behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar, is the original puppy school offering group training classes in the San Francisco Bay Area. They provide structured puppy and dog training programs focused on positive reinforcement methods, with classes tailored by age: Puppy Kindergarten (8–12 weeks), Puppy Training I (12–18 weeks), Puppy Training II (up to 8 months), and Dog Training I (19 weeks and older). Each class is 5 sessions long and costs $249. They emphasize socialization and off-leash control in safe, indoor facilities, requiring puppies to have at least one set of vaccines and a deworming before enrollment. All students receive three months of free access to the Top Dog Academy, an online library of over 170 step-by-step training videos, eBooks, and webinars. They also offer the Essential Puppy Training Course as a standalone digital product. Their instructors are experienced trainers, many of whom were trained by Dr. Dunbar or have backgrounds in veterinary support or shelter work. The business is veterinarian-owned and family-friendly, with locations in Berkeley, Campbell, Corte Madera, Los Gatos, Oakland, Palo Alto, San Francisco, San Ramon, Santa Clara, and Walnut Creek.

SIRIUS prioritizes the prevention of behavioral issues, which they cite as the leading cause of dog relinquishment, over the minimal risk of infectious disease in vaccinated puppies. They align with the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s position on early socialization and have trained over 125,000 puppies since 1982 without a single reported case of Parvovirus or Distemper in class. They also provide two free puppy training eBooks by Dr. Ian Dunbar to the public.

In addition to group classes, they offer digital training products through DunbarAcademy.com, including the Top Dog Academy subscription ($20/month) and the Essential Puppy Training Course ($200 one-time). They do not offer private in-home, board-and-train, or dog walking services.

The business is family-run, with Dr. Dunbar’s son Jamie Dunbar also involved, and their instructors include certified veterinary assistants and long-time students of the program.

Accomplishments

Founded in 1982 by Dr. Ian Dunbar, a veterinarian and animal behaviorist with a doctorate from UC Berkeley. SIRIUS is recognized as the original puppy school and has trained over 125,000 puppies. Dr. Dunbar has authored multiple award-winning books and training videos, including AFTER You Get Your Puppy and the SIRIUS® Puppy Training video. The program has been voted best puppy training in the San Francisco Bay Area.

How to Get Started!

Owners select a class based on their puppy’s or dog’s age and register online. Puppies must have at least one set of vaccines (including Distemper and Parvo) and a first deworming, administered at least 7 days before the first class. All students receive immediate access to the Top Dog Academy upon enrollment.