Sit Stay Play Michigan

Sit Stay Play Michigan offers basic life skills training for family dogs using positive methods. Class sessions meet once a week for 6 weeks, with new sessions starting every 6-7 weeks. Private lessons are available by appointment at their facility.

Classes include: Basic Puppy Classes (for puppies under 7 months), Young Puppies Class (for puppies 16 weeks and under), and Beyond Basics (for graduates of basic classes). The Urban Excursion Class is offered outdoors for advanced dogs to practice skills in real-world situations. The AKC Canine Good Citizen Class helps dogs practice the 10 skills needed for the test, requiring dogs to be at least 6 months old and have basic obedience skills.

The Drop In Class is for graduates of Basic and Beyond Basics, offering ongoing varied skills practice via a punch card. Free weekly Group Walks are available for current students or graduates, focusing on social experience and loose leash walking without instruction. Play Dates are scheduled supervised play sessions for friendly dogs, matched by size, age, and play style. Group classes require dogs to be friendly with humans and other dogs, and children are welcome if they can participate without disruption. All dogs must be fully vaccinated and licensed.

Pricing Summary

Group classes are $140 for a 6-week session. Private lessons are $90 for a one-hour session. Virtual consultations are $45 for 30 minutes. Play dates cost $10 per dog for a one-hour session. Drop-in classes are available via a punch card for $97 (7 punches) or $15 for an individual class.

A $5 fee is charged per transaction. Refunds for cancellations will incur a $10 fee. Payment must be received before the first class. Group classes and private lessons require 48 hours notice for a refund or reschedule; otherwise, the full fee is charged.

Policies

Group classes and private lessons require 48 hours notice for cancellation to receive a refund or rescheduled lesson. Last-minute cancellations for private lessons will be charged the entire fee. Refunds for group classes are only issued 48 hours before the first class begins and will have a $10 fee deducted due to credit card transaction fees. Once a group class session begins, the space is no longer available to another dog, and no refunds or credits will be issued. Private lessons are also non-refundable if canceled less than 48 hours before the scheduled lesson, with a $10 credit card fee deducted.

If a client cannot attend a group class due to illness or unforeseen events, the business will try to provide a video of the missed skills. Dogs participating in group classes must be friendly with humans and other dogs. Children are welcome in group classes if they can participate without disrupting and remain with their dog. Clients with concerns about their dog’s suitability for group class should contact the business before registering, as fees are non-refundable. All dogs must be fully vaccinated and licensed, with copies provided to the trainer. Clients should not attend class if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or any contagious illness. Dogs and people should maintain space, and dog introductions are by permission only.

Sit Stay Play Michigan is a dog training business owned and operated by Laura Ornelas, a Certified Professional Dog Trainer. They provide basic life skills training for family dogs, offering both group classes and private lessons. Virtual consultations are also available for simple training issues.

The business emphasizes science-proven positive training methods, including clicker training. They explicitly state that they do not use any devices or “tools” designed to cause pain or fear in animals, focusing instead on teaching dogs what to do and reinforcing correct behaviors through games and play. Their approach is dog and relationship-centered.

In addition to core training, Sit Stay Play Michigan offers free weekly group walks for graduates or current students, and paid play dates where dogs are matched by size, age, and play style. They also provide some dog sport classes and prepare dogs for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test.

Accomplishments

Laura Ornelas holds a BA in Special Education/Psychology and is a graduate of Animal Behavioral College. She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers, and a Certified Family Dog Mediator (L.E.G.S. Applied Ethology Family Dog Mediation Professional Course Graduate). She is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen Certified Evaluator.

Laura is a professional member of the Pet Professional Guild, the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and the International Association of Animal Behavioral Consultants. She began training dogs in 2008 and completed a 6-month internship with Wag Dog Training in Colorado Springs. She opened Sit Stay Play Colorado in 2014 and Sit Stay Play Michigan in 2018.

Laura has over 30 years of involvement in animal rescue and training. She consistently pursues continuing education, attending yearly seminars, conferences, and webinars. Her recent continuing education includes the Certified Control Unleashed Instructor Certification Program, Fear Free Trainer Certification, Canine First Aid/CPR Certification, and various seminars on topics like Choice Training, Active Learning, BAT, Loose Leash Walking, Aggression, Multi-dog in-home conflict, Separation Anxiety, and TAG Teach. She also attends events like Karen Pryor Academy Clicker Expo and the Aggression In Dogs Course.

How to Get Started!

To get started, clients can register for group classes or private lessons directly on the “Register Here” page of the website. Registration for group classes typically opens for two weeks prior to the start date of each session, which begins approximately every 7 weeks. For private lessons, the calendar for the next month becomes available in the middle of the current month.

If the website indicates “Nothing Available” for group classes, it means registration is closed, and clients should watch the website and Facebook page for announcements of the next session. For private lessons, it means all available slots for the month are taken, and clients should check back in a few days. If a dog is not comfortable in a room with other dogs, private lessons are recommended. Live online consultations via Zoom can be scheduled by emailing the business for instructions on scheduling and pre-payment. Group classes for 3-5 friends can be scheduled by contacting the business directly. RSVP is required for weekly attendance in the Drop In Class. Payment must be received before the first class.