South Mountain Dog Training

Group classes are structured in levels: Puppy Preschool (8+ weeks), Beginner (5+ months), Advanced, Agility, and Rally Obedience. Classes are held weekly for eight weeks, with emphasis on home practice (15–30 min/day). Beginner classes prepare dogs for the Canine Good Citizen test; Advanced classes prepare for Therapy Dog certification. Private and in-home sessions are available for customized behavior modification. All classes are instructor-led with small groups to ensure personalized attention.

Pricing Summary

Group classes cost $225 for eight weeks. Repeat any Beginner or Advanced class taken within the last two years is $140. Private lessons and in-home training are offered but pricing is not specified. Payment is by check or PayPal bank transfer (no credit cards).

Policies

Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served, paid basis. A repeat class discount is offered for classes taken within the last two years. Refunds are provided if training is discontinued due to a dog’s emotional needs, as demonstrated in a case with a rescue dog. PayPal payments must be via bank transfer or eCheck, not credit card.

South Mountain Dog Training Center is a dog training facility in Emmaus, PA, offering group classes, private lessons, and in-home training for dogs of all ages. They specialize in obedience, puppy preschool, advanced training, agility, and rally obedience, with a focus on building strong dog-owner bonds and teaching essential commands like sit, stay, come, and heel. Their classes are held in a climate-controlled facility and are limited to 15 dogs per class to ensure individual attention. The center is led by experienced trainers including Pat Wotring, who has over 17 years of experience and holds AKC obedience and agility titles, and other certified staff who have trained dogs to earn Canine Good Citizen, Therapy Dog, and competition titles. They emphasize positive, repetition-based training and support owners in maintaining training at home with 15–30 minutes of daily practice. They also offer gift certificates, facility rentals, and repeat class discounts.

They train puppies as young as 8 weeks, adolescents, adults, and seniors, and work with all breeds including large breeds like Bullmastiffs and German Shepherds, as well as smaller dogs. Their programs prepare dogs for the AKC Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog tests, and they have helped dogs overcome aggression, fearfulness, and reactivity. The team is known for patience, kindness, and personalized approaches, including customized plans for rescue dogs and dogs with trauma.

They accept payment by check or PayPal (bank transfer/eCheck only, no credit cards), and offer refunds when training is discontinued due to a dog’s emotional needs, as demonstrated in a case with a rescue dog from a puppy mill.

Accomplishments

Head trainer Pat Wotring has over 17 years of experience, holds AKC CD, CDX, and Utility titles, and has titled dogs in DOCNA, NADAC, and AKC agility. She and her dogs have earned Therapy Dog International certifications and were honored for service after 9/11. Multiple trainers have earned CGC, Rally, and Agility titles with their own dogs. Assistant trainer Lauren Shultz is a certified dog trainer from Animal Behavior College and an approved AKC evaluator for multiple tests.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients must complete the online Class Registration Form and pay in advance via check or PayPal bank transfer. New clients are encouraged to review class descriptions and choose the appropriate level based on their dog’s age and needs. Private lessons can be arranged by contacting the center directly.