The Educated Pet

The Educated Pet offers a variety of group classes and private training sessions. Group classes include:

Puppy Kindergarten Class: For puppies 9 to 16 weeks, focusing on socialization and preparing for adulthood, with continuous enrollment.
Adolescent Puppy Class: For puppies 16 to 20 weeks (4-6 months), providing information on adolescent changes, continuous enrollment, and introducing wider obedience commands.
Basic Obedience: For dogs 6 months and older, covering common commands like sit, down, leash walking, come, wait, and stay. The first day is for owners only.
Canine Good Citizenship: A 6-week course for dogs who have completed Basic Obedience, preparing them for the AKC Canine Good Citizenship test in real-world environments. Instructor permission is required.
Agility Training: Introduces dogs and owners to obstacles and agility courses, focusing on teamwork and trust. Instructor permission is required.
Tricks Class: A fun class to improve teamwork, teaching approximately 30 new behaviors, with 6 required for graduation. Instructor permission is required.
Intermediate Obedience Class: Takes obedience work to a new level, introducing distance work and guiding towards off-leash control. Requires completion of Basic Obedience and instructor permission.
Introductory Nose Work Class: Teaches dogs to follow scents on command, utilizing their strongest sense for mental stimulation and rewards. Course availability is demand-dependent.
Supplemental Obedience and Socialization Class (SOS): Group “play dates” for reinforcing skills and social attitudes, restricted to dogs with prior class experience with The Educated Pet staff.

Private Training sessions are available for owners who prefer one-on-one instruction, working on their schedule and specific training goals. Behavior Consultations are offered for complex behavioral issues, utilizing scientific information and positive reinforcement-based techniques, often in conjunction with a veterinarian.

Pricing Summary

Payment must be received by the beginning of the first class. They accept cash, checks, Visa, and Mastercard, with a fee added for credit card processing. A $30 returned item fee is assessed for any payment not honored.

Class prices are: Puppy Kindergarten Class $165, Adolescent Puppy Class $175, Basic Obedience $175, Canine Good Citizenship $180, Intro to Agility $180, Tricks Class $180, Intermediate Obedience $180.

Packages include “Fido’s First Steps” (Puppy Kindergarten and Adolescent Puppy for $320, regularly $340) and “Fido’s Continuing Education” (Basic Obedience and one advanced class for $335, regularly $355). All classes purchased in advance must be completed within six months of purchase, and individual classes within eight weeks of their start date. Classes are non-transferable and must be used by the same dog.

Policies

Refunds or discounts, minus any convenience fees, are only made if requested prior to the end of the first class session. If classes were paid by check, refunds are processed only after funds have been credited by the bank. There are no refunds under any other circumstances.

All dogs and puppies must provide proof of age-appropriate vaccinations prior to or on the first day of class. Puppies must have received a well puppy exam and a clear fecal exam. The Educated Pet recommends the H3N8 Canine Influenza vaccine and Leptospirosis. Dogs showing signs of illness should be kept home. The Educated Pet reserves the right to send any dog home with potentially contagious health or dangerous behavior issues.

Required equipment includes a 6-foot leather, nylon, or cotton leash, and a buckle or safety clip collar. Appropriate walking harnesses, body harnesses, and head halters are accepted. Flexi/retractable leashes, choke chains/martingale collars, pinch/prong collars, chain leashes, and shock collars are never allowed. Classes require on-time arrival. Dates and fees are subject to change without prior notice. Minimum class size must be met, or start dates may be postponed. Classes may be postponed due to extreme weather conditions.

The Educated Pet is a full-service animal behavior consulting and training practice founded by Carol Harris in 1998, with Michael Harris joining as a partner in 2012. Their mission is to help pet owners build satisfying, lifelong relationships with their animals by humanely preventing and solving problems.

They emphasize a unique, scientifically-based, and proven approach to dog training and behavior modification. Their techniques are humane and effective, explicitly stating “All without reliance on threat, pain, force, or fear.”

The business offers personalized training and behavior modification, focusing on understanding the bond between pets and owners through education. They also provide expert witness services for civil and criminal cases involving dangerous animals, risk evaluation, owner negligence, animal abuse, aggression, temperament evaluation, and event reconstruction.

The Educated Pet has trained animals for several San Diego veterinarians and handles many referral cases for difficult behavioral problems, with approximately 80% of consulting cases concerning dog aggression. They have also assisted the local Department of Animal Services with staff training and animal enrichment programs.

Accomplishments

Carol Harris holds a certification in Applied Animal Behavior (UW-AAB) from the University of Washington, a rigorous course of study. She has studied under James Ha, CAAB, Ph.D., and worked under a veterinary behaviorist. Carol has been a highly-regarded trainer and evaluator since the early 1990s.

She has contributed multiple articles to pet-related publications and co-authored chapters in “Cat Behavior and Training” and “Dog Behavior and Training.” San Diego Magazine recognized Carol as “The Best Dog Trainer in San Diego,” and she has been featured several times on KPBS’s program, “These Days.” Michael Harris also earned the certification for Applied Animal Behavior from the University of Washington and holds a B.S. in Biology (Genetics emphasis) and M.A. in Chemistry from San Diego State University, and a Ph.D. jointly from UCSD and SDSU. The business received the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Business Ethics.

How to Get Started!

To get started, potential clients can contact The Educated Pet to evaluate whether their pet is ready for a training class and determine the best choice. They can also find the right class by visiting the “Find the Right Class” link, which leads to a form. Payment must be received by the beginning of the first class session.