Willow Creek Dog Training LLC

Willow Creek Dog Training offers a variety of programs tailored to different needs and ages. Group classes include AKC Puppy S.T.A.R. for puppies 4-11 months, focusing on socialization, confidence, basic obedience, and manners, with the first week dedicated to owner training. The 6-Week Basic Obedience Group Class, for dogs 4 months and older, teaches reliable commands like sit, down, recall, and leash manners, also starting with an owner-only session. Advanced Agility classes are available for fun and energy outlet, requiring basic obedience. Canine Good Citizen/Advanced Obedience classes focus on advanced skills and real-world scenarios, preparing dogs for the AKC CGC test and potentially therapy dog certification. They also offer an E-Collar Group Class for off-leash training, which requires a prior private lesson.

Private lessons are customized one-on-one sessions for specific problems and goals, available at their locations or in-home. These include Puppy Private Lessons covering crate training, potty training, and basic manners; Obedience and Manners Private Lessons for dogs 6 months and older; and Behavior Modification for complex issues like reactivity, anxiety, and resource guarding. Off Leash E-Collar Training is also offered privately to establish clear communication and off-leash reliability. Pop Up Group Classes provide weekly obedience and real-life skills for approved current or previous students. Private Group Classes can be arranged for a minimum of two friends at a convenient location.

Pricing Summary

Group classes range from $150 for Advanced Agility to $260 for Puppy S.T.A.R. and $225 for Basic Obedience (6-week courses). E-Collar Group Classes are $375-$475 including private lessons. Private Basic Obedience Group Classes are $250 per dog. Pop Up Group Classes are $20 for one dog, $35 for two, with every fifth session free. Private lessons vary by type and location: Puppy Private Lessons are $105-$135/hr, Obedience and Manners Private Lessons are $125-$145/hr, and Behavior Modification Private Lessons are $145-$165/hr. Packages of 3 or 6 lessons offer discounts. Off Leash E-Collar Training programs range from $375 for 3 lessons to $660 for 6 lessons. German Shepherd puppies are priced at $2500 with a $500 non-refundable deposit.

Policies

Private lessons require at least 4 hours notice for cancellation or rescheduling, otherwise a $50 fee applies. Deposits, Group Classes, and Private Lesson Packages are non-refundable.

Willow Creek Dog Training LLC is a family-owned business with decades of experience passed down through generations, dedicated to strengthening the bond between dog owners and their canine companions. They offer top-quality private lessons and group classes, focusing on a balanced reward system that combines positive rewards with loving corrections using a training collar when needed. Their approach aims to create happy, respectful dogs that clearly understand appropriate behavior, while also teaching handlers how to properly communicate with their dogs.

The business is run by Bailee Praigg, a second-generation dog trainer who has been passionate about dog training and education since a young age, growing up with a mother who was a dog trainer, boarding kennel owner, and German Shepherd breeder. Bailee has experience ranging from basic training to working with severe aggression and behavioral problems, and has been a full-time professional trainer for over six years. The founder, Denise Smalt, has been teaching dog obedience classes in Upstate New York since 1990, with extensive experience in AKC Obedience and Schutzhund, and is a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.

Willow Creek Dog Training provides a wide range of services including puppy classes, basic and advanced obedience, agility, and specialized behavior modification for issues like reactivity and anxiety. They also offer unique services such as over-the-phone training consultations, dog safety education for children, and temperament testing for breeders. Additionally, they operate a German Shepherd breeding program, “Vom Der Goldstadt,” focusing on producing healthy, well-tempered puppies with extensive early socialization and training.

Accomplishments

Willow Creek Dog Training is a family business with decades of experience, passed down through generations. Founder Denise Smalt has been teaching dog obedience classes in Upstate New York since 1990 and is a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. She has extensive experience in AKC Obedience and Schutzhund, having attended numerous seminars, including those from Cornell, and worked under a World Class Schutzhund Competitor and trainers from Germany. Denise also worked at a Vet Hospital and closely with Juli Lathrop of “The Kramer Foundation.” Her daughter, Bailee Praigg, is a second-generation trainer who trained and certified her first German Shepherd through Therapy Dog International at age 7. Bailee has been a full-time professional trainer for over six years, handling a wide range of issues from basic training to severe aggression, and has trained five of her own personal dogs, with four certified for Canine Good Citizen and two as TDI Pet Therapy Dogs.

How to Get Started!

To begin training, clients can call or text 770-625-1521 to schedule a lesson. For E-Collar Group Classes, a minimum of one private lesson is required beforehand to ensure comfort with basic e-collar principles. For reactive or fearful dogs, at least one private lesson is required before attending any group class. New clients interested in Pop Up Group Classes must first take private lessons to prepare. For dogs with a bite history, clients are advised to call directly to discuss.