Santa Cruz County
Dog Training & Puppy Classes

Helping people & dogs become better life partners.

Located in Santa Cruz County since 1999

8022 Soquel Dr
Aptos Village, CA, 95003

by Susan Garrett

Step-by-step training that is as easy as it is effective. Crate Games for Self-Control and Motivation features not only mature dogs but puppies as young as 9 weeks old learning

• Focus and motivation for work

• How to relax in a crate even while another dog is working

• Self-control for a phenomenal sit-stay

• A speedy and dependable recall

• Distance skills for obedience or agility

• Confidence while being proofed during any tough distraction

• To keenly offer responses when being shaped

And much more!

As you develop an amazing working relationship with your dog, you'll see why crate games are the cornerstone of Susan Garrett's unbelievably successful dog training program and why they are now being implemented in dog training schools all over the world.

by Susan Garrett

by Patricia McConnell

This is one of our favorite dog training books. When humans communicate with dogs, a lot can get lost in the translation. Focusing on human behavior, Dr. McConnell teaches readers how to retrain themselves to speak consistently in a language dogs understand and avoid sending conflicting and confusing messages. The new insights into human and dog interaction will forever alter and improve our relationship with our best friends. Combines true stories, scientific perspective and professional dog training tips.

by Suzanne Clothier

This is a wonderful read, full of insight into the world of dogs. Suzanne has a unique and entertaining style of wirting. Shows us how to find a deep connection with another being and to receive an incomparable gift: a profound, lifelong relationship with the dogs we love. 

by Pat Miller

How can bad behavior be easily transformed into good behavior? Why does management work better than force? What is the one toy every dog owner should have? PLUS the latest info on training with treats, vaccination schedules, housetraining and problem prevention. 

by Trish King

Finally, popular trainer Trish King has written a book!! Analyzes each stage of a dog's physical, mental, and emotional development in great detail; includes sections on puppyhood, adolescence, adulthood and aging, plus problem behavior.

by Patricia McConnell

How to prevent and treat Separation Anxiety. If you worry about leaving your dog home alone, both because you love your dog and your house, this book is for you. Most dogs can be left home alone during the day and lead happy, fulfilled doggy lives without destroying your house. Of course, some of them get into trouble at home when you're gone because there's so much fun stuff to do without you to stop them. But a small number of dogs suffer from a serious problem called Separation Anxiety, in which they panic at your departure and stay panicked until you return. This book is designed to help those whose dog really suffers from Separation Anxiety, to help you prevent it from developing, and to help you raise a dog with good "house manners."

by Nicole Wilde

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO HELPING YOUR DOG CONQUER HIS FEARS
This comprehensive guide to the treatment of canine anxiety, fears, and phobias is filled with information that is invaluable for trainers. Topics include causes and prevention, establishing a Firm Foundation program, body language, four essential skills to teach fearful dogs, desensitization and counterconditioning basics, behavior modification protocols to address 15 specific fears including those of people, other dogs, sounds, touch, nail-clipping, and being left alone, and quick tips and tricks. Chapters on nine complementary therapies (including pharmacological intervention), products, and their specific applications to fear issues. Chock full of photographs and illustrations and written in a down-to-earth, humorous style.

by Patricia McConnell

by Pamela Dennison

A ROADMAP FOR REHABILITATING AGGRESSIVE DOGS
This has been one of our texts for our Reactive Rover class for years. It is a great resource and a great training book. If you are serious about rehabilitating your dog, you will have this on your nightstand along with your favorite novels. A roadmap for rehabilitating any dog that has aggressive tendencies, whether it is a puppy that shows aggression when you remove the food bowl, a dog-aggressive dog that you are afraid to walk in the park, or a dog that is aggressive towards family and friends.

by Kim Moeller

AN OWNERS GUIDE TO ON-LEASH DOG AGGRESSION with instructional DVD
Barking and lunging on leash is one of the most common and troublesome behavioral issues dog owners encounter. Kim provides tips to dog owners and trainers alike on how to work with Reactive Rovers. Book plus instructional DVD

by Jean Donaldson

From the award-winning author of Culture Clash and MINE! A practical guide to the treatment of dog-dog aggression. This down-to-earth manual will teach you how to use behavior modification to retrain a dog that bullies other dogs, or becomes fearful when approached by other dogs. Includes descriptions of common types of aggression, assessing prognosis, remedial socialization, on-leash manners training, proximity sensitivity, play style and skills, resource guarding, and prevention. 

by Patricia McConnell & Karen London

by Ali Brown

SCAREDY DOG! UNDERSTANDING AND REHABILITATING YOUR REACTIVE DOG 
by Ali Brown

The appropriate term for dogs who growl at other dogs, lunge at people, and bark at everything is "reactive." This book helps the dedicated dog owner to understand what a reactive dog is doing, why he's doing it, and how to help him to change it for the better. Learn how to make the most of your reactive dog, and begin your trek to a new and wonderful life with your pal! All positive methods.

by Jean Donaldson

MINE! A GUIDE TO RESOURCE GUARDING IN DOGS 
Summary: A practical how-to guide on resource guarding/aggression - food bowl, object, bed, crate, owner, etc. - in dogs. From the popular author of Culture Clash, Dogs Are From Neptune.

*Award Winner, Dog Writer's Assn. of America, 2002, Training and Behavior Book. A practical how-to guide on resource guarding/aggression - food bowl, object, bed, crate, owner, etc. - in dogs. Contents include: aggression basics, nature of resource guarding, kinds of resource guarding, Behaviorist vs. medical models, recognizing guarding, prognosis, safety tools, treatment overview, management, desensitization and counterconditioning, resource sample hierarchies, generalization, troubleshooting, body handling desensitization, operant conditioning. 

by Colleen Pelar

At last! A kids-and-dogs book written by someone who "gets it!" Simple, realistic advice for busy parents to help ensure that the relationship between their kids and their dog is safe and enjoyable for all.

by Patricia McConnell

by Monica Segal

Monica Segal debunks many of the myths surrounding canine diets by showing that each dog is an individual with unique nutritional requirements. Provides a starting point and then shows ways to modify diets for dogs with problems ranging from pickiness to chronic medical problems. Packed with facts and studies, but still contains simple advice for feeding the family dog. Case histories, also how to individualize a diet for your own dog!

by Ian Dunbar

by Karen London & Patricia McConnell

This clear, concise booklet can help your puppy or adult dog learn a lifetime of good habits. In addition to a step-by-step plan to get your dog to eliminate outside and outside only, Way to Go! is loaded with practical information about how long you can expect housetraining to take, tips for knowing when your puppy needs to go outside, how to handle night time, how to clean up accidents, and how to teach your dog to eliminate on cue.

by Barbara Levenson

by Kim Collins

You might have a dog who you think will be a super-star on the agility course, but unless you work with him "from the ground up," you may end up being disappointed. Author Kim Collins takes the position that there is a lot of training and relationship building that needs to go on before you ever begin to train the specific skills needed for agility. So this is the perfect book for you if you have a puppy or a young dog and are planning a career in agility in the future as it provides a complete training plan for both his pre-agility work and when he is ready to head out on the course.

You will learn:

• The relevant basic training methods including luring, prompting, and shaping.

• The key concepts needed to provide reinforcements to your dog to get him to do what you want him to do.

• Pre-agility obedience behaviors that all agility dogs need to master before moving forward.

• All the skills your dog needs to master to succeed in agility including foundation work, flatwork, obstacle training, then testing and proofing.

by Greg Derrett

Covers all the essential basic training techniques to give you and your dog the strong foundation needed to build a successful agility career. Forming a good working relationship; socialising the dog to the competition environment; teaching the "Wait" command; training directional commands; understanding body language; training handling manoeuvres; proofing commands; motivational commands & other beneficial advice; and fitness training.