Training with Kindness
Effective, reward-based training...no need for choke chains, prong collars or shock collars
Serving Richland and Lexington Counties in SC
Serving other counties remotely
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Private Lessons and Group Classes
For additional information or to register for the lessons listed below, contact Phyllis at Praise Dog! Training by emailing Phyllis@praiseyourdogtraining.com, by calling 803-238-8740, or by clicking the registration link below.
If you are dealing with a specific behavior problem such as fearfulness, aggression, or other issues, contact Praise Dog! Training for a behavior consult.
Basic Manners Classes
Classes are held on Thursday nights at Tri-City Leisure Center in West Columbia at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and on Monday evenings at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Dogs must have completed vaccinations and must be completely friendly towards other dogs and people.
In this class, we teach: Sit, Down, Stays, Walking Nicely on Lead, Attention, Leave It, Sit Politely for Petting, Coming When Called and Settle on a Mat.
Classes are one hour long and class sessions are six weeks. Class size is limited to eight dogs. Cost is $175.00.
If you missed Basic Manners registration for this class session, consider our Private, In-home Basic Manners class. Same curriculum but conducted at your home on evenings or weekends.
Not sure if the classes are right for you? We welcome observers to one of our class sessions. Contact us at praisedogtraining@gmail.com to set up a visit.
Click on the button on the left to register
Intermediate Manners Classes
Classes are held several times a year on Thursday nights at Tri-City Leisure Center in West Columbia at 6:30 p.m. Prerequisite is completion of Praise Dog Basic Manners. Classes are one hour long and class sessions are six weeks. The curriculum includes continued work on the foundation work begun in Basic Manners, as well as more "life skills" including skills that help with grooming and veterinary care. Class size is limited to eight dogs.
Cost is $175.00.
This class will be offered on an alternate schedule with the Start Right Puppy class.
Puppy Start Right Class
Puppy Start Right is a class designed to get dog owners and their puppies off to a good start. Puppies who have finished their first set of vaccinations and are no older than four months old are eligible to attend this class.
In this class, you’ll be able to get information on all of your puppy-raising questions including housetraining, chewing, and the most effective way to teach practical skills such as coming when called.
Specific skills that we will work on include the beginning steps of: walking nicely on lead, sit, down, stay, give, settle on a mat and allowing handling for petting and grooming. When puppies are a good match, we will set aside time for supervised puppy play.
Must provide evidence of at least one round of puppy vaccinations and recent statement from the puppy's veterinarian on the clinic's letterhead that the puppy is healthy.
Praise Dog Training follows the guidelines of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) regarding the importance of safe puppy socialization.
Cost is $175.00
This class will be offered on an alternate schedule with the Intermediate Manners class
Canine Good Citizen Prep and Test
This is a four-week class that prepares handlers and dogs to pass the American Kennel Club's (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. In the class, participants learn handling skills to help them pass the test and polish the foundation skills their dogs began in the Basic and Intermediate classes. The test is offered at the 4th class session.
Cost is $125.00
There is no prerequisite, but the dog should already have reliable basic obedience skills taught in a positive manner with no aversive equipment (choke chains, prong collars or shock collars). Dog should be completely friendly to people and other dogs.
Out on the Town
Take those skills you and your canine partner have learned and take them on the road! Classes are held in different locations around Columbia.
Classes may resume in the fall and will be held the last Saturday of every month. Cost is $30. Prerequisite: Basic Manners.
Private Lessons
*Please note that there may be an additional mileage charge for private lessons.*
Basic Manners– four, one-hour long, in-home private lessons that cover the skills addressed in the six-week class. Cost is $350.00.
Puppy Head Start – two one-hour, in-home private lessons for puppies up to the age of 16 weeks. These lessons cover basic topics needed to assist families with topics related to puppies, including puppy proofing, housetraining, crate training, puppy mouthing, socialization, handling, food guarding prevention, collar grab, independence training, give, sit, down and the beginnings of coming when called. The cost is $150.00.
Reactive Rover Lesson Package - Does your dog lunge and bark at the sight of other dogs or people? Is it embarrassing or scary to you? Learn techniques to teach your dog that he does not have to react and how to avoid confrontations while you are training. Sessions include in-home instruction on skills and behavior modification techniques, practice with a stuffed dog (yes, they all think it is real), and practice in neighborhood or off-site. The package is a total of three hours. It may be split into four or five lessons. The cost is $450.00. Participation in all lessons is required. Additional 1/2 hour day training sessions (trainer works with dog with or without owner present for $50 each.)
“Come Back To Me” Recall – three one-hour, in-home private lessons that address the management and training for teaching dogs to reliably come when called. Includes training a whistle recall. The cost is $200.00.
"Ouch, that hurts!" Help for Your Jumping, Mouthy Dog – You are not alone with this problem! This lesson package was recently added because we receive so many requests for help in dealing with excessive jumping and mouthing. This lesson package includes instruction on understanding why your dog is jumping and mouthing excessively, as well as management and skill training to teach your dog a different way to behave. This lesson package is for family's whose dogs mouth out of excitement or age. Before we begin the lessons, we will have an extensive phone conversation to determine if your problems stem from a more serious cause. If we feel that this package is not appropriate, we may recommend behavior modification training. This training is a two one-hour in-home private lesson package. We start with one lesson at a cost of $80. If additional training is needed, the cost of the second lesson is $70.00.
Housetraining Help - Two one-hour, in-home private lessons to problem solve your dog's housetraining issues, whether your canine companion is a puppy or adult. Housetraining issues can put a tremendous strain on your relationship with your dog. Let us help him get back on track! We start with one lesson at a cost of $80. If additional training is needed, the cost of the second lesson is $70.00.
"Bringing Home Baby (To Baby)" – This is one lesson to assist families who are expecting a baby in preparing the canine members of their family for the new arrival. The package includes instruction on preparing the dog for the change and instruction to assist the acclimation of the dog after the baby’s arrival. It is highly recommended that your dog complete a basic obedience class well before the baby's arrival. The fee for this lesson is $80.00.
Obedience Skill Tune Up – Private, one-hour lessons are available to teach or refresh specific obedience skills. Limited to two skills per lesson. Cost is $80 per one-hour in-home lesson.
Therapy Dog Evaluation and Training – Have you wondered if your dog would make a good therapy dog? One that would be a good fit for visiting hospitals, nursing home and other places where people are in need of comfort? We offer an evaluation and recommendations by Phyllis who is a Pet Partners animal therapy evaluator. Cost for the evaluations is $30. If your dog has potential, training costs are based on the recommendations.
Behavior Modification
These lessons address specific problem behaviors. These commonly include dog-dog aggression, dog-human aggression, fearful behavior, multi-dog household issues and other problematic behaviors. A $30 initial behavior consult is required first at which time Praise Dog! Training meets with the owner to evaluate the need, determine a training strategy and offer initial management strategies. At the consult, we discuss the owner’s desired goals, and suggest a number of one-hour, in-home lessons that may be needed. Each behavior modification session costs $100.00.