Each member of our training staff is highly educated and experienced in teaching basic obedience skills, resolving common household problems and much more. We use only the most up-to-date positive reinforcement techniques available to help you and your pet achieve success and build a strong bond.

Take a look below to see how you and your dog could be learning and growing together!

Please note: Our courses are taught using the most up-to-date, scientifically proven training methods.  Many times this does involve the use of a behavior marker (ex: clicker).

Puppy Kindergarten

• First class is orientation;  Puppies do not attend the orientation class
• First 20 minutes of each class devoted to off leash socialization
• Housebreaking, teething, other puppy behaviors addressed
• Cues/skills addressed:  sit, down, settle, leave it, leash walking, recall
• 7 weeks long; Meets for 1 hour on the same day each week.
• AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy awarded upon request

Family Dog Manners (formerly Basic Obedience)

• First class is orientation; Dogs do not attend the orientation class
• Cues/skills addressed:  sit, down, settle, leave it, loose leash walking, targeting, wait/stay, recall, emergency recall
• Skills are taught “on leash”
• 7 weeks long; Meets for 1 hour on the same day each week.
• APDT K-9 BA awarded upon request (testing required)

Family Dog Manners II (formerly Basic Obedience II)

• DOGS ATTEND FIRST CLASS (No Orientation)
• Cues/skills addressed:  varies by class; refining of skills covered in Family Dog Manners with higher levels of distraction and duration; Heeling
• Training record keeping methods are taught
• Skills are taught “on leash”
• 6 weeks long; Meets for 1 hour on the same day each week.
• APDT K-9 MA awarded upon request (testing required)
• Must have completed Puppy K or Family Dog Manners or have trainer permission

Family Dog Manners (Intermediate)

• DOGS ATTEND FIRST CLASS (No Orientation)
• Cues/skills addressed:  varies by class; Heeling, Front, Finish
• Refining of previously taught skills are addressed off-leash and with higher levels of distance, duration, and distraction.
• 6 weeks long; Meets for 1 hour on the same day each week.
• APDT K9-MA or APDT K9-PhD awarded upon request (testing required)
• Must have completed Family Dog Manners II or have Trainer permission

Family Dog Manners (Advanced)

• DOGS ATTEND FIRST CLASS (No Orientation)
• Cues/skills addressed:  varies by class;  building upon skills learned in Family Dog Manners (Intermediate).
• 6 weeks long; Meets for 1 hour on the same day each week.
• APDT K9-PhD awarded upon request (testing required)
• Must have completed Family Dog Manners (Intermediate) or have trainer permission

Canine Good Citizen

• DOGS ATTEND FIRST CLASS (No Orientation)
• Cues/Skills addressed:  accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, appearance and grooming, loose leash walking, walking through a crowd, sit and down on cue & staying in place, recall, reaction to another dog, reaction to distraction, supervised separation.
• Dog and handler must pass all 10 items, and sign the AKC Responsible Dog Owner Pledge in order to pass the test.
• 5 weeks long; Meets for 1 hour on the same day each week.
• Must have completed Family Dog Manners or have trainer permission

Leash Walking

• DOGS ATTEND FIRST CLASS (No Orientation)
• Skills addressed: Loose leash walking, attention, walking with other dogs/people
• For dogs over 5 months of age or completed Puppy K
• First class is held at BVH; subsequent classes will vary in location based on participants' skill level
• 4 or 5 weeks long.  Check course offerings. Meets for 1 hour on the same day each week.

Tricks & Games

• DOGS ATTEND FIRST CLASS (No Orientation)
• Strictly a fun class! Uses games & tricks to help proof basic skills
• 4 or 5 weeks in length.  Check course offerings. Meets for 1 hour on the same day each week.

Toy Breed Social

• Strictly a social.  No training instruction.
• 45 minutes of supervised off-leash play
• Dogs MUST be under 20 lbs, spayed/neutered, over 5 months of age (except with trainer permission)

Puppy Happy Hour

• Strictly a social.  No training instruction.
• 45 minutes of supervised off-leash play.
• Dogs must be under 6 months of age (except with trainer permission)
• Supervised by a trainer; moderated by an adult dog that has displayed exceptional canine communication skills and excellent temperament.

Therapy Dog Program

Perhaps the most well-known members of our training program are our Allan?s Angels Therapy Dogs. Named in honor of the founder of Bolton Veterinary Hospital, Allan Leventhal, DVM, Allan?s Angels is a volunteer group that provides certified, trained & insured dogs and handlers to individuals, nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities for animal assisted therapy. Dogs and handlers must meet strict criteria to be accepted into this program. Courses are held twice per calendar year. Pease call or email our office for more information.

Behavior Consultations

Private behavior consultations are available for owners of dogs with any type of behavior problem. Owners will work with a consultant (and a veterinarian when necessary) to resolve problematic behavior using the most advanced behavior modification techniques available. Private evaluations are available for both puppies and adult dogs that include, but are not limited to aggression screening, social adaptability, sight sensitivity, sound sensitivity, and tactile sensitivity. This is a GREAT option when considering adopting a new pet or to better understand the pet you already own.

Private Obedience Lessons

Private obedience lessons are available to dogs of all ages and breeds. Our trainers can work with you and your canine companion on everything from sits to send outs to polite greetings and everything in between! They can help you proof and polish current obedience skills or help you develop new ones. This is a great opportunity to get that dog off the couch and give him a job!