About Us

Our Methods          Our Staff          Testimonials

If you are new to Family Dog, this is a good place to get an overview of our training center. This page should answer most of your questions about Family Dog's services, pricing and philosophy.
 

We Have a Lot to Offer

We offer a wide variety of classes for all sizes, ages & breeds of dogs (regardless of pedigree!), as well as private lessons in our 9,200 square-foot Kent facility. (Our address is Kent, but we're very close to Valley 6 Drive In and the new Kent Showare Center)

Group classes are limited in size to ensure individual attention. Family members, including well-behaved children, are encourage to attend class & participate with the dog. Instructors are available by phone and email to answer their students' questions & help with problems.

Observe Our Classes

We encourage prospective students to come in and observe a class to get a feel for our training and instruction methods. We ask that only humans (please leave your dog at home) attend when coming to observe a class. Contact the office ( ) to determine the day/time of the class you want to observe is being held.

Home Obedience Classes & Canine Good Citizen

Pups under 5 months of age when class begins &/or toy breeds under 6 months of age start with Puppy Manners, while older puppies and dogs can join Beginning Home Obedience, Advanced Home Obedience and CGC Prep & Off Leash Control classes provide advanced training and control in all types of distracting situations. We offer Canine Good Citizen Workshops and tests for those students who would like to take the CGC test and earn the CGC certificate. We also offer these several times each year.

Performance Sports

Competition Obedience classes are for owners who are interested in training for the precision that can lead to obedience titles. Our Competition program consistently produces some of the nation's top obedience teams, and our specialty is working with individuals who are new to the sport, as well as unusual breeds of dogs.

Owners of purebred "show" dogs who want to earn their breed championship will learn all the techniques for baiting, gaiting and stacking in our Breed Ring Handling classes.

Everyone loves to have fun with their dogs, and our Agility classes provide a safe, controlled environment for students to learn to negotiate the various obstacles.

Other classes within our Dog Sports program include Tracking, Flyball and Tricks & Games.

Therapy Dog training classes have become increasingly popular as more and more individuals appreciate the unique qualities that dogs provide in all types of therapy settings..

We Help Solve Behavior Problems

In addition to teaching the basic obedience exercises, we also address common behavior problems all dog owners encounter. These include chewing, barking, digging, mouthing, housebreaking, and stealing, as well as jumping up on people and counters. This is done as part of the class curriculum at no additional charge. Our extensive experience with all breeds of dogs allows us to provide no-nonsense solutions to the annoying bad habits that some dogs develop. In our classes you will also learn how to clip your dog's toenails and clean his teeth and ears. You'll hear about the latest developments in canine nutrition, flea control, spaying and neutering.

An Extensive Schedule of Classes & Make-up Opportunities

We offer an extensive schedule of classes, including day, evening and weekend programs. Most classes are one hour long and each session is seven weeks long. We also occasionally offer 4 week classes that meet for 90 minutes each week and crash courses that meet for 3 to 5 weeks, 75 to 90 minutes each week. Each class meets at the same time, same day and same area of the training center each week. Because our schedule of classes is so extensive, it's easy for most families to find one that works for them. And, in the event of vacation, illness, or other schedule conflicts, our students are able to schedule make-ups, usually during the same week.

Registration is easy!

Private Lessons & Personalized Training

Most dog training challenges and behavior problems can be solved in the class environment. However, our instructors are available for Private Lessons on an as-needed basis. Private Lessons can be conducted in your home or our main training facility, depending upon the specific requirements. Be sure to visit our Fee Schedule page for specific pricing & options. Our Private Lesson Questionnaire is available to download. You can contact our office to discuss whether or not private lessons are appropriate for your dog.

Are You Shopping Around for Classes?

Chances are very good that you know someone who has taken classes with us. Many of our students are referred by friends, relatives, neighbors, veterinarians, groomers, breeders, and pet store personnel. If you are looking at a number of dog schools, pet shops or private trainers, we recommend that you call several instructors and speak with them about their methods, the size of their classes, the types of dogs they have personal experience with, their success rate and their graduating percentages.

Ask about their background in animal behavior, class organization, verbal communications, and group instruction/motivation. When possible, go observe classes in progress. Get a feeling for the class environment, the instructor's technical expertise and communications skills.

Beware of "free" or very inexpensive dog training -- because you get what you pay for -- which is often poor quality instruction and bad advice in large, out-of-control classes. Beware of so-called trainers who do a great "sales job" but, in reality, have very little actual dog training experience. We are frequently asked about "board and train" programs. We find that the class approach where you spend a few minutes a day working with your own dog is very successful. What most families really want is for the dog to obey them, in the household environment. And that's where we excel -- teaching families how to train their dogs so they become wonderful canine companions!

We Make Class Enrollment Easy & Convenient

There are several ways to register for classes with us, and we encourage you to do so as early as possible. Classes are filled in the order in which registration forms and accompanying payments are received.

Register Online! If you are paying by credit card, you can register online!  Using the navigation bar on the left side of this site, select your class.  Once you have successfully completed the online registration you will receive a confirmation email.

Register via Mail, Fax, or Email! After you have determined your choice for class, download and print a copy of our Registration Form. Fill out the two-page form and be sure to sign in the appropriate places. If you are paying by credit card you may fax your completed form to us at (253) 850-DOGS, send it via mail, or send the form via email.   If you are paying by check, you may send your form and payment via mail or drop them off in person. If you are paying in cash, please visit our office.

We will confirm receipt of your registration, and your class selection, by email or postcard shortly after its receipt. We will also contact you by email 24 - 48 hours prior to your first class meeting, to remind you to attend class!

We have an Information & Brochure box on the wall to the left of our main door. You can always pick up a current Schedule or a Registration Form, as well as a complete list of our Training Services and Programs even if we're not available.

Our Fee Schedule

Your tuition includes unlimited telephone and email support from your instructor. We allow you to make up any classes that you miss -- at no additional charge. We also offer a Student Incentive Program, which pays dividends to students who help with our community educational booths and support our business in other ways. Click here to review our complete Fee Schedule.