Dog Training

We Have Classes For All Breeds and All Levels

The Willow Creek Dog Training Center has Utah’s finest state-of-the-art training facility, a spacious room with rubber flooring, and mirrored walls making training indoors comfortable and enjoyable year round. A variety of training classes are available during the week for your convenience. We also offer Canine Good Citizen/Therapy training, agility training, clicker training, advanced obedience (intermediate) training, and competitive obedience training.

Most classes run either 6 or 8 weeks for one hour each and are small in size to ensure each pet receives the personalized attention needed from the trainer. Private lessons are also available on a limited basis.

Dog Trainers

Our Trainers Are Dog's AND Man’s Best Friend
We are very proud to have highly competent trainers on our staff who are dedicated to helping you and your canine pet enjoy a long and happy life together. Our trainers have a minimum of 17 years of experience in training and competing in performance venues (obedience, agility, tracking, herding and conformation) as well as teaching classes.

By day, most of our trainers maintain professional working positions in many diverse areas. They all share a strong common bond in their love for dogs and a desire to contribute to the animal community. They are fully aware that the largest cause of euthanasia is behavior problems. Each instructor’s goal is to make a difference in the lives they touch. They commit countless hours of their personal time to learn and develop the skills they present to you.

New Classes

Canine Good Citizen/Introduction to Therapy Class:
This 6-week course focuses on the skills and behaviors needed to pass the Canine Good Citizen Certification set by the AKC. Going beyond basic obedience commands, you and your dog will build upon the ideals of good dog manners, i.e. meeting strangers, walking through a crowd, and reaction to distractions. This program will also introduce you and your dog to therapy work, as most dog owners need their dog CGC certified as a prerequisite to therapy dog certification. This is a great course for any dog owner looking to be rewarded for good manners at home and in the community!

Intermediate Obedience/Canine Good Citizen Class:
This 8-week course is designed for dogs that have had a basic training class or equivalent skills. The class will not only cover all the steps of the Canine Good Citizen to help you on your way to certification, but the class will also cover heeling patterns, beginning of off-leash work, proofing, stays, and much more. At the end of the 8-weeks course you and your dog will be evaluated for the Canine Good Citizen certification. This class will also help build the relationship between you and your dog!
 

Dog Obedience

Puppy Kindergarten:

• Beginning of obedience concepts, including recalls (come), not pulling on the leash, basic words like sit and down
• Behavior work on jumping up on people, waiting at doors, help with house-training, and other house behavior issues as needed
• Learning to understand your puppy and developing a relationship based on consistency, trust, and controlling your puppy's environment for success while it learns the rules and matures
• During recess puppies are free to play and experience different breeds and personalities. Socialization with other puppies and people helps teach correct behavior and confidence. Smaller breeds may need to play in a fenced off area to prevent being overwhelmed.

Beginning Obedience:

• Heeling with automatic sit
• Recalls-lots of focus on reliability
• Word recognition work-sit, stand, down
• Behaviors-ouch, say 'hi', off, leave it
• Sit-Stay and Down-Stay exercises
• Appropriate behavior around other dogs

Intermediate Obedience: Advanced obedience, but not competition level; a CGC prep class, and a fun way to keep working your dog.

• Heeling progressing to pace changes, halts, and beginning of off-leash work
• Word work progresses to dog responding at a distance
• Stays across the room with time lengthened
• Proofing with distractions is started on all exercises
• Lots of recall work with a front and a finish added
• Your relationship with, and your understanding of your dog becomes much better

Competition Obedience: Done mostly on a private basis. The focus is on learning skills needed by dog and handler to compete in multiple obedience competitions.

Rally Obedience Class: This 6 week continuous course is designed to help people get ready to compete for AKC rally titles. This class is fun for dogs of all ages that might not want to compete in other AKC obedience events.

Really Reliable Recall Class: This 6 week course focuses on recalls. It is taught using positive reinforcement, games and impulse control. It is a great way to improve your relationship with your dog!

Behavior

Behavior Class: For dogs with behavior issues, including, but not limited to fearfulness of people and/or other dogs, basic control problems, dominance issues, or problems that need to be worked on in a class setting.

• Taught by our behavior specialist who has over 20 years experience
• Class size limited to 6 dogs
• Safety of owners and dogs is our top priority
• Generous space in which to train
• Educational, helpful handouts with each new course
• Useful techniques to teach owners how to recognize and manage their dog's reactions

This class will give owners the tools to help their dogs be less reactive on a day to day basis. Most dogs can be helped once their owners understand what triggers their dog's reaction, and what they can do to have more control over situations as they occur in everyday life. Unfortunately, some dogs cannot be helped; but the majority of dogs are able to function more normally with the help of an educated and understanding owner.

Clicker

Clicker Training: A class for those who prefer to train without correction. Also teaches the importance of accurate timing. This is a fun class for both handler and dog!

• Operant & Classical conditioning is taught
• Very experienced, knowledgeable trainer
• Small class size
• A valuable tool for those desiring to do agility
• Your dog is an active participant in the training process

Agility

Agility Training: You've seen it on TV and have said "My dog would love that!" This is an active, fun class for dogs who are healthy and for owners who are looking for great outdoor bonding time with their dog. It can also be a confidence-building experience for a shy dog. Since agility takes place outside, and is seasonal, one must be adaptable to existing weather conditions. (No classes in the snow, however!)

• Instructor regularly attends many seminars and stays current on latest training techniques
• Instructor trains and competes with her own dogs
• Instructor trains using positive techniques
• A pre-requisite agility prep class teaches timing and communication; you are then ready to go for group or private training
• Some skills can be worked on indoors without the need of equipment
• A great way to introduce puppies to contact and target work
• Great care is taken to educate all participants on the use of equipment to help prevent injuries

Pre-registration and proof of current vaccinations performed by a licensed veterinarian is required. Please call 942-0777 or e-mail to sign up for a class.