Frequently Asked Questions

You can start teaching a puppy good habits from the day you bring him or her home. However formal training should start after the second set of vaccines is given, generally around 10 - 12 weeks. Puppies do mature at different rates; so if you are

unsure if your puppy is ready for a formal class, request an evaluation by one of our instructors.

It is never too late to start (or continue) training a dog. Dogs are capable of, and usually enjoy, learning new behaviors at any age. It may take a little longer with an adult dog, but the results are worth it. You'll both be happier!

Every dog deserves to have some basic obedience skills. Oakland Dog Training Club has classes that are geared towards teaching the pet dog basic skills such as not jumping up on your guests when you answer the door, allowing you (or the groomer)

to clip his toenails, standing patiently and politely while the vet does her annual exam, sitting quietly at your side when you stop to chat with a neighbor while on your daily walk.

Most definitely. Oakland Dog Training Club does not discriminate against any breed. In fact, while it is a good idea for any dog to learn basic obedience, it is a great idea for a Pit Bull or other breed with a bad reputation. The better behaved a dog is

the more likely that he will be welcomed in many situations.

All dogs are welcome at Oakland Dog Training Club. Whether you just want some basic obedience skills or you plan on competing with your dog in the AKC's new Mixed Breed Program we have a class for you! 

Oakland Dog Training Club offers classes for all levels of interest. Our puppy, beginning and intermediate classes are taught with the person and dog who are not going on to competition in mind. Such things as socialization, basic obedience and

manners are stressed in these classes. However, many of our attendees in these classes discover how much fun they have training their dog and end up going on to compete, or simply take our classes geared for competition for fun, in order to keep

working with their dogs.

Bitches in heat are not allowed in the training hall with or without panties during classes or during personal hall rental time. Any bitch showing either a swollen vulva with or without discharge at the beginning of her heat cycle may not attend classes or be in the training hall for any reason. Being in heat is defined from the first day of discharge to the point when the vulva is reduced back to normal size.  The average heat cycle lasts about three weeks (21 days) but can be longer for some bitches. Students whose bitches come into heat, either prior to or during a prepaid class session, will be given the choice of auditing any missed classes or will be given a voucher( by the instructor) to be redeemed for any future classes/sessions. Students are solely responsible for keeping track of their vouchers and/or classes missed.  

Basic obedience skills are at the foundation of any dog sport. Working with your dog on basic obedience will strengthen the bond you have with your dog, and prepare them to work with you.

Classes at Oakland Dog training Club are 6 or 7 weeks per session, and give you communication skills to work with at home, but be aware that training is an on-going process. Regular and consistent practice and follow through will accelerate your

dog's success. It's also important to realize that dogs mature mentally at different rates, so reliability will be affected by adolescent curiosity and exuberance.

Our curriculum has classes to take a pet dog from puppy through off leash manners. Once you discover how much fun training and working with your dog is you may want to continue on with classes for performance obedience, Rally, and dog sports, such

as Agility, whether or not you choose to actually compete in these sports.

Dogs whose owners get involved with dog sports lead active, athletic lives and build strong partnerships with their trainers that carry over to trust and reliability in all walks of life.

Giving a dog a foundation in basic obedience can help with some behavior issues, and our classes can help you learn behavior modification techniques that may help solve behavior problems. However, not all behavior problems can be solved in a group

class, and may need to be referred to a behavior specialist.

Certainly!  Check our current class schedule come and observe a class. However, humans only, please.

You don't need to be a member to take our classes, but only registered students, club member dogs, and service dogs are allowed into our training facility.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has a program called the Canine Good Citizen program, designed to encourage and reward dog owners who have trained their dogs to have good manners, and be responsive to their owners. More information is

available on their web page http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/program.cfm.

You definitely should be concerned. Any dog is capable of biting, given enough provocation, and most dog bites actually take place in the home.

Your family and your dog would benefit greatly from one of our training classes where you will teach your dog basic commands. As you progress through the class, your dog will learn to look to you for leadership, making it easier for you to maintain a

calm atmosphere at home. Trained dogs are more relaxed and more attentive to people.

It is equally important to teach your children safe ways of behaving around dogs, so that they don't mistakenly push your dog into unwanted behaviors.

Your dog's backing up and barking shows that he is afraid of children and is barking to try to make them go away. Perhaps he is unaccustomed to children and is reacting with suspicion, a normal response to something unfamiliar. Or he may have had

negative experiences with children in the past. Either way, he is showing fear. Dogs that are fearful benefit greatly from training, as the training process helps them trust their owners and enhances their self confidence; this reduces their fearfulness in new situations. A training class is especially helpful as the dog learns to focus on his owner in spite of the distraction of other people and other dogs. At the same time, the class instructor can suggest ways to familiarize your dog to children in a positive way, so that your dog learns that children are safe.