Don’t like a behavior? Don’t reward it with attention. To us dogs, saying no or yelling is better than no attention at all. It makes us want to try the behavior again just to get noticed.
Want a better behaved, easygoing dog that pays attention to you? Come to one of our dog training classes and learn fun, effective, positive methods that will have your puppy or dog well-mannered and eager to learn more.
Class Overview
Please note: Dog Town Dog Training group classes are for friendly dogs and their owners, looking to learn and have fun. Dogs must be in good general health and current on vaccines. Dog Town uses only positive, humane training methods and training tools. We do not support the use of aversive methods or collars such as prong, modified prong, pinch, choke, or shock collars. Dog Town group training classes are NOT meant for:
- Dogs who growl at or are otherwise unfriendly to people.
- Dogs who exhibit aggression towards other dogs or other behavioral issues.
- Dogs who have bitten people or other animals.
If your dog exhibits any of these behaviors, if your dog does not meet class prerequisites, or if you are unsure, please contact us before you sign up. Private training lessons may be a better option.
Puppy Class
- For: 3 months‑6 months
- Length: 6 weeks
- Class Limit: 7 puppies
- Next Class: Will return in January 2025
- Where: Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey
- Cost: $225.00
- Prerequisite: Puppies must be 6 months or younger with at least 2 rounds of puppy vaccinations
- Trainer: Lisa Verdugo
Class content: The essentials of raising a well-behaved dog. Teaching your puppy: Where to go potty (house-training). Basic manners, such as sit, down, and come when called. That human hands are not for chewing on and that dog toys are. How to settle down and relax. To get used to being alone every now and then. To be comfortable with handling. To like and accept new people, dogs and their environment (socialization).
This class will give you all the information you need to train and socialize your puppy into a confident, well-behaved dog. (Please note that your puppy must have had two shots and close to his third shot.)
Beginner Obedience
- For: Dogs 6 months and older
- Length: 6 weeks
- Class Limit: 7 Dogs
- Next class: Saturday, November 2nd, 9:30am-10:30am
- Where: Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey
- Cost: $225.00
- Prerequisite: Dogs must be 6 months or older with proof of current vaccination; no prior training experience is required.
- Trainer: Lisa Verdugo
Class content: A basic obedience class for beginners and for any dog that could use a little tune-up in the manners department. Cues include sit, stay, down, come, walk nicely on leash, leave it and wait at the curb.
We practice scenarios from real life and give you problem solving skills you can use every day with your dog.
Intermediate Obedience
- For: Dogs 7 Months and older
- Length: 6 weeks
- Class Limit: 7 Dogs
- Next class: Will return in January 2025
- Where: Burton Chace Park in Marina Del Rey
- Cost: $225.00
- Prerequisite: Must have successfully completed a basic obedience class either with Dog Town or elsewhere, or if no prior class has been taken, must have approval of the instructor.
- Trainer: Lisa Verdugo
Class content: Continue having fun with your dog as you build on the skills learned in Beginner class! Intermediate Obedience focuses on strengthening behaviors such as coming when called, heeling and stays. Distractions and distance from the handler are added elements in this class. Training Games are used to teach your dog important life skills.
Advanced Obedience
- Length: 6 weeks
- Next class: TBD.
- Where: Burton Chace Park in Marina Del Rey map
- Cost: $225.00
- Prerequisite: Successful completion of at least 1 session of an Intermediate Obedience Class or permission of the trainer. Dogs must be able to perform most Intermediate Obedience Exercises; i.e. Heel, recall, stay, etc., and be able to work well with distraction.
- Trainer: Lisa Verdugo
Class content: Advanced Obedience builds on the skills learned in Intermediate. We make the challenges much more real world oriented and customize them for each dog’s needs.
Canine Good Citizen
Prerequisite: All dogs should have completed at least one beginner obedience class either with Dog Town or another institution, and have some understanding of basic obedience commands sit, down, stay and come when called. Dogs should also be comfortable working around other dogs and display no aggressive tendencies.
- For: Dogs 7 months and older
- Length: 6 weeks
- When:
- Next class: TBD
- Where: Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey map
- Cost: $250.00
- Trainer: Shannon Jordan
Class content: The exercises include: Accepting a friendly stranger. Sitting politely for petting. Out for a walk. Walking through a crowd. Sit, down, and stay. Coming when called. Reaction to another dog. Supervised separation. And more. This is preparation for dog Therapy work.
Come practice the obedience exercises required to pass the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen certification. CGC Test will be offered on the sixth week as part of the class. Whether or not you take the optional test, you know your dog will have the refined manners we expect of today’s four-pawed urban citizens.
