Why Puppy Kindergarten is vital for your dog

Do you have a puppy between eight weeks and three months old? Then there’s not a minute to lose: enroll your new friend in Puppy Kindergarten!
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recently released a position statement recommending puppy socialization classes for puppies three months of age and younger. This recommendation is an exciting acknowledgment [...]

Your agility dog: Building focus and drive (Part Two)

In Part One of this two-part series, we talked about what drive is, why it’s important, and the difference between drive and arousal. This week, we’re going to take a peek at some strategies to increase focus for dogs prone to arousal and talk about how to build drive.
Focus and agility
Now that we can tell [...]

Your agility dog: Building focus and drive (Part One)

In agility or other dog sports, we often hear about a dog’s drive. Maybe someone has said your dog has a lot of drive, or could use more drive.
What is “drive”?
Sometimes you’ll hear people talk about different types of drive in dogs, such as fight drive, play drive or prey drive. For our purposes, we’ll [...]

Five reasons to avoid invisible fencing

Invisible fencing may seem like a good idea on the outset, but I believe the risks outweigh the benefits. Below are five reasons I think these fences aren’t the best option for containing your dog.

You still have to train the dog. Many people assume an invisible or underground fence is “plug ‘n’ play” — that [...]

Enroll Online

To enroll online, first fill out the registration form below. Then, pay online with your credit card or PayPal account on the next page, or send a check to Best Pets Dog Training LLC, 11447 Valley Dr., The Plains, OH 45780.
You will receive a letter containing instructions and directions once your payment is received. Classes [...]

Classes near Athens, Ohio

Our group classes are tailored so you and your dog can gain positive, consistent behavior in the real world. We take you beyond commands to the world of animal behavior. Our positive reinforcement techniques make learning fun and effective. Not 100% satisfied? Take the class again for free!
A new class series will begin in mid-March. [...]

Teach your dog his name

Let’s teach our dogs the most important word they’ll ever hear: their names. The good news is, this simple, life-saving word can be taught in literally a matter of minutes.
All you’ll need to do is grab your dog, a leash (if you need it to keep him nearby), and 50 or so really, really good [...]

Before bringing your puppy home

Those little balls of fluff are adorable, but life can become miserable without accomplishing at least these five tasks first:

Buy a crate. A crate is an indispensable tool for house training, as well as keeping your belongings and your puppy safe while you are gone. Crate-training takes a few days if your breeder hasn’t already [...]

Is your dog ready for agility training?

Agility training is a wonderful, energy-burning and mind-challenging sport for dogs and their handlers. Even dogs not registered with the AKC can participate in agility competition, thanks to a plethora of agility registries such as the United States Dog Agility Association and the North American Dog Agility Council. Finding a good agility class or trainer [...]

Debunking dog myths

You think you know your dog? See if your dog has been subject to any of these popular canine myths.
Talk to anyone from your next-door neighbor to your cousin who shows dogs, and you’ll hear a variety of interpretations on dogs and dog behavior. Some of the most common myths I hear regarding our canine [...]