Training

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We offer private lessons and classes with our trainer, Therese Dickinson.  Private lessons are scheduled in 30 or 60 minute sessions.  Classes run for five weeks unless otherwise noted with the class. See below for more information.  Fill out our TRAINING REGISTRATION form to get started. 

Our Day School training program, Ultimutt University Boot Camp, is a two week program using positive reinforcement training. Your dog is with us during the day, and they go home with you at night! Skills includes Sit, Down, Stay, Come, leash walking, Off, Leave it, Wait, Drop It, and other general manners.  

The Day School program is great for puppies as well as adult dogs that need refreshers or help with specific behaviors. We offer both beginner and intermediate levels.

The Boot Camp package includes:

· an initial meeting where we will talk through all the skills/cues we will be working on for beginner training, your goals for doing training, plus any issue you may be having at home,

· 16 training sessions - 2 extended training sessions each day while your dog is here for playtime Monday through Thursdays for 2 weeks, 

· their daycare while here on training days

· updates to show progress, and homework to show you what to work on with your dog at home, 

· a one-hour private lesson at the end to teach you what your dog has learned, and 

· a follow-up lesson one month out for refreshers  

The intermediate level reinforces all the basics and adds more of the three D's - Distractions, Distance, and Duration. Some fun activities are added to reinforce the training and an introduction to Rally. The AKC Canine Good Citizen testing is also part of the intermediate level.  

Pricing starts at $1,295.

To sign up for this program, fill out our ULTIMUTT UNIVERSITY TRAINING REGISTRATION form. If your dog is new to our dog daycare, fill out our DAYCARE APPLICATION as well.  

A Beginner Obedience class that is good for any age dog!  Our classes are small with lots of 1:1 attention and help from our trainers. We offer positive reinforcement training with no e-collars.  Basic skills taught are Sit, Down, Come, Stay, and manners like Wait, Leave it, Off, and leash walking.  Space is limited to 6 handler/dog teams per session.  The cost is $275 for each 5-week session. Graduation will be May 3rd.

To register, fill out the training registration form below.

Rally is a competition obedience team sport with you and your dog. Rally includes a range of maneuvers with posted signs to perform with your dog, with the list of skills varying for each course. This differs from traditional obedience competitions, which are more or less the same routine every time.  

This class will teach you the fundamentals of Rally to help get started at the Novice level. Classes are limited to 6 handler/dog teams. The cost is $300 for each 5-week session. Graduation class will be May 3rd.

Prerequisite: Beginner Obedience class or equivalent training being around other dogs. Dogs 6 months or older. Handlers are required to download or purchase a copy of the current AKC Rally Regulations prior to class.

This class is good for any age dog that has basic skills down!  The cost is $275 for each 5-week session. The Intermediate level adds more Distance, Duration, and Distractions to  all  the basic skills and manners.  Fun activities are included to reinforce the training and an introduction to Rally. To register, fill out the training registration form below. Graduation class will be May 3rd.

The Canine Good Citizen program provides a perfect framework for training your dog to become a polite member of society. This is a 10-skill test that teaches good manners to dogs and responsible dog ownership to their owners. It is designed to help you and your dog be the best you can be – together!  The cost of the test is $30. You may file your dog's certification with the AKC for their filing fee. 

This is one of the only standardized tests for dogs recognized in the U.S., and many service dog programs require it as a pre-requisite. Some apartments and rentals prefer or require this certification, and some home owners and pet insurance may offer a discount if your dog is certified. 

We offer all three levels -  CGC, CGC Urban, and CGCA Community Canine Advanced. Contact us to schedule individual lessons or testing. 

Tests can be scheduled as one-on-one sessions, or in an individualized group setting. The next AKC Canine Good Citizen test in a group setting will be offered on Saturday, April 5th  $30, with limited spaces. Each handler/dog team will be tested separately. 

Private lessons are great for dogs that need more 1:1 training. These are great to  work on basic and intermediate skills, manners, preparing for the AKC CGC test, specific issues, and to help reactive dogs. Cost is $50 for 1/2 hour and $90 for 1 hour. To sign up for a private lesson, fill out the training registration form below.

 Therese is a trainer with over thirty years experience working with many species of animals.  Attending training classes with her own personal dogs was the beginning of a life long passion of training dogs and helping their owners achieve their goals with their dogs.

She became a licensed falconer and worked as an animal actor trainer for Universal Studios.
In 2007, Therese opened her own dog training facility. She taught puppy classes, basic obedience, rally, trick classes and therapy dog classes, as well as helping many clients who had dogs with behavioral issues.

After many years vacationing in Tennessee, Therese and her husband moved from Florida to the mountains in 2019. They now have two dogs, Rat Terriers, Sawyer and Ava.