TRAINING RESOURCES

Training

Training classes are a great way to get to know your new boxer and observe how your boxer does with other people and dogs.   Group classes are also a good way to help with the adjustment process after adoption and catch any concerns before they become problems.   Most trainers also provide one-to-one assessment and intervention to address problematic behavior.  We recommend the following trainers, who use only no-force, positive reinforcement methods and techniques.  If you need further assistance with finding a trainer, please email us.

Sacramento Area Trainers

Sacramento Dog Behavior
Lisa Mullinax
specializing in fear & aggression ONLY
lisa@sacramentodogbehavior.com
www.sacramentodogbehavior.com

BARCC Dog Training & Services, LLC
Ruth McDaniel
(530) 417-5038
ruthmcdaniel@lycos.com

The Animal Connection
Kelly Alsop
(530) 305-0338
getinTtouch@foothill.net

Sacramento SPCA
(916) 383-7387, ext. 9148
behavior@sspca.org
www.sspca.org/TrainingClasses.html

Unleashed Dog Training
Mandy Kennedy
El Dorado Hills area
(916) 605-9778
www.unleashdogtraining.com

Thinking Dogs
Nancy Abplanalp
www.thinkingdogs.net

Patty Malnick
(916) 872-9437
happidawgs@gmail.com

SF & Peninsula Trainers

A Dog’s Life
Palo Alto, Sunnyvale & Milpitas
www.dogslife.biz

Just Rewards, LLC
Wendy Hilton
Redwood City, San Carlos, Burlingame, Millbrae, Palo Alto
(650) 302-1862
wendy@justrewardsk9.com
www.justrewardsK9.com

Peninsula Humane Society
San Mateo
www.peninsulahumanesociety.org

Sirius Dog Training
Several Locations
www.dogslife.biz

Loring Slivinski
Pacifica
(650) 359-3685
loring@pacificapet.com
http://www.dogslife.biz

Cerena West-Zutis
Los Altos
goodgooddog@peoplepc.com

Paula Benton Dog Training
San Francisco
http://www.paulabentondogtraining.com

SF SPCA
San Francisco
https://www.sfspca.org

North Bay Trainers

Accentuate the Pawsitive Dog Training
Luanne Cox
(707) 292-7260
reddogsrule@sonic.net

All Things Dog
Kirsten Hrobsky, Director of Training Camp K-9 of Marin
(415) 515-8834
kirstenhrobsky@hotmail.com

Carpe Doggum
Jacquelyn England
(415) 385-8425
pawriffic@yahoo.com

Canine Behavior Associates
Trish King & Tricia Breen
Santa Cruz
www.canine-behavior-associates.com

Gentle Touch Puppy & Dog Training, Sirius Puppy Training
Angela DiMeglio
(415) 259-0355
Angela@GentleTouchDog.com
www.GentleTouchDog.com

Marin Humane Society
Training Classes
www.marinhumanesociety.org
(415) 506-6281

Pawsitive Results Critter Academy
Laurel Scarioni
(707) 292-5862
pawsitiveresults@comcast.net
www.pawsitiveresults.net

Sirius Dog Training
Several Locations
www.siriuspup.com

Teacher’s Pet Dog Training
Jana Gray
(707) 258-9313
(707) 815-4824
dgray@napanet.net

East Bay Trainers

A Dog’s Life
Palo Alto, Sunnyvale & Milpitas
www.dogslife.biz

Elissa Cline Dog Training
Essie Cline
(510) 289-1977
elissa@myholler.com
www.myholler.com/dogtraining

Pawsitive Steps Dog Training
Lisa Clifton-Bumpass
(510) 732-7877
pawsitivedogs@comcast.net

Regarding Dogs, LLC
Sydnie Nishiyama
(510) 865-1097
regardingdogs@sbcglobal.net

Sirius Dog Training
Several Locations
www.siriuspup.com

Tell a Tail Dog Training
Wendy Krehbiel
(510) 299-1665
wendy@tellatail.com
www.tellatail.com

South Bay Trainers

A Dog’s Life
Palo Alto, Sunnyvale & Milpitas
www.dogslife.biz

Stacy’s Wag’n Train 
San Jose
http://www.wagntrain.com

Hope for Canines
San Jose
https://www.hopeforcanines.com/

Santa Cruz Area Trainers

Augies and Friends
V Hinton
Scotts Valley
408-396-3938
www.augiesfriends.com

Canine Behavior Associates
Trish King & Tricia Breen
Santa Cruz
www.canine-behavior-associates.com

Sandy Pensinger
Capitola
831-601-2458
www.livingwithdogs.us

Mardi Richmond
Santa Cruz
831-465-5061 or 831-454-0607
rowdydogs@cruzio.com

Sirius Dog Training
Several Locations
www.siriuspup.com

Stockton Area Trainers

Clickin’ Canines
Rita Martinez, CPDT-KA
Oakley, CA
925-813-1715
rita@clickincanines.com
www.clickincanines.com

Gentle Touch Dog Training
Connie Price, RVT, CPDT-KA
Stockton,CA
209-943-2192
puppywhisperer60@gmail.com
www.gentletouchdogtraining.net

Visalia Area Trainers

Alpha K9 Training
Glenn Farris
Visalia, CA 93277
(559) 731-2238
glenn@alphak9trainingyahoo.biz
alphak9trainingyahoo.biz

Hanford Veterinary Hospital
Marguerite Carriker, RVT, CPDT-KA
Hanford CA 93920
(559) 584-4481
gone2k9@sbcglobal.net

Neva Perotta
Exeter, CA 93221(serving Exeter, Visalia, Lindsay)
(559) 786-1174
acds4me@directtv.net

Training Specialists

Malena DeMartini Inc.
Malena DeMartini-Price, CTC
Separation Anxiety Counseling ONLY
Based in SF Bay Area but remote training available
info@malenademartini.com
malenademartini.com

A Note on Crating

A crate is a valuable asset to training any boxer. If used correctly, it can be a safe haven for the boxer. Once your boxer is accustomed to the crate, if the door is left open, the boxer may preferentially sleep and seek refuge in the crate. A crate also provides security to the owner. When you leave the home, if crated, the boxer cannot hurt itself or damage anything in the home. Since a boxer will usually not potty in a small space if confined there, a crate is also a valuable tool in house-training the boxer. The crate should be kept in a temperate, quiet location. For information on how to get your boxer to love the crate, please see the video – Crate Games by Susan Garrett

Recommended Reading

Online Resources:
Magazines:
  • The Whole Dog Journal, a monthly guide to natural dog care and training.
  • The Bark, a magazine for dog lovers. Insightful articles, timely tips, stirring essays.
Introductory Training Books:
Books on Understanding Dog Behavior:
  • The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson. Understand the role of conditioning on a dog’s intelligence & morality; predatory & social behavior; socialization, conflict resolution, fear & aggression; behavior problems & solutions.
  • Don’t Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor. Outlines 8 methods for putting an end to all kinds of undesirable behavior without yelling, threats, force, punishment, guilt trips – or shooting the dog.
  • On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals by Turid Rugaas, a noted expert on canine body language. In this book, Turid identifies what she calls calming signals: “signals used by dogs to prevent things from happening, from avoiding threats from people and dogs to calming down nervousness and fear.” She explains how dogs use calming signals, and how we, as dog owners, can use them as well with our own dogs.
  • Mine by Jean Donaldson – the seminal book on resource guarding. Learn how to assess the severity of resource guarding and get in-depth information on what is necessary to alter resource guarding behavior.
  • Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs by Malena DeMartini-Price. This book provides insight into one of the most difficult problems to address in a dog – separation anxiety. It gives hope to resolving this problem no matter how severe the manifestation.
Books on Dogs and Children: