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:
- The Association of Professional Dog Trainers
- Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
- Positively.com
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:
- Click for Joy! by Melissa Alexander. Good basic book about clicker training.
- Dog-Friendly Dog Training by Andrea Arden. Humane, user-friendly and dog-friendly training methods.
- Power of Positive Dog Training by Pat Miller. Learn how you can reward your dog to obtain and reinforce the behaviors you could only dream about achieving!
- Positive Perspectives: Love Your Dog, Train Your Dog by Pat Miller. How can bad behavior be easily transformed into good behavior? Why does management work better than force?
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:
- Living with Kids and Dogs…Without Losing Your Mind by Colleen Pelar. Simple, realistic advice for busy parents to help ensure that the relationship between their kids and their dog is safe and enjoyable for all.
