24 Bay Area locations:
Berkeley, Campbell, Concord, Corte Madera, Danville, El Cerrito, Fremont, Los Gatos, Oakland–North, Oakland–Montclair, Oakland–Downtown, Oakland/Alameda, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Redwood City, Roseville, San Jose–Blossom Hill, San Jose–Brahnam Plaza, San Ramon, SF Stonestown, SF SOMA, Sunnyvale, Terra Linda, Vallejo/Benicia, Walnut Creek–Downtown, Walnut Creek–Tice Valley.
Our Classes
Dr. Ian Dunbar developed and taught the world's very first off-leash puppy socialization and training classes 27 years ago for SIRIUS® Puppy Training. Dr. Dunbar's original puppy class formats revolutionized dog training and created the new field of Pet Dog Training (as distinct from competitive obedience).
SIRIUS® is redefining pet dog training yet again with a variety of newly-developed, innovative, and extremely effective training techniques for our SIRIUS® Puppy Classes and for our SIRIUS® Adult Dog Classes. Additionally, we are introducing a K9 GAMES® Class exclusively for graduates of Puppy 2 or Adult 2.
Why SIRIUS is the Premier Puppy School
Puppy Courses:
Puppy Class 1 -
Puppy Class 2
Adult Courses:
Adult Class 1 -
Adult Class 2
Exclusives:
K9 GAMES® Class -
Canine Good Citizen Prep Course -
SIRIUS® Sherlock Nose
Classes meet once a week for six consecutive weeks (each session is 55 minutes). Holiday breaks occasionally result in classes running for seven weeks. Holiday breaks will be noted on our registration page and in your Registration Confirmation. Registration Fees: $200 for each six-week class; $350 for Puppy 1 plus Puppy 2
Our puppy classes are taught entirely off-leash in a real-life format with the goal of producing good-natured and well-mannered adult dogs. The primary emphasis is on producing people-friendly and dog-friendly dogs and mastering off-leash, verbal control for around the house and out and about.
Our puppy course is now offered in a two-part (Puppy 1 and Puppy 2), 12-week format for the ultimate puppy class experience and, with your dedication, results that will last a lifetime. You may enroll for the complete 12-week puppy course (Registration Fee $350) and schedule to take Puppy 1 and Puppy 2 consecutively (with a flexible mid-term vacation), or you may register for Puppy 1 and Puppy 2 separately (Registration Fee $200 for each class). Graduation is contingent upon completing the full 12-week course. A certificate of completion will be given following the week-6 Mid-Term of Puppy 1. More Information.
Our puppy classes specifically focus on teaching bite inhibition (gentle jaws), socialization with other dogs and people (especially children, men and strangers), calming and handling, attention, off-leash household manners/obedience and the prevention of behavior and temperament problems. Special emphasis is paid to phasing out the need for food lures and rewards for reliable verbal and hand signal, off-leash control (around the home or on walks), yet promoting the continued use of food treats for classical conditioning - to teach dogs to thoroughly enjoy the company of people and other dogs. Owners may download a free copy of Dr. Dunbar's AFTER You Get Your Puppy at the time of registration and they may consult the free multimedia TRAINING TEXTBOOK at http://dogstardaily.com/training for additional guidance during this developmentally time-sensitive period.More Information.
Requirements: Pups must be between 10 and 18 weeks of age at the start date of class. We require that they have the first TWO rounds of DHLPP or DHPP (specifically Distemper and Parvo). The second round must have been administered after 8 weeks of age, but at least 5 to 7 days prior to the first session of class.
Registration Fee: $200 Browse for Classes
Class Length: This class is six consecutive sessions unless a break is mentioned in your confirmation. Each session is approximately 55 minutes per week. Each session will meet on the same day and time each week. We require a minimum of 4 dogs to run a class.
Early puppy training is as easy as it is enjoyable. Much more challenging though, is to ensure that your puppy maintains bite inhibition, remains socialized and friendly to other dogs and people, and continues to pay heed to you instructions while working through adolescence. Training focuses on proofing verbal control without the need for food lures or rewards, or any other training tools. Exercises include distance sits in play (for the home, yard, dog parks and off-leash walks), settle down, rock-solid stays, and both off-leash and on-leash walking and heeling. Puppy 2 will help you teach your adolescent pup to be calm, attentive and responsive and to respond quickly, willingly and happily, especially when distracted, off-leash, and at a distance. More Information.
Requirements: Graduates of SIRIUS® Puppy 1; under 18 months of age; proof of rabies vaccine.
Registration Fee: $200 Browse for Classes
Class Length: This class is six consecutive sessions unless a break is mentioned in your confirmation. Each session is approximately 55 minutes per week. Each session will meet on the same day and time each week. We require a minimum of 4 dogs to run a class.
For the most part, adult classes are taught on-leash until we are certain that all dogs are people-friendly and dog-friendly and safe to play and train off-leash. Adult classes initially involve learning to manage, control, and channel the dogs' energy, enthusiasm and exuberance by teaching impulse control, calmness and attention, whereupon teaching basic obedience becomes a much easier endeavor.
An excellent class for dogs that have never taken a class before or for dogs needing to brush up on rusty obedience skills. Our absolutely unique and innovative all-or-none reward training techniques make training adolescent and adult dogs a peaceful and enjoyable experience. Initial exercises focus on calming, settling-down and regaining attention to facilitate teaching basic manners - sit, down, stand, stay, walking on-leash and polite greetings. More Information.
Requirements: Over five months of age; friendly to people and other dogs; proof of rabies vaccine.
Registration Fee: $200 Browse for Classes
Class Length: This class is six consecutive sessions unless a break is mentioned in your confirmation. Each session is approximately 55 minutes per week. Each session will meet on the same day and time each week. We require a minimum of 4 dogs to run a class.
Our goal is to enable owners to enjoy their adolescent dog's over-the-top joy for life by re-channeling the dogs' exuberance (hyperactivity, jumping-up, barking and pulling on-leash) into equally enthusiastic obedience. Emphasis is based on super-prompt sits and downs, reliable rock-solid stays, and controlled on-leash walking and heeling. More Information.
Requirements: Graduates of SIRIUS® Adult 1; friendly to people and other dogs; proof of rabies vaccine.
Registration Fee: $200 Browse for Classes
Class Length: This class is six consecutive sessions unless a break is mentioned in your confirmation. Each session is approximately 55 minutes per week. Each session will meet on the same day and time each week. We require a minimum of 4 dogs to run a class.
Simply put, a really enjoyable and extremely useful class. A unique opportunity, exclusively for Puppy 2 or Adult 2 graduates to have fun while producing a dog that eagerly and promptly performs with pizzazz and precision - a dog that loves training - a dog that lives to learn. Tricks and games motivate both dogs and owners to give their very best performances. Equally as important, playing games allows for objective quantification of your dog's performance - to establish your personal best, so that you may progressively better your best from week to week. More Information.
Requirements: Graduates of The Complete SIRIUS® Puppy Course or A2 Cultivated Canine; friendly to people and other dogs; proof of rabies vaccine.
Registration Fee: $200 Browse for Classes
Class Length: This class is six consecutive sessions unless a break is mentioned in your confirmation. Each session is approximately 55 minutes per week. Each session will meet on the same day and time each week. We require a minimum of 4 dogs to run a class.
This course prepares students and their dogs to take the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, a certification program designed to reward dogs who demonstrate good manners at home and in the community. The class is a forum to practice all of the skill necessary to pass the CGC test such as, accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, supervised separation from the owner, and many other skills that prove a dog's social-savvy. Passing the CGC test has many benefits. For example, it can expedite acceptance into Animal Assisted Therapy programs, advanced behavioral or agility classes, or even doggie daycare or boarding facilities. More valuable than the piece of paper, however, is the piece of mind that your dog is a mannerly, well-behaved member of your household - and the community at large.
This class is only offered periodically so register well in advance to assure you spot!
Requirements: Graduate of The Complete SIRIUS® Puppy Course or Courteous Canine (Adult 1); friendly to people and other dogs; proof of rabies vaccine.
Registration Fee: $200
Class Length: This class is six consecutive sessions unless a break is mentioned in your confirmation. Each session is approximately 55 minutes per week. Each session will meet on the same day and time each week. We require a minimum of 4 dogs to run a class.
This class will unleash your dog's "Sherlock Nose" as well as teach you how to better read your dog's intentions and individual communication style. Giving your dog "the gift of sniff" will enhance your relationship with your best friend and provides the necessary mental stimulation that helps keep dogs healthy and happy. Teaching your dog scent-detection (to find a specific object or odor) is an excellent way for your dog to build confidence, burn lots of mental and physical energy, and have a blast!
Nearly all dogs have excellent noses, therefore, SIRIUS Sherlock Nose classes are perfect for dogs of any age, size, breed-type, or personality. We love welcoming adult and even senior dogs back to school for this sniffalicious course! More Information
Registration Fee: $200 for six weeks, 1.5 hours each session
Class Length: This class is six consecutive sessions unless a break is mentioned in your confirmation. Each session is approximately 1.5 hours per week. Each session will meet on the same day and time each week. We require a minimum of 4 dogs to run a class.
Learn the basic exercises of the sport of Rally obedience. The fundamentals of focused obedience are introduced and woven into simple courses for fun and bonding with your dog.
Requirements: This class is designed as an introduction to rally for dogs with solid basic obedience skills and to graduates of the SIRIUS© Complete Puppy Course.
Registration Fee: $200 for six weeks, 1 hour each session
Class Length: This class is six consecutive sessions unless a break is mentioned in your confirmation. Each session is approximately 55 minutes per week. Each session will meet on the same day and time each week. We require a minimum of 4 dogs to run a class.
This class will build on new obedience skills introduced at level one (Rally Fundamentals) into more complex Rally course work. Elements of competition will be introduced. The focus will be on clear communication between handler and dog as skills develop.
Requirements: Completion of Rally Fundamentals
Registration Fee: $200 for six weeks, 1 hour each session
Class Length: This class is six consecutive sessions unless a break is mentioned in your confirmation. Each session is approximately 55 minutes per week. Each session will meet on the same day and time each week. We require a minimum of 4 dogs to run a class.
Competition orientation and preparation will be the focus of this class. Courses will integrate Rally exercises increasing in difficulty as we progress, and offer students an opportunity to practice for competition.
Requirements: Completion of Rally Foundation
Registration Fee: $200 for six weeks, 1 hour each session
Class Length: This class is six consecutive sessions unless a break is mentioned in your confirmation. Each session is approximately 55 minutes per week. Each session will meet on the same day and time each week. We require a minimum of 4 dogs to run a class.