-

TRAINING

Here in Washtenaw County we are lucky have have a large number of wonderful trainers and training facilities.  The first part of these listings will be trainers and facilities I have personal experience with.  If readers have recommendations for other trainers and facilities, I will be glad to include them, with certain restrictions, the most important being that the trainers use positive reinforcement or LIMA (least invasive, minimally aversive) techniques for training.

ANN ARBOR DOG TRAINING CLUB

AADTC is our local AKC training club, which means they can hold AKC obedience, and agility trials and tracking tests.  They hold classes at their facility on North Territorial Road about one mile east of US-23.  Their classes are open to all dogs, pure-bred and mixed-breed.  They hold puppy classes, basic manners classes and competition classes for obedience and agility.  They also have tracking classes and related groups hold fly-ball and confirmation classes.  If you are looking for some good entertainment, come to one of the AADTC's agility trials which they hold at their facility in the beginning of April and the beginning of September.  It should be noted that I am a member of the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club.

CANINE SPORTS RECREATION CENTER

The premier agility center in south-eastern Michigan, CRCS is a large facility in Dexter that holds both first-rate agility training and AKC and CPE agility trials several times a month as well as training seminars frequently during the year. CRCS is owned by Mandy Moller and Deb Harrison, both AKC Agility Judges and owner/handlers of multiple AKC MACH dogs.

NORTHFIELD DOG TRAINING

The place to go for competition obedience and rally training.  People drive to Northfield from throughout Michigan and Ohio for training.  Northfield's owner, Adele Yunck is the author of two popular books on competition obedience training and gives seminars around the country.  Northfield also holds competition agility classes and basic obedience classes for puppies and adult dogs.

K9 HOME SCHOOLING

Owned by Michelle McCarthy, who is also the head trainer, K9 Home Schooling holds classes in Ann Arbor, Chelsea and Pinckney and also do training at your home.  They use positive reinforcement techniques in their training.  They are the one place in the area that holds classes for training a dog to be a therapy dog.  Michelle also trains dogs to be "emotional support therapy dogs" in a unique program that trains specific dogs for specific humans.  They also hold tracking classes on a regular basis.

ABOUT DOGS LLC

About Dogs is the business name for our friend Camille Ward.  Camille has a PhD in psychology from the University of Michigan, where her research focused on cognition and the development of social relationships in domestic dogs.  She now teaches classes in the UM graduate program of psychology in cognition and applied dog behavior.  She offers in-home private training and behavioral consultations.  She is the real thing in terms of an dog behaviorist!

THINK PAWSITIVE DOG TRAINING

Sarah Grimm is the owner and trainer of Think Pawsitive Dog Training which holds classes at Arbor Dog Daycare located by Biarwood Mall.  She has puppy kindergarten, basic training classes and leash manners classes.  She also does private sessions for basic training and behavior issues.  She uses positive reinforcement and clicker techniques.