What hours are you open?
Health and Happiness Requirements:  Day C.A.M.P. and Training C.A.M.P.
Health and Happiness Requirements: Group Classes & Private Lessons
Do you guarantee your training?
What should I bring to the first night of classes?
Are there special items I need for classes other than puppy/basic classes?
Should all family members attend, or just one person?
What are your policies regarding children participating in class?
What if my children are too young to participate in class?
If I miss a class, can I make it up?
What happens if I flunk out of class?
What are your refund policies for classes?

What hours are you open?

Monday - Friday:  6:30 am - 6:30 pm (Office)

Saturday:
    Classes          8:30 am - 12:00 pm
    Day CAMP   8:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Shampooch   9:00 am - 4:00 pm (self service only)

Health & Happiness Requirements: C.A.M.P. Programs

It is important to us that your pet enjoy a safe and healthy environment while at Riverdog. Therefore, we require that you provide us with written verification of the following requirements prior to enrollment

• General exam in the last 12 months indicating dog is in good health
• Current DHLPP, Rabies, and Bordatella vaccinations (or titer test)
• Fecal test results negative for parasites within the past 6 months
• Spay or Neuter Certificate (for Day C.A.M.P., puppies must be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age to continue attending C.A.M.P.)
• Collar with ID tag
• Completed, current application on file, with complete disclosure of any history of any severe possessive aggression, biting or aggression towards dogs and/or people.
   

In addition to the above, we also require you to confirm that your dog:
 

• Has not had any contagious illnesses within the past 30 days
• Is housetrained
• Is currently on a flea control program
• Is not a constant barker (or must wear bark collar)
• Can be contained behind our 5' high fencing structures

Health & Happiness Requirements: Group Classes & Private Lessons

It is important to us that everyone in class enjoy a safe and healthy environment while at Riverdog.  Please plan to provide verification and/or bring each of the following at the beginning of your first class:

• Adult dogs:  Current DHLPP and rabies vaccinations
• Puppies:  Must have received at least the first set of puppy vaccination series
• Collar with ID tag
• 4-6' leather or nylon leash (no retractable leashes, please)
• A bunch of soft, yummy training treats for class

Do you guarantee your training?

YES! Although no one can guarantee learning, we always guarantee our training. We will work with you to make sure that you get your money's worth out of our services and that we find a way to help you improve your relationship and communication with your dog. Click to see guarantee.

Do I bring my puppy on the first night of Puppy 101 Obedience classes?

No. We want your puppy to come with you the second night. While we talk about how dogs learn, and set the stage for the next several weeks of class, your puppy will be learning important things like “I'm Not Always The Center of Attention” and “How to be Quiet In Class”, along with our famous Puppy Recess activities. It is helpful to bring a notepad and something to write with, in order to take good notes on the first night

What should I bring to the second week of Puppy 101 Obedience class?

• a soft rug, mat or bed for your puppy to lie on
• on his/her regular collar
• a 4-6 ft leather or nylon leash (no retractable leashes, please)
• At least 3 different kinds of yummy training treats.

What should I bring to the first night of Basic 101 Obedience class?
There are five things to bring on the first night of class (and this goes for Petite Pooch classes as well):

• your dog
• a soft rug, mat or bed for your dog to lie on
• on his/her regular collar
• a 4-6 ft leash (no retractable leashes, please)
• 2-3 different kinds of yummy training treats

Are there special items I need for classes other than puppy classes?

YES! There are a few additional items that you will need if you are attending Beyond Basic 102 Obedience, Advanced 103 Obedience, or the Intro to Tricks and Agility. These items will be discussed on the first night of class, and you will have the option of either purchasing them at class, or bringing them to on the second week:

Beyond Basic 102 & Advanced 103 Obedience: You will need a rug or bed for your dog that is big enough for your dog to lie down upon, and a 30-50 ft long line for distance training.

Tricks and Agility classes: You will need a a treat bag or fanny pack in which you can place treats.

Should all family members attend, or just one person?

At Riverdog, we like to have the whole family attend class, because its important that everyone in the home understands and is involved with the training.

What are your policies regarding children participating in class

Parent Participation: Children are always welcome, as long as parents are also present.

Acceptable Behavior: When on the training floor, all kids must be participating in the classroom exercises and be able to stand quietly with parents during any lecture portions of the class.

Children as Handlers: Even if the dog “belongs” to your child, parents of kids ages 14 and under must first handle the dog for each exercise , then hand the leash to the child. We expect all parents to actively participate in class exercises.

Use of The Doghouse:  Children are welcome to hang out quietly in the Doghouse, to play quietly draw or read. Each parent is responsible for their child(ren) – there is ‘No Lifeguard On Duty” in the Doghouse. If you or your child choose to hang out in the Doghouse, we expect you/your child to remain there for the entire length of the class, in order to minimize disruption for students working out on the classroom floor. Lights must remain on.

What if my children are too young to participate in class?

Children of all ages are always welcome at Riverdog.  We actually have a special room here, adjacent to the training floor, called The Doghouse (see above) where kids can play, draw, color, and view the class through the windows. If they are too young, we ask that you have an additional adult come to class with you to supervise the kids. This is important, so that can concentrate on your work with the dog, and so that the children don't inadvertently wander into the muzzle of an unsuspecting canine student.  There will also be exercises in class when the dogs are off leash, so it is important that children are supervised.

If I miss a class, can I make it up?

Absolutely - we *want* you make up your missed classes, so that you will get the most out of your entire Riverdog session.  If you have missed (or will be missing) one of your regularly scheduled classes, please check our *activity calendar* to find a make-up class that is convenient for you.  The calendar displays each ‘Class Type' and a ‘Week #' which denotes which weekly class session is scheduled for that day and time.  To use the calendar, simply look for the ‘Class Type' and ‘Week #' that matches the week that you missed (or will be missing), and drop in on that day and time.

What happens if I flunk out of class?

You won't! See the above guarantee! If you are coming to class and doing your homework during the week, we guarantee that you will *not* flunk out! We will help you succeed, even if it means taking the class again - which you can do at no charge! And, if the issues you are working on are better addressed outside of class, we will give you priority scheduling so that we can help you quickly with the problem at hand, so you can be successful with your dog.