Does your new dog need to learn some better manners? Do you need help surviving puppyhood? If you’re ready for life with a well-behaved canine companion, we’ll help you get there! Using force free, reward-based methods we have effective behavior and training solutions for recently adopted puppies and dogs as well as long-time canine companions. Check out our offerings for dogs of all ages and talents!

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Puppy Classes

Is your puppy mouthing or chewing the wrong thing? Haven’t yet figured housetraining out? Don’t worry, we’ll help you and your pup survive puppyhood while laying the foundation for a lifetime of good manners!

Class Descriptions

Puppy Class Pricing

  • $200 for General Registration
  • Complimentary Training for HSSV Puppy Adopters
  • $100 for Puppy Socialization 3-week course

Adult Dog Classes

Does your new dog need to learn some better manners? Do you need help surviving your dog’s teenage-hood? If you’re ready for life with a well-behaved canine companion, we’ll help you get there! Using force free, reward-based methods we have effective behavior and training solutions for recently adopted dogs and long-time canine companions.

Class Descriptions

Adult Dog Class Pricing

  • $200 for Beginning/Intermediate Manners and Obedience and Canine Good Citizen classes
  • $300 for Top Dogs Level 1
  • 15% off every class for adopters

To ensure some of our more challenging shelter dogs are successful in their newly adopted homes, Timi and John M. Sobrato have sponsored scholarships for dog training at HSSV. The sponsorships are given in memory of their dog, Eighty.

Dog Sports Classes

Our Dog Sports courses are a great way to have fun with your dog. Perfect for active dogs as well as smart dogs that need something more to do.

Class Descriptions

Dog Sports Class Pricing

  • $225 for General Registration
  • 15% off for Adopters

Dog Training Workshops and Seminars

Seminars and workshops are a great way to dive into specific topics that will help you and your canine companion live peacefully together. Some of our courses are free of charge. Space in our workshops and seminars is limited, so enroll now, don’t delay!

Class Descriptions

Policies and Pricing

 

Pricing

We offer the following discounts for our professional services:

Adopter Prices

To be eligible for Humane Society Silicon Valley’s adopter prices, you must have adopted your pet within the year prior to the class starting.  We offer our adopter prices for those who have adopted their pet from any weC.A.R.E. Community Coalition Adoption Center, including:

  • Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV)
  • San Jose Animal Care Services Center
  • Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority
  • City of Palo Alto Animal Services
  • Santa Clara County Animal Shelter
  • Other 501(c)3, not-for-profit animal welfare organization.

We offer these special prices to reward those who have chosen the adoption option and are helping to save lives! To access our special adopter price, please refer to your paperwork included in your adoption packet or email DogTraining@hssv.org and let us know when and where you adopted your companion and request the special access code.

 

Rules, Policies & Agreement

Enrollment & Attendance

Full payment is required at the time of enrollment to ensure your space in the class. We encourage you to enroll online on our events calendar. You may enroll in one of our classes, workshops or seminars through our Whole Pets store, but keep in mind it may take anywhere from 72 hours to one week for HSSV to receive confirmation of enrollment.

Upon enrollment, please ensure you will be able to attend all class sessions; transferring from one class to another is not permitted after the class begins and attendance is mandatory for the first class session. Students that miss the first class session without making prior arrangements with the Dog Training Department do not qualify for a refund of class fees and may not be allowed to attend the remaining sessions. If you can’t make it to a class session after the class starts, please contact the trainer to discuss topics and homework. We do not offer make up classes. New students may be allowed to join a class after the first session at the discretion of the Dog Training Department.

Vaccinations

You must show proof of your dog’s vaccinations in order to participate in classes or workshops. For puppy classes, pups must be 10 days past their first DHLPP vaccination. For all other classes, current Rabies and Bordetella vaccinations are also required.

**Please Note: We are strongly recommending that you vaccinate your dog against the Canine Influenza Virus now. It may be a requirement for Dog Training Classes in the future.

Cancellation

If the minimum enrollment for a class, workshop or seminar is not met 3 days prior to the first class session, the class may be cancelled or postponed. You will be contacted via telephone or email to see if you would like to enroll in the rescheduled class, receive credit toward a future class, or receive a full refund.

Refunds & Credits

A full refund will be offered if we are notified at least 5 days prior to the start date of class. Within 5 days of the class starting only a credit will be offered. If a dog is unable to attend class due to an injury or illness after the class has started, you will receive a 50% discount toward enrollment in an equivalent class within the following six months. No other refunds or discounts will be given after the class starts.

If you’ve registered with one of our special discounts, please ensure you’ve selected the correct registration type because no discount adjustment refunds will be offered after the class starts.

If you are an HSSV Adopter who has enrolled in class using your complimentary training, you are not eligible for a class refund. If for some reason you are unable to attend the class you’ve registered to take and we are notified at least 5-days prior to the start date of class, a full class credit will be offered which will allow you take a class at a later date or we can transfer you to another appropriate class. If a dog is unable to attend due to an injury or illness during enrollment, you will receive a 50% discount toward enrollment in an equivalent class within the following six months.

All credits are good for six months from the date the credit was issued. If you have not used your credit within six months, your fees will be forfeited.

Behavioral & Health Appropriateness

Dogs that are exhibiting signs of illness (coughing, diarrhea, lethargy) should not be brought to class and HSSV reserves the right to ask owners to remove potentially ill dogs from class.

Please Note: We have seen the Canine Influenza Virus in the Bay area and are strongly recommending that you vaccinate your dog against it. If your dog has exhibited any of the following symptoms within 30 days of your first day of class, please call or email us first, and we’ll discuss next steps: coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, lethargy, loss of appetite and fever.

HSSV and/or its Independent Contractor Trainers reserve the right to deny any dog that is determined to be behaviorally inappropriate (either disruptive or dangerous) for class. This is for the protection of all students in our classes and workshops. If your dog is not appropriate for the class, you will be referred to an appropriate class or a qualified trainer that offers private consultations and/or training. A full refund will be offered on the first day dogs attend class. A partial refund may be offered if the dog determined to be behaviorally inappropriate for class after the first day dogs attend class. If you are concerned your dog may not be behaviorally appropriate for class, please contact the Behavior and Training Department before you sign up!

Children in Class

At HSSV, we appreciate when all family members attend classes. For the safety and well-being of all class participants (humans and dogs), children must be under parental control and supervision at all times. Human students under 18 years old must always be accompanied by an adult. Running, yelling, screaming and crying are not permitted during class. Children must only interact with their own dog during class as some dogs may be uncomfortable around children. Children should be instructed to never approach or touch another dog in class as it may not be friendly toward children.

First Class

For all our Beginning Level Training Classes (Beginning Puppy Training, Beginning Older Puppy Training, and Beginning Manners and Obedience) the first class is a HUMANS ONLY ONLINE orientation via Zoom Video Conferencing. Please do not bring your pet. For all other non-Beginning level classes, please bring your dog to the first class.

For the first class with dogs, please:

  • Bring your dog to class on leash and do not allow your dog to greet other dogs.
  • A plain, flat, nylon buckle collar, martingale collar, head halter, or harness is required (no choke chains or pronged collars please).
  • A non-retractable nylon or leather five or six-foot leash is required. Please, no Flexi-Leads!
  • Please provide your dog the opportunity to eliminate before class and make sure to pick up after your pet. Poop bags and stool containers are provided in several locations outside the Animal Community Center (ACC).
  • A variety of your dog’s favorite treats, cut up into very small pieces (M&M sized), in a treat holder you can hook onto your clothes.
  • A mat for your dog (this can be a small rug, dog pillow, blanket, etc.)
  • Your hungry dog!

Acknowledgement of Risks and Responsibilities

I recognize that there is an inherent risk of injury or, illness, in any environment associated with group training class. I also recognize that such risks include, without limitation, injuries or illness from fights, rough play, contagious diseases and/or unwanted pregnancies. Knowing these inherent risks and dangers, I warrant that I, or the owner for who I am assigning as an adult guardian, will abide by all safety rules, vaccination requirements, and instructions. I agree by this contract to assume full responsibility and hold HSSV, its officers, directors, agents, employees, volunteers and contractors (collectively, “Releasees”), harmless for said pet(s) injury, death or damage as the result of any incident including my or other’s negligence, except to the extent that the damage or injury may be due to willful misconduct of Releasees. I further agree to hold Releasees harmless and indemnify them against all damages, costs, fees and business losses resulting from any claim I make or cause to be made against Releasees for which they are not ultimately held to be legally responsible.

Owner Liability

I expressly agree to be held responsible for any injury, expense, costs or damages, including but not limited to destruction of furniture, gates, walls, as well as any damage or injury inflicted upon another human or dog, arising out of my own actions or negligence or the actions of my dog.

Occasionally, the HSSV team will photograph and/or film our training classes for promotional purposes. I understand that if I don’t wish to be photographed or filmed, I should inform the instructor prior to class. I have read this fully and understand and agree to all of its terms.

 

Update to Policies due to COVID-19

  • Due to frequently changing regulations and guidelines, masks may be required in your classroom. Please defer to your instructor for details about the current requirements for your class. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms (coughing, shortness of breath, chills, sore throat, unexplained muscle pain, loss of sense of taste/smell), please do not attend an in-person class.
  • Should any person in a class test positive for COVID-19, you are urged to contact your instructor to inform them. All class attendees and the instructor will then be informed of the possible exposure. Note: confidentiality will be maintained.
  • In the case of a positive test, the class will continue outdoors or online at the instructor’s discretion.

 

FAQs

Please Contact Us if you have any questions!