Canine Training Center
Come and see our new 3500-square-foot Training Center! (Silverdale Only)
We partner with two incredible local dog trainers!
Noël Ritter
Our Lead Trainer began her career at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds and has been teaching classes since 1992. Noel is a certified obedience instructor, member of the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (NADOI), the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT), a Canine Good Citizen evaluator, a trick evaluator, and an ASCA rally trial judge. Noël believes that continuing education is her hallmark of professionalism.
Not only does Noël train, but she also competes in agility, herding, obedience, rally obedience, and nosework trials across the country, achieving high levels and multiple titles with her Australian Shepherds.
Josette Stenbom
Started training dogs at an early age with the 4-H dog project. She is a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, a Canine Good Citizen evaluator, trick evaluator and a 4-H club leader. Josette started teaching youth dog training classes in 1993. She began an apprenticeship with Noel in 1997 and has been working as an independent dog trainer since 2007.
Josette competes with her own canine companions in rally obedience, agility, competitive obedience, confirmation, and K9 free style. She has raised a Guide Dog for the Blind and a police dog for Seattle Police Department. She has also helped many 4-H youth to compete in multiple dog sports and achieve the highest state levels. Josette is a specialist in canine nutrition and can help guide you in the selection of the best biologically appropriate diets for your canine and feline friends.
Group Class Offerings
Our trainers specialize in making each class a personally tailored experience and offer a diversity of training options. Classes are offered in a wide variety of times and are held six days per week, Monday through Saturday.
Group classes are six weeks in length with an additional make-up class. Class prices are based on skill level. Class size is limited based on room size and skill level, but typically range from 6 to 10 students. Our indoor Training Center has dedicated over 3500 square feet for real world practice (you are not restricted to sitting in a chair in a 10x10 cubicle, like certain national chain stores).
Basic Obedience Class: This class is for puppies or adults that have had no group training or just need a refresher. Learn commands such as Come, Sit, Down, Wait, Leave It, and release words. Socialization, jumping, house breaking, mouthing, and leash pulling are included topics. This class will work on typical young dog behaviors like mouthing, jumping, whistle training, and walking on leash.
Age requirement: 14 weeks and up.
Puppy Preschool Class: Created to turn young pups into confident adults. This class is all about making our dogs great family members. Not every dog learns at the same speed and we do our best to account for everyone. This class combines games with training techniques to make learning fun. Commands like Sit, Down, Wait, Come, Go To, and Leave It will be covered.
Age requirement: 14 weeks to 6 months.
Exploration Class (New!): This class is focused on exposing dogs of all ages to many new objects and situations in a fun and safe environment. The lessons will help them build confidence and meet new challenges. We use fun and games to build confidence. Students will be faced with a variety of noises, surfaces, and obstacles, all while learning a little obedience.
Age requirement: 14 weeks and up.
Classes at this level require successful completion of at least one Beginning-level class or a Trainer evaluation.
Intermediate Obedience Class: This class expands upon the skills and commands learned in our Beginning classes, with additional focus and extended practice opportunities so that they become second nature. This class works on achieving more precision and duration from the skill learned in Basic and Puppy classes. New skills from a variety of dog sports are introduced in order to gain better house manners, and learn new skills including stand, stay, and a variety of working positions.
Rally Level 1 Class: Rally obedience is an AKC & ASCA performance sport available to dogs of all ages, whether purebred or mixed. It involves performing tasks posted on signs, as you follow a specific course. This timed event has you competing against the clock, and at times with your friends, for top scores. You will build on basic skills while learning new and more advanced moves to improve the teamwork between you and your dog. This course provides the skills required to complete a Novice level course.
Nosework Level 1 Class: Nosework connects with a dog’s natural instinct of hunting and problem solving as a fun activity. Introducing your dog to odors and learning how to help them distinguish the difference. Begin with Birch and advance to Anise using boxes and other containers. Identification games will help develop and reward scent finding. Identification games are a way to deepen the working partnership of dog and human at a pace and in a setting that supports the learning process. A great introduction to the sport of Nosework!
Competitive Obedience Level 1 Class (New!): This class is an introduction to the world of competitive obedience. You will practice both on- and off-leash heeling, how to enter and exit a competitive ring, following directions from a judge, and preparing your dog for a hands-on exam by the judge.
Trick / Pre-Agility Class: An introduction to two additional performance dog sports that are open to all purebred and mixed breed dogs. Trick training has been popular since the silver screen presence of Rin Tin Tin and Lassie introduced people to the possibilities of what their companions can achieve. Includes basic instruction on obstacles such as the dog walk, tunnel, jumps, teeter, and A-frame. Agility is a growing sport, in which you train your dog to complete an obstacle course based on handling cues from you.
Heeling & Leash Manners Class (New!): This is a class designed with walking in mind. We will be focused on improving loose leash and focused walking skills. Being confident and comfortable walking with your dog is not an automatic skill – it takes work and patience to have a relaxing walk with your dog. During these sessions, you will work on hanging out in public and politeness around others. Enjoy making walking time a relaxing experience for all.
The Power of Stay (New!): We don’t really think a great deal about the word “Stay” and how valuable this command is in all sorts of situations. Of course, we tell our dog to “Stay”, and expect that they will. Usually, they don’t or they hold it for just a few moments. This class is designed to help you train and proof a solid “Stay” command. You will work through asking your dog to stay in the middle of distractions, while you are doing other tasks, or just to be quiet for a period of time. You will also be learning about the power of a good “Release” word. Once your dog is on a stay, you need to be able to confidently and efficiently release them.
Advanced classes require successful completion of one Intermediate-level class or a Trainer evaluation.
Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Class: This class allows you to expand upon and practice the skills and commands needed to pass the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen test. CGC training creates long-lasting trust between you and your pup, but also ensures you will be good neighbors and friends to everyone around you. If interested in going beyond the “basics”, CGC also lays the foundation for other AKC sports like competitive obedience, rally obedience, agility, nosework, and performance events.
Rally Level 2 Class (New!): Rally obedience involves performing tasks posted on signs, as you follow a specific course. Similar to rally-style auto racing. This class is designed for the teams that wish to compete in Rally events or simply to improve and extend your skills. You will hone your team skills and begin to work off-leash.
Rally Level 3 Class (New!): Rally obedience involves performing tasks posted on signs, as you follow a specific course. This class is for the teams that are actively competing in Rally events and wish to improve their skills, while learning more advanced techniques and moves to make them successful at the Masters level. You and other members of the class may be working at different levels at the same time.
Nosework Level 2 Class (New!): Nosework connects with a dog’s natural instinct of hunting and problem solving as a fun activity. At this level, you and your dog will begin to explore new hiding places and scents while building confidence and teamwork. This class is the “Dora the Explorer” level.
Competitive Obedience Level 2 Class (New!): This class is for the team serious about the sport of competitive obedience. You will begin to work with a dumbbell and scent articles. You will learn the requirements and obtain real world practice for more advanced obedience titles. You and other members of the class may be working at different levels at the same time.
Competitive Heeling Class (New!): This class will focus on the skill of asking your dog to heel in a competitive arena. Training this focus begins with using food in hand for a quick reward. Many different distractions will be introduced to help maintain the skill of keeping focused on you: including the use of noise, toys, food, people, and other animals. Join us for a fun class that will bring its own reward of better control in unusual situations. While intended primarily for the use in competition, these skills will prove invaluable in everyday life situations.
Canine Aggression: For everyone’s safety, aggressive dogs are not allowed on-premises. Our trainers typically do not work with aggression, either towards humans or other dogs. We are happy to refer you to a local training specialist that works with aggression.
Not sure which class is right for you? Wondering if that pulling and barking is aggression or just bad behavior? Our trainers offer 15-minute evaluations for $25 to help you identify issues and determine if group classes or private lessons are the best option.
Private Lessons ($45 per 30 minutes) - effective 3/28/23:
Mondays: 12pm - 3:30pm
Tuesdays: 12pm - 3:30pm
Wednesdays: 12pm - 3:30pm
Thursdays: 2pm - 3pm, 7:30pm
Fridays: 1pm - 3pm
Saturdays: 3pm - 4:30pm
Sundays: None
*Please Note: Private Lesson times are subject to change without notice. For the most current information, please refer to the calendar on the back of our monthly newsletter, The Flyer.
Appointments are required for all Private lessons that can be booked online, you can call us at (360) 633-3166 or stop by the store to register for a class, schedule an appointment, or ask us a question!
Cancellations with less than 24 hour notice will be subject to a fee of 50% of the original service cost.
No shows will be subject to a fee of 100% of the original service cost.
Three cancellations with less than 24 hour notice or 3 No Shows will be subject to pre-payment policy
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First Time Students:
Puppies must be at least 14 weeks of age.
No aggressive behavior towards other animals or humans.
Puppies should have all 3 series of initial vaccinations. (We do not require proof - this requirement is strictly for the safety of your pup.)
No aggressive behavior towards other animals or humans.
Training Introduction Letter
Training Release Form
We don't discriminate against breeds, but do enforce a zero tolerance policy on any type of aggressive behavior towards humans or animals. First time students must complete our Training Release Form. You can obtain the form during your first class or download it from the link above and bring it with you.
Puppy Training
Registering in young puppy classes at 4 months of age can be a superb means of boosting training, reinforcing the human-animal bond, and mingling puppies in a setting where the threat of health problem can be reduced. As a whole, young puppies can start puppy socializing as very early as 7-8 weeks old. Puppy socialization classes supply a secure and organized way of socializing pups and also more quickly enhance their responsiveness to requests. Early and also ample pup socialization, as well as programs of positive pet dog training, can go a long way to preventing habits problems as well as improving bonding between humans and also pet dogs. While the first three months is one of the most vital puppy socializing duration in a pup's life, proprietors of pups that have actually passed this milestone are strongly motivated to continue to socialize their young puppies to lots of people, family pets, as well as areas as useful.
House Breaking & Potty Training
House training your pup is about consistency, perseverance, and positive reinforcement. The goal is to impart great practices and construct a caring bond with your pet dog.
Experts advise that you begin home training your pup when they are in between 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. At that point, they have adequate control of their bladder as well as bowel movements to learn to hold it. With Naturally 4 Paws's expertise, we give you the tools as well as techniques to ideal house train your new furever friend.
Beginner Training
Beginner training for pet dogs is crucial. Pet dogs intend to please, so with these beginner approaches and also techniques, they will provide your dog's chances to make you satisfied. Our programs start with the typical sit, stay and come. But as your pet dog advances, we offer much more challenging demands that are supplied in our other programs! These are created to keep your pet involved as well as on their toes.
Behavior Modification
Here at Naturally 4 Paws, we specialize in dog behavior modification. Dog behavior modification is where we change existing pet habits. This consists of however is not restricted to training in or modifying chain etiquette, eating, dog resource protecting, barking, splitting up anxiousness, leash lunging, leash hostility, dog-on-dog aggressiveness, as well as pet dog to human aggression.
Agility Training
Your dog deserves a training experience that is enjoyable and engaging! Naturally 4 Paws aids you satisfy your canine training goals. We provide a variety of programs like Agility Training in [Location]. Additionally, We can teach your pet what you want from them, both inside as well as outside the house. So you can delight in a long and also happy life together! Call or email us to begin today!
K9 Nose Work Training
K9 Nosework is an task that allows your canine to utilize their natural wish to hunt. It uses a pet's unique capability to spot the scent as well as establish the source. In training, dogs learn to find one of three fragrances practically anywhere you can hide it. Throughout the training, the pet dogs begin to link that smell pays. And practice makes perfect. After numerous rounds of these extremely fun games, you'll ultimately move past boxes or containers and also get to even more challenging obstacles.
Obedience Training
Our obedience system is based upon enjoyable interactions that construct emphasis. A terrific introductory class that educates basic signs like sit, come, and also stay. Naturally 4 Paws is devoted to promoting a positive relationship in between you and your pet dog through clear communication and training devices. We love aiding your dogs reach their complete potential and also attain peace as well as harmony as caring members of your family members.
Positive Reinforcement
Naturally 4 Paws training program makes use of ONLY positive reinforcement dog training approaches. Some pet dog training business who provide "Board and train" will do whatever it requires to obtain fast outcomes with your pet dog including using choke chains and also shock collars. Naturally 4 Paws does NOT utilize any kind of kind of aversive dog training techniques on your pup unless particularly asked for by you and also agreed by us in advance.
Clicker Training
We offer clicker training! Clicker training, or markand reward, is a kind of positive support dog training. The clicker or marker communicates the exact moment your dog does what you want. The timing of the click is important as well as every click have to be adhered to by a benefit. This is an great form of positive reinfocement for your pup!
What Our Customers Say
We love all of our local pet parents from Silverdale and nearby areas including Keyport, Bangor, Port Orchard, Seabeck, Olympic View, Wildcat Lake, Bremerton, Tracyton, and more!