Have a border collie that herds the kids? Have a Boston terrier that tries to dig for moles in your carpet? Maybe a whippet that thinks the neighbor’s cat is the best chase ever? Or just a pup that needs some mental stimulation? Dog sports are an excellent way of tiring out a dog and not just physically! They take mental energy! And a dog whose brain has been worked as well as his body is generally better behaved. If you’ve been thinking about agility, rally, obedience or flyball, check out these training facilities and clubs to find dog sport classes in Thurston County.
Happy Dog Institute
7924 Sweet Iron Ct, Ste 109, Tumwater
360.915.7130
Happy Dog Institute is an excellent place to go because they use positive reinforcement training. Aside from basic obedience, they offer agility, scent work, rally and even truffle hunting classes! Yup, you can teach your dog to help you find those elusive truffles while giving them the mental and physical stimulation they need.
Da Paws Place
19019 Roseburg Street SW, Rochester
This dog training facility in Rochester offers classes in agility and tricks. Aside from group classes, Da Paws Place also offers privates, which are great for a human or canine that does better with one-on-one time. You can also rent the space for your own practice use at just $6 for 15 minutes. Heather from Happy Dog Institute teaches agility classes here as does Blynn Baker of Train iT! Agility LLC.
All Ways Dog Training
7908 Steamboat Island Road Olympia
360.866.4247
All Ways Dog Training offers several dog sports, including nose work/scent work, rally, tricks and agility. They also offer therapy and service dog training, along with regular obedience.
Fido’s Farm
9829 Evergreen Valley Road, Olympia
Fido’s Farm has sheep herding lessons and evaluations, along with cattle herding lessons. They offer ASCA, AKC and AHBA courses. Along with herding, they also offer agility courses, from beginning to advanced. Private agility lessons are also available for those wanting more one-on-one instruction. Group agility is drop-in, so you don’t have to commit to consecutive dates/times. Email for more information fidosfarm@fidosfarm.com.
Top Dog Agility Club
Olympia
If you are thinking about competing, an agility club is a great place to start! Members provide support, compete together and have lots of fun! Top Dog Agility Club members compete in many agility outlets: AKC, CPE, NADAC Tea Cup, and USDAA. It’s just $25 a year or $35 for the whole family. Members get to compete in league events including mini-trials for fun and practice, access to a free library of agility DVDS and books, and more! Questions? Contact David at 360.628.9903 or email TopDogAgilityClub@gmail.com.
Puget Hounds Flyball Club
Have a ball-crazed dog? Flyball may be for you! The Puget Hounds Flyball Club has practices at Fido’s Farm on Monday nights. The club competes together throughout the Pacific Northwest. It’s a fun, fast sport that all enjoy.
Questions to Ask a Dog Trainer
Before signing up for a class, make sure it fits you and your dog! Talk to the trainers first. Let them know about your dog: training history, if they get along with other dogs or need a quieter environment, and what your training goals are. This will help the trainer suggest the right class for you. Along with that information, here are a few good questions to ask:
- What training methods/equipment do you use?
- What happens if my dog gets overly excited/nervous/stressed (over threshold)?
- What happens if I miss a class?
- What if I need support between classes?
Ask if you can watch a class before signing up. Most places are totally fine with this and it lets you make sure you are going to the right place. Remember you and your dog should both be having fun with training! Now get out there and have some fun with your dog.
