Classes & Training

La Plata County Humane Society hosts weekly classes to assist you with animal communication and excel with your dog(s).  pranaDOGS Basic Manners and Communication is an introductory class focused on relationship building by practicing and perfecting the Top 10 Behaviors all dogs need to know. These small classes are a perfect way to start a relationship with a new pet or restart training with a current one.

Upcoming Workshops

 

Opportunities to Work With Your Dog

Basic Manners – pranaDOGS offer Basic Manners & Communication classes through LPCHS. These small, in-person classes cover the Top 10 Behaviors all dogs need to know as well as problem solving and the basics around positive-reinforcement, choice-based training. We’re offering 2 opportunities to work with your pups: Thursday evenings or Saturday afternoons. Classes are 4-weeks long and each session is 90-min.

Advanced Manners – Advanced Manners takes the basic’s that your pup has learned and brings them to the next level. We practice the Top 10 behaviors out and about with special emphasis on leash manners and distance recalls (coming when called). Each 2-hour workshop takes place on Sunday afternoons at LPCHS. We work in small groups of 10 dogs or less and are outside for this class. This is a BOGO class – pay for one; come for two!

Dog Reactivity Workshops – Is your dog rude to other dogs or people? Then this workshop is for you. This 2-session clinic teaches pups a number of coping behaviors and then practices those behaviors with different dogs in different situations. Once you proceed through the Dog Reactive Workshop you’re invited to participate in Dog Reactive Alumni sessions at no charge.

Dog Reactive Alumni Sessions – Dogs need to practice in order to work through reactive behaviors. Alumni sessions take place in different parts of town to give pups and their people the opportunity to continue practicing and perfecting coping strategies. Sessions are scheduled through memorial day.

Stay & Learn – In 2020 pranaDOGS launched pranaDOGS Stay & Learn Program; a 2-3 weeks of on-site dog training clinic where your pup gets to come and live at pranaDOGS to learn household manners, the Top 10 behaviors and work through problem behaviors.

Manners and Communication Classes 

In addition to learning and practicing the Top 10 Behaviors, we also discuss problem solving, body language (yours and your pups), as well as building associations, different training methods and so much more. Each session ends with play time for the pups to ensure they maintain appropriate play skills. This is a 4-session class that meets once per week, 90 minutes per session.

This is a 4-session class that meets once per week, 90 minutes per session. Upcoming sessions:

• Thursday, May 5th – 6pm

Sessions are held at La Plata County Humane Society. The cost is $120, and sign-up is required. We will be working primarily indoors, until weather permits us to be outside. Sign-up below if you’d like to enroll your pup in an upcoming class. Want to pay by credit card?

Did you adopt your pup from LPCHS? If so you’re eligible to attend the first class session for free or sign up for all 4 weeks for only $99!

Advanced Manners Classes 

Advanced Manners takes the basic’s that your pup has learned and brings them to the next level. We practice the Top 10 behaviors out and about with special emphasis on leash manners and distance recalls (coming when called).

Each 2-hour session begins and ends at LPCHS, allowing us to utilize a fenced-in area before heading out to the river trail. We work in small groups of 10 dogs or less and are outside for this class. Advanced manners sessions are $49 and sign-up includes 2 sessions. Sign-up here if you’d like to enroll your pup in an upcoming classes.

Dog Reactivity Workshops for New & Returning Alumni 

So many dogs are difficult to walk due to their reactivity to other dogs. In this workshop we discuss strategies, tactics and management devices to help dogs not just deal with their reactivity but work through it so it goes away. Then we spend weeks practicing, practicing with other dogs, in different settings, with different weather conditions, etc.

How it works:
In the first session we discuss our goals and strategies to get our pups through their reactivity. We then teach them a few key behaviors and begin practicing. After the initial 2-hour session, we meet 2 weeks later to review, practice and add the next milestones. After that we meet every three weeks to practice in different settings, with different dogs and individuals.

Once you’ve attended the first 2 sessions, you and your dog are encouraged to participate as alumni to continue practicing and perfecting the behaviors and help your pup loose their reactivity altogether. All workshops take place at La Plata County Humane Society. 

New Students – We have Dog Reactive Workshops for new students.

Returning Students – Working your pup through their reactivity is a lot like speaking a new language; if you don’t practice and use it, you tend to lose it. Dogs need the practice to do well and to realize that doing well is expected 24/7. Please join us for these alumni practice sessions.

*Sign-up is required for ALL classes. To sign up, visit pranaDOGS.org

Workshops Schedule

We’re thrilled to announce that we are teaming up to provide Dog Behavior & Training Workshops. These workshops focus on common problem behaviors, service dog training and canine good citizen testing. Each workshop offers solutions, tips and tricks, demonstrations and take home materials.

pranaDOGS offers monthly, low-priced workshops for the public. These workshops cover a variety of topics including: Dog Reactivity, Problem Solving, Beyond Basic Manners, and Success With Your Anxious Dog.

These 2-hour sessions include how to handle typical issues, common errors to avoid, tips and tricks, and take home materials to help you practice with your own pup. Workshops are for humans-only and take place at La Plata County Humane Society in Durango, CO. Sign-up for a particular workshop below. All workshops are $45/person.

Dog Reactivity Workshop

Let’s face it, some dogs struggle when they see another dog or a particular person or trigger. Their reactivity can make walking your pup impossible – but it doesn’t have to be! Join us for our Dog Reactivity Workshop to learn strategies, tactics, and management devices to help you and your dog work through their problem behavior. Sign up here.

Problem Solving Workshop

Whether your pup is ignoring you, or stealing food from the counters, we can help with these problem behaviors. In this workshop we share strategies for handling barking, lunging, jumping, nipping, rudeness and so much more. We use our dogs to show you how to train or react to particular behaviors and provide time for individual issues. Sign up here.

Success With an Anxious Dog Workshop

Whether you want to call your pup a Covid dog or their just shy, we’ve been successfully working with these types of dogs for years. In this session, we discuss the effects of body language, noise sensitivity, how to help your dog get their feet under them. We offer step-by-step progression, as well as significant milestones to be celebrated. Sign up here.

Beyond Basic Manners Workshop

Does your pup already know the basic’s and you’re looking to teach them a bit more? In this session we demonstrate how to teach your pup advanced manners (long distance comes, long duration stays and leave it’s) but we also cover a number of fun behaviors you can teach your dog including Targeting, Bowing, Circling, and many more! Sign up here.

Sign-up is required for all Workshops. For more information and to sign-up, view our Event Calendar or visit, pranaDOGS.com.

About PranaDOGS

pranaDOGS is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for dogs by solving their behavior issues, training them to be good-mannered members of society and building their capacity to thrive.

pranaDOGS provides training and rehabilitation for dogs in shelter and rescue settings, for dogs who are between homes and for individuals struggling with behavior problems with their adopted dogs. Located on 20-acres near Durango, Colorado, pranaDOGS works to empower dogs with the skills they need to thrive in households and be well-mannered members of the community.

Paws Behind PranaDOGS

Executive Director, Marcy Eckhardt is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and has worked with dogs most of her career. After serving in the Air Force, she put herself through college as a groomer and veterinary technician. Marcy then ran a doggie daycare and grooming business then a boarding facility, and in 2011 published the book, The Ripple Effect; A novel exploring the Challenges and Triumphs of running an Animal Shelter.

In 2013 Marcy was credited with turning around a four-corners, high-euthanasia shelter in less than a year; dropping euthanasia rates by half and implementing progressive programs and solutions. Marcy is CPR Certified, an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, and has been the Trainer/Behavior Consultant for La Plata County Humane Society since 2014. She specializes in improving communication between dogs and people and helping traumatized dogs get through their issues. For more information, please visit pranaDOGS.com or email info@pranadogs.com

     Member                                                         Certified Trainer