Training Services
We offer beginning, intermediate and advanced classes and private instruction. The types of classes we offer are outlined below. The proceeds from our public training activities help to support our work with veterans and other individuals with disabilities. Service dog classes have different hours; please check your contract for days and times.
OFP’s 6-week Obedience Training public sessions meet one time per week for 6 weeks.
Mondays 6pm to 7pm:
– Starts January 6, 2025
Tuesdays 10am to 11am:
– Starts January 7, 2025
Saturdays 9am to 10am:
– Starts January 11, 2025
Operation Freedom Paws is located on a 4.2-acre property in San Martin, CA. The facility is easily accessible from Highway 101, and is accessible for clients with various levels of mobility. Fill out our registration form.
Types of Classes
Types of classes and their objectives/description
Obedience
This series covers safety, first aid, and consistent work on the basic commands: heel, sit, watch me, down, wait, end of leash movement, come. Obedience classes are taught in six-week building blocks: basic obedience leads to intermediate obedience level one, then level two, beginning advanced, and so on.
Puppy
A six-week introductory class that focuses on socialization and basic skills: sit, heel, come, down, bring it, give, take. The class also covers confidence building, trust, and problem-solving ideas for potty-training, chewing, digging and more.
Private Lessons
Custom coaching by appointment.
House Calls
Custom coaching by appointment.
In-Kennel Training
Custom coaching by appointment.
Canine Good Citizen Test
The American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. Mary is a certified evaluator for the 10-item test.
Search and Rescue
We work with Search and Rescue volunteers and their dogs to develop and hone specific skills. Contact us for details.
Training Philosophy
Training Exercise Diet Discipline (TEDD)
It is our responsibility as dog owners to have a well-behaved dog. How each owner approaches that goal is a matter of individual choice. While the formula for successful training may vary with individual owners and dogs, we have found that attention to these four elements generally yields the best results.
Training
Consistency is the key. Training should be part of your everyday routine, whether it’s just you and your dog, in a formal instruction group, or in a one-on-one session with a trainer. Every activity and social interaction with people, animals, or places should be a training opportunity.
Exercise
To keep dogs healthy, happy and well-balanced requires frequent exercise for both their body and their mind. Thus, working your dog by making them follow commands while they get physical exercise is essential. Throwing the toy, or taking the dog for a walk or run is fine, but make sure there’s a mental exercise element as well.
Diet
Proper nutrition is often unique to each animal and the topic is broader than can be covered here. The key is to provide a balanced diet to avoid any weight issues.
Discipline
In this context, discipline refers to the owner’s consistent ability to apply the other three elements and especially to use correction in an appropriate way. You should be using firmness, rather than force. And correction should only be applied when the dog already knows the command being given, or is otherwise exhibiting inappropriate behavior.
Consistently applying TEDD and becoming a leader to your dog builds trust and respect and is the best way we’ve found to train a well-behaved dog.