Nonprofit increases certified dog trainers, builds new training grounds, expands public classes

San Luis Obispo County — Due to growing demand for dog training assistance from the community, the Woods Humane Society has announced a newly expanded Behavior & Training team for 2023. A variety of affordable training classes for the general public starting in time for National Train Your Dog Month in January. And an all-new class called Rocket Recall that will start in February 2023 (registration is open now).

According to Woods, as a result of the “pandemic puppy boom” and safety guidelines limiting in-person training opportunities in recent years, many local pet owners have expressed a need for help with their dogs’ behavior problems. ing.

Woods CEO Neil Trent said: “We have worked hard to build training programs to better support pet owners and keep their pets healthy, happy and safe outside their homes and shelters.”

The nonprofit expanded its training department last year, adding two new team members and increasing its roster of nationally certified trainers to four. Woods Behavior & Training Coordinator Eric Stockam (pictured right) is a National Certified Behavior Consultant Certification (CBCC). This is an industry-respected, advanced certification that requires many hours of work and study. He is one of the only trainers in the region certified at this level.

Additionally, after months of research, supervised work, and testing, Woods Adoption Enrichment Coordinator Skylar McClellan (pictured left) and Intake Enrichment Coordinator Kaylana Patterson (pictured top right) are both professional dog trainers. Obtained national accreditation (CPDT-KA). .

Thanks to a grant from the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust, Woods will also build a new Training & Enrichment Yard, which will be completed in the summer of 2022. These advancements will allow Woods to offer more public training classes in the coming months and move on to a better field. Questions and requests for help from local pet owners and adopters.

The Woods College training program offers a variety of affordable dog training classes, from puppy socialization classes to basic obedience classes to agility and more, in addition to online programs and individual consultations. The department works with an estimated 500 owned dogs in the community in 2022, in addition to hundreds of shelter dogs annually.

Visit WoodsHumane.org/Training to see current programs and services and to sign up for upcoming courses.