The Academy
Call Ron at 413-923-7034 for more info on training
Serving the Pioneer Valley with
Behavior Modification & Rehabilitation; Obedience;
Off-Leash Reliability & Tail Waggin’ FUN!
Inspiring Dogs & Their People to Get Their Wag On!
It’s never too late to teach an old dog new tricks, and we believe it’s never too late to train any pet. Our services are designed with you and your pet in mind, and we believe in working as much with you as with your animal. We are proud of our high success rate and the level of satisfaction our clients, and their pets, come away with every time – guaranteed.
Licensed, Bonded & Insured for your piece of mind.
Our Services
Dog Day Care
Dog Training Academy
Dog Grooming
LEARN MORE
Leash manners 101Group and Private ClassesObedience Training CampsDaycare-Academy TrainingOff Leash FreedomBehavior Training and TherapyAgility and Scent Training
A staple of Dog Training, walking politely on a leash, is a skill that all dogs and their handlers must master. The leash walk is a bonding exercise that improves the dog-human relationship, and it is of course a safety issue for both dog and walker. We also know the dog who walks politely gets longer walks, which is also mutually beneficial to all involved.
The Leash Manners 101 course is a private two-session course sequence scheduled over two weeks; the first week introduces the requisite skills and protocols, and after practicing for a week we meet again to fine-tune the experience. A major improvement is guaranteed!
Tuition for the 2-week sequence is $195 with corrective collar additional (If Required).
Call us and get on the road to a drama-free dog walking experience!
The Academy
Basic Obedience is not only the starting point in Dog Training and on the journey to a well adjusted and well mannered dog, it is also a critical aspect of the deep and respectful bond we all aspire to have with our family pets. Here at The Academy we show you step by step, exactly how to achieve the reliable obedience that fosters that loving & respectful bond.
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Training Class
For Pups from 2 – 6 months old
- Allows (in any position) petting by a person other than the owner
- Grooming-Allows owner handling and brief exam (ears, feet) Walks on a Leash-Follows owner on lead in a straight line (15 steps)
- Walks by other people-Walks on leash past other people 5-ft away
- Sits on command-Owner may use a food lure
- Down on command-Owner may use a food lure
- Comes to owner from 5-ft when name is called Reacts well to Distractions-distractions are presented 15-ft away
- Stay on leash with another person (owner walks 10 steps and returns)
From socialization to bonding and foundational concepts, this information packed class is for puppies. Get an early start on training and relationship building and learn to inspire your new pup to be a happy and an integral part of your family! Pups learn their name, as well as focus and orientation skills; we play confidence building games and work on some basic obedience skills. Puppy handlers learn about crate training, house-training, bite inhibition, dog handling and the importance of proper play behavior, socialization and more!
The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program focuses on all the things every puppy and owner needs to have a great start together.
STAR stands for Socialization, Training, Activity and a Responsible owner and in addition to teaching and testing a variety of owner and puppy behaviors this six week long STAR puppy class, teach the following puppy behaviors and skills:
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy prepares pups to move on to the AKC Canine Good Citizen training. For example, in STAR, puppies must walk on a leash in a straight line. In CGC, the task becomes more advanced with dogs walking in a pattern that includes right and left turns and stops.
The skills in AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy classes are practical and functional. Teaching puppies to tolerate grooming, handling, and basic exams of the ears, feet, and mouth will result in well-mannered puppies that veterinarians are happy to see.
This class meets once each week for 6 consecutive weeks, from 7 pm to 8 pm for one hour. And you can bring the kids too as long as they are over 12 years of age, but NO CELL PHONE USE PLEASE!
Tuition: $205/Puppy
In-Your-Home Tuition: $900/6 Classes
To schedule please click here
or call to schedule today at 413-923-7034
AKC Canine Good Citizen PLUS
(Basic through Intermediate Obedience)
This class focuses on improving the bond between you and your dog through effective communication and basic obedience. Through an understanding of K9 Learning Theory and correct and consistent communication, you will learn why dogs do what they do and how best to inspire them to do what you want them to do! And your dog will learn to be a well-behaved member of the family through the use of basic to intermediate commands which will engender confidence, impulse control, focus and proper socialization. For pups with the requisite temperament this class also earns the coveted AKC Canine Good Citizen certification! Bring the whole family, including children over 12 years of age, but NO CELL PHONE USE PLEASE.
The AKC Canine Good Citizen Program teaches good manners to dogs and responsible dog ownership to their owners. The 10-step CGC test is a non-competitive test for all dogs, including purebreds and mixed breeds. It is a prerequisite for many therapy dog groups and some homeowner’s insurance companies encourage CGC testing. There are also an increasing number of apartments and condos that require resident dogs to pass the CGC test.
Per the Canine Good Citizen curriculum, this course teaches and tests:
- Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
- Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
- Test 3: Good appearance and grooming
- Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose leash)
- Test 5: Walking through a crowd
- Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
- Test 7: Coming when called
- Test 8: Good reaction to another dog
- Test 9: Good reaction to distraction
- Test 10: Supervised separation
In addition to the above-mandated commands (Sit, Down, Stay, Come and Walk on a leash) we will add Touch, The name game or Look, Off, Leave-It, and Go-To-Place!
This class meets once each week for 6 consecutive weeks, evenings from 7 pm to 8 pm for one hour.
Tuition: $195/dog
In-Your-Home Tuition: $900/6 Lessons
To schedule please click here
or call to schedule today at 413-923-7034
Canine Good Citizen Certification Test (CGC)
Any dog/handler team can schedule and take the CGC test, if you believe you are ready.
For details on the test please follow this link: https://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm
Testing is scheduled directly through the Evaluator at 413-923-7034, takes place at Wagging Tails Pet Resort, 220 Russell Street, Suite #500, Hadley, MA 01035, and the cost for the test is $100
Agility Training Class
Looking for a fun way to bond with your dog and put his natural instincts to work? Check out dog agility training.
Dog agility is a popular canine sport in which a handler directs a dog through a variety of obstacles such as a tunnel, teeter-totter, tire jump, weave poles, pause table, and standard jumps. During competitive agility events, handlers attempt to navigate dogs through a course as quickly and as accurately as they can.t 413-322-3333
For Upcoming Course Dates
Please check our events page
To schedule please click here
or call to schedule today at 413-322-3333
The Academy
Achieving extremely high level obedience results takes a great deal of effort and a serious time commitment. For those with busy schedules or for whom spectacular dog obedience is desired or required The Academy offers our completely customizable Obedience Training Camps. From basic obedience encompassing name recognition, focus and confidence building games and exercises as well as basic commands to advanced on and off leash obedience under high distraction, with full
The Academy
Dependent upon desired results The Academy offers 5 Day, 12 Day and 19 Day Board and Train as well as “Day-School” programs. All camps begin on Monday and culminate with a Saturday “graduation” where the Hoomans are taught the skills and protocols requisite to maintain their pup’s awesome skills and behaviors.
Tuition & Curriculum are as follows:
5-Day Associate’s Level Training Camps mirror our Basic Obedience and Puppy courses.
Tuition starts at $995
12 Day Bachelor’s Level Training Camps mirror our Basic + Intermediate Obedience courses.
Tuition starts at $1995
19-Day Master’s Level Training Camps mirror our Basic + Intermediate + Advanced Obedience courses and includes the AKC Canine Good Citizen certification.
Tuition starts at $2895
***Our Off-Leash Reliability Training can be added to any of the above programs for an additional tuition of $1000 plus the cost of an E-Collar ***
For clients of Wagging Tails Pet Resort who would like to have their pup’s learned behaviors reinforced or specific problem behaviors addressed and mitigated or solved, we offer our Daycare-Academy Program.
Some examples of behaviors that may be addressed during the Daycare-Academy Program are as follows;
Walking politely on leash
Jumping on People
Door/Guest etiquette
Off-Leash refresher
Basic Obedience Cues such as:
Sit
Down
Stay/Wait
Go-To-Place
Off
Leave-It
Drop-It Or add distraction, distance or duration work to any known cue
This is a great way to have your pup’s good behaviors reinforced or to have a professional trainer work to extinguish unwanted behaviors.
Daycare-Academy tuition is added to your daycare fee and secures a minimum of 2-30 minute sessions for $100 of training.
Call Ron at 413-923-7034 to discuss your specific needs and/or to book your training sessions today!
To schedule please click here
You must be an existing customer who is scheduled for Daycare or Boarding
There is no gift you can give your best friend greater than freedom, and by doing so, your pup will unleash their primal need to run and hunt, which in turn will result in a calmer, more well balanced dog; a genuinely happy dog who will reward you with an unprecedented loving bond and overall good behavior.
For dogs experiencing light emotional & behavior issues and who already have an adequate foundation in obedience, our one-week program can be customized and may suffice. Details will be discussed during the initial consultation.
Agility
Looking for a fun way to bond with your dog and put his natural instincts to work? Check out dog agility training.
Dog agility is a popular canine sport in which a handler directs a dog through a variety of obstacles such as a tunnel, teeter-totter, tire jump, weave poles, pause table, and standard jumps. During competitive agility events, handlers attempt to navigate dogs through a course as quickly and as accurately as they can.
Although each performance is timed, having a good race time is not the goal; it’s all about working as a team while performing the skills, with the dog under control. It’s about having fun t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r while learning new skills t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r.
Prerequisites: Dog must know basic commands, i.e., sit, down, come, stay. Dogs must be at least 6 months old and provide proof of current Rabies and Distemper inoculation. It’s a perfect way for you to develop the focus that is so important between you and your dog, and a great starting point for those who are new to canine sports. If you never want to compete, that’s okay. You’ll have fun learning along the way. If you decide that you would like to compete, we’ll get you ready.
Prerequisites: dog must know basic commands, i.e., sit, down, come, stay. Dogs must be at least 6 months old and provide proof of current Rabies inoculation.
Looking for a fun way to bond with your dog and put his natural instincts to work?Check out dog scent work training.
Scent Work is a sport that mimics the task of working detection dogs to locate a scent and communicate to the handler that the scent has been found. Real-life detection dogs are trained to search for a variety of things–drugs, explosives, human remains, currency, other contraband, living humans (such as for Search and Rescue), and much more. Scent Work takes this amazing working relationship and turns it into a fun game that any dog can play. It’s about having fun t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r while learning new skills t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r.
Prerequisites: dog must know basic commands, i.e., sit, down, come, stay. Dogs must be at least 6 months old and provide proof of current Rabies inoculation.
This is a six week course on Mondays from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Jim Helems
- Bonding Games
- Building trust between you and your pal
- Mental games for your dog
- Physical games for strength building
- Socialization, to make your friend comfortable in our strange and noisy world
- Recall Training (come when called)
- Raising your pup as holistically as you can through nutrition, appropriate vaccinations, timely spay/neuter and raising your dog as a dog.
- And most importantly, training should be fun for both partners; human and canine alike. If either of you are frustrated or the training feels like work then the training will not be as effective as it should be.
Jim’s Experience
Jim has been training dogs all his life, but after retiring from the U.S. Air Force, (Field Medic), he started working with dogs in Behavior Modification, Dog Sports and in basic dog training skills (from puppies to adults)
But Pyro, one of Jim’s dogs has helped him learn more than any formal training class could ever do. Pyro is an Australian Shepherd, a herding breed, that has dog to dog issues, hyper anxiety levels and is hyper vigilant. Jim wanted to help him to live in our human world and in this effort he traveled, with Pyro throughout the U.S. working with some of the best trainers.
Some of this training included your basic dog dog training techniques but also included:
- Dog working camps
- Clicker training
- Dog Comminicators
- Dog Reiki sessions
- Holistic Methods (Food modifications)
- And more
Although Pyro is not cured he is now living comfortably in our human society and travels wih Jim to Adventure Dogs USA events, Dog Parks, seminars and more.
This experience can know help you with your dog behavior and training needs.
Qualifications:
- APDT Canine Life and Social Skills Evaluator, #E750511
- Adventure Dogs USA Founder
- Certified Canine Nutrition Specialist
- Good Canine Citizen (CGC) Evaluator, #84710
- Certified Dog Trick Instructor
- Canine Conditioning Coach
- Certified Master Pet Tech Pet First Aid and CPR Instructor, #1613
- Certified American Red Cross Pet First Aid and CPR Instructor
- Therapy Pets Unlimited Evaluator
- Service Dog Trainer for “Train A Dog – Save A Warrior”
- Certified K9 Fit Trainer
- Judge AKC Farm Dog
- Judge AKC ScentWork
- Judge Performance Scent Dogs
- Judge Do More With Your Dogs – Stunt Dogs
- SOLO Wilderness Medicine Instructor
- Leave No Trace Master Instructor
- Massachusetts Certified Animal Control Officer
- Massachusetts Pilot/Animatch Evaluator
- Appalachian Mountain Club Hike/Backpack and Canoe Leader
- Licensed Presenter for Dogs and Storks
- Presenter for “Be A Tree” Dog Bite Prevention programs
- Reiki Level 2
Other Affiliations and Experience:
- Member of The Association of Pet Dog Trainers
- Past Troop Leader Dog Scouts of America Troop 211
- Radio host of Canine Conversation
- Team Leader All-Star Performance Dog Team
- Training Leader Hampshire Emergency Animal Response Team (H.E.A.R.T.)
- Member State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team (SMART)
- Member Berkshire Disaster Response Team (BDART)
- Member Central Massachusetts Disaster Response Team (CMDART)
- National Responder for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
- National Responder for the American Society of Prevention Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
- Volunteer at Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society (Vet Clinic)
- Volunteer New Spirit 4 Aussie Rescue
Dog Day Care
Dog Training Academy
Dog Grooming
Dog & Cat Boarding
Birthday Pawties
Dog & Cat Boarding
Birthday Pawties
We have staff on site 24/7 and there are cameras located throughout the facility so we have “eyes” on all animal care areas 24/7. So if you are in need of a caring pet service you can trust, you can never go wrong with Wagging Tails Pet Resort Inc.!
Visit us at 220 Russell Street Suite #500, Hadley, MA 01035. You may also give us a call at 413.322.3333 or email us at info@waggingtailspetresort.net.
