About Pals for Pups

<h2>Praise-based obedience at a large Roselle play facility</h2><p>Pals for Pups runs playcare, sleepovers, grooming and training at 60 W Central Avenue in Roselle, with veterinary care also referenced on the home page. The site describes "over 13,500 square feet of space for your pup to romp and play on 1.42 acres," air conditioned and heated, and a drive-up intercom system for drop-off and pickup.</p><h3>Method, in the instructor's words</h3><p>The training page is written in the first person and credits its author with "training over 14,000 dogs during my 35 plus year career as a dog obedience instructor." The method is explicitly praise-led rather than treat-led: "Our training method and experience involves using a balance of praise and love as a motivator, not always treats. With this method of training, dogs are truly trained and not just kitchen trained." The About section of the site carries a dedicated page for Patti Howerton alongside one for the "Pack Leaders."</p><h3>Classes and published prices</h3><p><strong>Beginning</strong> obedience is 10 classes of one hour for dogs 5 months and up, and requires "A six-foot leather leash and a properly fitted chain collar"; it covers heeling without pulling, automatic sits, sit and down stays with the handler out of sight, off-leash recall and stand stay. <strong>Intermediate</strong> is 8 classes of 50 minutes, adding off-leash heeling, drop at a distance, drop on recall and hand signals. <strong>Agility</strong> is 8 classes of 50 minutes with tunnels, an A-frame, jumps, a dog walk, weave poles and a see-saw, open to dogs that finished the beginning class. <strong>Private Lessons</strong> run 5 sessions. <strong>Training During Playcare</strong> breaks training into intervals across a daycare day. <strong>Sleepover Training</strong> is three weeks of playcare, training and boarding, trained in varied real-world settings and taken home with the trainer at night, with only one dog at a time.</p><p>Prices are published: Beginning $250 for the 10 week session, Intermediate and Agility $250 for the 8 week session, Private Lessons $450 for 5 sessions, Training During Playcare $75, Sleepover Training $3500. An agility park is open to dogs registered for the agility class at $20/hr on weekend afternoons. A $50 cancellation fee applies after registering, and refunds stop once the first class has taken place.</p>