About Your Dog’s Best Friend

Puppy parenting classes in the west metro

Your Dog's Best Friend (YDBF) runs training centers in Minneapolis, Maple Grove and Long Lake/Orono. Its Dog Raising Class, which it calls a puppy parenting class, frames training as "dog relating," asking owners to become a parent rather than an owner and to follow the lessons of the dog mom.

The Dog Raising Class

The class is for puppies 8 weeks to 8 months and runs four 1.5-hour weekly sessions, with new classes starting each month on Saturdays, Sundays and weeknights. Class 1 covers how dogs communicate, politeness for permission and loose leash walking; Class 2 builds patience and respect in a busy world; Class 3 is off-leash dog society with adult role-model dogs; and Class 4 teaches "High Level Tactical Obedience," pairing an audible cue, a hand signal, a mark of approval and a reward. Graduates join Dog Wellness Club, a members-only group for daycare and boarding, and can continue to AKC STAR Puppy and Canine Good Citizen levels.

Other programs

The enrollment form also lists Emotional Support Dog training, Dogcentric Workshops, board and train, private in-home puppy training, dog walking and Beyond Obedience for adult dogs.

What to ask

Ask about class pricing and the current enrollment discount.