About Your Dog’s Best Friend

Puppy raising in Maple Grove

Your Dog's Best Friend (YDBF) runs its Dog Raising Class at training centers that include Maple Grove, alongside Minneapolis and Long Lake/Orono. The program frames itself as dog relating rather than dog training: owners are encouraged to think of themselves as their puppy's parent and to learn to communicate with their puppy in a meaningful way.

The Dog Raising Class

The class is for puppies from 8 weeks to 8 months and runs 6 hours over four weekly 1.5-hour sessions, with new classes each month and Saturday, Sunday and weeknight options. Class 1 covers dog communication, politeness for permission and loose leash walking. Class 2 works on patience and respect in a busy world, and Class 3 is an off-leash session on dog society and puppy social stages, with adult role-model dogs. Class 4 introduces what YDBF calls High Level Tactical Obedience, pairing an audible cue, a hand signal, a mark of approval and a reward, and ends with graduation.

Next steps

Graduates can continue to AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy (level 2) and Canine Good Citizen (level 3). YDBF also offers board and train, private training, in-home puppy training and emotional support dog programs.

What to ask

Ask about the program price and which class times run at the Maple Grove center.