About Canyon Crest K-9 Training Center

What they offer

Canyon Crest K-9 Training Center in Tacoma has trained dogs and owners since 1977. Its Puppy Preschool course for young puppies covers early leash work, sit, come, down and stay along with jumping, nipping, chewing and housebreaking, and leads into formal obedience classes from about six months, followed by advanced training. It also runs agility classes, tracking training, controlled personal protection training, evaluations and a professional dog trainer and instructor course, and it offers boarding. Its service dog program evaluates a client's own dog for suitability or helps find a suitable dog, and its founder started a program that trains medical alert dogs for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

How they train

The center says it teaches owners how dogs think so they can communicate clearly, with humane methods that use food and the leash early on and move toward praise.

About the trainer

Ron Pace is the author of "Who's The Boss", has worked as an instructor for the Washington State Police K-9 Association and has provided dogs and training for agencies.