About Paws Abilities Dog Training

Reward-based training in Oronoco

Paws Abilities Dog Training was founded in 1999 and describes itself as the first training company to bring clicker training to southeast Minnesota. It runs classes at its Oronoco facility in north Rochester and in the Twin Cities area, plus private lessons across Minnesota and online classes. Its trainers are members of professional organizations such as the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and it mentors new trainers through Animal Behavior College, Victoria Stilwell Academy and the CATCH program.

Method

The company follows a LIMA (Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive) policy and the Humane Hierarchy, meeting each animal's needs first and using gentle, reward-based, motivational methods, with interruption, redirection and alternative behaviors to reduce unwanted ones. It calls itself disability-, LGBTQ+-, BIPOC- and neurodivergent-friendly.

Classes

New students can start in Puppy Class, AKC STAR Puppy, Teenage Transformations, Beginning Obedience or Reactive Dog Rehab. The wide catalog also includes CGC prep, agility, competition obedience, rally, disc dog, flyball, scent work, barn hunt, tricks, fitness and therapy dog prep, along with solo tutoring intensives, behavior consultations, enrichment and puppy camps, board and train, and walks and pet sitting.

What to ask

Ask about class fees and the rescue referral and BIPOC scholarship discounts.