About Refining Dogs

Reliable obedience from Thrall

Refining Dogs is a locally owned dog training business in Thrall, run by Justine Alvarado, that has been "Training 'Untrainable' Dogs Since 2017." Justine started as a kennel technician, attended Starmark Academy, and worked as a trainer and behavior specialist at Starmark's Animal Behavior Center. She has worked on advanced obedience and behavior modification, including fear, anxiety and aggression.

Method

The business says there is no "one size fits all" in training, and uses knowledge of multiple methods and different training tools to fit each dog. Its goal is reliable obedience on and off leash, and addressing the root of problems like aggression and anxiety, with an emphasis on teaching owners to maintain the training.

Programs

In the board and train program, dogs stay in the trainer's home and train daily, learning off-leash sit, down and place stays and come, plus an on-leash heel. It includes training equipment, a 90-minute go-home lesson and multiple in-home follow-up lessons, with pricing starting at $2992. Private lessons are held in your home within a 40-mile radius, last 45 minutes to an hour, and start at $195/month.

What owners say

One client wrote: "our daily walks have become something we both enjoy."