🐾 FREE BEGINNER LEASH-HANDLING & BASIC OBEDIENCE CLASS 🐾

Want better communication and more control at the other end of your leash?

Join us for a FREE one-hour beginner leash-handling and basic obedience class at Fiesta Island!

📍 Fiesta Island Dog Park — Meet at the Main Gate
⏰ 9:30 AM
⏱️ Approximately 1 hour

We’ll meet at the main gate and then move together to a quieter, less-traveled area where we can work with our dogs.

🐕 WHAT DO YOU WANT TO WORK ON?

We obviously can’t cover everything in one hour — and we’re not going to try!

At the beginning of class, we’ll take a quick poll of the group to find out what people most want or need help with. We’ll focus our time on the skills that will be most useful to the people attending.

Possible topics include:

🐾 Proper leash handling and positioning
🐾 Loose-leash walking
🐾 Getting and keeping your dog’s attention
🐾 Basic obedience
🐾 Engagement around distractions
🐾 Calm behavior around other dogs
🐾 Better communication between dog and handler

And don’t worry if we don’t get to your issue this time! We’ll be offering additional FREE beginner leash-handling and obedience classes in the future, giving us opportunities to work on different skills from class to class.

🐕 THIS IS A BEGINNER GROUP CLASS

This class is designed to introduce owners and dogs to fundamental leash-handling and obedience skills.

It does not substitute for focused one-on-one training or individualized instruction, particularly for dogs with significant behavioral or training needs.

🐕 WHAT ABOUT REACTIVE DOGS?

Reactive dogs are welcome on our FREE Pack Walks, but this class is a little different.

Because we’ll be stopping, practicing skills and working around other dogs, participating dogs need to be capable of maintaining reasonable calm and control at an appropriate distance.

Your dog certainly doesn’t have to be perfect! But if your dog currently cannot settle or remain reasonably under control around other dogs, one of our FREE Pack Walks or individualized training may be a better starting point.

🦮 ALL DOGS MUST REMAIN ON LEASH

This is NOT an off-leash class. All dogs must remain on leash for the entire class — even though we are meeting at Fiesta Island Dog Park.

WHAT TO BRING

🐾 A standard leash
🐾 LOTS of small, high-value treats
💧 Water for you and your dog
☀️ Sunscreen!

Appropriate equipment includes:

Flat collars • Martingale collars • Slip leads • Prong collars

Harnesses are generally not best suited for the leash-handling and obedience work we’ll be doing in this class.

🚫 No flexi/retractable leashes, please.

❤️ AND YES — IT REALLY IS FREE!

There is no class fee and no obligation.

We want to provide opportunities for San Diego dog owners to get outside, learn, practice skills and have fun with their dogs.

Of course, we never reject a donation! 😂🐾

Donations help us continue offering FREE Pack Walks and FREE community training opportunities.

💙 Optional donations:
Venmo: @motherofbeasts

Donations are completely optional and are never required to participate.

🐾 MORE TO COME!

This is part of San Diego Dog Training & Adventures, where we’ll be offering more FREE Pack Walks, FREE beginner leash-handling classes and dog adventures, along with paid specialty instruction in obedience, scent work and dog sports.

Join the Meetup so you’ll be notified when new events are posted!

🐾 Space is limited — RSVP to reserve your spot!