Pawprints Training Academy helps you and your pet to build a partnership based on trust and communication through a variety of different training programs.  We provide the foundation of obedience training with our “Puppy Kindergarten”.  Once you begin to establish a bond with your dog “Beyond Basics” allows you to graduate to more challenging skills.  If you desire more physical interaction in your training then “Agility” can be your answer.  In the near future we expect to add “Cart Pulling” for those that have larger breeds built for work as well as “Doggie Dance” for those wanting to make a connection to their pets through music.  Training can be a rewarding journey you and your dog experience together, lets us at Pawprints Training Academy facilitate that journey. 

Meet Our Trainers

Amy Robinson

Amy Robinson is a nationally recognized and certified dog trainer in Vero Beach, Florida.  Her popularity in Florida has secured her guest spots on NBC News n West Palm Beach and she has been featured in the Palm Beach Post, The Stuart News and Vero Beach Magazine.  National television appearances include “The Balancing Act” and “Designing Spaces” both on the Lifetime network. Amy wrote, produced and starred in ‘Drool School’, a DVD for kids and dogs that earned a Recommended Award from the Parents’ Choice Foundation and a “two Paws Up” review from Booklist.  Amy will be teaching the fast tracked courses, such as “Beyond Basics”, "Put Your Best Paw Forward" as well as Canine Good Citizen classes in 2010.

Ricky Bailey

 Ricky attended Animal Behavior College and has been a trainer for 10 years.  He specializes in working with harder to handle dog aggression cases.  Ricky also fosters dogs through the Southern States Rescued Rottweilers program. Ricky has been published in Off Leash Magazine. He uses positive motivation techniques with the goal of making your dog a happy, safe and responsible member of the family.  Ricky also teaches dog owners how to become a respected, trusted and effective pack leader. Ricky will be teaching “Puppy Kindergarten” as well as the “Cart Pulling” class.

Arlene Rodriguez

  Arlene is a graduate from Zoology Program at Santa Fe College and has over 25 years of training experience.  She is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Animal Behavior Society among many other organizations. Arlene uses techniques that are similar to those taught by world-renowned experts such as Dr. Patricia McConnell, and Dr. Ian Dunbar, and used by such notables as Cesar Milan, and Victoria Stillwell.  Arlene brings professionalism and enthusiasm to all of her classes, she will be teaching our 'Beginer and Intermediate Agility.

Class Descriptions

Puppy Kindergarten

This is our basic obedience course for dogs up to two years of age.  The goal of this class is to teach owners and their dogs how to communicate with each other.  We use positive reinforce training techniques to identify and strengthen desired behaviors.  Participants will learn fundamental obedience commands such as sit, stay, down.   Additionally, owners become better handlers by teaching their dogs how to walk politely on leash and respond when called.  Also this class teaches the skills needed to deal with unwanted behaviors including excessive barking, door dashing, jumping, etc... 

Prerequisite:  None 

Canine Good Citizen

Canine Good Citizen or CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs.  All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. The certification program consists of four classes and a test, participation in the classes is not required to sit for the test.  The cost for the program is $95  for the classes and additional $35 fee for the test 

Prerequisite: Puppy Kindergarten or basic obedience class

Beginner Agility

This is a six week course designed for beginning agility students.  Our goal is to teach the dogs and their owners how to negotiate all of the obstacles used in agility trials.  Prospective students should have some basic obedience skills, such as sit/stay, down/stay, heel, recall and leash walking.  Students who plan to attend should be reasonably fit because the training involves bending, crouching, kneeling and quick movements.  As for the dogs, ideally they are at least 10 months of age and physically mature for their breed.  At the conclusion of this course participants should be capable of competing as novices in a sanctioned agility trial.  In addition to the weekly class students will have access the agility field at Pawprints in order to practice their new skills.

Prerequisite:  Puppy Kindergarten or basic obedience class 

Intermediate Agility

This course picks up where Beginner Agility leaves off.  It is more of everything, more obstacles, more jumps and more off-leash work.  This class will challenge you and your dog to work together as a team to move quickly and cleanly through a competition styled agility field.  Sharpen your skills for local events or just exercise your dog, but most of all have fun!  This is a six week course.

Prerequisite:  Beginner Agility or Advanced Obedience

Canine Cart/Weight Pulling

K-9 weight pulling is a sport available to any breed of dog in which determination is rewarded. The art of pulling with dogs is not a new one, as man has asked canines to pull carts, sleds and wagons for centuries. It was formally introduced in the United States during the 1970's and now can be seen in many different parts of the world. The orientation is Saturday, January 30^th at 3:30 with four one hour classes to follow on each Saturday in February starting Feb 6^th at 3:30pm.  Vero Beach.   The classes are open to all breeds from 12 weeks old and up.  Proof of vaccination will be required at the orientation.  The cost of the program is $75. We invite you to come join us in this new and exciting program and are happy to answer any questions you may have. 

 Prerequisite: None

*spring schedule to be annouced shortly 

For information about private or group classes, contact Pawprints at Pawprints@bellsouth.net or 772-567-2121. Please stop by or call to discuss training packages and schedules.