Class Times Puppy Class 8:30-9:30 Rescue Class 9:30-11:30 Intermediate Class 11:30-1:30
Class Schedule Please check Facebook for class cancellation announcements.

Getting Started - The Initial Consultation

Contact Wes to set up your initial consultation. The consultation fee is $100.00. As a requirement, everyone that lives with the dog must attend the initial consultation. It is imperative that everyone who lives with the dog is on the same page for training to be successful. If you decide after the consultation that Arrowwood is for you and your dog, the initial $100.00 Consultation Fee is applied toward your Registration Fee. To begin training you will fill out a registration form and waiver, and pay a $300.00 registration fee. This registers you and your dog with Arrowwood Shepherds for the life of the dog. You can come back and resume training at any point. Depending on the needs of the dog, specific equipment such as leashes, collars, etc. will also be available for purchase.
I guarantee you will learn more about yourself and your dog than you will ever know.

Home Visits

Often times a home visit is the best strategy for addressing your training needs. I can directly observe behaviors in the home to better identify behavioral triggers and successful solutions. Cost: $200 plus mileage at .65 cents per mile

Puppy Class

  • Puppy class is for puppies under 6 months of age. It is an important bonding and learning time for both owner and puppy. Your puppy will learn the basic commands that will be used throughout its life. They will also understand the pecking order and its place within the family (pack).
  • Puppy class consists of:
  • Proper socialization techniques
  • Family inclusive education
  • Addressing “growing pains” of puppy-hood
  • Addressing and managing chewing
  • Using food and praise!
  • Housebreaking problems
  • Separation anxiety
  • Teaching "keeping it fun'" (no pressure)
When dealing with puppies, I use nothing but positive reinforcement and teach the owner how to deal with the growing pains of puppyhood. I will show you how to correct bad behavior such as chewing and house breaking. Once a puppy reaches six months of age I teach the owner how to discipline their dog as well as when to praise. This means that if the dog does the right thing it must be praised and rewarded. When the dog does not do what he or she is told, when it is told, a correction must come when the command is repeated.
My methods are to put as much knowledge into the owner as possible. Class Cost: $50 per session

Rescue Class

I believe that a dog should not get a correction for something that the dog does not know. When dealing with shelter dogs, some know nothing, so these dogs must be taught with positive reinforcement.
This class is set up as a bridge between 1 on 1 sessions and the intermediate obedience class. It is for dogs that do not do well on a leash around other dogs or people. The focus is basic manners and walking together. It is designed for dogs that are currently in a rescue or looking for a home to get them adopted. It can also be for a handler who has just adopted a rescue dog and needs to start with these skills. When dealing with shelters and rescues we see all kinds of issues. I say bring them to the surface and teach the adoptive owner how to fix or deal with them. I offer my assistance to any rescue or shelter to make sure that each dog gets a fair change to find their new forever home. Class cost: $50 per session

Intermediate obedience class

  • The intermediate obedience class is for the dog and owner that are ready to start working on the commands that will be used in your everyday life. You and your dog will learn how to handle a variety of scenarios and situations. This class focuses on distractions and distance control using group participation.

  • Intermediate Class will also focus on:
  • Strenghtening the bond with your dog
  • Learning a variety of commands and practice them in situations of varying stress levels
  • Leash aggression and how to work your dog through it
  • Demand, enforce and maintain high expectations from your dog
  • Off-leash work
Class Cost: $40 per hour - 2 hour class

AgGressive Dog Behavior Modification

I believe that if a dog has a problem, whether with a human or another animal, it should be addressed immediately. Aggression situations include many scenarios ranging from not tolerating another dog to showing dominance over your children. Please do not wait to seek help. Call me 410-804-2714 to discuss your particular situation. Registration Fee for Aggressive Dogs: $500 This covers liability while training and is a one time fee for the life of the dog.
The dog in the picture to the left came to me with very serious fear-based aggression. With alot of positive reinforcement this dog is on her way to overcoming her fears and being able to trust. She has accepted other people handling her and has just started taking treats from students in the class.
This dog to the right came in to my program with aggression toward everyone except for his owner. Focusing on confidence building helped him understand that no one was being a threat and he now accepts others. This was not a quick fix but, with consistency, he has learned and accepted that he does not always have to protect his owner. As a Neopolitan Mastiff his instincts are to be a guard dog. Leo now understands that he does not have to be on guard all of the time.

Common Types of Aggression

  • Fear Aggression: Many commonplace human behaviors are threatening gestures to dogs, but their reactions are often times very subtle and easily missed by most people. Anything that can cause your dog to feel distressed or uneasy can illicit an aggressive reaction. Triggers can include: sustained eye contact, pressure over the top of the head, lifting or rolling the dog, bending over the top of or crowding the dog, or a feeling of being trapped.
  • Territorial Aggression: Dogs can react aggressively when a person comes into an area that it regards as its home. There is often a basis of anxiety in dogs that have territorial aggression.
  • Possessive Aggression: When aggression is directed toward a person that the dog views approaching or taking something of high value (food, toys, family members).
  • Redirected Aggression: When the dog is frustrated by the inability to reach an object or person, or doesn't understand what is being asked of it, that can trigger it to act aggressively toward a person that is within reach.
  • Dominance Aggression: True dominance aggression is rare. Most often aggressive acts are based out of another type of motivation. Usually what is assumed to be dominance aggression is actually based out of fear or anxiety.
Cuba von Arrowwood

Arrowwood Shepherds, Inc.

3101 Florence Rd. Woodbine, MD 21797 (410) 804-2714 kasikane@verizon.net