PET CLASSES

Black and white image of a fluffy dog lying on the floor indoors, with a leash attached.

From playful 8-week-old puppies to full-grown dogs, every pet can benefit from training. And we can always use some guidance too! Since 1973, Ability Dogs has helped Arizona’s dogs and their people build strong, lasting bonds through 100% positive reinforcement training backed by the latest research.

We firmly believe that training should always be humane and should always put the well-being of the dog first.

Our expert instructors make learning fun, effective, and stress-free for both you and your dog. Whether you're working on basic manners or refining skills, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Please be aware that Assistance Dogs International does not endorse or accredit pet classes. Training your pet with us does not confer any ADI certification for your dog or for yourself. We follow training principles that are consistent with the welfare standards used in ADI programs.

Join us and see why so many people love the Ability Dogs difference!

Check out our current schedule

  • Dog-Centered Training

    We train dogs to make good decisions and we help people understand their dogs. We believe dogs are at their best when training goes beyond following commands to processing situations responding appropriately.

  • We Encourage Dogs to be... Dogs

    Everyone wants a well-behaved pet (and pets want to be well-behaved too). We believe dogs can be essential, mannered members of the family while still having room to be dogs, not robots.

  • Age is Just a Number

    We offer classes for 8-week old puppies, senior dogs, and everything in between. If your puppy needs socializing, or you want to teach your old dog new tricks, our instructors care about you and your pet, which makes Ability Dogs the best place to train your pet in Tucson.

  • We are Backed by Research

    The way we treat our dogs matters. We believe positive reinforcementis the ONLY path to a healthy, happy dog. Your dog deserves love, structure, and LOTS of treats on the way to being a good citizen.

Give your dog the best advantage possible. Plus, every time you book a class at Ability Dogs you help offset Service Dog training costs for people with disabilities. It’s a win-win.

Cream colored shaggy dog in graduation hat

FAQs

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  • Visit our scheduling page to see all of the current and future classes. If a class has already started, contact us about being added. We can often add dogs late and prorate the fee.

  • Puppy, Advanced Puppy, Adult Dog Manners, Therapy Prep, Loose Leash Walking, Confidence Building, and many more.

    Check the scheduling page for a full list!

  • We have locations in both Tucson and Tempe.

    Tucson: 75 S. Montego Dr.

    Tempe: 2440 W 12th St. Suite 5

  • All dogs in our facility must be dog-friendly or dog-neutral. Some are slow to warm to humans and dogs, and this is fairly typical, but we are not equipped to manage aggressive behavior.

    All dogs will be screened for aggression/excessive reactivity and referred to trusted trainers who specialize in those behaviors if necessary.

  • Yes! They’re quite popular. You can find a link to them on both our Phoenix and Tucson scheduling pages. If you don’t see the combination you want, let us know and we’ll create a package for your dog.

  • If your dog is suitable for Service or Facility dog training, absolutely. This is increasingly common and a great way to get your dog used to our facilities and instructors.

  • We always choose what’s best for the dog and what is backed by research.

    Balanced training, which combines rewards with corrections, is common and often well-intentioned. But research suggests the mix itself is a problem: dogs have difficulty predicting when a correction is coming versus when a reward is, and that uncertainty creates stress that persists beyond training sessions.

    A 2020 study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science (Vieira de Castro et al.) found measurably higher stress indicators in dogs trained with aversive methods not just during training, but in everyday life. Most owners using balanced methods aren't seeing a badly behaved dog. They're seeing a dog that's managing its anxiety alongside learned behaviors. Reward-based training gets to the same place, and often faster, without the risks associated with balanced and aversive training.