Alexandria Animal Academy

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Fall Alexandria Animal Academy cohort begins October 20! Online registration is closed. Email behavior@AlexandriaAnimals.org for info on registration.

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is thrilled to announce the creation of our low-cost (but high value!) Alexandria Animal Academy dog behavior and training community courses. The canine courses have been crafted to teach pets and people to live better together. The cohorts feature three different learning tracks for you and your pup. Find out more details about the courses below.

About the Course

The 8-week virtual course offers three different learning tracks for you and your dog to choose from. You can choose one, multiple, or all of the educational tracks. If you’re not sure where you fit, send us an email at behavior@alexandriaanimals.org.

Find the slides from the Zoom information session here. Click here to watch the Zoom information session.
Three Learning Tracks:
  • Confidence Building: This track is for pups who show signs of shyness, fearfulness, and stress, and who might act in aggressive ways (growling, snapping, barking) when faced with novel people, places, or things. If your pup freezes at the vet, snaps “out of nowhere” when you pick them up, or runs and hides when you grab the nail trimmer, “Confidence Building” might be the right fit for you. In this track, we will work on helping you learn to read your dog’s subtle body language cues so that you can intervene early when they feel uncomfortable. We’ll also set you up with training games that are designed to build confidence and trust. Finally, the last three weeks of the course are devoted to helping you tackle a specific confidence-building problem, with a training plan that is tailored to your dog’s specific needs!
  • Chill Out: This track is for pups with big feelings! If your dog loses their mind when the mail carrier comes, has a hard time calming down at the end of the day, or nearly tears your arm off every time they see a squirrel, “Chill Out” might be the right fit for you. In this track, we work on uncovering the root cause of your dog’s big feelings and build skills to lower their overall excitement and stress levels. We’ll also set you up with tools to build predictability into your dog’s life, as well as training games to help your dog regain focus when they start to spin out of control. Finally, the last three weeks of the course are devoted to helping you implement a specific plan tailored to your dog’s specific relaxation struggles!
  • Leash Reactivity: This track is for pups who have big feelings when they see scary things during leash walks. If your dog snarls and snaps when they see a stranger, pulls you into traffic to get closer to another dog, or pancakes when a city bus rumbles by, “Leash Reactivity” might be the right fit for you. In this track, we will unpack the reasons why your dog reacts the way they do in the first place and give you the skills you need to help them feel safe. We’ll also arm you with strategies and training games to shape better choices when your dog sees something scary on a walk. Finally, the last three weeks of the course are devoted to helping you and your dog overcome a specific leash reactivity obstacle with a training plan that is tailored to your dog’s specific needs!

The course includes 8-weeks of virtual coaching (both live and recorded) and tailored instruction from a certified professional dog trainer, a starter pack with basic materials to be successful, lifelong access to the course materials, and opportunities to build community with other dog parents facing the same issues.

In addition, you will have the option of up to three free follow-up Zoom sessions with your instructor for up to six months after you complete your coursework.

Class Cost

The enrollment fee for each 8-week track is $200. If you enroll in two tracks, the fee is $300. If you enroll in all three tracks, the fee is $350. If you would like to audit the course (access course content and attend live Zoom sessions, but not receive feedback or a personalized training plan), the fee is $100 for one course, $150 for two course, or $175 for three courses. (You can choose to fully enroll in one track and audit a second or third track.) You can enroll multiple dogs in the same track. Each additional dog is $50. 

In addition, we have a limited number of needs-based scholarships available. Please contact us at behavior@alexandriaanimals.org if you would like information on the scholarship option. 

There will be no refunds once the cohort begins.

Registration

Fall Alexandria Animal Academy cohort begins October 20. Online registration is closed. If you’re interested in signing up, email behavior@AlexandriaAnimals.org.

Testimonials from Course Participants

**Please note the course instructor has changed and testimonials reference previous instructor.

Meet Your Instructor

Our behavior and training coordinator, Beth Tumlin (CACTP – Certified Advanced Canine Training Professional), will be your instructor for this course. Beth is a positive reinforcement and force-free trainer, certified through Animal Behavior Institute. She has worked with dogs and in the animal sheltering field since 2017. She works one-on-one with the dogs at the AWLA who need behavior intervention in order to thrive in an adoptive home, and provides ongoing behavioral support post-adoption.

Beth’s goal for every animal she works with is to improve their quality of life, as well as their family’s. Beth is committed to continuous education and applying rigorous, data-driven theory to her training. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time commitment per week?
  • We know you have a busy schedule, so this is up to you! On average, we would expect you to devote about 2 – 3 hours per week to this course. On a weekly basis, this would include a 1-hour live Zoom session on Sunday with your instructor (recorded if you can’t attend), a recorded lecture that you can view at your leisure, and recommended homework assignments. The live sessions will be held Sundays at 11 – 11:45 a.m. (Confidence Building), noon – 12:45 p.m. (Chill Out), and 1 – 1:45 p.m. (Leash Reactivity). 
How much one-on-one coaching can I expect?
  • In the first half of the course, you will receive feedback from your instructor on written and filmed homework assignments. Your instructor will aim to provide you with feedback within 24 hours of submission. For the second half of the course, you will be working with your instructor to develop and implement a training plan that is specifically tailored to your dog’s needs. At that point, you and your instructor will determine the appropriate frequency for check-ins. Throughout the course, you will have access to live Zoom sessions with your instructor and everyone else in your cohort. This is a great time to ask questions, provide feedback, and share experiences with your fellow classmates.
How do I submit video assessments for review?
  • We will give you more explicit instructions on this once we get into the coursework. Most videos are small enough to be emailed, but we can work with you to find different solutions if needed.
What if I don’t want to submit video assessments for review?
  • No problem. You are welcome to participate at any level that feels comfortable for you. That said, we strongly encourage you to submit video assignments for feedback. In addition to being a certified professional dog trainer, your instructor volunteers her time with the Shelter Playgroup Alliance as a virtual and in-person coach. She has experience providing kind, constructive, and actionable feedback to learners of all skill levels.
What can I expect to gain from this course?
  • Throughout this course, you will deepen your relationship with your dog, learning how to understand and respond to their needs, and set them up for success. You can expect to learn how to:
    • Read and respond appropriately to your dog’s subtle body language and behavior cues, 
    • Effectively reinforce your dog and meet their behavioral needs by thinking creatively,
    • Communicate clearly with your dog through positive reinforcement training games, and
    • Come up with a game plan that improves quality of life for the entire family.
What’s expected of me in this course?
  • All we ask is that you keep an open mind, ask questions, and listen to what your dog is telling you!
Do I need to be an Alexandria resident to participate?
  • Nope! We are offering this virtual program to anyone who would like to participate. We do require that scholarship recipients be residents of the City of Alexandria.
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