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We use positive-reinforcement clicker training to help you build a positive relationship with your dog. TCOTC is thrilled to announce that Scott McKenzie and Vanessa Niemi recently earned CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed) credentials from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).

Trainers who have earned CPDT-KA. Whether enjoying a coffee or ice cream on the cafe patio, visiting the local shopping center, or even going to work, a well-behaved dog is a treat to bring along.
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Corrie Barrows began training at TCOTC in 2000 with her Labrador, Beef. She came to the club because Ruth Foster, one of the inventors of the gentle leader, was an instructor and the former club president. She knew Ruth's club would be the best place to learn about positive reinforcement and non-force dog training.
TCOTC offers a variety of training opportunities for dogs and their owners, providing instruction from beginner to advanced levels. TCOTC instructors have many years of experience educating dogs and their owners in basic obedience and beyond. TCOTC utilizes positive reinforcement training methods. While other schools may embrace positive methods for agility, we do not allow the use of choke, pinch or shock collars. We know puppies aren't always easy. TCOTC offers a variety of puppy classes designed to help you raise a well-behaved dog.
We recommend starting Puppy Socialization as soon as you bring your puppy home. These classes are for younger puppies, starting the class at 12 weeks of age or younger, and cover basic socialization including age appropriate play with other puppies, housetraining, walking on a leash, basic grooming, and coming when called.
Basic Training is the start of a well-trained dog. Using the clicker-training method, basic commands like "sit, " "come" and "down" are taught, in addition to skill development in loose leash walking, release, impulse control, come, going to a mat or place, body handling, and handler focus. This class may be repeated to build the dog's skills before moving on to more advanced classes.
Reviews (10)
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Liz H.
May 26, 2022
The facility is a perfect place for flyball practice. Wonderful that they're flexible enough to allow the team can use it from 7pm to as late as needed.
Natalie Brown
May 22, 2022
This is a review specifically for a behavior consult with Taylor. Taylor is AMAZING and I recommend them to anyone looking for personalized help with their pup. They are compassionate, sweet, and incredibly knowledgeable about dog emotions and behaviors. They're also knowledgeable about HUMAN emotions and behaviors, and I think they helped me manage my reactions and training anxieties even more than they helped my dog : I've seen my dog build so much confidence based on advice and help that Taylor has given us. Highly recommend.
Linda Lenc
Mar 27, 2022
Excellent place for dog training. After basic, they offer a wide variety of classes for pets and competitors alike. All positive, clicker-based training methods. Both we and our dog are thriving there.
Katie O'Keefe
Mar 24, 2022
I moved to Minneapolis a year ago and wanted to get my dog set up with training courses with the goal to participate in a fun agility class. We had previously attended a basic training course in iowa but attended another basic course at TCOTC followed by the next course up and then competition bedrock. You have to take competition bedrock in order to take agility which is understandable however this course is so limited it too us nearly 9 months to get in.

Now I'm told the first level of agility is only offered on one night of the week for an entire year which will never work. I also felt like I was talked down to on multiple occasions during the classes. I really didn't want to come back on multiple occasions but wanted to try agility and now that won't be a possibility. I have no intention of showing my dog only wanted to have a fun activity for him.

I felt as though every course was centered around going to shows and competitions. This isn't the place for you if you are looking for a fun activity to keep your dog active.
Kristen Klemann
Feb 23, 2022
TCOTC offers a broad range of dog classes, from basic manners and flyball, to competition-level agility and obedience. The trainers are great and very helpful!
Dominique Beard
Nov 26, 2021
It was my first time attending a puppy training class! The setup of the class and overall information is very helpful. I would say it is more for the handlers than the dogs. The class size was appropriate, about 8ish puppies total. I think I was personally more nervous than my dog to be honest. I've previously trained all of my dogs on my own without any professional help and there were new things that I've learn in the class for sure.
Robby Williams
Nov 11, 2021
We recently got our first puppy and took her here for a "Tweener's" training course. Reasonably priced for a four week course for a new puppy owner, and I feel like we learned a good amount for what we paid, including the resources provided and willingness to call midweek in between classes. Only downside is that classes in general are a lot of instructing with practice interspersed in between, which we personally found to be difficult in keeping our dog occupied during the instruction portion.
Genevieve Rose
Apr 03, 2021
I wouldn't recommend this school if you have anxiety. SOME of the trainers/staff are very rude with their communication towards handlers. My puppy training class was ok, but the trainer started to be rude to another older costumer who switched places with his wife after only the first training session asking him if they knew what we talked about during the first.

When he said he did she continued to make sassy remarks. I've also been yelled at, and I mean yelled at, when entering because my dog got tangled with another dog and the person acted like we weren't doing anything about it and our dogs were actively killing each other when truth be told it happened while we were waiting for the her, the employee, to tell us where to go for our training.

I'm sure dog fights happen, but to be yelled at and told "DONT YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN" by a front desk employee on my first day there really shook me and now I might just let them have my $100 because I'm literally too anxious to go back. Also I have a zoology degree and am a vet student - so it's not like I don't know how to handle my dog.
Tracy Marie
Jan 27, 2021
We LOVE working with Twin Cities Obedience Training Club! We got a puppy and signed up for classes prior to the stay home order and they were super communicative with letting us know when our classes would resume. We began classes and the trainers were awesome. They teach in a way that is easy to understand really beneficial to both the dogs and the humans.

My husband and I have learned a lot about the ways to "communicate" with our puppy to better train her. We just signed her up for her next round of classes at the end of July and can't wait to keep going to school with her. :
Martin Latimer
Nov 09, 2017
Great training for puppies and their people. Learned quite a bit and looking forward to more lessons