Barkaritaville Pet Resort is excited to announce the launch of Levels Training, an innovative, flexible, and cost-effective way to take advantage of group dog obedience classes. Conducted by professional trainer, Susan Morilak, CPDT-KA, at our luxe pet care center located in Northwest San Antonio near The Dominion, Levels Training is a membership-based dog obedience training program that allows you and your dog to take as much or as little training as you want with the flexible schedule you need. Our first Levels Training Class has already kicked off! Contact us today to learn upcoming dates for our next orientation class.

How much for how long?

Owners and their dogs can join one of three types of memberships: Bronze, Silver, or Gold. During your period of enrollment, you can attend as much or as little training as you like (up to 2 classes per week).

Levels Training consists of four skill levels with each level introducing new skills to your dog while continuing to practice previous skills with more and more distractions. Although each level has specific skill requirements which must be met prior to moving on to the next level, you and your dog progress through the levels at your own pace. Move through all four levels or choose to stay at a lower level.

Our Levels Training program offers pet parents a flexible training schedule while offering pets a rewarding training program, proven to set you and your dog up for success!

Benefits of Levels Training over traditional classes:

• Level 1 classes start approximately every three weeks so there is little wait to enroll your dog in a class.
• All the dogs in each level are at a similar stage in training. This allows our professional trainer to better address the needs of each dog.
• Work at your own skill level for as long as necessary. No falling behind since there is no requirement to move up.
• Students can revisit a lower level at any time to brush up on previous skills.
• Dogs move in and out of each level throughout the training, which provides new dogs as distractions each week.
• Students can take time off if they have a very busy week or go out of town. Just return to class at the same level without fear of falling behind.
• Have extra time in your schedule? Attend more than one session a week if you are able to do so.

The Four Levels

The following outlines what you can expect in each of the four levels. Contact us for schedule details to see when each level is offered. Move through all four levels or choose to stay at a lower level. The choice is yours!

LEVEL 1: STARTING OUT.

Level 1 will introduce the basic commands sit, down, touch, and the name game. We’ll also work on problem behaviors such as jumping, play-biting, and housetraining. All dogs (even those with prior training) start in Level 1.

Requirements to move to Level 2: Dog can sit, down, and touch on command. Dog will respond readily to his name with mild distractions.

LEVEL 2: MANNERS TRAINING.

We’ll work on walking politely on a loose leash without pulling, paying attention to the owner while walking and ignoring other dogs. We’ll also begin working on come and stay. Level 2 includes problem- solving information for behaviors such as barking, digging, chewing, etc.

Requirements to move to Level 3: Dog can walk nicely around the training area with no pulling with other dogs 6 feet away. Dog will come when called on leash with mild distractions.

LEVEL 3: ADDING DISTRACTIONS.

We’ll work on a long-distance come cue, stay with distractions, heel, leave-it, and wait at the door.

Requirements to move to level 4: Dog will stay for 30 seconds with mild distractions and owner standing on the leash. Dog will heel past other dogs with leash over owner’s shoulder. Dog will come from 20 feet away with moderate distractions.

LEVEL 4: ADVANCED TRAINING.

We’ll work on polishing the come cue, strengthen the stay cue by teaching the dog to stay for longer periods of time at a greater distance from the owner, work on turns and automatic sit in heeling.

Level 4 goals: Dog can heel past other dogs and distractions. Dog will stay 10 feet away from owner for 3 minutes with distractions. Dog will come off leash past distractions from 30 feet away.

About our Levels Training instructor, Susan Morilak, CPDT-KA

Susan’s passion for training began at 9 years of age with her family dog, Buttons. Although her professional path took her in a different direction for a bit, for more than a decade now she has been training professionally, working with dogs at all levels and all temperaments. Susan trains from puppy and beginner levels through advanced and therapy dog. She joins the Barkaritaville Pet Resort team in San Antonio as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluator whose motto is “a tired dog is a good dog” which can be accomplished with positive reinforcement training and regular exercise. Even in her previous career of sewing, Susan and her dogs participated in a variety of dog sports including Agility, Flyball, Barn Hunt, Rally, Obedience and Nosework. Susan has been a San Antonio resident since 1994 and has raised four rescue dogs.

Ready to sign up or learn more about Levels Training and pricing? Contact our Barkaritaville Pet Resort location in San Antonio today.