Home

Welcome to the Perfect Puppy Academy

Perfect Puppy Academy classes are held evenings and weekends at comfortable indoor facilities. A session of Academy classes consists of five weekly, one-hour classes. Each has four to twelve dogs and their owners. All members of your family are encouraged to participate. Children must be at least five years old and able to stay focused on the class.

Specializing in Puppies for over 18 Years!

Dog Avid standing in water while panting

What Makes Us Special

Dog Friendly Training

Easy to Learn

Scientifically Proven Methods

Professionally Certified and Experienced Instructor

Veterinarian-developed Program

18 Years and Over 6,000 Satisfied Graduates

Serving the Goleta and Santa Barbara areas

We also offer classes for older dogs!

Your puppy can be perfect in 3 easy steps:

1. Socialization

Your puppy learns to be at ease around people, other dogs, and the outside world.

2. Good puppy manners

Your puppy learns Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Walk on Leash, Leave it Alone, Settle Down and Greet a Stranger.

3. Bite Inhibition

Your puppy learns to have a soft mouth so it will not cause injury.

A puppy with a perfect puppy academy graduation diploma after completing puppy classes

Perfect Puppy Academy Classes

Perfect Puppy Academy puppy looking up

Puppy Class 1

  • Dog is between 10 and 18 weeks old on the date the class starts. If your puppy is older, please consider our Adolescent / Adult 1 classes.
  • It has been at least 10 days since your puppy has received its first set of vaccinations, and your puppy is current on distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus vaccinations, as recommended by your veterinarian.
  • Puppy 1 class is held at an indoor facility: 733 Carpinteria St., Santa Barbara, CA 93103

dog Maizey with purple flowers in background

Puppy Class 2

  • Dog has completed the Puppy 1 course offered by the Perfect Puppy Academy.
  • Dog is younger than one-year-old.
  • Dog is current on distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, and rabies vaccinations, as recommended by your veterinarian.
  • Puppy 2 class is held at an indoor facility: 733 Carpinteria St., Santa Barbara, CA 93103

dog portait

Adolescent/Adult Class 1

  • Adolescent/Adult 1 classes are for dogs older than 18 weeks.
  • Dog is people and other-dog friendly.
  • Dog is up-to-date on distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, and rabies vaccinations, as recommended by your veterinarian.
  • Adolescent/Adult Class 1 is held at Girsh Park, 7050 Phelps Road, Goleta, CA 93117
dog running in the ocean

Loose Leash Walking & Reliable Recall

  • You and your dog/puppy have completed an Adolescent 1 or Puppy 1 class series
  • Your dog/puppy is up to date on vet-recommended vaccines, including rabies
  • Front-clip harness like an Easy-Walk, or Halti head collar
  • 15 or 20-foot long training leash
  • Adolescent/Adult Class 1 is held at Girsh Park, 7050 Phelps Road, Goleta, CA 93117

Canine Good Citizen Class

Is your dog a Good Citizen? Work on the criteria needed to pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test by fine tuning your dog’s social and training skills while demonstrating responsible ownership. In this class we will cover and practice the elements of the CGC test, you are encouraged to take the test at the end of the session if you and your dog are ready. We will be working on skills that include training focus, grooming, loose leash walking, stay, come when called, and nice manners around people and other dogs. This is an on-leash class.

Goals of the AKC CGC Prep Course:

  • Practice the 10 CGC test elements, prepare for the test with dogs and owners when ready   
  • Enhance your training skills, work on good manners and behavior
  • Preparation for those considering therapy dog certification
  • A starting point for those who may want to try agility, rally, obedience, and other dog sports

This class is designed for owners with dogs that are calm, good natured, and friendly with people and other dogs.

For a dog with high energy or that needs more work with training obedience skills, manners, and is not people and other-dog friendly, please see our other training courses or inquire about private lessons. 

A session of dog training classes consists of five weekly, one-hour long classes on evenings or weekends at an indoor/outdoor location.
A training manual is included in the enrollment fee.
The entire family is encouraged to participate. *(Please see Covid Pandemic Guidelines)
Anne kneeling with two of her dogs

Instructor Anne Swan

Anne began teaching classes at the Perfect Puppy Academy after meeting Academy Director Dr. David Chubb in 2005. She enjoys and appreciates the enthusiasm that puppies and their owners bring to every session, and works with students to smooth the transition of adding puppies and adopted dogs to the household. She employs gentle and effective methods based on positive reinforcement and establishing leadership. Anne’s goal is to create well-behaved and socialized family members that you will look forward to spending time with.

Anne regularly attends continuing education conferences and seminars in which she has the opportunity to work with some of the leading animal trainers from around the world.

Anne is also a part of the Goleta Valley Dog Club, Inc.

What is positive reinforcement and why should I use it?

Positive reinforcement training involves rewarding a dog for behaving correctly and redirecting unwanted behaviors to something that is more rewarding. This training builds a bond of trust and cooperation with your dog. This is the type of training used in zoos, wild animal parks, marine parks, and circuses throughout the world.

Training using punishment can confuse the dog as to exactly which behavior he is being punished for. Also, punishment can cause dogs to cower or become aggressive.

Anne working with dog Kylie at a dog agility competition field

What people are saying

Our Puppy 1 class was great as Anne is simply a superb trainer!!! Our puppy Nick had a great time too. We’re looking forward to Puppy 2.

M. Capparelli-Lally

Santa Barbara

I have been reading/following Dr. Dunbar’s book, Before and After You Get Your Puppy, and am very excited to get Cookie into your class.

E. Litwin

Thousand Oaks

We had a fantastic time in your class. The Callender humans learned a lot. We’ve passed along our positive experience to other puppy owners. Thanks again for guiding us on Rory’s training.

J. and L. Callender

Carpinteria

We just completed the Puppy 1 class and thought it was wonderful. The methods used in the Perfect Puppy Academy are great and, as Walter is an energetic Labrador Retriever with selective hearing, I look forward to continuing his training in the Puppy 2 class with Barbara.

E. Karol

Veterinary Technician at Oak Park Veterinary Hospital

I have taken two dogs to The Perfect Puppy Academy, as well as attended with family with five other dogs in different classes! My last class I chose to add on the Puppy Two class as I enjoyed Puppy One so much. I think that this class is absolutely essential for the addition of any new dog in your life, whether puppy or adult. Anne understands dogs in an incredible way, and can translate that to owners in a way that forever connects us with our dogs. The Perfect Puppy Acadamy equips dog owners to feel confident in their relationship with their dogs by giving the necessary tools to better care for and train them. Anne understands the needs of the owners and gives very realistic training tools that are easy to follow. My dogs and I always felt comfortable in these classes and made connections with other dog people as well. I always recommend this class to any new dog owner! 

K. Lekas

Charlie and I can’t thank you enough for the class we took with Olive. The three of us have clearly benefitted from your expertise as well as your patient and caring guidance. Though we are seniors, we knew that we needed training as much as our little rescue dog did, and we hoped to find a relaxed and compassionate setting for all three of us. You came highly recommended and for good reason. You were quickly responsive to our initial inquiries, the class we chose was clearly presented on your website and lived up to its goals, and the additional “life skills” and product recommendations you suggested have been useful. In addition, we had a great time!

Gayle R.

I’m so glad Dr Quinn recommended you. I believe Perfect Puppy training will prove to be invaluable to us as we begin life together. You skillfully laid down a foundation of the basics while blending in many useful suggestions about lots of the smaller things. Additionally I am finding your outline to be a useful reference resource. I appreciate you expertise, kindness and talent.

Winnie, a small light puppy

Sue S. and Winnie