Desert Dog Obedience

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United States
Phoenix, AZ
Desert Dog Obedience

Desert Dog Obedience has been serving the dog training needs of the Phoenix area for more than 30 ye We offer private instruction, in your home.

Here at Desert Dog Obedience we offer a broad range of learning experiences for you and your dog. You’ll find everything from fun, fast-moving family pet classes (Beginner, Advanced Beginner, Tricks, Outdoor Adventure, Circuit Training). For those interested in competition obedience classes we offer Novice, Open, Rally classes taught by our experienced instructors. All classes are designed with the student and dog in mind, providing the level of training and fun you’re looking for. Have a new puppy, a behavioral issue, a special skill you need help with. Come out and watch a class or give as a call. We’d love to help you with all your dog training needs. 480-785-0036

10/31/2026

Happy Halloween! From my little witches to yours.

10/31/2026

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10/30/2026

Big congratulations to Andie and Ross for passing the CGC test tonight. Nice job.

10/29/2026

Back in 2012 when the American Kennel Club developed the Beginner Novice program Rudy and I jumped right in to give it a try. It looked to me to be a really useful stepping stone from Rally to regular Obedience. This class was exactly what I needed for Rudy's progression into the Obedience ring from Rally. I admit I was more than a little confused about this new class, not Rally but not really Obedience. I think many of us (including some of the judges) were. I think I've got the hang of it now and I've been using it as a transition from Rally (where I like to start my dogs' competition career) to regular Obedience ever since.

For those that would like to make the move from Rally to Obedience or for those of you who want to get started in Obedience, Mari is offering a two week Beginner Novice workshop. Mari will go over the rules of the Beginner Novice class as well as what each exercise looks like and some helpful hints on training those exercises.

If you would like to join Mari the workshop will be on Tuesday, evenings November 10 and 17 at 8 p.m. $120.

Drop me an email and I'll send you registration information.

Pic of Rudy, just because I love this one!

10/28/2026

Here's the latest wonderful, stupendous, exciting accomplishment from our own Mari and Ellie. In her own words (Mari's not Ellie's):

I am very proud to report that Ellie has received the Rally Dog of the Year award for 2025 from the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club of America! This award is given to the wheaten, owned by a SCWTCA member, with the highest number of Rally points as verified by AKC's Top Dogs in Rally.
I can’t say enough good things about my canine team-mate, Ellie, who is a great dog to work with. A massive “thank you” to our skilled, creative, Rally teacher, Jean Burton, to our wonderful breeder, Kathy Clarke, and to all the judges, stewards, and dog and handler teams who make Rally in Arizona a great sport.

10/27/2026

Update: Eliza passed!!! Very proud and a little surprised but she did really well. Picture in comments.

All of my dogs, in the last 20 years have received their AKC Canine Good Citizenship title (even when it wasn't a title). We passed most of the time but there was one memorable fail. I was at a conformation show with Pistol. While we were waiting for our class to be called I decided (with no practice or prep) to take her across the field to where they were doing the Canine Good Citizenship Test. Came to the part where we had to demonstrate that she would sit on cue. I thought "we've got this". Pistol thought otherwise! I looked at her and said "sit". Nothing. I repeated with more emphasis "Sit". Nothing. I tried again this time with a hand signal she had never seen before. Nothing. Final time, "sit, sit, sit". Nothing. The evaluator smiled, I smiled, Pistol stood. We went back to the Conformation ring.

Pistol did eventually pass the CGC on another day when she wasn't confused about sitting and standing!

Reminder: CGC Test this Thursday, October 29th at 8 p.m.

Let me know if you'd like to join us, [email protected]

The puppy, Eliza and I might give it a shot this week and see what happens. Could be entertaining. You might want to come and watch.

P.S. Pistol is the one in my lap in the picture.

10/16/2026

Congratulations to the graduates of Desert Dog Obedience's Fall Beginner 1 class: Diana with Bowie the Samoyed, Tami with Link the Rat Terrier, Lety with Osa the Labradoodle, and Jorge with Luna the Border Collie. All teams made impressive progress. Really great work everyone!!

10/03/2026

Fall classes are in full swing and we've got a couple of classes starting in the next couple weeks that I think you will be interested in.

MY DOG'S GOT TRICKS CLASS 4 weeks plus tricks evaluation

Starting Wednesday, October 7th at 8 p.m. $120

Isn't it cute when a dog crawls, shake hands, bows or spins on cue. Did you know you could earn an AKC title for your dog doing tricks? And have a whole lot of fun while doing it? That's what we do in My Dog's Got Tricks class. The class focuses on Novice, Intermediate and Advanced level tricks with an optional Tricks evaluation on the 5th week.

RING ENTRY WORKSHOP 2 weeks

Starting Thursday, October 15th at 8 p.m. $120

Does your dog have beautiful, intense focus outside the rally or obedience ring but the minute you step through the ring gate...it's gone? This two week workshop will help you develop the skills and techniques to get the same focused dog inside the ring that you have outside. And if you're having trouble with focus in general in the show environment this workshop will be of use to you also. Limited space.

To sign up or for more information contact Jean at [email protected]

Address

Phoenix, AZ

Website

http://www.desertdogobedience.com/

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