Dogs Best Friend!

puppy webinar

what to expect when you’re expecting…a puppy!

webinar on demand

presented by rebecca mandell, dog’s best friend, what to expect when you’re expecting…a puppy! was created for anyone planning on or considering taking the leap into puppy parenthood.

in this 2-hour webinar on demand, we will discuss not only the joys of being a puppy parent, but the extreme challenges that bringing a fluff ball into your home can bring.

items we will cover:

-finding a breeder/rescue group
-cost of raising a puppy/dog
-the importance of proper early life socialization
-potty training
-surviving puppy nipping
-raising a happy, well-adjusted adult dog

$30 – buy now

puppy classes

the modern puppy – for pups 8 – 16 weeks of age (at class start date). if puppy chooses to attend without socialization days (see below), starting age may be up to 20 weeks of age

the modern puppy is our newest puppy program created for maximum flexibility and safety, in a time when meeting in person was not possible or recommended. this integrated ONLINE training and socialization program allows puppy parents the opportunity to train your puppies in the quiet and safety of your own home, with our instruction, guidance and support.

the modern puppy also provides an important socialization opportunity in an intimate, sterile and safe environment, with recommended protocols on social distancing practiced with utmost detail and concern.

what will you receive in this six-week program?

-weekly videos demonstrating the important life skills puppies need to know: sit, down, stay, leave it, loose leash walking, settling out of play, aggression prevention, and much more

-video guidance on potty/crate training, tools to survive that all important (and painful) puppy nipping phase, and any challenge that may pop up during this early life stage

-weekly puppy raising tips

-three 4-hour socialization and play sessions (see video of play session below) at dog’s best friend, at which time puppies will learn to interact appropriately with other puppies their own age, as well as rebecca’s adult golden retriever, chester, who will provide calm dog/dog lessons and direction*

*play sessions are scheduled based on puppy’s temperament, taking careful consideration into which puppies will be the right match, allowing for the most positive experience possible. play sessions will be limited to 2 “modern puppies” per session, integrated with our puppy’s best start puppies. these sessions must be completed within one week of the final question/answer session described below. these are not skills sessions. the focus is solely on puppy interaction, play and enrichment. IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN PLAY SESSIONS, PUPPIES MUST BE CRATE OR PEN TRAINED

-if puppy does not live locally, or cannot meet health requirements, we offer the class, excluding socialization days, at a lower price (see below)

-weekly group question/answer sessions to review and clarify anything from the above. sessions are held at the same time every week, for six weeks

-video review of the covered skills, culminating in your puppy’s first graduate diploma. pup parent is required to take videos of their work, and send in to dbf weekly for review

-if you cannot make a class, no worries, they are recorded for maximum flexibility

a few notes on health:

your puppy’s health is our number one concern, therefore all puppies must meet the following requirements in order to schedule/attend their socialization days.

all of the items below are mandatory and must be received at least 24 hours prior to socialization day — no exceptions.

-our veterinary health form completed and signed by your vet (provided upon registration)

-one set of vaccinations 7 days prior to the first socialization session

-proof of a clean fecal test

-puppy must be in their new home for at least one week

most puppies learn to socialize easily, but on some rare occasions, the group environment is too stressful/scary for the puppy. if a puppy shows excessive signs of fear/stress and is not able to function in the play sessions, they will be removed from the socialization play sessions, and alternate arrangements for socialization will be discussed with puppy parent.

please contact us with questions/concerns

starts: tba

$475 for six week class, including socialization days IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN PLAY SESSIONS, PUPPIES MUST BE CRATE OR PEN TRAINED. IF NOT, PLEASE CHOOSE CLASS W/O SOCIAL DAYS

$325 for six week class, excluding socialization days

DUE TO THE POPULARITY OF THIS CLASS, WE CANNOT OFFER REFUNDS IF YOUR PUPPY’S PLANS CHANGE. ALL REGISTRATIONS ARE FINAL. NO EXCEPTIONS.

IF PUPPY IS FOUND TO HAVE GIARDIA OR ANY OTHER PARASITE/HEALTH CONCERN AFTER REGISTERING, CLASSES CAN BE DEFERRED UNTIL PUPPY IS HEALTHY. REFUNDS WILL NOT BE GIVEN.

we cannot take verbal reservations for this program. please register to hold your pup’s spot.

next session tba

next session tba

zooming teens – an intermediate online class, for modern puppy grads, as well as puppies who have graduated from other dbf programs

zooming teens is our newest intermediate class, built to provide the next step in learning to graduates from the modern puppy and the puppy’s best start program.

this class was created for maximum flexibility and safety, in a time when meeting in person was not possible or recommended. this integrated ONLINE training and socialization program allows teen parents the opportunity to train your adolescents in the quiet and safety of your own home, with our instruction, guidance and support.

zooming teens also offers an important opportunity for a special socialization day for dog friendly teens, in a safe environment, focused on healthy play and dog/dog communication.

what will you receive in this six-week program?

-weekly videos demonstrating the important skills necessary to move from puppyhood to adolescence. this includes: long distance recall,  loose leash walking, proper dog/dog greetings, and calm behavior in public places

-video guidance on everything “teen,” from exuberant human greetings, to counter-surfing, to door bolting

-weekly assignments provided via video, for easy study and reference

-one 4-hour socialization and play session at dog’s best friend, at which time dbf will evaluate each teen’s play style and communication skills, and offer guidance on improving their teenage socialization*

*the play session must be completed within one week of the final question/answer session described below. these are not skills sessions. the focus is solely on dog/dog interactions, play and communication. these sessions are built for teens who are social and friendly. they would not be a good match for dogs who are fearful or aggressive. IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN PLAY SESSION, TEENS MUST BE CRATE OR PEN TRAINED

-if teen does not live locally, or cannot meet health requirements, we offer the class, excluding socialization days, at a lower price (see below)

-weekly group question/answer sessions to review and clarify anything from the above*

*q and a session times held at the same time every week, for six weeks

-video review of the covered skills, culminating in your teens’ graduate diploma. dog parent is required to take videos of their work, and send in to dbf weekly for review

-if you cannot make a class, no worries, they are recorded for maximum flexibility

a few notes on health:

your teen’s health is our number one concern, therefore all teens must meet the following requirements in order to schedule/attend their socialization day.

all of the items below are mandatory and must be received at least 24 hours prior to socialization day — no exceptions.

-our veterinary health form completed and signed by your vet (provided upon registration)

-completed vaccinations one week prior to socialization session

-proof of a clean fecal test

most teens learn to socialize easily, but on some rare occasions, the group environment is too stressful/scary for the teen. if a teen shows excessive signs of fear/stress and is not able to function in the play session, they will be removed from the session, and alternate arrangements for socialization will be discussed with teen parent.

please contact us with questions/concerns

starts: tba

$400 for six week class, including socialization day IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN PLAY SESSION, TEENS MUST BE CRATE OR PEN TRAINED. IF NOT, PLEASE CHOOSE CLASS W/O SOCIAL DAY

$350 for six week class, excluding socialization days

DUE TO THE POPULARITY OF THIS CLASS, WE CANNOT OFFER REFUNDS IF YOUR TEEN’S PLANS CHANGE. ALL REGISTRATIONS ARE FINAL. NO EXCEPTIONS.

IF TEEN IS FOUND TO HAVE GIARDIA OR ANY OTHER PARASITE/HEALTH CONCERN AFTER REGISTERING, CLASSES CAN BE DEFERRED UNTIL TEEN IS HEALTHY. REFUNDS WILL NOT BE GIVEN.

we cannot take verbal reservations for this program. please register to hold your teen’s spot.

no class on schedule at this time

no class on schedule at this time

puppy 3 – polite pup about town, an advanced puppy class – for fully vaccinated pups six 6 – 24 months of age

designed for the modern puppy and zooming teens graduates, as well as our puppy’s best start graduates.

this advanced class was created to help prepare pups for a life of cafes, shopping and fun, to help them learn how to behave calmly in real world situations.

in this class we hone walking skills, stay, leave it, appropriate human greetings, and calm behavior around other dogs in the outside world.

for pups under one year of age (per akc rules), your pup will work toward earning an akc s.t.a.r. (socialization, training, activity, responsibility) certificate, showing the world that you are a responsible pup parent and your puppy is starting life as a well-mannered member of the community. the perfect foundation for moving into our akc canine good citizen class!

by passing the akc s.t.a.r. test at the end of the class, you’ll receive an application for enrollment in the akc-sponsored program, a medal to display, a listing in the s.t.a.r. records and a puppy package with a certificate, handbook, discounts and subscription to their training email newsletter.

due to the nature of this class, it would not be a match for fearful or anxious pups.

this class meets for six weeks. the first class will be held at dbf. all remaining classes will be held at various locations in hermosa and manhattan beach.

important note:

your puppy’s health is our number one concern, therefore all dogs must be fully vaccinated. proof of current vaccinations are due 24 hours before the class start date. titer tests are accepted.

DUE TO THE RECENT COVID-19 PANDEMIC, COVID-19 VACCINATIONS ARE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO ATTEND THIS CLASS. DOCUMENTATION MAY BE REQUESTED.

starts: tba

$350 for six week class

DUE TO THE POPULARITY OF THESE CLASSES, WE CANNOT OFFER REFUNDS IF YOUR PUPPY’S PLANS CHANGE. ALL REGISTRATIONS ARE FINAL. NO EXCEPTIONS.

the precocious pup – a prepaid puppy class package for ambitious little ones

get started off on the right paw, and save a few bones, by prepaying for the modern puppy, zooming teens and puppy 3 (all medical qualifications apply).

$1100 for three six week classes – including socialization (modern puppy and zooming teens)

$900 for three six week classes – excluding socialization (modern puppy and zooming teens)

DUE TO THE POPULARITY OF THESE CLASSES, WE CANNOT OFFER REFUNDS IF YOUR PUPPY’S PLANS CHANGE. ALL REGISTRATIONS ARE FINAL. NO EXCEPTIONS.

register for precocious pup – excluding socialization

register for precocious pup – including socialization