2024 Academy Programs
The Hiker Pup Academy
Registration closed until 2025
Self Paced Online dog training classes: Foundations, Reactivity, Engagement, Cooperative Care, Scent Work and more!
Earn AKC Trick Titles!
AKC Fit Dog Classes & Group Virtual Events!
Private Facebook Community for ongoing support!
Minimum of twice monthly live zoom classes and workshops! (recorded for access at anytime)
Personalized Instructor feedback!
Courses are self paced and you can access the materials at any time convenient for you!
Opportunity to purchase personal Zoom sessions
BARK COMMANDERS
Registration closed until 2025
email dawn@thehikerpup.com if you want to upgrade to the Bark Commanders for 2025
Open only to Previous Bark Commanders or Academy members.
Would you like more personalized instruction?
Monthly 30 minute private zoom sessions
Training plans
FB Groups with individualized guide units just for you to keep your topics & homework videos organized.
Trainer mentoring
““The biggest difference training with you is the individual feedback. I value that so very much. Other programs can have you all doing the same thing regardless of your dog and before you know it you’ve added more issues in doing something not quite meant for your dog. With you any mistakes are nipped in the bud quickly.”
The Academy
A year long comprehensive training program. It’s been called “an encyclopedia for dog training”, “a complete interactive dog training text book”, “it’s like having a dog trainer you can access for help at a fraction of the cost of in person training”.
Enrollment will open Feb 1st - Feb 18th for the 2024 program!
More questions? (keep scrolling down 🙂)
“I was really struggling to get Emmy to acknowledge me outside of the house. She had limited interest in food or toys as soon as we were 50m from home! Dawn has helped me learn what will work for Emmy. I now have a dog who loves to play with me, she is always looking to me to see what the next game is.
Emmy’s even starting to choose me over other dogs and hunting small furry creatures!! Dawn has put so much effort in for everyone in the Academy- it’s been such a great program to be part of!”
how does online learning work?
This course utilizes the following forms of instruction:
Live Zoom training classes- In these classes you will be given instruction and video demonstrations of what to do and then you will set up your camera so the instructor can watch you work with your dog and provide personalized feedback.
Self paced modules of written course materials with video demonstrations and training plans.
Private FB group where you can discuss the training with fellow students, ask questions and share resources.
The Academy modules are your class text books. Each exercise has written details and narrated video demonstrations.
The Academy classroom blog will help you with suggested paths through the modules, additional training challenges, games and class updates.
The Facebook groups offer you an interactive experience with the instructor and your fellow students.
Zoom sessions provide live training opportunities and Q & A sessions with the instructor.
The Academy is broken into sections for each class, and each class broken into a series of modules and each module into step by step exercises.
So for example you can go into the Perfect Puppies class and work the content in order, or you can skip around working the exercises you most want to work on. You can head over to the Reactive Dog class and access exercises for sound sensitivity. Then you can access the clicks & tricks and find your favorite tricks you want to teach. You have a full year and to be honest almost no one will get through all of the materials in that time! Why? Because the program is designed to help anyone, from someone just starting with a ten week old puppy to someone with a mostly trained 6 year old reactive dog looking for more advanced work and deeper dives into canine behavior science. I want to provide enough content to give everyone enough to work on and improve!
Every person who took the Academy and provided me feedback agreed that even if they did not participate in uploading videos on FB, did not work through all of the modules, or did not attend all of the zoom sessions, still felt that they got far more than their money's worth, because the program includes so much content for the price of what most trainers charge for an 8 week program.
The content shared in the Academy on other platforms would cost you easily double and triple what I charge, and there is only one reason for that. I want quality dog training to be available to all, I don’t want it to be only available to the privileged. What you get is not discounted in quality! My life passion is to help dogs and people connect.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Do I get to keep access to the materials after the year is over?
A: You get to keep access to the Facebook groups indefinitely, but the Website access is only available with an active subscription. You can save links to video playlists and the many downloadable files.
Q: Do I have to be present at a set time? I live in ____ can I join?
A: The modules are all self paced exercises that you can access at any time so you do not need to be available at a set time. Zoom sessions are at set times, sessions are recorded for those that cannot make it, and I alternate times to fit varying time zones. We have people from all over the world in the Academy!
Q: What is the time commitment?
A: You get out of it what time you give. You could make a full time job out of trying to cover all the content ;) But training sessions are a suggested 5-10 minutes a day 3 to 5 days a week, with taking a few training vacations during the year. You will need more time to edit & upload homework if you choose to do that.
Q: Do I have to join Facebook?
A: No! It is currently the only reasonable platform to be able to host having so many people uploading homework videos while keeping prices affordable. But many people find that the access to all of the content without the FB groups is still an incredible value and well worth the investment. With the regular zoom classes available you can get plenty of personal instruction without being on Facebook.
Q: Do you have payment plans for The Academy?
A: Yes, you can choose a monthly payment option.
Q: Can children do the Academy?
A: As long as a parent or legal guardian signs the legal waivers and is prepared to help as needed. All the exercises a child should be able to do with the assistance of an adult, but the materials maybe overwhelming if they don’t have someone helping.
Bark Commanders!
Open to only Previous Bark Commanders or Academy Members!
The premier dog online distance learning dog training experience!
A personalized experience.
Access to all academy programs, discussion groups and Zoom sessions.
Includes a monthly 30 minute private Zoom session to help you stay motivated and focused throughout the year.
The Bark Commanders is the Full Academy Experience along with one on one coaching. This is the ideal program for someone with a reactive dog, someone with aspirations for more complex training skills and for those looking for an in-depth relationship with an instructor.
Examples of how the program could work for you:
you prefer not posting public videos on the FB groups, so instead we use your private zoom sessions to evaluate your homework in private.
you want to work on more personalized programs like getting yourself ring ready to earn some competition titles and want help designing your training plans
you have a reactive dog and are looking for more personal coaching through the process
What makes this program different from the other academies is the amount of
one to one coaching and your ability to customize the experience.
Zoom Private Sessions
With your paid monthly or annual subscription you will be able to schedule a 30 minute private Zoom session per month!
Zoom sessions are open for scheduling first come first serve during available Pacific time weekdays (early mornings and evenings available to accommodate varying time zones and work schedules).
annual subscription
Unlimited website & Group Zoom classes Member access for 1 year, monthly 30 minute Private Zoom, access to private Bark Commanders FB group with personal guide units.
Registration opens Jan 25th to current Bark Commanders, any available spots are then open to Academy Members on Feb 1st.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Do I get to keep access to the Academy after the year is over?
A: Yes and no 😉. The website access is a monthly or yearly subscription service so at the end of the year, or if you cancel your subscription than you lose access to the website. However you maintain indefinite access to all the Facebook groups. Also many of the modules exercises have downloadable files and you can copy the play list links to keep in your records for reference.
Q: What kinds of things can I work on during my private zoom sessions?
A: Anything you want! If you want to ask questions about struggles you are having in your training or with your dog’s behavior. Or perhaps you want me to help you develop on going training plans that we keep working through during the year. Or maybe you want me to review your agility competition videos and offer suggestions. Basically anything I have experience working on I will help you with.
Q: Can my family members join our private zoom sessions?
A: Absolutely!
Q: Can I pay monthly for the Bark Commanders and skip months, but maintain my subscription and come back in later?
A: No, once you cancel your subscription you would need to wait until next year’s Bark Commanders to sign up again.
