Training - Humane Society Silicon Valley

Learn Together, Grow Together

Positive training that brings out the best in dogs and their people.

Less Stress. More Yes.

At HSSV, we use dog-friendly, science-based positive reinforcement to keep learning calm, clear, and stress-free. Dogs build confidence, families build skills, and everyone gets more of the good moments that make training worthwhile.

From early puppy socialization to advanced skills and dog sports, our training programs help families grow together — with steady progress, stronger bonds, and plenty of “yes.”

Training Classes

Whether you’re tackling puppy antics, teaching everyday manners, or leveling up your dog’s skills, we’re here to make learning exciting and full of wins. Our classes follow a science-based, positive reinforcement approach that helps newly adopted dogs, long-time companions, and every curious learner in between feel confident and ready to grow.

Help your dog build confidence today. Explore our full range of classes for all ages, stages, and goals.

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Beginning Classes

Start your training journey with confidence. Beginning classes help puppies, new-to-you dogs, and seasoned sidekicks alike settle in, learn the basics, and build good habits without the stress. From socialization to simple cues, these classes make early learning feel easy, fun, and full of “yes” moments.

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Intermediate Classes

Ready to keep the momentum going? Intermediate classes take the foundation you’ve built and make it stronger. We help dogs stay focused, handle distractions, and bring more calm into everyday life. It’s all about smoother walks, steadier manners, and more wins for everyone.

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Advanced Classes

For dogs who thrive on new challenges, advanced classes add excitement without adding pressure. Whether you’re polishing higher-level skills, preparing for Canine Good Citizen certification, or jumping into super fun dog sports like agility and flyball, these classes keep learning joyful and give energetic dogs a positive outlet to shine.

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Behavior Management Classes

Some dogs need extra support, and that is completely okay. Our behavior adjustment classes offer a positive, modern approach for dogs who worry, bark, react, or feel overwhelmed. We focus on building confidence, lowering stress, and helping dogs find more moments of calm in the world.

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Workshops and Seminars

Looking for fast, feel-good wins? Our workshops and seminars deliver clear, practical skills in short, simple sessions. Topics include leash handling, recall, polite greetings, and other everyday essentials. You walk away with tools that make life easier right away.

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Training Guides

Our Training Guides offer simple, science-based tips you can use at home to build better communication and confidence with your dog.

For Dogs

Puppy Training Guide

Reactive Dog Training Guide

Rowdy Dog Training Guide

Shy Dog Training Guide

For Cats

Feisty Feline Training Guide

Fearful Feline Training Guide

Meet Our Trainers

Cecilia is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) with more than 20 years of hands-on experience helping dogs and their people thrive. She oversees HSSV’s group training programs and specializes in high-drive dogs, behavior challenges, and building effective training plans rooted in science-based, positive reinforcement methods.

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Erika is a force-free, multi-certified professional Dog Trainer & Behavior Consultant who takes a holistic approach and looks at the whole dog and their life with their guardian(s). She believes in taking a bottom-up approach to look a little deeper at why a dog might be behaving in a particular way.

Vicki Huebner is passionate about building relationships between dogs and humans and helping both live their best possible lives. She is a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor, Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and licensed judge for the North American Sports Dog Association (NASDA).

Lisa has had a fondness for dogs since childhood. After a career change, she began volunteering at local shelters as a dog handler and class assistant, and started teaching classes in 2014. She enjoys helping dogs and their people build happy, trusting relationships while having fun. Lisa has studied under respected trainers, continues learning through classes and conferences, has two dogs, and fosters other dogs as well.

Kelsey has been training dogs since childhood, but her deeper study of canine learning began after adopting a “difficult” dog in 2011. She learned through assisting certified trainers, seminars, and hands-on work at the humane society. In 2018, she opened Dreamer Dogs, training dogs of all ages and specializing in fearful, reactive, and aggressive behaviors. Kelsey holds an M.S. in Biology, CPDT-KA credential, and additional advanced certifications.

Jana began her dog training journey at 16 as a dog socializer at HSSV. She later earned her BS in Animal Science with a specialization in Animal Behavior from UC Davis and returned to HSSV as part of the Behavior Team, where she assessed animals and created individualized training plans for dogs experiencing fearfulness, hyperarousal, reactivity, and other challenges. Jana is a CPDT-KA and Fear Free certified.

Training Built on Trust, Not Pressure

At Humane Society Silicon Valley, training is about building communication, confidence, and connection—not just teaching skills. We use positive, science-based methods that meet dogs and their people where they are, without force or judgment.

Our approach focuses on practical, real-life support that helps families feel capable, strengthens trust, and creates lasting bonds.

Read about our training approach

FAQs

The dog training class I want to take has multiple sessions; when are the dates for all of the classes?

How much does it cost?

How do I know which class I should take?

Our beginning level classes are designated by the age of your dog on the first day of class. Young puppies, age 8 weeks to 8 months old, should take Beginning Puppy Training. Beginning Manners is intended for adult dogs 5 months and older.

While there is an overlap in age ranges for Beginning Puppy Training and Beginning Manners, you can determine the correct class for your pup based on their size and maturity. Large breed puppies over 5 months old may prefer the Beginning Manners class. As well as more mature puppies over the 5 month age mark.

My dog already knows how to sit and stay, but we haven’t taken a training class before with anyone. Can I go straight into an intermediate level class?

We ask that you and your dog have experience with a professional dog trainer or dog training class as a prerequisite to our intermediate, sports, and specialty classes. Additionally, dogs learn in context, and while s/he may understand basic manners in the home, that doesn’t always mean that s/he can successfully perform the same tasks when there are more distractions and whole new environment.

Part of our training program teaches dogs how to generalize learning to all sorts of different contexts to have your dog reliably follow instruction. Training is a valuable investment in your bond with your dog, and it is essential to know and understand the fundamental concepts of reward-based training in order to have a truly successful experience. Our Beginning and Intermediate classes are a complete track for training. The concepts that are started on a basic foundational level in your Beginning class are expanded upon and developed further in Intermediate class.

My dog barks at other dogs all the time when s/he is on leash; can I still take one of your classes?

Some dogs have specific behavioral concerns that are not appropriate for group classes. For example, if your dog barks, growls, and lunges while on leash when s/he sees another dog, and s/he cannot be refocused away from the distraction, s/he may not be appropriate for our group classes. Not only can that behavior keep your dog from being able to focus and learn the manners being taught, it can also affect other dogs in class by making them feel unsettled.

If you are unsure of your dog’s appropriateness for a group class setting, please email us at DogTraining@hssv.org and let us know the specific behaviors you are observing that are of concern. While we do not currently offer private training or consultation to the general public, we do offer referrals and resources to help you succeed in your training goals.

How do I get the adopter's discount code?

To access our special adopter price, please email DogTraining@hssv.org with proof of adoption to let us know when and where you adopted your companion and which class you would like to take, and request the special access code. If you’ve recently adopted a puppy from HSSV, directions on how to access training classes will be on your Adoption Packet.

The adopter’s discount is available to those who have adopted their pet within the past year prior to the first class. We offer our adopter prices for those who have adopted their pet from any weC.A.R.E. Community Coalition Adoption Center, including:

Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV)
San Jose Animal Care Services Center
Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority
City of Palo Alto Animal Services
Santa Clara County Animal Shelter
any other 501(c)3, not-for-profit animal welfare organization

I adopted a puppy from HSSV which included complimentary training. How do I now register?

I don't see the class I want on the schedule. How can I be added to your wait list?