All our programs offer 3 FREE follow up lessons and access to 6 months of continuing education refresher courses for free.
All board and train dogs sleep at owner and behaviorist Jessica Davis’ home (Casa de Pup Pup) and will be transported daily to the Arfin’ Academy. Every day will consist of 2 individual one hour training sessions, as well as a group training session to build reliability. Dogs who enjoy playing with other dogs will also enjoy 2 play sessions per day and multiple enrichment opportunities.
Did you just bring home a new puppy? Bringing home a new puppy is very exciting but can be extremely challenging. This is a 2 week training program we offer to new puppy parents. The purpose of our puppy academy is to have your puppy begin basic foundations prior to the board and train program at the age of 5mos. Your puppy will incorporate loose leash walking, sit, sit-stay, down, down-stay, wait and come. A trainer will also spend time with your puppy handling potty training and spend time socializing with other puppies. Perfect way to begin the training!
Purpose of Puppy Academy
Potty Training
Socializing
Loose leash walking
Crate Training
Basic behavioral cues
In our 2-week program, your dog(s) mild nuisance behaviors will effectively be addressed as well as any primary goals discussed during evaluation. Basic obedience cues are developed during this time. During our board and train programs your dog(s) will learn basic manners and we will create a better bond and relationship through clear communication between you and your dog. Our trainer will board your dog for 2 weeks and their training will consist of developing on leash behaviors, and developing fluency in 22 standard obedience cues including: sit, sit-stay, down, down-stay, wait, come, place, and loose leash walking.
Our trainer will board your dog for this 3 week program and we will address all the same materials as mentioned during our 2 week board and train, but your dog(s) will gain more reliability with distractions and improved behavior in public spaces. We will build the Heel cue, place with extended duration, and directive greetings, which are all useful in public settings. Each dog will go on outings in the world to work on AKCs Canine Good Citizen prep. Our training will consist of developing polite on-leash behavior, sit, sit-stay, down, down-stay, place, wait, come, leave it, Heel, and loose leash walking as well as a strong focus on impulse control.
Do you have a dog best suited for Therapy or Service work? Or maybe a dog that requires more attention? If so, our 4 week program will be the best decision. Our trainer will board your dog for 4 weeks, your dog will learn all behavioral materials mentioned in our 2 and 3 week programs but allows your dog(s) and trainer extra attention to work closely to develop specialized skills.
Board and Train for behavioral cases to include but not limited to extreme fearfulness, aggression, dog reactivity, and human reactivity.
Note: Each dog is an individual and although there are no guarantees, success is truly based on dedication of the handler and continued training. Obedience is like any other skill, you must maintain it.
Vaccination Requirements for Boarding and Training with Arfordable Dog Training
Rabies
DHPP
Leptospirosis
Canine Influenza
Bordetella within the last 6 months
Negative Fecal Exam within the last 3 months
To ensure the safety of all of the dogs in our care, no dog will be allowed on property at either the Arfin’ Academy or Casa de Pup Pup without prior proof of vaccinations.
For boarding services, please reach out at 210-418-1440 or [email protected].
We offer a private home exclusively for Arfordable Dog Training clients dedicated to your pup focused on socialization and relaxation. Playcare is an add-on service for boarding clients that would benefit AND enjoy it!
Your dog(s) will stay at the Casa de Pup Pup at night and safely commute to the Arfin’ Academy daily.
If no Playcare, we will still pair them up with similar playstyle. If your dog prefers one-on-one attention, we offer individual play and enrichment. We always have classical music, Adaptil diffusing, and mental stimulation opportunities!
Our Owner and Canine Behavioral Consultant (Jessica) lives on the property and can assist with ensuring a positive association because that is our number 1 focus and she is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Behaviorist through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, Inc. and Pet CPR/First Aid Instructor through Pet Tech, Inc. First Aid & Care for Your Pets.
We’re bonded, insured, and focused on individual attention for your pup during their stay.
Boarding Rate: $45.00
Holiday Rate: $55.00
Behavioral Rate: $60.00
Training is one of the most important activities you can do with your dog. Basic obedience training doesn’t have to be intense but it must be fun. The important thing to remember is it’s all about the relationship that you build with them. That relationship should be built on trust, respect, and understanding. Arfordable Dog Training can assist with jump starting your training and setting up your dog for success.
Puppy 101 will cover Crate Training, Potty Training, Socialization, Mental Stimulation, and Basic Obedience including Sit, Down, Watch-Me, Leave-It, Drop-it and Loose Leash Walking. This fun class will also allow for puppy play in a safe environment, discuss body language, appropriate play and redirection.
Prerequisites
Basic Obedience Class will be 1 hour once a week for 6 weeks and will go over Mental Stimulation, Dog Related Topics, and Obedience skills such as Sit, Down, Watch-Me, Sit-Stay, Down- Stay, Loose Leash Walking, Come, Leave-it, and so much more.
Prerequisites
You’ll build on the already solid foundation of basic obedience by incorporating distractions and longer distances. In Intermediate, you’ll begin to Fade the Lure with basic commands and refine responsiveness with your hand signals and voice commands.
The training will focus on advanced behaviors such as Place, Sit-Stay and Down-Stay with distractions, Recall, Wait, Hand Targeting, and behaviors needed to get you and your pup ready for the AKC Canine Good Citizen course. These are great impulse control behaviors and will challenge your pup in a distraction-driven environment.
Prerequisites
AKC’s Canine Good Citizen is a program that promotes responsible dog ownership and basic good manners for any dog. This 6 week class will be 1 hour once a week and will go over the 10 CGC test items including:
At the end of the class, each human/dog team will have the opportunity to test for the CGC certificate.
Prerequisites
For additional information, feel free to visit http://www.akc.org.
AKC Urban and AKC Community
AKC on the Road is a class focused on the advanced levels of the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Program. AKC Community CGC and AKC Urban CGC require that the dog demonstrates CGC skills and beyond the classroom and in a natural setting.
As with Canine Good Citizen, AKC Community and AKC Urban CGC have a 10-step test of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC title. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC.
Location: To Be Determined
Prerequisites
For additional information, feel free to visit http://www.akc.org.
Arfordable Dog Training is now offering a Therapy Dog Training Track for those clients interested therapy dog training such as Therapy Animals of San Antonio and other partnering organizations. Therapy dogs are often summoned to assist with those that have gone through a tragedy to allow them to deal with their emotions and relieve their stress or simply to bring joy to the community. We are often looking at sociability, temperament, and learned skills to ensure your dog is the right fit for the job. Let us help get you started on the right track with this new program.
This 4-hour class is designed to give real world exposure to hospital settings, equipment, training tips and tricks, and various other topics. This class is open to current therapy dogs and those interested in therapy dog training.
Prerequisites
Reactive Rovers classes are designed for dogs that need help feeling comfortable on a leash around dogs and new environments. With an introductory seminar and two course levels, you and your dog will learn new skills and gain confidence around other dogs.
This 6 week class is designed for dogs that bark, snarl, lunge, or growl at other dogs while on leash. You will learn important defensive walking skills to prevent your dog’s reaction, how to anticipate when your dog will react, and how to interrupt and calm a reaction. This class focuses on how to manage your dog’s current reactivity. Once you’ve completed Reactive Rovers I, you will have the tools necessary to begin behavior modification in Reactive Rovers II.
Prerequisites
This 6 week class is designed to build on the skills you learned in Reactive Rovers I. We will use counter-conditioning to teach your dog positive associations with other dogs and to pay attention to you in choreographed real-life scenarios. This class focuses on how to change your dog’s emotional response to other dogs and decrease reactivity.
Prerequisites
What’s the best part of summer? Patio season! Schertz/Cibolo has many bars and restaurants that allow dogs. This class will help teach your dog how to relax next to you while you enjoy a bite to eat or drink. We’ll also work on walking nicely on a leash and ignoring high value distractions like other people, dogs, and even food!
Prerequisites
We’re so excited to announce Arfin’ Outdoor Adventures Class has turned into Arfin’ Outdoor Adventures FIT DOG CLUB! We will be offering AKC FIT DOG titles in-person and virtually.
What is the AKC FIT DOG program?
The American Kennel Club is committed to improving and maintaining the fitness and health of all dogs and their owners.
AKC FIT DOG titles were designed to provide a structured, individualized fitness plan that you and your dog can do together.
There are 3 levels of AKC fitness titles—Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each title requires a specific number of activity points to be completed, which varies based on title level.
How do I participate?
There are many ways to get your fitness titles. Arfordable Dog Training will be offering runs, walk and hikes and other fitness related activities.
Prerequisites
Upcoming Arfin’ Outdoor Adventures In-Person Events for 2025
These are drop-in pack walks and socialization opportunities and cost only $35 to participate.
Can’t make the events? We have an On Demand option. We will have themed monthly virtual walks through our Arfordable’s Alumni and VIPs Facebook Group. You can record a video on your own schedule and submit to your trainer!
L.E.A.P. Academy/Day Training
“Learning, Enrichment, Activity, Playcare – Jump Right In!”
At Arfordable Dog Training, we understand that life is busy and training dogs is hard. Let us take the leash and lead the way to better communication and a better relationship between you and your dog.
Interested in Board and Training, but worried that you’ll miss your pup too much?
How about Day Training? We follow the same schedule as the Board and Train dogs, but your pup goes home tired and happy at the end of each day!
With Day Training, your dog will train 2 days a week ($300) or 4 days a week ($600) and you’ll pick them up at the end of the day. You will choose Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday or all 4 if you think your dog needs extra help. (Minimum of 4 weeks are required to give your dog a chance to pick up the skills. You’ll have written homework, and a group class at the end of the week with the other day training dogs in your dog’s class.
You’ll drop your dog off at our Arfin’ Academy between 7 am and 8:30 am on your designated days. Upon arrival your pup will have his own cozy space to hang out and eat a snack while all of the day training friends are checking in. From 8:30 am to 10 am, we take everyone potty, then those who enjoy off leash play with dogs will be divided into trainer supervised play groups to romp and have some fun. If your dog requires solo play, he will get to hang out and play with one of our trainers! After everyone has burned off some energy, your pup will spend an hour one on one with a trainer working on obedience, socialization, and any requested skills, before getting to settle into their kennel with a snuffle mat of Lunch or a stuffed KONG. At Noon, we get another potty break, then it’s time to play some more! Another hour of play and fun, then it’s time to train again! To ensure an easier transition when we’re transferring cues, a 2nd trainer will work your dog in the afternoon, building reliability and consistency. After the individual sessions are complete, it’s time for another potty break then group training! Group sessions build consistency despite the distractions of the other dogs and humans on site. Then it’s another rest time (and at this point, it’s almost always a nap because they’re exhausted!) then they’re ready for pick up between 4 pm and 5:45 pm. On Friday, you’ll come back to the academy with your dog for a group training class so you can spend time with the trainers who are working with your dog daily, ask any questions, and allow them to walk you through the actually skills we have taught you dog, so you can see how it all works, and we can ensure that you dog will listen to YOU when you give the cues.
This program is perfect for the busy pet owner that understands that their dog needs more entertainment in their life.
Have a new puppy and thinking about the rest of their life? This is for you too!
– Free PetTech CPR/First Aid (annually)* – ($125 value)
– 1 Hour of In-Home Training per month** – ($100 value)
– 4 Days of Playcare per month* – ($140 value)
– 2 Days of day training per month – ($275 value)
– Open invitation to the Day Training Group Class – ($175 value)
– Text and video feedback support
*Free PetTech CPR/First Aid is available after the first year of membership and annually based on membership.
**Membership services including sessions must be used by the end of the current month and is based on availability. Services do not roll over to the next month.
*Lessons cannot be combined with any other level. Only 1 hour for Premier and Best in Show.
**Free PetTech CPR/First Aid is available after the first year of membership and annually based on membership.
Membership services including sessions must be used by the end of the current month and is based on availability. Services do not roll over to the next month.
This hands on class is designed for pet parents and professionals and will be held at our facility in Converse.
The pricing is $125.00 for the 4 hour class and goodies!
Not able to make it to these classes but interested in hosting a Pet CPR/First Aid class? For more details, visit our Pet Tech Inc. Instructor page
Sign up today! Classes are filling up fast!
Does your dog get bored during the day? Is he super energetic when you get done with work? Playcare at the Arfin’ Academy will provide socialization and playtime while instilling polite manners and helping your dog be the best that they can be. Your dog will get structured, small group playtime with dogs with similar play styles, supervised and run by certified dog trainers and behaviorists! When not in play, your dog will be rotated outside to potty, receive enrichment activities (KONGs, Snuffle Mats, and puzzle toys) a rest break when they’re tired, as well as structured group training activities in the afternoon!
Transparency is so important in dog training. This applies to training methods, policies, and most importantly pricing.
10% for Active Duty, Veterans, First Responders, and Current/Recent Rescues*
Pricing: $300 – 2 Days per week*
Pricing: $600 – 4 Days per week**
*4 Week Minimum
**2 Week Minimum
Pricing: $35.00 – Full Day
$20.00 – Half Day
Buy 10 full day passes, get 1 Free!
On Location
Pricing: $450+ $150.00 for each additional puppy
Pricing: $175.00
Basic Obedience, Intermediate Obedience, and/or AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Training
Pricing: $100.00 per session
Pricing: $175.00 per 90 minute session
Pricing: $100.00 per session
On Location
Pricing: $450.00 + $150.00 for each additional dog
On Location
Pricing: $75.00 per hour
On Location
Pricing: $100.00 per hour
Pricing: $40.00 for 30 minutes or $60.00 for 60 minutes
There is a $25.00 surcharge for any session:
– Outside of Loop 337*
– North of US-281 and Evans Rd**
– West of W Loop 1604 and US-281**
– South of 37 and Cesar Chavez Blvd **
– East of IH 10 and E Loop 1604**
– South of IH 10 and N Highway 123 Bypass***
– East of N Highway 123 Bypass***
– Within FM725***
New Braunfels*
San Antonio**
Seguin***
A 2 hour minimum may be applied with a travel fee of $50 may be applied during peak times and location outside of current travel area.
$2,800.00 – 2 Week Dog Board and Train
$3,200.00 – 2 Week Puppy Board and Train
$3,500.00 – 3 Week CGC Prep Board and Train
(CGC Oriented or Proofing Behaviors – Outings Included)
$4,000.00 – 4 Week Advanced Obedience Board and Train
(Suitable for Therapy Dogs and Service Dogs)
$4,800.00 – 3 Week Behavioral Modification Board and Train***
Affirm is available for these exceptional training packages offering you a flexible and convenient payment option.
***Board and Train for behavioral cases to included but not limited to extreme fearfulness, aggression, dog reactivity, and human reactivity.
Consultation and Questionnaire is Required for Each Dog.
$4,000.00
When setting your puppy up for behavioral wellness, obedience is not always the first thing a pet parent should focus on. Obedience does set up the puppy for success but socialization is vital to ensure a resilient and confident adult that can adapt to the human world. Let us help get your newest family on the right track.
6 Week Puppy 101 One-on-One Sessions or Class
Puppy 101 will go over Crate Training, Potty Training, Socialization, Mental Stimulation, and Basic Obedience including Sit, Down, Watch-Me, Leave-It, Drop-it and Loose Leash Walking.
Through the power of positive reinforcement, private sessions are available for behavioral modification for pups showing aggressive or fearful behavior, separation anxiety, or need socialization.
For more information, view our Contact page to reach out to our trainer today.
Training Philosophy:
Arfordable Dog Training’s philosophy is to focus on positive reinforcement to train both your dog and you. Utilizing positive training methods, it will allow your relationship to flourish and ensure well-behaved dogs will always be a part of the family. Through affordable dog training, behavioral modification and education, families can keep their pets in the home and hopefully, impact the overpopulation of dogs in San Antonio and surrounding suburbs.
Due to this Training Philosophy, it only makes sense to focus on shelters and rescues in the area. Arfordable Dog Training offers 10% off current or recent* rescues.
Arfordable Dog Training offers other services that benefit the local shelters and rescues. For more information, view our Contact page to reach out to our trainer today.
Arfordable Dog Training offers a free 6 Week Basic Obedience slot available for an eligible resident of the following zip codes: 78218, 78219, 78244, 78109, and 78233. For more information, please see our Social Impact page.
A service dog is a highly skilled working dog that is to be used by the client to mitigate their owner’s disabilities by offering assistance in some way.
Training Philosophy
Arfordable Dog Training’s philosophy is to focus on positive reinforcement to train both your dog and you. Utilizing positive training methods, it will allow your relationship to flourish and ensure well-behaved dogs will always be a part of the family. Through affordable dog training, behavioral modification and education, families can keep their pets in the home and hopefully, impact the overpopulation of dogs in San Antonio and surrounding suburbs.
Mission Statement
Arfordable Dog Training provides transparent and affordable dog training for families in Central Texas. We believe every family deserves access to positive reinforcement no matter their circumstances.
With keeping in line with our Training Philosophy and Mission Statement, it only makes sense that we work with families to train their own evaluated pets to become a service animal for a fraction of the price of most trainers. With the growing need and well-documented benefits of service animals, we would love the opportunity to work with your current pet or assist with saving lives through assessing rescue or shelter animals for potential service work.
People often confuse a service dog with a therapy dog or emotional support animal. According to Federal Law, a service animal is not a pet but a tool used to mitigate their owner’s disabilities by offering assistance in some way. A therapy dog is trained to provide comfort and affection to people in places like hospitals, libraries, schools, etc. They do not have rights under the law. Therapy dogs are often summoned to assist with those that have gone through a tragedy to allow them to deal with their emotions and relieve their stress. Emotional support dogs provide their owners therapeutic benefits through companionship. There are other species that can be considered emotional support animals. There are 2 legal protections for emotional support dogs (1) they can fly with a person who has an emotional or psychological disability and (2) they qualify for no-pet housing.
Temperament, training, socialization, and desensitization are essential in a successful service dog. Arfordable Dog Training cannot make any guarantee regarding the outcome of any training/counseling program. The owner assumes full responsibility for the dog’s behavior during and after the training/counseling program. It is vital to work with the dog between training sessions. The expectation is daily training on the homework provided by the trainer to ensure consistency.
According to the American Disabilities Act, a “service animal is a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.” In recent years, there have been some controversy regarding individuals falsely claiming a pet as a service animal to allow them into restaurants, hotels, etc. Not only is presenting a pet dog as a service dog is unethical, it is a federal crime. When a dog in a service dog vest misbehaves in public and is not properly trained, the public’s perception of a real service dog may change. Due to the increased number of service dog fraud, those genuine individuals that have highly trained service dogs, are prevented from going into certain establishments and questioned as to the purpose of the animal. The American Disabilities Act states, “When it is not obvious what service an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed. Staff may ask two questions: (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Staff cannot ask about the person’s disability, require medical documentation, require a special identification card or training documentation for the dog, or ask that the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task.”
Service dogs are allowed access to any public place and any airline as long as they behave in accordance with their Service Dog Policy including no excessive barking, housetrained, and no aggressive behavior. Please note, there are some places that are legally allowed to deny entrance to a service dog including places of worship and sterile environments such as operating rooms. During training, the service dog may where a “Service Dog In Training” Patch. According to Texas Law, “An assistance animal in training shall not be denied admittance to any public facility when accompanied by an approved trainer who is an agent of an organization generally recognized by agencies.”
Basic Obedience Training Assistance Program
Arfordable Dog Training offers a free 6 Week Basic Obedience slot that will be available for an eligible resident of the following zip codes: 78218, 78219, 78244, 78109, and 78233. To initially apply for this free training assistance, applicants must submit the following information by the 15th of the month prior to training for consideration:
Upon acceptance of the training assistance program, the following must be provided by the 20th of the month prior to training to schedule the free sessions:
If the required documents are not returned by the 20th, the spot will go to the next considered applicant.
Arfordable Dog Training is now offering a Therapy Dog Training Track for those clients interested therapy dog training such as Therapy Animals of San Antonio and introductory service dog training. Therapy dogs are often summoned to assist with those that have gone through a tragedy to allow them to deal with their emotions and relieve their stress or simply to bring joy to the community. We are often looking at sociability, temperament, and learned skills to ensure your dog is the right fit for the job. Let us help get you started on the right track with this new program.
AKC Canine Good Citizen
AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program started to promote responsible dog ownership to acknowledge and encourage good manners for dogs in the home and the community. Over the years, it has grown to be a nationally recognized program that focuses on positive reinforcement and has become the basis for many therapy organizations.
At the end of the class, each human/dog team will have the opportunity to test for the CGC certificate.
Therapy Dog Class
Our Therapy Dog Program is designed to help both you and your dog navigate the therapy dog world. We will work on the necessary skills for a dog to be successful in a therapy situation.
We will prepare you to pass the Pet Partners Therapy Dog Certification, explain the certification process while clarifying expectations, and growing your dog’s obedience and husbandry cues.
This course consists of 3 2-hour long group sessions. The first hour of each session will focus on the dog, the 2nd hour will focus on the handler’s expectations and teach you how to advocate for your dog while the dog learns to be calm around distractions and “just be”.
Skills Taught:
Chin Rest
Reaction to Medical Equipment
Head to Toe Handling
Acclimating to Exuberant and Clumsy Petting
Directed Greetings
Ignoring fellow Therapy Dogs despite distractions
Combating Excitable Greetings
Improved Distraction Stays
Pricing
AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Class
$175.00
Please visit our Client Portal to sign up today!
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