What Dogs Want Academy is more than just a place for dogs to spend their day—it’s a space designed to nurture curiosity, confidence, and connection. We keep our groups small, with no more than eight dogs per staff member, so every pup gets the attention they deserve. Each activity is thoughtfully designed to build skills like problem-solving, focus, body awareness, and resilience, while also giving dogs the chance to explore and express themselves. Play and downtime are just as important as learning, so we balance structured activities with supervised free time, regular breaks, and plenty of respect for each dog’s individual needs and boundaries.

At What Dogs Want Academy, we don’t see ourselves as traditional “trainers.” Instead, we practice Family Dog Mediation—a holistic approach that looks at the whole dog. By considering their Learning, Environment, Genetics, and Self (their “LEGS”), we work to understand the bigger picture of who your dog truly is. Our goal is simple: to meet your dog’s individual needs and help foster a relationship built on understanding, balance, and success for both of you.

We believe every dog deserves a rich and fulfilling life. Our approach isn’t breed-specific—it’s about creating a customized enrichment plan that meets the unique needs of each individual dog. To ensure a safe and positive experience in our group setting, all students must be well-socialized with both people and other dogs before enrolling. For pups who may not thrive in a group environment, we also offer private behavior and enrichment consultations, giving them the same thoughtful, personalized support in a one-on-one setting.

While some of our students enjoy both daycare and What Dogs Want Academy, we know that this setup isn’t the right fit for every dog. Because our program emphasizes enrichment and structured activities, the shift between our focused environment and the more open, play-centered pace of daycare can feel like a tough transition for many pups. If your dog is currently attending daycare, we’ll stay in close communication with you and let you know if we feel it’s impacting their ability to truly thrive at our facility.

We welcome puppies to the Academy once they’re fully vaccinated, keeping both them and their classmates safe. To continue their education with us, males must be neutered by seven months of age, and females spayed before their first heat cycle. Puppies are welcome to begin before these milestones, but if their development starts to impact others in our care, we may recommend a temporary pause until they’re ready to return. Enrichment is essential at every age, and we’re here to make sure it’s both safe and beneficial for all of our students.

While we encourage and provide opportunities for positive interactions between dogs, we do ask that students are already well-socialized with both dogs and people before joining the Academy. Our program is designed for learning in a group setting, and with our intentionally small class sizes, it’s important that new dogs are able to respect and work alongside their fellow students. This helps us maintain a safe, supportive, and productive environment for every dog in our care.

Before enrolling in the Academy, we invite you and your dog to schedule a meet-and-greet and tour during our regular operating hours. Once your dog becomes an active student, however, we kindly ask that visits during school hours be avoided. Even brief drop-ins can disrupt the learning process—not only for your dog, but for the rest of the group. Some of our students may also feel uneasy around unfamiliar people, and our goal is always to maintain a calm, comfortable environment where every dog can thrive.

When you come in for a meet-and-greet, please plan to spend about 45 minutes to an hour with us. During this time, your dog will be introduced to a few of our current students in a supervised, on-leash setting so we can see how they interact. We’ll also give you a tour of our facility and yard space, and take time to answer any questions you may have about the Academy. Our goal is to make sure you feel confident and comfortable in entrusting us with your dog’s care—while also ensuring that our environment is the right fit for your pup.

During your meet-and-greet, we’ll get to know your dog’s personality and recommend the days that best match their needs and the group dynamics. From there, you can select the day that works for your schedule, pending availability. To support consistency and success, we ask students to attend on the same day(s) each week and commit to several classes each month. We don’t offer drop-in services, as sporadic attendance can disrupt established groups and make it harder for dogs to feel comfortable.

At the Academy, rest is just as important as play and learning. We encourage daily nap times, often letting the dogs decide when they need a break. When it’s clear that downtime is needed, we dim the lights and pause activities to give everyone a chance to recharge. We don’t use crates at the Academy; instead, if a student needs some alone time or is feeling overstimulated, we provide alternative spaces, such as another room or the yard, where they can relax and reset.

At the Academy, we welcome all kinds of personalities and don’t expect every dog to be best friends. To keep things comfortable, we have separate spaces so different learning groups can work at their own pace without distraction. If we notice that certain dogs aren’t a good match, we’ll adjust their schedule or grouping to make sure everyone feels safe, supported, and set up for success. If a change in schedule is ever needed for harmony or safety reasons, we’ll communicate openly and work with you to find the best solution for your dog.

The Academy isn’t the right fit for every dog—and that’s okay. If a student shows aggression toward other dogs or staff that compromises safety, we may need to remove them from the program. In some cases, if the challenges are only with other dogs, private behavior or enrichment consultations may be a better option. Similarly, some dogs simply find the group environment overwhelming or overstimulating, making it difficult for them to focus and enjoy themselves. For those dogs, a one-on-one setting can provide a more comfortable way to learn and thrive. And if a dog makes it clear they’re unhappy or not interested in group activities, we will always respect their needs and never force them to participate.