Living life with “man’s best friend” can either bring you sheer joy or utter frustration. We all dream of owning a well-mannered dog who does what he is told, when he his told, and does so enthusiastically. For those of you who do not have a “Lassie or Eddie” in your household, there is hope for turning your dog into a better living companion.

Gila Kurtz, professional dog trainer and owner of Good Dog Academy, is working with Community Programs to provide dog manners obedience classes to military families at a reduced rate from what they would otherwise pay out in town. Her objective is to provide positive education for dogs and their people. She utilizes all positive techniques based on the latest research in learning theory and canine behavior. 

Two courses are being offered initially, Puppy Kindergarten and Basic Manners. The Puppy Kindergarten class is designed to start the puppy off on the “right paw” and lay a strong foundation for raising it into a well-mannered dog. All pertinent issues such as housebreaking, socialization, bite inhibition, handling, and an introduction to basic obedience will be covered. In addition, time will be made for off leash play, an important part for socialization.

During the Basic Manners class, she teaches basic obedience commands such as sit, down, stay, heel, and the recall command. She uses all positive motivational techniques. She determines what motivates the dog so that she can encourage them to become an active participant in the learning process, said Kurtz. 

“In addition to getting the dogs to improve their behavior, I also teach the owners about dog communication signals so they can be more effective as they apply the training techniques,” added Kurtz. 

The class also gives owners the chance to learn how to prevent or deal with problem behaviors such as barking, digging, jumping, and pulling on lead.  Manners such as polite greetings and settling when company comes, or when the family is eating dinner, are also incorporated into the course curriculum.

“Every dog is different, so when I am training them I need to determine each dog’s learning style and temperament to have a better idea of what will work for them and what won’t,” said Kurtz. “At the end of the course each dog will be able to follow the same commands, but how they were able to get to that point will be different because each dog has a different personality and may respond differently. Training a dog to be well mannered and obedient does not have to be stressful. With patience and consistency the dog will soon understand what you want him/her to do,” added Kurtz.

“Teaching an old dog new tricks can put a lot of pressure on family, but it can also be fun. I urge pet owners to use positive training techniques, not harmful ones like yelling, hitting, kicking or rubbing its nose into feces when they have an accident in the house,” said Kurtz. Dogs have a short time frame for association of actions with consequences.

Minutes after they do something, it’s forgotten. If the owner punishes them “after the fact” the puppy has no idea why they are being punished because they can’t make that association. Positive energy is better than negative any day,” added Kurtz.

Kurtz went on to say that pet owners tend to focus more on behaviors they don’t like rather than asking themselves what would I rather have my dog do? The idea is to reward the behaviors you do want and ignore those you don’t. It is about motivating the dog to learn, not intimidating him to respond.

As a trainer she helps many families find new and creative ways to work with their dogs. Her mission is to improve the quality of the relationship owners have with their dogs as they succeed in basic manners training.

“I love seeing the light bulbs go on with the owners and their pets as they accomplish their goals, and see how all of these techniques actually work.  I want families to have lifelong relationships with their dogs that are mutually enjoyable and based on respect, and that’s why I do what I do,” said Kurtz. “Each year millions of dogs are surrendered to animal shelters where they meet their fate with death.  Most of these behavior problems could have been solved through proper education and training.”

For more information about dog obedience classes, contact Gila Kurtz at (360) 908-3448 or