Facility Rules

Facility Rules & General Class Information:

"Please follow these rules while on the training site, so it can be a safe, fun, and enjoyable experience for everyone! Thank You."

Parking: Parking is available in front of and behind the training facility. Also after business hours and on weekends some parking is available located at the building adjacent/to the left of the training facility (as long as they have a minimum of 5 parking spaces remaining for their clients). There is NO PARKING along the side of the building. I cannot emphasize this enough. It is a wide driveway for trucks that come in and out, even late at night.

The Right Steps Training Facility has a gate at it’s entrance that functions as a double lock. If anyone is in the space between the front door and the gate, please wait to open the front door. When entering the facility, be sure the front door is completely closed before opening the gate and be sure to close the gate behind you. This helps to ensure the safety of the puppies during the class. One family and their puppy coming and going at a time. Safety is a must!

For safety of both puppies and people during puppy play time do not open exercise pens or climb over the exercise pens. If you need to exit the play area or need a mop/etc. please get the Trainer's attention for assistance. If you see a puppy pee or poop during the play session please let other puppy owners in your area know, so you may all leash your puppies until it can be cleaned up properly.

Potty areas are limited to the indoor facility potty and the fire hydrant near the street. The bushes and planters in the parking lots, as well as the surrounding residential areas, are off limits. Always clean up after your puppy. Carry plastic bags for quick and easy cleanup. While the rubber floor will not absorb urine, if your puppy urinates on an area where it interlocks, it needs to be taken apart and cleaned after class. Circling the area with chalk will help me locate the area later. Chalk can be found on the window sill and on both white shelves.

The red fire hydrant trash can in the Puppy Potty Area is for all puppy waste and other type of personal trash. The trash can in the restroom is only for paper towels, toilet paper, and feminine hygiene trash. Please only put toilet paper in the toilet as plumbing bill are VERY expensive/costly and there are no reasons for anything to go down the toilet other than toilet paper! If you find the restroom is out of toilet paper, paper towels, or soap please let us know right away~"Thank You".

You will want to bring your puppy to class on a flat collar with a 6 ft. leash. Use of a quality leather leash is promoted (6 feet in length and no more than 3/4 inch in width) for the owners comfort (easy to grip and keep a hold of, as well as gentler on your hands). Please do not use a Flexi-leash, choke or pinch collar. Owners whose puppies are hard to control are asked to consider using a Sense-ible Harness or a headcollar. Sense-ible harnesses sold at the facility include a personalized fitting. Gentle Leader Headcollars are available along with a private session to acclimate the dog and teach the owner how to use it. No Flexi-leashes, please.

Bring to class a variety (4-5 types) of small/tiny treats already prepared/sized for your puppy and a toy (greenie, stuffed Kong, rawhide, etc. but no squeaky toy please) to distract them if they begin to bark during the Trainer's demonstration. The facility provides each puppy with one canvas treat bag to tie around your waist so it is easy for students to use their treats in class. The student with the treat bag and leash should be working the puppy, when switch to new handler in your family hand them the bag and leash with the puppy. The Person with the leash works the puppy (unless in the case of an adult/child, then adult may need to hold the leash while the child works with the puppy).

There is always water for the puppies in the facility, please let your puppy drink when thirsty. Water bowl area is only closed off during the play time to keep the puppies from making a water mess. However, water will be offered during the play time. If your puppy needs water during play time before it is offered please get the Trainer's attention to bring your puppy water. For class time there are treats on the wall in small dispenser bins, if your puppy is not working for your treats you may try one of ours.

*Vaccine Requirements: Please make us aware of any concerns of your Veterinarian. We promote good relations between puppy owners and their Veterinarian and staff as this is very important! Copies must be provided for all vaccines that the Facility may keep for their files. Copies must be received before puppy comes to class or puppy will be unable to enter the facility.

*Junior Puppy Class are ages 10 weeks of age to 16 weeks of age, these puppies must be current on their puppy vaccines based on their personal age and their Veterinarian's vaccine guidelines. We understand these puppies are too young to have all their vaccines, however they must be current on their puppy cycle of vaccines based on their ages. The facility is vacuumed & mopped prior to these puppies arriving for their class.

*Senior Puppy Class are ages 16 weeks of age to 32 weeks of age, these puppies must be current on all vaccines (including Rabies for puppies 5 months of age or older). Bordetella is "highly" recommended every 6 months, to avoid the contact and/or spread of the Kennel Cough Virus.

If your puppy is ill, please leave it at home. You are welcome to come and participate yourself, so you will know what to work on the following week. If you miss a class, homework will be sent to you so you can keep up with the class. If your puppy is to ill to continue multiple classes we will await a clean bill of health from your Veterinarian before transferring the healthy puppy to a new class.

Spay and Neuter: Although we recommend spaying and neutering your puppy, please refer to your Veterinarian on the best time to spay or neuter your pet. Please understand the general rule from Veterinarians for puppies with no complications is no running/playing type activity is 14 days. Veterinarians generally allow puppies to attend class after a minimum of one week after a spay or neuter, and attend the play sessions after 14 days. For the safety of the puppies please strictly follow your Veterinarians directions. Puppies in heat are unable to attend classes. It is your responsibility to schedule you puppy's spay or neuter best so that it does not impact your scheduled class. For their safety puppies spayed/neutered under the advised time by your Veterinarian will not be allowed to attend class or play time. Owners may come to class without their puppies and watch the session and pick up their current homework for the time they will miss.

Please note we do offer a one time 45 minute Make Up session as a Private Lesson for $50.00 by appointment at the Training Facility.

While one of the goals of this class is to socialize puppies, it is important to realize that each puppy will have to find it’s own ‘comfort zone’. We all need to be aware of how our puppy is responding to a particular situation, or how other puppies are responding to ours. In this class and elsewhere as you travel about, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS be willing to remove your puppy from situations you are uncomfortable with. It’s all about POSITIVE experiences! Please pay attention to your puppy and be supportive if your puppy is fearful or unsure both during class time as well as play time.

We have bandanas at the training facility your puppy may wear if you wish, for puppies that may be nervous or concerned, when other puppies are too close to their personal space during class time. We have white, blue, and red bandanas. Please ask to borrow one, then return to the Trainer at the end of each session.

Please be aware that some puppies are not comfortable with other puppies blasting into their space. If you have an eager greeter, be conscious of other puppies response. If you have a puppy with space issues, caution the owners of other puppies when they are getting too close to your puppy, please advise the Trainer if you need assistance with this.

If you are feeling frustrated because your puppy is either to hyper or too shy to be able to work and focus on you please bring it to our attention right away. There are things we can do to help you both out while we teach you to get and maintain your puppy's focus or build it's confidence. We can pull a exercise pen out across the facility and put a sheet over it to help you both relax and focus. As you are able to start to work together as a team, the barrier goes away.

Please bring any concerns to our attention sooner than later. In order for us to address any issues, we need to be made aware of your concerns or questions. We work hard to promote good relations between clients and The Right Steps.

Puppies who are found to be either dog or people aggressive in class will be pulled from that class and future classes. These puppies will be referred out to special training options as Private Lessons.

To prevent your puppy from being a slug and sleeping through class, it may help to feed him no closer than 6 hours prior to class, and to give him ample ‘down time’ a few hours before class starts (please contact us for any health concerns). For high energy puppies allow them time to have ample exercise and play time during the day prior to class. Also give him a chance to relieve himself at home. Most puppies are excited in a new environment and find it difficult to get down to business.

Please wear shoes with soles that provide good, stable traction.

In the event that you experience ‘technical difficulties’ with your puppy, please don’t wait until class to discuss them with me. Many problems have simple solutions. The whole purpose of these classes is to offer support to the puppy owner: Please call or e-mail. Remember, we want to know so we can assist you to succeed!

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Please respect The Right Steps Trainer and it’s students:

Turn cell phones OFF during class and play as it is disruptive to the other students and trainer.

When attending your class or play time, be courteous and be on time as late entries are very disruptive to the Instructor, puppies, and their families.

Other than taking a puppy outside to go potty when needed, please do not go in and out/in and out the door during class or play as door activity is very disruptive!

Children must remain with parents at all times. Well-behaved children are welcome and encouraged to attend and be part of the training session with their family and puppy. However, children who are disruptive to the class, the other students, and/or the Trainer, parents and child will be asked to leave for that class session and the child or children stated will not be invited back to future sessions. It is advisable for some children there be one parent attending for the puppy and one for the child as there is no running, yelling, or otherwise disruptive behavior allowed in the training facility both for their safety as well as the other students safety puppy and human alike.

Rough handling of dogs will not be tolerated whether by adult, teenager, or child (this includes but is not limited to: slapping or hitting your puppy, alpha roll overs, and rough scruff holds/shakes)! As this is a positive puppy training class, there is a "zero" tolerance policy to any and all rough handling of puppies in class. Owners will receive a polite, but immediate reminder to please handle their puppy with more positive methods and respect in class and play. If rough handling occurs a second time, the owners and puppies will be ask to immediately leave the training facility and will not be allowed to continue any remaining classes. Homework will be e-mailed to the puppy owner for any remaining classes; however "NO" refunds will be given. This policy is not negotiable.

Our goal is to create and promote a fun, positive, and quality learning experience both for puppies and owners in the class. Please understand, rough handling is not only uncomfortable for the puppy being handled, but for the other Students and Trainer as well. If you are feeling frustrated with your puppy, please address the issue with the Trainer before frustration mounts; other training options will be offered and discussed (Private Lessons are available upon request, rates will be quoted at that time or can be found on The Right Steps website www.therightsteps.com under Private Lessons). We understand puppies, like small children and teenagers can be frustrating; we are here to assist you and your puppy in surviving the experience so you may enjoy a quality lifelong relationship.

The area in the back of the facility, behind the exercise pen that is attached to the wall is off limits for all students at all times (except the emergency door in an emergency). This area is for employees only. Please do not open gate or reach over the fence. This area is maintained for the trainer's dogs as a quiet, relaxed, safe area when they are in attendance. Please do not sit personal items on the totes behind the fence as they might fall off or behind and be missed. There is a back door that may be used by any student in the facility, in the event of an emergency, as an "Emergency Exit "~again this door is used for emergency exits only. "Thank You."

Repeated violations of any of the above Facility Rules may result in removal from the training site, at the discretion of The Right Steps Trainer. In such cases, no refunds will be given.

There are no refunds for classes and classes are not transferable. As our classes are kept small to allow for personalized attention, students are purchasing a specific class space, date, and time whether puppy &/or owner is or is not present. $105.00 payment, complete application packet, and all vaccine records must be received no later than 48 hours prior to your first class date and starting time to reserve your space!

As of mid-February 2008 our fees did temporarily decrease. Previously Group Puppy Classes were $105.00 and are now $95.00, we are calling it our "Recession Rollback Special". Specials and Discount offers have been adjusted accordingly based on our new prices. Please note our prices, for what we offer at The Right Steps, are very competitive for the Sacramento Area. "Quality customer service is very important to us".

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Please note we encourage and welcome potential Clients to call and speak with the Trainer prior to signing up for a class, come and visit a class in session, &/or sign up for one of our "Free Seminars" on Positive Solutions to Problem Puppy Behavior. "We look forward to meeting you!"

"For questions please contact:

Cindy C. Smith at The Right Steps at (916) 966-6883".