Training

The Human –
Canine Bond
Humans and canines have been drawn to each other since the beginning of recorded time and it is no wonder. Our dogs provide us with an unwavering loyalty and companionship that even our human kinfolk cannot muster. As our lives have become increasingly sophisticated and complex, we seem to have a desire to bring our dogs into that complexity with us. For most, gone are the days when a dog could lie lazily on the porch all day, awaiting his masters return.
While our dogs are not human, they truly are beloved members of our families. It is natural that we would want to bring them along with us into our evolving lifestyles. We want to bring them to soccer games and farmers markets, on our daily walks and our family vacations. We have even created new sports where a dog and his person can compete together as teammates. All of this requires a far more advanced level of training. It requires a higher level of civility from our dogs. Even if they just stay home, our homes have become more complex and more dangerous for our dogs with our ever-increasing number of electronic gadgets and synthetic products. Keeping our dogs in our homes now requires teaching them a more elaborate set of rules.
Fortunately, scientists have made new discoveries into the canine intellect that have enabled us to communicate with our dogs at a far more advanced level. This is not only helpful, but also exciting! It has empowered us to understand these loyal companions like never before and bring our friendship with them to a whole new level.
To have a dog as your companion can be one of the most satisfying relationships on earth. They are our closest friends, our roommates, our partners at work and play, our confidants. They give us their best. Let us give them ours.

Hello! I’m Diane DeDominicis and I have been training dogs since I was in high school. My experience has grown through my work as a groomer and breeder in my early adult life, and eventually through our family’s work in rescue. We have had well over 150 rescue dogs through our home and it is from this experience, with so many different breeds and personalities, that I have gained my best experiences as a trainer. I continue to educate myself in the latest science and best practices in the field through a variety of training courses from some of the top trainers in the country.

We specialize in positive reinforcement training with the goal of helping your dogs grow into the best companions they can be.

We offer both group training classes and private training sessions. Each program runs for 5 weeks. We offer a basic class in communication and manners designed for your new dog or puppy, covering such behaviors as sit, down, stay, recall, walking politely on leash and a few more. We also address some common behavior issues such as play biting and jumping up. In addition to our basic class, we offer a more advanced class designed to help you prepare for the AKC Canine Good Citizen Award.

We do not currently have classes scheduled for the winter of 2025-26. Private training sessions will continue to be offered. For more information, you can contact me directly at pondsideretrievers@gmail.com or check our facebook page for upcoming classes.

Group Classes: $100 for the 5 week program