The Mighty Mutts Fun Fitness w/K-9s program teaches adults and children to care for and understand the health and exercise necessities of dogs through fun fitness games and exercises with the family dog, building lifetime habits in fitness and animal compassion.

Responsibility:  Responsibility is an essential lifelong characteristic.  Building a foundation of responsibility makes it easier to organize, plan and ultimately to succeed.  We build responsibility through animal care and handler-dog teamwork and exercise.

Compassion for Animals:  Animals, particularly dogs want nothing more than to please their owner and pack leader.  Once we understand their motivations and can communicate with our dogs, we can build a relationship and compassion that will last a lifetime.

Health:  Healthy habits don’t just happen.  We have to work for them and what better way to build healthy habits than with exercise and fun fitness with a dog.  This truly is a win – win.

Safety is the number one priority!  Our class leaders are professionally trained handlers.  Class size is limited and any dogs that participate in the class are assessed and approved by our professional dog trainers.  Just like you and I, dogs can get tired, confused and frustrated.  Our handlers are trained to recognize these characteristics in dogs and our classes are designed to keep both dogs and handlers focused and safe.

Yes, in order to ensure the safety of the class all dogs will be evaluated by our professional dog trainers.  Some dog and handler teams may need a few classes with our trainers to get them to the point they can safely and actively participate in the classes.  Dog and handler teams who have completed our Advanced Training program are welcome and encouraged to transition to our experienced fitness based programs.

It is normal for new teams to attend 1-2 training sessions prior to working into the group classes.

Classes begin with a warmup period.  It is important to start exercise in both dogs and people with light stretching and mobility movements.  Once the class is warmed up we will start our training and exercise period.  Through fun and focused exercise, dogs learn to follow basic commands and handlers learn to safely and confidently work with their dog and keep them safe, all while exercising.  After our fitness period we cool-down and have a discussion about dog care inside and outside of the home.  For example, we will learn how to recognize when their dogs are asking for help and what to do if they get nervous.

That’s ok.  You can be teamed up with a handler that does have a dog.  Dogs have a lot of love and energy to share.  They certainly won’t mind having two friends to play with!  Also, in some special cases, a trained dog can be available for those who don’t have a dog.

There are a lot of reasons that dogs misbehave.  Mutt Masters, a Mighty Mutts collaborator, specializes in dog behavior, and they specialize in “problem” dogs.  If your dog needs professional training to be safe around others, Mutt Masters can help.  On many occasions, Mutt Masters has succeeded where other training systems and professionals have failed.

No.  Those are specialized skill sets that focus almost exclusively on the dog.  However, by virtue of needing to control a room full of dogs and handlers, while getting everyone through a structured exercise period, we will develop good handling and canine listening skills.  These aren’t classroom specific characteristics and they will carry forward long after the class is complete.

Yes.  The right equipment is what helps us maintain a safe and efficient class.  Students are required to have athletic wear, a trainer approved dog collar and a trainer approved leash.  A supply of those materials is available for purchase.

Skillsets that are developed during this Program are not classroom specific.  Instead they are communication specific.  The results of good communication between people and dogs are evident and observable.  Children picking up after the dogs without being asked to, dogs understanding their feeding schedule and behaving appropriately at meal time, dogs being able to sit comfortably when on a leash and children being able to safely walk their dogs during a family walk are all indications that communication and handling skills are improving.

                Improved communication and handling skills will be taught and observed during class.  As your handling skills improve, you will be asked to demonstrate their proficiency during class.  Children will be awarded levels of Young Adult Canine Handler certification.  Every child will work toward certification as a Mutt Master’s Young Adult Canine Handler.

From the start handlers are responsible for the well-being of their dog in class.  This means that they are expected to pack and bring water for their dogs, a water bowl, a leash, grooming tool, waste bags, and dog treats to every class.  Understanding these essential dog needs builds compassion, understanding and responsibility.

Dog obedience is important and it is based on communication and compassion.  Without those characteristics dog obedience will fail.  This Program builds a foundation of communication and compassion that will be the basis of lifetime dog obedience and good behavior.  It is taught through fun fitness activities and will create responsibility and compassion that will carry well outside the confines of the Canine Handling and Fitness classroom.

The cornerstones of Expert Canine Handlers are Experience, Patience, Practice.  This takes time and effort.  Once a handler reaches this level there are no limits on where they can go in the world of animals.  Mutt Masters offers certifications up to Professional Dog Trainer and can take your training from passion to profession.