It's been a few years since we trained our pup (she's now almost 5), but we were really happy with our experience at the Academy of Canine Behavior. Our breeder recommended them, and we really feel like they taught us the tools we need to have as well-trained (or not) a dog as we wanted :). They also offer board-and-train if you're looking for that. Would be perfect if it weren't such a trek to get there!
The instructors were knowledgeable and did a great job of explaining a bit of theory behind the techniques as well. The puppy class also included some all-important socialization time that we really enjoyed. A 60 pound Saint Bernard puppy try to play with a 15 pound retriever pup is a sight to see!
They advocated correction training (everything from a simple spray bottle, to a shaker can, to a pinch collar, depending on the situation). In basic obedience, they also talked a lot about being creative and finding 'natural' consequences for undesirable behavior. We found the combination of correction and LOTS of praise and reinforcement to be very effective for training. Just an FYI in case you are looking for clicker training or positive-reinforcement-only training.
Carlin P.
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