Our highly educated and experienced dog trainers use only humane, reward–based training methods providing the highest level of professional dog training in the Upstate.
Private lessons with personalized, one-on-one instruction for dogs over 6 months old.
Private LessonsSmall groups allowing for personal attention in a fun, supportive learning environment.
Group ClassesTail Lights is a tremendous blessing to me – I thank you and your team so much for taking such good care of my little one! And I thank you for the Facebook photos – I love those!— Ginger Childs
Does your dog pull on his leash? Jump on guests? Bark at other people or dogs? Chew everything in sight? We can help!
Potty accidents? Chews on everything, including your sleeves? Jumps up on you? We offer a full range of puppy services. Don’t see your puppy's problem here? Whatever it is, we can help.
This is our comprehensive training program designed for puppies in their critical socialization period of 8-14 weeks of age. This program is designed to help your puppy socialize and habituate safely to many different people, places, novel objects, sights, smells, and sounds. A well-socialized puppy has a great chance to grow into a behaviorally sound adult dog who is eager to explore and learn new things.
What does my puppy learn?
Our trainers begin building a foundation of the basic cues: sit, down, come, stay. We facilitate socialization with other dogs, house training, and greeting people appropriately. Your puppy receives 3 bathing experiences to help them become accustomed to being handled for veterinary and grooming care. Two overnight stays are also included so that your pup has a positive experience in a familiar place for their first time away from home.
Who’s it for?
Anyone who wants to maximize their puppy's learning during their impressionable first months of life.
What is included?
15 Day School Days, 3 bathing experiences, 3 private lessons, 2 overnight stays, up to 12 group classes, a relaxation mat, and a properly fitted harness.
How are puppies without full vaccination series kept safe?
While there is always a risk of puppies contracting communicable illnesses as they explore the world, we have a variety of measures in place to help mitigate the risk of this at our facility. Our facility's doors are locked during the day to maintain the health and safety of the dogs in our care. Dogs are not able to enter the facility until we have received vaccination records from their veterinarian. No drop-in tours are allowed. We sanitize our toys daily and our facility and potty yard nightly. We have an advanced ventilation system with an excellent air exchange rate. We immediately clean up waste. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior encourages pet parents to safely and smartly socialize their puppies prior to completion of their initial vaccination series.
What is the cost?
$1710.00. Additional boarding nights can be added at a discounted rate.
This training program is for canine tweens between 16 weeks old to 6 months old. It is designed to continue habituation and acclimation to new people, sights, sounds, places, novel objects, and places. Adolescence is typically the most difficult phase of life for you and your pup as they test out new behaviors and become more distracted by the world around them. Training throughout this stage will help you and your pup stay on track and come out as a team on the other side.
What does my puppy learn?
During Day School our trainers will build on a foundation of the basic cues: sit, down, come, stay. We also facilitate socialization with other dogs, house training, leash walking, and greeting people appropriately. Two field trips off-site with the trainer let your pup practice their skills in public.
Who’s it for?
Anyone who wants a professional to guide their dog through their early adolescence. You save time and effort when your dog is trained by a professional.
What is included?
12 Day School Days, 2 off-site field trips, and 3 private lessons.
What is the cost?
$1560.00. Additional boarding nights can be added at a discounted rate.
Why take a class at Tail Lights?
Start anytime!
For: Puppies 8 weeks - 16 weeks
Prerequisites: Two sets of vaccinations, or veterinarian's approval
When: Tuesdays, 6:30pm
Saturdays, 11:00am
Cost: $140 - 6 visits, must complete by 16 weeks of age
Puppy Essentials
House-training. Crate and alone training. Bite inhibition and handling. Chew training. Puppy push-ups. Voluntary Check-ins. Much, much more!
Good Manners
Recall foundation, relaxation, name recognition, handling and preparation for vet and grooming visits. Conditioning your puppy to accept and follow cues, foundation positions.
Socialization
Early, positive introductions to new people, other puppies, noises, scents, and surfaces so your puppy grows up with confidence!
Being a Super Puppy Parent
Puppy-proof your home. What to expect during your puppy’s developmental stages.
For: Dogs 4 months and older who have completed Raising Rover OR with instructor approval.
Prerequisites: Current Vaccinations
When: Wednesdays, 6:15pm November 5 - December 3, no class November 26
Cost: $120.00 (No Make Up Classes Offered)
The Basics
Attention, sit, down, hand targeting, recall, go to and relaxation on mat, foundations for polite walking, handler movement and body language, and more.
Learning = Fun
We use controlled set ups based on real life scenarios to help your pup begin to easily generalize the basics of ‘sit’, ‘down’, and ‘stay’ to different places, around different activities, and while different things are going on around them. Class will simulate common situations such as a trip to the park, dining at an outdoor cafe, or having a friend over to visit.
For: Open to any dog who has completed a class with us, or with instructor permission.
Prerequisites: Current Vaccination Certificate
When: Wednesdays, 7:15pm October 1 - October 29, no class October 22
Cost: $120.00; 4 week series
Does your dog think “come” means run away? Do walks feel more like an audition for a sled dog team or a battle of wills when your dog stops in the middle of the road? Learn how to get your dog coming to you and going with you in this 4 week class that uses games to make training fun.
For: Dogs and humans who like having fun while they practice skills.
Prerequisites: Current Vaccinations
When: Wednesday, November 5 at 7:30pm and Wednesday, December 3 at 7:30pm
Cost: $20.00
Do you love competition? Do you like games? Do you and your dog have what it takes to take home a prize? Join us for an evening of fun games with your dog like musical chairs, tic-tac-toe, jenga, and jeopardy! And yes, there will be prizes!
For: Dogs and their people with a foundation of basic manners skills.
Prerequisites: Current Vaccinations, Manners for Max or instructor permission
When: Wednesday Evenings: 6:15pm October 1 - October 29, no class October 22
Cost: $120
Rally Obedience, or Rally-O, is a fun sport for dogs and their people to practice obedience skills in a fun, supportive environment.
Teams follow a series of signs through a course that includes skills like sit, down, stay, and of course, walking politely on leash.
Rally-O is obedience in a more relaxed atmosphere.
We’ll introduce several signs and play games to practice all the skills you’ll need to get through a basic course.
For: Any dog with a nose!
Prerequisites: Current vaccinations
Duration: 4 weeks
Start Dates: Wednesday Evenings: Email for our next available start date!
Cost: $120, 4 weeks
Dogs investigate the world through their nose. Giving them chances to use their most powerful scent tires them out, fulfills their needs, and builds a stronger bond with you.
You’ll love watching them in this fun class that teaches scent games and introduces other fun ways to enrich your dog’s life.