Dogs in Class

Rescues

How Starmark Students Help Local Rescues

Starmark Academy for Professional Dog Trainers works with many Texas dog rescues to train homeless dogs and place them in caring homes. The students of Starmark Academy work with their assigned rescue dog for up to twelve weeks in basic obedience, then move on to agility, off-leash handling, scent detection, search and rescue, or tricks, depending on the dog’s abilities. Starmark Academy provides boarding, food, and training to these dogs at no charge to the rescue groups for the duration of the training program.

The majority of dogs in shelters have not received any formal training, and close to a third have been surrendered because of behavior problems. It is the combined goal of Starmark Academy and the dog rescue organizations to provide these dogs with a base amount of training in an effort to create happy, well-behaved companions that can be adopted into caring and permanent homes.

This program not only benefits rescue dogs in need, but also our students! In addition to working with their own personal dog(s) in class, students are assigned between 1-3 rescue dogs for the duration of the course. Students are responsible for the care and feeding of any assigned dog(s) throughout the length of the program. Food for the rescue dog(s) will be provided by Starmark Academy. Rescue dogs will be housed in Starmark Animal Behavior Center’s spacious indoor/outdoor climate controlled boarding kennels. Students may also have the option to adopt your assigned rescue dog, should they wish.

Starmark instructors work to provide students with rescue dogs whose temperaments are different from their personal dogs’. The goal is to allow students to get their hands on dogs of different sizes and personalities, each of whom may need the trainer to employ different methods, approaches, and attitudes to best suit their individual needs. We feel this will give our students the edge they need to succeed as a trainer, and the most well-rounded education possible. In addition to the dogs each individual student will work with in class, he/she will have the added benefit of watching and learning from the progression of their classmates’ many dogs. In every class there are a large number of different breeds, temperaments, sizes, and behavior issues amongst the many dogs in the program.

Potential adopters can visit our Rescued Dogs page to see dogs that are currently going through our training program, as well as past doggie graduates still looking for a home.

Personal Dogs

Personal dogs are welcomed but are NOT REQUIRED. Students are permitted to bring a maximum of 2 dogs to the campus. Each dog must be at least 6 months old. Only 1 personal dog can be used for program requirements, and all students will be assigned rescue dogs to work with. Personal dogs are not guaranteed to qualify for participation in the program and will participate in an evaluation given by instructors for approval. Dogs that may be used in program requirements must start by meeting the following basic standards:
•Should have little to no prior training
•Must be at least 10 months old for agility
•Willingness to take treats is recommended, but not required

What if your dog is not eligible to participate in the program?
You can still bring your personal dog to stay with you in housing! You will still be able to work with your dog to bring his or her training to a higher level outside of the program. All dogs must stay in designated areas provided by the Academy. Kennel Day Runs are provided only for students that live off property for personal dogs that are in the program. Students whose dog or dogs are in the kennel facilities will follow kennel facility rules and are responsible for maintaining the facilities in which his or her dog or dogs are located. Students whose personal dogs stay in student housing must have their own crate for each dog and the dog must be crated in their bedroom when they are not being supervised. The student will be wholly responsible for all care and expense related to his or her dog(s).Please bring the following for each dog you bring with you:
•Proof of the following vaccinations: Rabies, DHLPP, Bordetella.
•Flea and heartworm preventative.
•An appropriately sized crate