Drop Off Day School for your Dog!
Get a jump start on your dog’s training. Professional trainers work directly with your puppy or dog during this intensive 12-day program.
Reap the Benefits of Professional Training!
Great Dog Day School is designed to develop dogs who are happy, confident and well-mannered companions! With our Day School program, you drop off your puppy or adult dog to spend the day with us Mon – Thurs for 3 weeks.
Our professional trainers will give you a big headstart on your training. We will work intensively with your pup to build confidence and train basic manners behaviors. Most importantly, our trainers work with you to ensure you know how to properly reinforce the behaviors and transition all of this to your home. We use positive, reward-based training methods making training both effective and fun for your dog.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: This program, along with our entire training center, is now located in our beautiful, new facility at 304 S Cottonwood Dr, Richardson, Texas
Great Manners
For pups and dogs of all ages, we’ll train the behaviors that matter most to you. Basic manners behaviors (similar to our Manners 1 class) are typically trained, along with a focus on any areas that are particularly challenging for you and your pup. You’ll have a chance to tell us which behaviors are most important to your family. We’ll focus on your highest priorities. Here are typical behaviors which can be selected for inclusion in your dog’s customized training plan
- Loose Leash Walking
- Sit
- Down
- Stay
- Mat Work
- Leave It
- Polite People Greetings
- Focus & Attention
- Fun Tricks
- Remaining Calm Around Others
- Come When Called
- Drop It
- No Jumping
- Age Appropriate Socialization
- Handling Skills for Grooming / Veterinary Visits
- Young pups (16 wks and under) focus topics
Dogs of all ages are accepted in this program. For puppies and younger dogs, we custom tailor your pup’s training plan based on the developmental phase he is in. Puppies who are 16 weeks and under at the start of the program will get an emphasis on developmentally appropriate socialization, handling and confidence building. Click here for more info on the focused activities for the young puppies (16 weeks and under when they start the program).
Grad School!
Any pup who completes our full 3-week Day School Training Program is invited back for grad school sessions where existing skills can be polished or more advanced skills can be taught, including AKC Canine Good Citizen prep, Therapy Dog training, Tricks, cooperative care and more. Clients may also opt for single day drop-in sessions. During a single day drop-in, we will polish up the behaviors your dog has learned. Plus we’ll keep him busy and entertained all day!
You'll Also Receive:
- Two one-hour Private Lessons to help transfer all the skills your dog has learned to you are included. Note: lessons can optionally take place at your home (additional fee applies).
- Access to instructional videos for all the behaviors trained.
- Updates in our dedicated Facebook group for Great Dog Day School attendees.
- Weekly report cards on your dog’s progress.
Enrollment Information
- Proof of vaccination and parasite status are required.
- Puppies under 16 weeks at the start of their program must have a negative fecal test within one week prior to starting and two sets of distemper / parvo vaccinations.
- Pups and dogs over 16 weeks must be current on vaccinations (per your veterinarian’s recommendation) including a Bordetella vaccine within the last 6 months, and a negative fecal test within the previous 6 months.
- All clients and their pup/dog must attend a 30-minute Day School Consultation to determine if this program is a good fit. You’ll also learn important information about your role in making this program a big success for your pup. The fee for the consultation is $20, and will be applied to your Day School fee. During the consultation:
* Dogs/pups who will be over 16 weeks of age at the start of their program must display that they can:
Can crate quietly during the day
Be friendly to strange people
Are non-reactive to strange dogs
* Puppies who will be under 16 weeks at the start of their program are not required to display any particular behaviors prior to enrollment.
- The fee for this 12-day program is $1,980, and is due in full at time of enrollment. Upcoming sessions have LIMITED openings.
- Sessions run Monday – Thursday for 3 weeks
Drop-off from 7:30 am – 8:30 am / Pick-up from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
You may also give us a call at 214-297-3000. Our Day School Coordinator, Stephanie, will be happy to answer all of your questions.
Your Instructors
Manners Boot Camp and WOW Trainer
Brittany Wingfield ADT, FDM
Brittany joined the What a Great Dog! Team in January 2017. She trains in our Manners Boot Camp program and does In-home lessons through our WAGD on Wheels program. She also teaches Nose Work and Pet Manners. She enjoys teaching pet owners all about positive training, building relationships, and better communication between pups and their owners. Brittany Wingfield is an Accredited Dog Trainer and a Certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM).
Brittany shares her home with Valkyrie the Dutch Shepherd and Turk the Pug. Turk has played in any sport that involves snacks but Nose Work is their true passion. Brittany and Turk have competed in every level of UKC Nose Work and take great pride in his many ribbons! Turk is two legs away from his Master title and has legs towards his Elite title, making him the most decorated Pug in UKC Scentwork. Valkyrie has also started training in Nose Work. Brittany has spent years studying under Bob Rodriguez and Ellen Heavner as well as researching on her own through other seminars and workshops. She has also developed her own Nose Work seminars that she hosts at WAGD. Brittany believes that having fun and trusting in your dog is the key to success that she likes to share with her students.
Brittany has her Bachelor of Sciences in Biology from the University of Louisville and got hooked on positive reinforcement training while volunteering at the Louisville Zoo in 2010! This started her passion for training and helping clients build trusting and fun relationships with their dogs. Prior to taking her full-time role with WAGD, she was a Senior Zoologist with Carnivores at the Dallas Zoo.
Dylan Benedetto
Dylan began his dog training career in 2022 while managing a local doggie daycare and boarding facility in Deep Ellum, TX. Dylan completed WAGD’s rigorous Trainer Education Program in 2024. Prior to that, he attended multiple in-person seminars from some of the industry’s most respected trainers, including Mike Shikashio, online training classes and canine first aid/cpr courses. Additionally, he’s worked extensively with a canine behaviorist to address significant fear-based reactivity issues in his own adopted rescue dog. Dylan has worked in the Great Puppy Day School program at WAGD getting lots of hands-on experience using WAGD’s positive training methodology to give puppies the best start possible.
Before entering the pet care industry, Dylan was entrenched in the DFW restaurant scene. One day in 2019, he went to the SPCA after work and adopted his first dog Jax (a shepherd mix) who was seized from his previous owners. Inspired by how behavior modification changed their lives, Dylan joined WAGD in November 2023 to pursue his education with the goal of becoming a canine behavioral consultant. Dylan loves problem solving through challenging canine behavior problems and coming up with unique training plans that best fit each dog and owner.
Joy Hampton
Joy joined WAGD as a pet trainer in 2026. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in clinical psychology. Before graduating with her master’s she realized that animal training would be a better career/personality fit than counseling.
She has always been an avid animal lover and became a vegetarian at 12-years of age. Even in high school and college when she didn’t know her life would lead her to a career with animals, she volunteered at Roger’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, worked a summer job at a veterinary clinic and another summer job in college with the education department at the Abilene Zoo. She attended her first animal training convention with the American Zoological Association in 2010. From there she trained to be a dog trainer at PetSmart, where she continued for about 16 years.
Joy loves helping dogs be the best family members that they can be, and helping families understand and care for their dogs.