Right this way to great manners!
Ready for your dog to listen to you and have behavior you’re proud of? Want to have fun while you train? Then this 6-week class is for you!
We’ll train the following core behaviors: Sit, Down, Place, Come, Stay, Walk on a Loose Leash, and Leave It. Best of all, your dog learns to calmly handle the distractions of other people and dogs. We use positive, reward-based techniques to help you build your relationship with your dog and get great results.
This class is geared toward dogs and puppies 16 weeks of age and older. Ideally, puppies should attend as many Puppy Preschool sessions as possible, prior to starting Manners 1.
- Dogs must pass a brief Class Readiness Evaluation (must be completed at least one week prior to your class start date, but no more than 1 month prior to class start date)
- Dogs must be current on vaccinations
- Designed for pups 16 weeks and older (minimum age is 14 weeks)
- Review the Be Ready for Group Class page and the WAGD Policies page prior to enrollment.
- Class Fee – $240
- Six consecutive, weekly 50-minute class meetings at your designated day/time
- Included materials: class book, clicker and access to homework videos
- Private make-ups for missed classes may be scheduled at the discounted rate of $45 / half hour
After enrollment, watch for a confirmation email with important details.
Questions? Or, need help getting enrolled? Give us a call at 214-297-3000.
Your Instructors
Great Dog Day School and Pet Manners Trainer
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 and has attended multiple virtual and in-person seminars from respected industry trainers, including Mike Shikashio and Shade Whitesel, as well as online training classes and canine first aid/cpr courses. Additionally, he worked extensively with a canine behaviorist to address significant fear-based reactivity issues in his former rescue, Jax.
Inspired by how behavior modification changed their lives, Dylan joined WAGD in November 2023 to pursue his education in canine behavior and professional dog training. Leveraging his daycare experience and serving as an instructor for our Puppy Pre-School and Manners classes, Dylan helped pilot and became one of our trainers for the Great Dog Day School program. He enjoys solving challenging canine behavior problems and creating unique training plans that best fit each dog and owner. In 2025, Dylan became the guardian of a Belgian Malinois named Chai. Since then, they have continued her training in odor detection, tricks, and obedience.
Great Dog Day School and Pet Manners Trainer
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.
WAGD Site Manager and Pet Manners Trainer
Keri Zamagni
Keri brings a diverse background in canine behavior, training, and client service to her role as Site Manager and Trainer at What A Great Dog. She is passionate about helping dogs and their families achieve success through positive, engaging training that makes learning both effective and fun. Keri served as a Pet Partners therapy team handler and completed Mike Shikashio’s Master Course on Aggression in Dogs, providing her with advanced knowledge in canine behavior and behavior modification. She is a Penn Foster Dog Obedience Instructor graduate, an AKC Evaluator for Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Trick Dog titles, and holds an IBPSA Pet Care Technician certification. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Whether supporting clients, mentoring staff, or working directly with dogs, Keri is committed to creating a positive environment where dogs and their people can build confidence, strengthen their bond, and have fun while achieving their training goals.
Matt Henry
Matt first joined the What a Great Dog! Team in March of 2022. He completed the Karen Pryor Academy Dog Trainer Foundations course in the fall of 2022, and finished the WAGD Trainer Education Program in 2023. He teaches Pet Manners classes and does WOW In-home Training Sessions.
As a child, Matt dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. Although he didn’t follow that path, his love of animals has always been strong. While an undergraduate student, he worked part-time jobs at a veterinary clinic and at local pet stores, and over the years he has provided a loving home to a variety of rescued cats and dogs.
Matt was raised in upstate New York, but he has called Texas home since 1997. He holds a master’s degree in English and a doctorate in Humanities and is currently a faculty member at Dallas College, where he teaches courses in composition and literature. His experience as an instructor has prepared him well for teaching at WAGD and helping clients learn how to build stronger relationships with their beloved dogs. Clients tell us that they love his approachable style and clear instructions during class.
Matt has served as a foster for the Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas, and he adopted his current dog, Bella, from GRRNT in April of 2022.
Stephanie Schwanke
Stephanie joined What a Great Dog! in August of 2020. She is a Pet Manners trainer and the Coordinator for both our GDDS (Day School) and WOW (In-home) programs. If you have visited our retail store you may know her as “Aunt Stephanie”. All the pups know she’s always ready to give some extra love and treats, for good behavior of course.
Before joining What a Great Dog!, Stephanie managed a pet boarding, daycare and grooming facility in McKinney for 12 years. She has shown her dogs in conformation and obedience for over 30 years. Stephanie and her dog, Brooke, took manners and CGC classes from Maureen in her barn in Prosper 20 years ago. She was taught and loved the positive reinforcement training that Maureen coached her and all of us on since she has started.
Since Stephanie has been active in working with dogs, she has had Siberian Huskies, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and German Shepherds. Currently she and her husband share their home with Stella, a 8-year-old German Shepherd rescue that they adopted just weeks before the Covid lockdown. She is her “work in progress”.
Stephanie hopes with her experience to provide our WAGD families with helpful advice and guidance to assist them in having lifelong GREAT DOG family members.
Pet Manners, Tricks and Nose Work Trainer
Victoria Johnson
Victoria is a Senior Trainer at What a Great Dog, teaching a variety of classes including all Manners class levels, Puppy Preschools, Trick Dog, Nosework, and Canine Good Citizen. She also helps dogs and their owners, in private one-on-one lessons, work through behavior struggles and gain new skills. She taught previously taught Barn Hunt and has a deep understanding of that sport. Her passion for dog training lies in helping owners develop a deeper understanding of their dogs, strengthen their bonds, and build lasting relationships. She loves helping families work through behavioral challenges while discovering the joy of training together through games, tricks, and positive reinforcement.
Victoria is a registered AKC evaluator for CGC and Trick Dog programs. In addition to WAGD’s trainer education program, she has completed extensive continuing education programs, including Karen Pryor Academy education, Absolute Dogs Pro Dog Trainer and Geek programs, specialized Behavet canine courses, and Do More With Your Dog tricks certification. Victoria is currently enrolled in The Canine Behaviour College through Behavet where she will earn credentials to be a certified Canine Behaviorist.
Victoria discovered WAGD in 2017, where she worked her rescue Chi/Terrier, Audrey, through Manners, Agility, and Tricks classes and attained several tricks titles and is currently learning and competing in Rally. Victoria also has two other dogs. River is another Chi/Terrier rescue who has competed and titled in Barn Hunt, earned Trick Dog titles, and is currently learning Rally and Nosework. Suzume, a Papillon, is just starting her training journey to become a Trick Dog, Rally enthusiast, Freestyle pup, and more.