WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS: Please make sure you arrive at the correct facility! Kinship Studio is located at 320 Mount Si Blvd, Suite 108, North Bend, WA 98045 in the Mountain Valley Shopping Center. Park and enter at the rear of the building, accessed via S. Fork Ave SW/412th Ave SE (same road). Kinship Arena is located at 483 NW 8th St, North Bend, WA 98045. Please angle park along the right side of the driveway; this is a private residence. Both locations are by appointment only.

WHEN TO ARRIVE: Classrooms will open 5 minutes before the scheduled start time. Please arrive with enough time to potty your dog before class begins—but no more than 15 minutes early.

FAMILY ATTENDANCE: Your entire family is welcome to join the class! Each dog must have a dedicated handler—so if you’re bringing two dogs, two handlers are required. Children aged 5 and under must be supervised by an adult who is not responsible for handling a dog.

ASK A QUESTION: Please email your instructor with questions about class content, to notify them if you are running late or if you will be missing class.

WHAT TO BRING:

• YOUR DOG! :) Preferably a little hungry, and recently pottied.

• COLLAR: Flat buckle collar, martingale collar, head halter, front-attaching harness (ex. Freedom or Balance harnesses) or body harness.

• LEASH: 6-foot nylon or leather leash. Please no flexi/retractable leashes.

• TREAT POUCH: A fanny pack, climber’s chalk bag, or hardware apron will work well too!

• TREATS! At least two cups (I know, it’s a lot!) of pea-sized delicious treats. Your treats need to outcompete the environment, so hot dogs, ham and cheese will all work well.

• MAT: A bath mat, yoga mat, or small rug for your dog to relax on during breaks.

• TOY: To keep your dog occupied while you focus on instructions, bring along a favorite toy, chew toy, or stuffed Kong.

• ONLY FOR CANINE GOOD CITIZEN: 20-foot long line for Test item 7: Recall, a brush or comb to practice Test item 3: Appearance and Grooming.

• ONLY FOR MANNERS FIELD TRIPS: 20-30 foot long line for recall practice, poop bags, water/bowl, cross-body bag or backpack for your extra items.

• ONLY FOR NAILING NAIL TRIMS: Nail clippers or Dremel tool from home, (optional)

REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY:

To receive a refund, cancellations must be made in advance—at least 3 days before group classes and 24 hours before private lessons. Make-up classes are not guaranteed and typically not available. Students will be notified and refunded in the event of class cancellations due to extreme weather conditions or instructor illness. Classes missed due to Covid diagnosis or a veterinary-confirmed communicable illness will also be refunded. View our full terms and conditions.

VACCINATION POLICY:

We expect every dog attending training at Kinship to be up to date on his/her vaccinations or to have been tested for antibody titers for Distemper, Parvo, and Rabies. Puppies must have age-appropriate vaccinations. This means that very young puppies will not be finished with all vaccinations at the start of classes. For more information on balancing the risks and benefits of early puppy classes, please read this statement by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

TRAINING TOOL POLICY:

Kinship is a training facility that strives to build cooperative relationships with our clients and their dogs by promoting safety, joy, and clear communication for all participants. While we understand that prong, slip/choke, or electronic collars can reduce undesired behavior, we do not use them in training. If you currently use a prong or slip/choke collar and need these tools to feel safe entering the training space, please let us know so we can help you join the class confidently. If you currently use an e-collar, please let us know so we can work with you via private lessons. For more information on reward-based training, please read this statement by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.

WHO SHOULD NOT JOIN GROUP CLASSES:

If your puppy/dog barks intensely, growls, or is aggressive to people or dogs, they may not be appropriate for group classes. Private lessons may be required to prepare your dog for group classes. Dogs who are not appropriate for group classes will be excused and no refund will be given. If you are in doubt, please schedule an assessment or contact us!