Ceres is a Stanislaus County city just south of Modesto along Highway 99. Its dog park at Neel Park has separate fenced areas for small and large dogs, and dogs must be leashed going in and coming out. Gate manners and a reliable recall go a long way toward making visits smooth for owners and their dogs. Big Valley Dog Training is about 20 minutes south on Highway 99 in Delhi, and we provide training for Ceres dogs of every age and experience level.
Owners are expected to keep their dogs under control inside the park, but most trouble happens at the edges:
Pulling toward the gate. Excited dogs can make the walk from the parking area hard to manage.
Bolting when unclipped. Some dogs take off the moment the leash comes off.
Avoiding the leash at closing time. A dog without a solid recall can make leaving the park a long process.
Our Ceres-area obedience classes are for dogs 7 months and up. Owners attend one evening a week for eight weeks and work on heeling, sit, down and recall with no more than 5 dogs in the group, practicing near other dogs and people.
Some dogs are not ready for off-leash play with unfamiliar dogs. If a dog barks, lunges or starts fights, it is best to wait on the dog park and begin with private training for dog reactivity. A trainer starts with an evaluation and provides homework.
Puppies have a few months before a group class makes sense. One-on-one sessions cover the crate, house training, feeding routines and first behaviors, and a vet can advise when a puppy is ready to visit a training field.
With Big Valley board and train, dogs live and train with us for 6 to 8 weeks. They learn the obedience basics plus a rug command, and follow-up classes help owners keep it going.
If your dog is over 7 months and gets along with other dogs, a group class is usually a good place to start. Reactive dogs and young puppies tend to do better starting with private sessions. And if you know what you want but can’t find the time to practice every day, board and train may be the better fit.
It starts with a short conversation about your dog, and then we’ll recommend where to begin. Owners practice with their dogs throughout, and homework between sessions turns class skills into everyday habits at home and at the park.
We have worked with Central Valley dogs since 2019, across every breed, size, age and temperament. Our program was built by Joel Monroe, an active dog sport judge who is well known in IGP. Meet our trainers.
We also work with families searching for dog training in Modesto, dog training in Turlock and dog training in Oakdale.
