The Basic Obedience Course at Big Valley Dog Training is an 8-week evening group class in Delhi, CA that costs $500, meets once a week for about an hour, and is strictly limited to 5 dogs per class for dogs 7 months and older.
Led by founder Joel Monroe, the course covers sit, down, loose-leash heeling, reliable recall, and problem solving around real distractions, finishing with an off-leash final exam and a certificate of completion.
Enroll in our small-group 8-week Basic Obedience Course in Delhi, CA after reviewing the verified course specs:
Last Updated: October 2026
The course runs for eight weeks. You come out one evening a week for about an hour, so it fits around work and school.
Over those weeks, you and your dog work on the commands that make daily life easier: sit, down, heeling and recall. In real life, that looks like walks where your dog stays beside you, a dog who sits and waits when you ask, and a dog who comes back when you call.
A dog who sits perfectly in the kitchen can fall apart the moment another dog walks by. That’s why every class includes problem solving with real distractions. You practice with other dogs and people around, and Joel is right there to help you through it. That way your dog listens at the park and on walks, too, and not only at home.
Each class is limited to 5 dogs. With a group that small, Joel can see what you and your dog are doing and help you when you get stuck. You won’t be lost in a crowd.
Joel Monroe is a former school teacher, an active dog sport judge and a competitor with more than 30 years of working with dogs. He’s been training dogs for Central Valley dog owners since 2019. His teaching background shows in how he explains things, and that matters, because you’re the one who lives with your dog every day.
To pass the class, your dog takes an off-leash final. It gives you a real goal to work toward, and getting there feels great. Families who pass head home with a certificate of completion and a dog they can trust a lot more than they could eight weeks earlier.
We start formal obedience when dogs are 7 months old. Younger puppies need time to grow up and enjoy being a puppy first. If you have a puppy right now, a private session with Joel is the place to start. He’ll help you with crate training, potty training, feeding and those first behaviors, so your puppy is ready when class time comes.
Puppy owners can see how private sessions work on our Private Dog Training page.
"My dog went from a crazy puppy to a well-mannered companion. I love the environment at BVDT. It's welcoming, there's room for error, and it actually works. We will be taking more classes soon!"
Not sure whether your dog belongs in our 5-dog evening class, 1-on-1 private sessions, or 6 to 8 week Board and Train? Compare all four options below:
Spot #1 Flagship Program: Full Immersion
Program: 6 to 8 Week Full-Immersion Board and Train (Starting at $5,000)
Best For: Busy dog owners who want Joel Monroe and his team to do the daily heavy lifting and deliver lasting off-leash and household manners.
Duration and Format: 6 to 8 weeks of full-time residential living and daily training with Joel Monroe, tailored to your dog’s temperament and goals.
What Is Included: All Basic Obedience skills (sit, down, heeling, recall, and problem solving around real distractions), the household rug command (staying on a mat or bed until released), and follow-up transfer classes for the owner.
First Step: Submit our online contact form to discuss your dog and schedule a Board and Train consultation.
Service Area: 14886 Lombardy St, Delhi, CA 95315 (serving Turlock, Modesto, Merced, Oakdale, Atwater, Livingston, and Ceres).
Spot #2 Group Foundation: Small Classes
Program: 8-Week Evening Basic Obedience Course ($500)
Best For: Dogs 7 months and older whose owners want polite leash walking, impulse control, and reliable listening around other dogs and people.
Duration and Format: 8 weeks, meeting one evening per week for approximately 1 hour, strictly capped at 5 dogs per class.
What Is Included: Hands-on coaching in sit, down, loose-leash heeling, recall, real-world distraction problem solving, an off-leash final exam, and a graduation certificate.
First Step: Contact us online to check the next 8-week class start date and reserve one of the 5 spots.
Service Area: Outdoor training field in Delhi, CA, located 10 to 25 minutes along Highway 99 from Turlock, Livingston, Atwater, Ceres, Merced, and Modesto.
Spot #3 Core One-on-One: Behavior and Reactivity
Program: One-on-One Behavior Modification and Reactivity Sessions (From $100 per Session)
Best For: Dogs showing leash reactivity, lunging, barking, or aggression toward other dogs that cannot be safely addressed in a group setting.
Duration and Format: Individual drop-in lessons scheduled in advance directly with head trainer Joel Monroe.
What Is Included: An in-person behavior evaluation of your dog and daily routine, customized handling coaching, and step-by-step obedience homework between visits.
First Step: Book a one-on-one behavior evaluation with Joel Monroe through our contact page.
Service Area: 14886 Lombardy St, Delhi, CA 95315 serving dog owners throughout Stanislaus and Merced Counties.
Spot #4 Core One-on-One: Puppies and IGP Sport
Program: One-on-One Puppy Starts and Working Dog IGP Evaluations (From $100 per Session)
Best For: Young puppies under 7 months old (with at least 2 vaccinations recommended) or dog owners pursuing protection work and IGP sport.
Duration and Format: Private sessions scheduled in advance, or weekly obedience and protection sessions for active IGP sport handlers.
What Is Included: Puppy crate training, potty training, feeding schedules, and luring first behaviors, or an honest genetic and drive evaluation for protection work (starting as early as 8 weeks old if drive is present).
First Step: Request a private puppy start or protection drive evaluation using our contact form.
Service Area: Delhi, CA training field serving Turlock, Modesto, Merced, Oakdale, Atwater, Livingston, and Ceres.
It runs for eight weeks. Classes meet one evening a week for about an hour.
Your dog needs to be at least 7 months old for formal obedience. If your dog is younger, we offer one-on-one puppy sessions to get you started.
No more than 5, so you get plenty of help from Joel.
At the end of the course, your dog takes an off-leash final. Passing it means you finish the class.
Tell us a little about your dog and what’s been hard lately. We’ll let you know if the Basic Obedience Course is a good fit and when the next class starts.
