Neutral Ground: The Art of Just Existing
A 4-Week Socialization, Leash Skills & Neutrality Class
Reactive dogs welcome. Big feelings and questionable opinions about trash cans included.
Does your dog think every other dog is a potential best friend? Every passing person deserves an introduction? Or perhaps that bicycle, umbrella, or suspicious-looking object across the room requires a full investigation?
Welcome to Neutral Ground!
Proper socialization isn't about meeting every dog, greeting every person, or interacting with everything in sight. It's about learning how to exist comfortably in the world around us.
This four-week class is designed for dogs of all ages and experience levels, including reactive dogs, who could use some practice navigating everyday life without feeling the need to participate in absolutely everything.
We'll work on leash skills, engagement, confidence, and neutrality around other dogs, people, movement, sounds, and unusual objects.
And yes, we'll bring out the weird stuff. Umbrellas, bicycles, shopping carts, random objects, and whatever else I find that makes for a good learning opportunity.
What We'll Work On
Leash skills: Improving leash handling, engagement, passing other dogs and people, and navigating everyday distractions.
Dog neutrality: Learning to work around other dogs without needing to greet, play, or interact.
People neutrality: Understanding that people can walk past, talk, move around, and exist nearby without requiring an introduction.
Environmental confidence: Working around unusual objects, movement, sounds, and everyday surprises.
Settling: Learning to relax while the world continues moving around us.
Reading your dog: Understanding body language, environmental pressure, arousal, and when your dog needs a little more space.
Our Four-Week Adventure
Week 1: The Art of Just Existing
Engagement, leash handling, spatial awareness, and learning to coexist around other dogs at appropriate distances.
Week 2: Life Happens Around You
People moving, dogs passing, leash exercises, environmental distractions, and learning how to stay connected when things get interesting.
Week 3: The Weird Stuff!
Umbrellas, bicycles, unusual objects, sounds, and novelty challenges. We'll work on confidence, recovery, settling, and understanding how to support our dogs through unfamiliar experiences.
Week 4: Pick Your Own Adventure!
We're heading into the real world! Depending on the group's progress, we may visit Home Depot, downtown Oroville, or another suitable location to practice everything we've learned.
The destination will be selected based on the group's needs and readiness.
Reactive Dogs Welcome!
Your dog doesn't have to love everyone, and they certainly don't have to greet everyone.
Whether your dog gets excited, frustrated, distracted, or has big feelings about other dogs, people, or environmental triggers, this class offers opportunities to practice those skills in a thoughtfully managed setting.
There are no prerequisites or previous training requirements. We'll start with the skills each dog already has and build from there.
We'll work at appropriate distances, adjust exercises to individual teams, and focus on helping each dog progress without forcing interactions. Because we're working in a shared space, we'll also discuss your dog's individual needs ahead of time to help everyone have a positive learning experience.
There will be no dog-to-dog play or forced greetings. We're here to practice neutrality, not host a canine networking event.
Class Details
Dates: Tuesdays, December 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2026
Time: 1:00–2:00 PM
Location: For The Love of Dog Training, 2628 Lincoln Street, Oroville, CA
Investment: $240 per dog-and-handler team
Class Size: Limited to just 4 teams
Ages: All ages welcome
Prerequisites: None!
Small Class. Real-Life Skills. A Little Weirdness.
With only four teams, we'll have room for individualized coaching, appropriate spacing, and plenty of opportunities to work through real-world challenges.
Your dog doesn't need to be everyone's friend. They just need to learn that the world can happen around them without requiring their participation.
Ready to work on the art of just existing?
Register for Neutral Ground!