Renewal Recall
For Jumpstart & Teen Tune-Up Grads
6 Months and Older
Recall changes over time. Dogs grow up, environments shift, and the skills that once felt effortless can quietly fade into the background. Renewal Recall was created for exactly this moment.
This six-week indoor and outdoor class is designed for longtime clients and their dogs – not to start over, but to rebuild clarity, responsiveness, and connection in real-world environments.
Many dogs experience recall changes during adolescence, when growing independence and a suddenly fascinating world make coming when called feel far less important. Adult dogs often become more confident, environmentally aware, and selective about their choices. This is normal — and workable.
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Renewal Recall focuses on rebuilding reliability through thoughtful practice, emotional regulation, engagement games, and meaningful real-world experiences alongside familiar dogs and people.
This class is ideal if:
- your dog once had solid recall and it has slipped
- your adolescent dog’s recall feels inconsistent
- your adult dog is capable, confident, and selective
- you want to strengthen responsiveness without pressure or intensity
- you believe training should evolve as dogs do
More than a recall class, this is a return to communication, movement, trust, and partnership — built thoughtfully, intentionally, and together.
About Our Instructor: Hillary Alexander
Hillary Alexander is the founder of Hillary’s Hound House and creator of the Jumpstart Puppy, Teen Tune-Up, and Puppy Foundation Programs.
For the past 18 years, she has worked with puppies, adolescent dogs, and their families, developing thoughtful, real-world training programs that emphasize calm behavior, connection, socialization, and emotional development.
Class Days: Saturdays, 10:00am to 11:00am
Summer Session: June 20, 27, (not 7/4), 11, 18, 25, 8/1
Fall Session: TBA
Cost: $360
Our class is intentionally small – 6 puppy/handler teams, so we can provide individualized coaching and support.
If your class is full, please join our Waitlist. We are adding additional sessions soon!
Puppy Agility Foundation Class
For puppies 5 months and older
Our Puppy Agility Foundation Class introduces puppies to the exciting world of agility through games, body awareness, relationship-building, and beginner obstacle skills – all in a safe, age-appropriate environment.
This class focuses on:
building the essential foundation skills puppies need before beginning full agility training, including:
- Relationship & engagement games
- Toy play and motivation building
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- Working with distractions
- Confidence-building “Spotlight Games”
- Body awareness and proprioception exercises
- Front and rear paw awareness
- Strength, stability, flexibility, and conditioning
- Start line stays and recalls
- Beginner obstacle introductions including tunnels, planks, jumps, tables, and contact training
Puppies will learn through interactive games and low-impact exercises designed specifically for growing bodies. Handlers will also receive easy exercises and games to practice at home to continue building skills between classes.
Our class setup uses puppy-safe equipment and modifications such as:
- Ground-level jumps
- Low cavaletti bars
- Beginner planks and platforms
- Puppy-friendly perch work and balance exercises
This class is ideal for puppies who are ready to build confidence, focus, coordination, and teamwork with their handler while having tons of fun!
We have crating and seating space available to help puppies relax between working turns and demonstrations.
About Our Instructor: Celeste Barker
After a successful career in corporate management and high-tech industry, Celeste Barker – her real name! – became a dog training instructor at Marin Humane, where she taught for more than twelve years. She credits this career change to her “difficult dog,” Sophie, who inspired her passion for understanding dog behavior and training through countless classes, workshops, and certification programs.
At Marin Humane, Celeste worked with clients in dog sports, family dog obedience, and behavior consultations. She specialized in Agility, Scentwork, and Tricks training, earning multiple titles with her dog Tucson, including a Masters Agility Championship (MACH), ORT, NW1, AKC Excellent Scentwork, Novice Tricks titles. She is a Canine Nose Work Associate certified by the North America Scent Work Association (NACSW) and has completed Canine Behavior Academy certification levels 1 & 2.
Celeste now shares her home with Mia, a Miniature American Shepherd puppy beginning Puppy Agility Foundation training.
Class Days: Saturdays, 1:30pm – 2:30pm
Summer Session: 6/20, 27, (not 7/4), 7/11, 18, 25, 8/1
Fall Session: 8/15, 22, 29, (not 9/5), 9/12, 19, 26
Cost: $360
Our class is intentionally small – 6 puppy/handler teams, so we can provide individualized coaching and support.
If your class is full, please join our Waitlist. We are adding additional sessions soon!
Yoga with Your Puppy
For puppies 5 months and older
At Hillary’s Hound House, we are always looking for ways to help puppies learn how to be calm in the real world – not just in training sessions.
Let’s be honest, though: puppies are adorable little disasters. They are impulsive, distractible, emotionally unregulated creatures with the attention span of a gnat and strong opinions about blowing leaves, shoelaces, and absolutely everything happening in the room.
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So, this class is not:
- flowing vinyasa
- long Zen meditation holds
- silent spiritual enlightenment
- downward dog chaos
- people focusing inward while puppies completely unravel
Instead, Yoga with Your Puppy creates a supportive, structured environment where humans participate in a gentle, beginner-friendly yoga flow while puppies practice the earliest foundations of calmness:
- settling briefly on a mat or bed
- checking in with their person
- recovering from excitement
- learning that calm behavior pays off
Rather than creating more excitement, this class helps puppies begin learning something far more valuable: how to relax, observe, and make thoughtful choices – even when interesting things are happening around them.
It also gives humans the opportunity to slow down, become more aware of their puppy, and learn how to support focus, connection, and calm behavior in everyday life.
Taught by certified yoga instructor Rachel O’Connor and puppy behavior specialist Hillary Alexander, this supportive, realistic, and often hilarious class blends gentle yoga, practical puppy coaching, and a healthy sense of humor for both ends of the leash.
About Our Instructor: Hillary Alexander
Hillary Alexander is the founder of Hillary’s Hound House and creator of the Jumpstart Puppy, Teen Tune-Up, and Puppy Foundation Programs.
For the past 18 years, she has worked with puppies, adolescent dogs, and their families, developing thoughtful, real-world training programs that emphasize calm behavior, connection, socialization, and emotional development.
About Our Instructor: Rachel O’Connor
Rachel O’Connor has taught yoga in group and private settings for over 20 years. Drawing from hatha flow, yin, and kundalini traditions, her classes emphasize mindful movement, breathwork, and embodied awareness. She has worked with children, teens, athletes, and people with health challenges.
Rachel is certified in multiple disciplines, including vinyasa yoga, therapeutic yoga, kundalini, and prenatal yoga. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Rachel now lives in Mill Valley.
Class Days: Mondays, 6:15pm to 7:15pm
Summer Session: June 15, 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20
Fall Session: July 27, Aug 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Time: 6:15pm to 7:15pm
Cost: $360
Our class is intentionally small – 6 puppy/handler teams, so we can provide individualized coaching and support.
If your preferred class is full, please join our Waitlist. We are adding additional sessions soon!
“We can’t say enough great things about Hillary’s Hound House. Our puppy Marley has had the most incredible experience—Hillary goes above and beyond to create thoughtful, enriching outings that build confidence and curiosity. From socialization adventures (like meeting koi at the mall!) to the videos and updates she shares, it’s clear how much care and intention goes into everything she does. You can truly see the difference in Marley already. If you want your puppy to have the best possible start, Hillary’s program is something special.”
James Kime
Cancellation Policy
Our classes are intentionally kept very small – typically just 5–6 people/puppy teams per session – so we can provide individualized coaching, thoughtful support, and a positive experience for both puppies and their people.
Because space is limited, class registrations are non-refundable beginning 7 days prior to the start date of class.
If you need to cancel before that time, we’re happy to issue a refund or class credit whenever possible.
Please note that we are unable to offer makeup classes for missed sessions. Each class is carefully structured around small group participation, and maintaining limited enrollment does not allow us to accommodate additional makeup sessions or transfers.
We appreciate your understanding and look forward to working with you and your puppy!
Disclaimer Notes
NOTES:
A. Children ages 7 and older are welcome. Because puppies are learning focus, new skills, and calmness, children attending should be able to remain quiet and seated throughout class.
B. Please note that portions of the class may be photographed or videotaped for training and educational purposes.
These videos can provide valuable feedback for handlers and allow you to observe your puppy’s responses and progress throughout the course. They also make a wonderful keepsake of your puppy’s early agility journey. We’ll make these videos available to you a day or two after class via a link to iCloud where you can download them.
Participants who are comfortable being photographed or recorded will be asked to sign a photo/video release form before class. If you prefer not to appear in photos or videos, please let us know in advance.
Who This Class is Best For
Your puppy should be reasonably comfortable around other people and dogs in a group setting. Puppies will not participate in play sessions before or during class, as our focus is on helping them relax, settle, and practice calm behavior in the presence of others.
If you have any questions about whether this class would be a good fit for your puppy, please call us at 415-453-4515. We’re always happy to help and advise you.