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Perfect Puppy Academy is a dog training business in Santa Barbara, California offering Group Classes and In-Home Training, with published programs from $160.
Santa Barbara • CA • Uses rented space • 4.9 ★ (14 Google reviews)
Last verified: Sep 6, 2026
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What they say about themselves
Anne Swan has been training dogs professionally since 1995 and holds the CPDT-KA certification, which she earned in 2008. She joined Perfect Puppy Academy in 2005 when it was directed by a local veterinarian, eventually becoming the owner. Her background also includes co-founding the Goleta Valley Dog Club and competing nationally in dog agility.
The academy describes its approach as positive reinforcement-based, using lure-reward methods that transition to hand signals and verbal cues as training progresses. According to their site, they've graduated more than 6,000 dogs over 18 years. Group classes run small—four to twelve teams—at an indoor Santa Barbara location and outdoor sessions at Girsh Park in Goleta. Advanced community classes move to downtown outdoor settings with a maximum of five teams.
Their class structure moves from puppy socialization (starting at 10 weeks) through multiple levels of manners and impulse control, with separate tracks for adolescent and adult dogs. They also offer Canine Good Citizen test preparation and dedicated classes for loose-leash walking and recall. For owners who can't attend group sessions, in-home private training covers the same foundational curriculum. The program welcomes children five and up to participate, and their site notes they work with adopted dogs and senior owners as well.
Group classes progress from foundational puppy work through advanced skills like Canine Good Citizen preparation, with most five-week courses priced at $210–$250. Perfect Puppy Academy also offers private lessons, including a three-session package. Each class level has specific prerequisites, and puppy classes require dogs to be within certain age windows.
Five-week group courses run $210–$250, with most at $225. Private lessons cost $160 each or $400 for a three-session package. Pricing for the Adolescent/Adult Class 2 and multi-dog private lessons isn't listed.
A trainer travels to the client's home for a one-on-one lesson covering foundation training skills, using the same positive reinforcement methods taught in group classes.
A trainer comes to the client's home to deliver hourly private instruction.
Best for: Owners unable to attend group classes in person, for one dog or puppy.
Focus: Basic obedience
Focus: Basic obedience
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Single Private Lesson | $160 per session | — |
| Private Lessons for 2 Dogs (Same Household) | Not published | — |
This is a five-week group class covering socialization, bite inhibition, impulse control, and basic behaviors like sit, stay, come, and leash walking. Classes are held indoors evenings and weekends with four to twelve dogs and owners.
Owners attend weekly one-hour classes with their puppy at an indoor facility, practicing exercises together with the whole family encouraged to join.
Best for: Puppies between 10 and 18 weeks old who are current on their initial vaccinations.
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization, Basic obedience
Duration: 5 weeks
This follow-up class builds on Puppy 1 skills with more advanced recall, loose leash walking, off-leash heeling, and impulse control exercises for continued skill building.
Owners attend weekly one-hour classes continuing training with their puppy at an indoor facility.
Best for: Puppies who have completed Puppy 1 and are still under one year old.
Focus: Puppy training, Leash training, Recall & off-leash, Basic obedience
Duration: 5 weeks
This advanced puppy class works on refined manners, polite greetings, impulse control around distractions, and advanced leash walking, with the final two sessions held out in the community.
Owners attend weekly classes indoors and then out in the community during the final two sessions.
Best for: Puppies who have completed both Puppy 1 and Puppy 2 classes.
Focus: Puppy training, Advanced obedience, Leash training, Socialization
Duration: 5 weeks
This class covers similar ground to Puppy 1 with more emphasis on habits common in older dogs, including basic behaviors, socialization, and going to a requested place on command.
Dogs remain on leash throughout weekly one-hour classes at an indoor facility.
Best for: Adolescent and adult dogs over 18 weeks that are comfortable with people and other dogs.
Focus: Basic obedience, Socialization, Leash training
Duration: 5 weeks
This class focuses specifically on teaching dogs to walk without pulling and to reliably come when called despite distractions.
Owners attend weekly classes at an outdoor park practicing leash walking and recall exercises.
Best for: Dogs and owners who have completed Adolescent 1 or Puppy 1 and are up to date on vaccines.
Focus: Leash training, Recall & off-leash
Duration: 5 weeks
Best for: Dogs that have completed Adolescent/Adult Class 1.
Focus: Advanced obedience, Basic obedience
Group Classes in Santa Barbara typically runs $196–$330 across 10 programs that do publish pricing. Ask this trainer for a written quote before comparing.
This class prepares dogs and owners for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, practicing all ten test elements including loose leash walking, staying, coming when called, grooming, and polite manners.
Owners attend weekly on-leash classes practicing CGC test elements, with an optional test at session's end.
Best for: Owners with dogs that are calm, good-natured, and friendly with people and other dogs.
Focus: Advanced obedience, Leash training, Therapy dog training
Duration: 5 weeks
This class takes training out into downtown outdoor settings, working on down-stays in public, walking through crowds, polite greetings, recalls past distractions, and more impulse control, limited to five dog-handler teams.
Small group of five teams meets in various outdoor downtown settings for structured practice.
Best for: Dogs that have completed Puppy 2, 3, or Adolescent 2 and are working on advanced distraction training.
Focus: Advanced obedience, Leash reactivity, Recall & off-leash
Duration: 5 sessions
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy Class 1 | $225 per program | 5 weeks |
| Puppy Class 2 | $210 per program | 5 weeks |
| Puppy Class 3 | $225 per program | 5 weeks |
| Adolescent/Adult Class 1 | $225 per program | 5 weeks |
| Loose Leash Walking and Reliable Recall | $225 per program | 5 weeks |
| Adolescent/Adult Class 2 | Not published | — |
| Canine Good Citizen Class | $225 per program | 5 weeks |
| Community Canine Class | $250 per program | 5 sessions |
The site explicitly describes their approach as force-free. Aggression cases are considered individually rather than accepted or declined outright.
Method: Reward-based
Uses rewards and positive reinforcement only, without corrections or aversive tools.
Certifications: CPDT-KA
Verification still pending or not yet requested. See our methodology for what verification does and does not mean.
A CPDT-KA certification is listed, and the program has been operating for about 20 years. Insurance, guarantees, and other operational policies aren't mentioned on the site.
Facility: Uses rented space
Owner visits: not specified on their website.
Video updates: not specified on their website.
Overnight staffing: not specified on their website.
Insurance: not specified on their website.
Guarantee: not specified on their website.
Waitlist: not specified on their website.
Dogs per trainer: not specified on their website.
Booking: Book online
Price: Perfect Puppy Academy does not publish board & train pricing. Across Santa Barbara, 20 programs publish prices from about $157 to $1,665.
Reviews: Perfect Puppy Academy shows 4.9★ from 14 Google reviews among 6 published Santa Barbara programs.
Transparency: This listing scores 84 out of 100 (price 80%, program clarity 70%). 1 of 6 Santa Barbara listings show certifications; this business lists CPDT-KA.
Classes take place at a rented facility on Carpinteria Street in Santa Barbara. Parking and accessibility details aren't published.
733 Carpinteria St, Santa Barbara, CA
Friday: 8AM-6PM
Monday: 8AM-6PM
Sunday: 8AM-6PM
Tuesday: 8AM-6PM
Saturday: 8AM-6PM
Thursday: 8AM-6PM
Wednesday: 8AM-6PM
Reach out directly or send a quote request through Perfect Puppy Academy.
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