👉 Reserve Your Spot Early - Free Dog Detox Summit (May 18–22)

👉 Reserve Your Spot Early -

Free Dog Detox Summit (May 18–22)

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The Growl Class

The Growl Class focuses on long-term socialization and employs advanced classical conditioning techniques. The program aims to boost confidence in both dogs and owners.

30 reviews

542 students enrolled

Created by Dr. Ian Dunbar

Last Updated: 2026

Full Lifetime Access

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30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

This course includes:

  • 6 hours on-demand video
  • 13 lessons
  • Assignments
  • Access on mobile
  • Lifetime Access
  • Certificate of Completion

about

Is your dog struggling with aggression or fear around other dogs? Don't wait until it's too late—take action now with The Growl Class! This comprehensive course, led by the Dunbars, covers everything you need to help your dog gain social confidence. It's built on 6+ hours of video lectures, supplementary notes, and real-life case studies. The course teaches you how to break the vicious cycle where a dog’s decreasing socialization increases its aggressiveness. 


You'll learn about newly developed techniques that accelerate the process of classical conditioning and desensitization, helping your dog become a social butterfly again. Resolving these issues without proper guidance is time-consuming and unfair to other dogs and their owners. The Growl Class is tailored to help you understand your dog’s behavior, give you control, and, most importantly, improve your dog's quality of life.

What you'll learn

  • How to assess the severity of your dog's fighting based on the Fight:Bite Ratio.
  • Using primary reinforcers like toys or kibble effectively.
  • Stress tests to assess your dog's comfort level.
  • How to use Classical Conditioning Set-Ups to accelerate the socialization process.
  • The Jolly Routine: An underutilized classical conditioning routine.
  • Techniques for quantitative assessment of prognosis and time required for rehabilitation.
  • Introduction to classical conditioning in various environments.
  • Strategies to decrease and eliminate reactivity, such as lunging and barking.
  • Implementing the Come-Sit-Watch command to lessen your dog's threat level.
  • Maintaining progress through lifetime practices, such as hand-feeding your dog in the presence of other dogs.

Who This Course is For

  • Dog owners who've noticed aggressive or fearful behavior in their pets around other dogs.
  • Owners of adolescent dogs, as these animals, often experience deteriorating social skills.
  • People who want a scientific, methodical approach to dog socialization.
  • Those who have tried traditional training methods without success.

WHAT THEY SAY

Karen

Learned a lot


Many useful techniques to hel[ dogs stay focused on their owners

LESSONS

Course Content

  • 05:49:15
  • 13 lessons

Module 0: Introduction

I: Introduction

Module 1: The Growl Class w/ The Dunbars (05:49:15)

I: How Did We Get Here, And How Are We Going To Fix It? (37:29)
II: Building Muscle Memory (39:23)
III: Building Your Dog’s Confidence Around Other Dogs (26:42)

IV: Understanding Representative Feedback & Maintaining Bite Inhibition (Group 2 Returns) (26:31)
V: Correcting Unwanted Behavior and More (30:18)
VI: Learning The Jolly Routine (22:29)

VII: Follow Up Training and Equipment Questions (22:33)

VIII: Q & A and 1st Group Returns (30:39)
IX: Behavior Pacifiers and Off Leash Walking (25:08)
X: More Jolly Routine and Settling (Group 2 Returns) (27:25)

XI: Capturing, Constructive Commands, and Go To’s (31:05)

XII: More Q & A (29:33)

INSTRUCTOR

  • 5+ instructor rating

The Dunbars

Dr. Ian, Kelly, and Jamie Dunbar are the trio behind various dog training ventures. Ian, a veterinary graduate with a Ph.D. in dog behavior, pioneered the first off-leash puppy socialization classes and founded the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. Kelly, originally from Chicago, became one of the first certified pet dog trainers and has managed multiple training and daycare facilities. Jamie, Ian's son, is a Brown University graduate who initially joined as a video editor but now handles marketing and content creation. Together, they have launched initiatives like Dog Star Daily and Open Paw to offer free training resources and support for shelters. Their collective work has impacted hundreds of thousands of dogs and their owners.

REVIEWS

Student feedback

wow. the whole course is amazing. I am so glad I purchased the Premium Package, I will want to review these session over and over. I have used so much of what I have learned from the Dunbar Academy training dogs and other volunteers at our local shelter, what I have learned during the Pet Summits Secrets will enhance my training knowledge and ability to. reach more people and dogs. Thank you for a great first 2 days!!! Anyone involved in dog training and dog raising. There is something for everyone
Gail Smith

having a wonderful and generous hearted hostess for the event who listens and asks good questions and clarifies the content the non choir people..vet offices and vet assistants in training
nanda currant

Wow excellent summit. I've enjoyed every minute of it. As a retired obedience instructor, I'm so excited to hear that force is definitely out and FUN is the opporative word!!! My past VIZSLAS did gain their OB, AD titles, under the old school. Being a happy fun loving breed I was able to make a game out of there training.
All power to Matt Beisner..."Trauma=Loss of Self".... give space... help K9 get back to it's "SELF".... K9S need Care not training etc etc.
My totally shattered Vizsla both physically and mentally eventually gained her AD titles once I gave her the space to find her own resilient V spirit.
Melissa and Dr. Ian, my 1yr V boy is absolutely thrilled to now have his training mixed up with his games.
Andrea, "let K9s be a K9"... I love it!
Doggy Dan, Yes yes, like you, my Moto has always been "Think Dog"!!
I've enjoyed & learnt lots from each and everyone of your professional presenters. A huge Thank you One &All.
Apologies for lengthy review.
Maza, and VIZSLAS Darcy (12.3yrs), Mirri (1yr).🐾🐾

All genuine Animal lovers.
Maza

I just watched your chat with Doggy Dan. I think this will help ME in life, as much as it will help me to help my dog.
Thank you so much.

People who love their dogs but need help to build a relationship with their dogs that ultimately holds fewer stress points...so you can enjoy them even more than you do already.
Jan Masters

I didn’t get a chance to see the summit the first weekend, but I’m taking advantage of being able to see it on the long weekend, and I’m amazed of how great the content is. It’s been great to know all the research that it’s being done and how many experts are trying to guide all pet parents who are desperately looking for answers. I really enjoyed the talk about dental health since there’s little information out there. Needless to say we are making changes to improve our dog’s health. Friends with dogs and without. Humans could benefit from this knowledge too.
Samantha Aretuo
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