Free Online SUMMIT Encore I June 16 - 19, 2026

👉 Free Online SUMMIT Encore

 June 16 - 19, 2026

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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

I can’t say I enjoyed one talk more than another. What I can say is the content of this senior summit was amazing all the way around! I learned so much about keeping senior dogs healthier from nervous system to toenails. Great speakers. Amazing content. Thank you to each and everyone of your speakers and your support staff who made this happen. Absolutely anyone with a senior dog and really, anyone with a mid aged dog that wants to keep them as healthy and happy as possible
Becky Kelber

Everything! Mind Blown! This has been so informative & the presenters are all amazing! Can't wait to watch day 3! Couldn't even take notes I was having so many ah-ha moments, any chance these are available for re watch? Knowledge is power, thanks for giving pet owners all this crucial information! Greatful! Any pet owner,trainer ,dog daycare owner, groomer, tech& VET!
Rachel Visconte

Thank you a thousand fold. This has been so validating. I always feel like I’m out on a limb as so few folks feed raw, much less homemade.
I am so grateful.
Lynne

Every pet owner on the planet.
Lynne Rondelle

The compassionate presentation of incredible information to assist me in giving my rescue dog her best possible life. In particular the presentations by Jo-Rosie Haffenden and Kamal Fernandez gave me tools to add to my "tool box" . Above all I sincerely appreciate the loving approach to training & helping dogs/guardians navigate the world.

I would recommend this summit to folks like myself-- lifelong dog owner whose current companion is a rescue who came with a great deal of baggage for which I had no experience to train/modulate.
Maryon Evans

I am really enjoying the dog summit. Thanks so much for organising it! I am a dog trainer/behaviorst/walker form The Netherlands and this is really giving me so much inspiration and joy. Thank you!

I recommend this summit to my boyfriend Mahmoud. And to all dog professionals and owners I know.
Frederique Roes
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