Meet Jan Perkins of Live Oak Dog Obedience

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jan Perkins.

Hi Jan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have always had a lot of different animals, dogs, cats, horses, raccoons, etc., and have loved observing their behavior. When I was young I used to listen and observe dogs especially and was able to learn many of their ways of communication. It was a gift I have. When I was in my 20s I rescued a lab that had a lot of aggression issues that I trained and was able to control his aggression and use him as a demo dog while I worked for a dog trainer.

I went to BYU and majored in Animal Science and worked for a veterinarian for three years. When I moved back to California my husband encouraged me to start my own business, which I did. At that time I started Live Oak Dog Obedience in S.O., California, and hired about 10 trainers to work for me. My business went basically from San Bernardino to Los Angeles. During this time wolf hybrids were very popular so I was able to work with many of these dogs. This training gave me a lot of exposure to the wolf pack order and mentality of wolves. I was grateful for this opportunity and it gave me even a better understanding of dogs and how they think.

In 1995, I moved up to Sandy, Utah, and again started my business here. Most of my classes were taught at many of the Recreation Centers in the Salt Lake Valley doing group classes and also private classes. Because of the Covid Virus and many of the Recreation Centers closing down, I built a facility at my home. Because this was in a regular neighborhood and parking was limited and we needed more space I was blessed to be able to find a home in Bluffdale and built another facility, where we are currently training.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have been very blessed and I am very grateful I have been able to have wonderful clients and many referrals. At times when doors would seem to be closing something would open up and I have been able to keep things going. So I guess I can’t complain.

As you know, we’re big fans of Live Oak Dog Obedience Utah. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Live Oak Dog Obedience, LLC has been operating in Utah since 1996 and is an established local business. Live Oak offers year-round dog training classes and private instruction in Salt Lake City and surrounding areas, including indoor classes during the winter months. Classes are generally small so personalized attention and guidance can be achieved.

My focus is on helping my clients to understand their dog’s thinking and behavior. So many times unfortunately we treat them like humans and confuse them, which causes behavior issues. Not only do I work training obedience, but I also focus strongly on behavior problems and manners.

In my obedience classes, I start with Puppy Classes where we give the puppy and the client a good basis for training and behavior. They are taught as their mothers would teach love and firmness. Never abusive. I do not use treats for training since that is a bribe and I want your puppy to work because they love you and not the quick reward through their stomach. Your hand and your voice is their reward and that is what they love the most really anyway.

Then at four months move them to the Beginning Novice Class, where again they train again with love from your hand and voice. In this class, we train again for behavior, manners, and obedience, with emphasis on obedience, but I always go over any behavior problems my clients might be having.

The next level of training is the Intermediate Class. In this class, we start the dogs to start working and thinking for themselves. This is a bridge class to off-leash and out of sight stays. Many new exercises are taught. Rewards like treats or toys may be introduced if the dog performs perfectly as a reward if you would like. These dogs work hard and are rewarded openly with love.

The last obedience class would be the Advance Class. This is a challenging and incredibly fun class. We train in many different areas, out of sight stays, distance recalls retrieval, tricks, some service dog jobs, jumps, etc. This list is limitless. It is geared around my lessons or whatever my clients would like to work on. The majority of this work is off-leash. These dogs are amazing!

Other classes we offer for fun or for the competition is Agility, Rally, Nosework, and Walk and Trains (training at different locations, using the training in class). Dogs all have DNA that gives them a job, herding, hunting, protection, etc. Unfortunately, we take these magnificent animals and bring them into the city to serve us, but we forget that they have needs too. I help my clients understand how they can challenge their dogs and help them to use their brains and give them a job. Dogs, like us that have a job or purpose, are happy.

Each spring we also offer Rattlesnake Avoidance training with Web Parton. Web Parton is amazing. He comes from Arizona and has trained field dogs and has worked with Rattlesnakes. Web trains your dog with live rattlesnakes where your dog will learn to be aware of them by their sense of sight, smell, and sound. This is a one-time class that will never have to be repeated. Dogs don’t forget what they have learned and experienced in this class. Web has been doing training for me for about 15 years.. If you would like to learn more about him, Google Web Parton and you can learn more about him.

What’s next?
We have just moved to this new facility a year ago and the indoor facility is basically complete, but my goal for next year is to have a grass area outside for training. I have started to bring in all professional agility equipment, and have one more piece to get, which I am hoping to be able to get in a couple of months.

Pricing:

• $300.00 for eight classes This can be used for any of the classes I offer.
• $50.00 for any individual class
• $50.00 for 1/2 hour of Private Training at my facility
• Private classes at your location will be determined by location. $100.00 at up

Contact Info:

• Email: jan@liveoakdogobedienceutah.com
• Website: liveoakdogobedienceutah.com
• Instagram: @liveoakdog
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/liveoakdog

Image Credits
Kelsey Larsen and Krista Larsen