September 12–13, 2026 · Hope Valley, Sierra Nevada
Your Dog Was Built for the Mountains. Are You Ready to Take Them There?
A two-day, hands-on mountain hiking seminar — real trails, real skills, real dogs. Limited to 8 dog-and-handler teams.
Reserve Your Spot!There's a version of you that doesn't just walk the neighborhood loop.
She loads up the car on a Saturday morning, drives into the mountains, and spends the day on a trail with a dog who listens off-leash, greets other dogs politely, and knows exactly what to do when things get interesting. She's not worried about rattlesnakes, sketchy trailhead parking lots, or what happens if her dog gets hurt five miles from the car — because she's trained for all of it.
This seminar is how you become her.
Over two days at a beautiful camp near Red Lake in Hope Valley, we — Kendall and Chan of Custom K9 Service Dogs, with 13+ years of professional training experience — will teach you and your dog the skills that turn "I wish I could take my dog hiking" into "we go every weekend."
What are you waiting for? The mountains are calling!
Two Days. Ten Hours. Every Skill You Need.
Day 1 — Saturday, Sept 12
10 AM – 6 PM
- Parking lot & trailhead transitions — where trail trouble actually starts
- Dog and wild animal attack defense
- Rattlesnake & poisonous plant first aid
- Emergency slings & carrying your dog to safety
- Trail etiquette & calm dog-on-dog greetings
- On-leash and off-leash trail work, Come and Drop It under real distraction
- A late-afternoon practice hike putting it ALL together
- Dinner at camp — on us
Day 2 — Sunday, Sept 13
10 AM – 2 PM
- Basic land navigation for safety and trail awareness — map, compass, and staying found in the backcountry
- A moderate hike through beautiful Bear Valley, putting your new nav and obedience skills with your dog to work on real terrain
- Drinks & end-of-seminar debrief at camp — your questions, your wins, your plan for what's next
Attend both days. Day 2 builds on Day 1, and the full experience is the point.
What's Included
- 10 hours of hands-on instruction with two professional trainers
- Small group — capped at 8 dog-and-handler teams
- Saturday dinner at camp + Sunday debrief refreshments
- Complete attendee packet with gear lists and logistics
- Optional free camping at the seminar site for the duration
- A dog you can actually take into the backcountry
For perspective: our private half-day seminars are $350 for four hours. This is ten hours across two days, dinner included, for about the same investment. The small group format is what makes that possible — and why we cap it at 8 teams.
Reserve Your Spot
Payment reserves your spot — 8 teams max, first come, first served.
Book by August 21 with code EARLYBIRD to save $50.
Club Doghouse members: check the community for your member discount code. Full refund if you cancel more than 14 days out or the event changes.
The Details
Where: A dispersed campsite near Red Lake, Hope Valley (exact directions sent after registration). A regular sedan handles the dirt road fine. Elevation ~8,000 ft.
Camping: Free and optional, Friday and/or Saturday night. This is true dispersed camping — no toilets, no hookups, sites are first come, first served. RVs and campers do come up regularly, but if you're unsure about your rig on the dirt road, we recommend a recon drive ahead of time. September nights get cold — pack for lows in the 30s.
Heads up: There is no cell service at this location — none. Download offline maps and tell someone your plans. There IS a stream (bring a filter). A complete gear list for you and your dog comes with your attendee packet.
Requirements: Signed waiver and proof of current vaccinations for every dog. Dogs should have basic obedience foundations — reactive dog? Tell us at registration and we can often accommodate. You are responsible for your dog's behavior at all times.
Questions? Answered.
Is my dog ready for this?
Do we have to camp?
What's the refund policy?
What about food and water?
Can I only make one day?
Spots full? Get first in line.
We cap every seminar at 8 teams, and spots go fast. Join the waitlist and you'll be the first we call if a spot opens up — and the first to know when we announce the next seminar.
Questions? Call or text (775) 230-2368.
Join the Waitlist
We'll only email you about seminars. No spam, ever.
