As a first-time dog owner, I was a bit intimidated by the thought of obedience classes.  What if they taught me to hit my dog?  I didn’t want to do that.  What if my puppy wouldn’t listen to me.  Would I be embarrassed?  Would I be able to handle it?  Would my puppy?  As it turned out, hiring a reputable Bay Area Dog Trainer ensured that these fears never became actual problems.  I was thrilled with how easy obedience became, and to this day I’ve never had to hit my dog to make her behave.  Let me be the first to recommend professional training and to soothe the nerves of anyone who is as nervous as I once was!