Tiffany Terroux met her husband, Ted, in 2003 when she sought his expert advice and training assistance with a dog she was fostering at the time. She quickly realized that her quest had led to two of the most experienced and well-known dog trainers not only in Colorado, but in the Rocky Mountain Region.
“I quickly found myself in the middle of a dog knowledge gold mine! Ted was a kennel owner, many times over referred professional dog trainer, and instrumental in developing two major local breed rescue organizations, Safe Harbor Lab Rescue and Golden Retriever Rescue of the Rockies. Over his career, he has served over 30,000 clients,” shares Tiffany. “His mother, Sally, was a nationally renowned trainer, professional handler, Flat-Coated Retriever breeder, and co-founder of the Flat-Coated Retriever Society of America. She developed one of the first board and training programs in Colorado, trained the first hearing dog, and conducted group classes for 60 years.”
Inspired and excited by what she was learning, Tiffany began her own journey in dog training, received formal education in animal behavior, and applied that knowledge and training in the therapy and service dog industries. In 2005, Ted and Tiffany opened a dog training facility in Lakewood and coauthored The Complete Family Dog.
In 2024, the couple brought Terroux Dog Training and Ralston Valley Canine onto the same campus and now provide boarding and grooming services alongside their professional dog training services.
“We have a full suite of services available when you come onto the campus. Our boarding services provide skilled and passionate care for dogs while their families go out of town,” says Tiffany. “We offer training for all dogs of all ages and virtually every issue, covering foundational skills, living skills, obedience skills, and good manners. We’re basically teaching everyone how to live with their dogs 24-7, not just when they're on a leash. We also offer a full slate of highly rated grooming services by expert groomers for every breed because we know that grooming is an important element in a dog's health, hygiene, and appearance.”
One of the many things that make Ralston Valley Canine unique is the decades of experience and long tenure of the team combined with the passion they each have for providing the best care and training possible. With two staff members who live on-site and do bedtime checks every night coupled with video surveillance, the team monitors boarders closely and responds quickly when needed.
Training is offered in both private and group settings and can be utilized through a board and train program or just as training courses. Puppy classes provide socialization and good manners training for dogs 9 to 17 weeks old. Basic obedience training is a 7-week course offered for dogs 18 weeks and older and addresses common behaviors and commands as well as information on successfully living life with a dog.
“Our training program is popular for its focus on protecting the relationship between people and dog, between dog and owner,” shares Tiffany. “Care is taken to educate the owner on how to constructively live with a dog and maintain their training. We do not use e-collars or pinch collars in our program. We use decades of experience and training rather than relying on tools.”
The AKC Canine Good Citizen class is open to dogs 6 months and older who have completed the basic obedience training. “The aim of this course is to earn the AKC CGC certificate, which has value in that there are some insurance companies who have said that they will offer a discount to homeowners’ insurance if the owner's dog has a CGC certificate,” Tiffany explains. “There are also some condominium associations who will offer discounts or only allow dogs who have a CGC certificate.”
Whether through boarding, grooming, or training, the team at Ralston Valley Canine provides dog owners with the tools they need to enjoy life with their furry friends. “We love bringing people and their dogs together, helping them learn to speak each other's language, and enjoy life together,” says Tiffany. “We have a saying here…. improving family relationships one dog at a time.”
Ralston Valley Canine is located at 12975 W. 80th Avenue in Arvada. For more information and to book services, visit www.ralstonvalleycanine.com or call 303-423-2243.
“We offer training for all dogs of all ages and virtually every issue, covering foundational skills, living skills, obedience skills, and good manners."
“We love bringing people and their dogs together, helping them learn to speak each other's language, and enjoy life together,” says Tiffany.