Alexandria business celebrates 50 years training dogs, still going … with a sidewalk party featuring local vendors, dog treats and an adoption component.

The three-hour event at the school on Oronoco Street highlighted five decades of dog training and community ties that began when Carlos and Sandy Mejias opened the business in 1975. Longtime staff who rose through the ranks now run the operation, utilizing modern training techniques that reflect the significant evolution of dog training over the past 50 years in the United States from dominance-based methods to positive reinforcement. Proceeds from the celebration were designated for the rescue group Operation Paws for Homes.

Carlos and Sandy Mejias founded the school in 1975 as a family-owned training, daycare and grooming facility that became a fixture in Old Town Alexandria. After decades leading the business, the couple retired in 2022 and longtime employees took over ownership that same year.

Yubi Bilbao, who joined the staff in May 2007, and Brad Huber, who joined in May 2012, bought the school in 2022 and now serve as co-owners. “We do balanced training, depending on the breed and where they came from,” said Yubi Bilbao, Co-owner. This approach incorporates widely used modern methods that emphasize positive reinforcement and the use of rewards rather than punishment.

The anniversary celebration drew owners and their dogs to the sidewalk outside the shop at 529 Oronoco Street, where vendors set up tables and staff offered treats that resembled iced pastries. Inside, the front section of the shop displayed well-organized shelves of dog apparel, leashes and gear while the service desk bustled with trainers greeting customers and their dogs. Dog owners seeking reputable training options can benefit from resources like the American Kennel Club’s TrainerFinder and the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers’ directory.

Olde Towne has groomed a range of dogs over the years, including Portuguese Water Dogs; the school noted it recently groomed two such dogs from a White House family. Co-owner Brad Huber described the facility’s role in the neighborhood: “This is a unique facility because we mainly use Old Town as our training facility,” he said.

The celebration also leaned on the school’s history of combining daycare with structured training, an approach the founders championed. “People thought we were nuts to have a doggie day care and day care training in particular,” Carlos Mejias, Co-founder, said of the school’s early days, which now resonate with contemporary understandings of dog care and training.

Organizers designated proceeds from the party to Operation Paws for Homes, which served as a beneficiary during the event. The combination of vendors, treats and a rescue presence reinforced the school’s position as a community hub for dog owners in Alexandria.

Coverage of the sidewalk party and the school’s 50-year history appears in a feature by The Zebra Press and in local television reporting, which traced the school’s evolution from a small family business to a longtime neighborhood institution.

As the school moves forward under new ownership, its staff continue to teach basic obedience and address behavioral issues while offering grooming and daycare services that have underpinned the business since 1975. The anniversary event served as a public celebration of that continuity, reflecting a broader shift in the sector toward prioritizing the dog’s welfare and utilizing techniques that are scientifically endorsed.

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Original reporting: view the original article.