Family Dog Training

In class, you’ll have a checklist to help track your progress on the skills learned in class and earn Good Dog then Super Dog level.

Games (currently not offered)

$125 for 5 class sessions – standard 5 week format with a defined start and end date

Class Requirements

• Dog is friendly to people and other dogs
• Attendance at the Behavior and Training 101 seminar
• Graduation at Good Dog level* from Foundation Manners class or the equivalent
• Handler knowledge about using a marker signal, such as a clicker, to teach new skills
• Vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo), Rabies, and Bordetella

*Dog Skills required: respond to cues for sit, down, stay in place, and come when called

Playing interactive, challenging games is one of the quickest ways for your dog to learn complex skills.  Dogs enjoy being challenged while having fun, and love when their owners play along too.  In our Games class, students will spend an hour once a week interacting with their dogs while using their Foundation Manners skills.  We’ll cover and play several games per week and will also practice fun activities to achieve a fast and enthusiastic recall.

Each session of this class will focus on different games and topics.  See the class link for details about the specific games covered in a session.

Below are just some of the games/skills played in class:

• Operation Catwalk/Runway (Handling)
• The Wave (sits, downs)
• Tic-tac-toe (sits, downs)
• Open Wide (sit-stay)
• Red light green light (loose leash walking)
• Over the River to Grandma’s House  (loose leash walking, Rally)
• Pass the Parcel  (polite greetings)
• Bowling (perfecting cues)

Bring your “game” to Games class!

Moving With Your Dog  (currently not offered)

$75 for 3 weekly class sessions

Class Requirements

• Dog is friendly to people and other dogs and can relax quietly between exercises
• Attendance at the Behavior and Training 101 seminar
• Graduation at Good Dog or Super Dog level* from Foundation Manners class or the equivalent.
• Handler knowledge about using a marker signal, such as a clicker, to teach new skills.
• Vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo), Rabies, and Bordetella

*Dog Skills required: Respond to cues for sit, and down and can walk on leash for short distances with few distractions.

Is your dog pulling you down the street when you want to take a walk? Do you get a pain in your shoulder just thinking about picking up the leash?  Try the “Moving with your dog” class to learn and practice your loose leash walking skills. You will also learn games and tricks to enhance your walks and keep your dog engaged. It is all about heeling!

Tricks (currently not offered)  

$150 for 6 weekly class sessions

Class Requirements

• Dog is friendly to people and other dogs
• Attendance at the Behavior and Training 101 seminar
• Graduation at Good Dog level* from Foundation Manners class or the equivalent
• Handler knowledge about using a marker signal, such as a clicker, to teach new skills
• Vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo), Rabies, and Bordetella

*Dog Skills required: respond to cues for sit, down, and walk politely on leash

Teaching your dog tricks establishes a pattern of learning, teaches skills and focus, provides mental and physical challenges, and promotes the bond between you and your dog using a positive training method.  Working toward the goal of earning a tricks title can help to keep you motivated and focused in your training.  In our Tricks class, students will spend an hour once a week learning to do more with their dog.  You’ll learn new tricks every week, including Paws Up, Shell Game, Leg Weave, and Hoop Jump.

Canine Good Citizen® Preparation Class

$125 for 5 weekly class sessions, does not include testing

Class Requirements

• Dog is friendly to people and other dogs
• Attendance at the Behavior and Training 101 seminar
• Graduation at Super Dog level from Foundation Manners class or the equivalent
• Handler knowledge about using a marker signal, such as a clicker, to teach new skills*
• Vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo), Rabies, and Bordetella

Prepare your dog to be a an AKC Canine Good Citizen. Practice the exercises and learn the rules needed to pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Advanced CGC (CGCA) tests offered by the AKC. This class is appropriate for dogs who already can walk on leash without pulling; sit, down and stay for a short period; accept handling from a stranger; recover easily from startling events and remain calm and quiet in class. Our classes are taught using clickers and rewards and while we welcome all students, we expect our students to use reward-based training with their dogs.  Leash or other physical corrections for training are not supported in our classes.

Dogs should be able to perform these behaviors prior to class:

• Respond to cues for Sit, Down, Stay in place for a short period
• Walk on leash without pulling
• Be comfortable with new people and unfamiliar dogs
• Perform skills without management equipment such as a special no-pull harness, prong collar, head halter, or slip collar.  Buckle collars, Martingale or “limited slip” collars or regular body harnesses can be used.

*Our training classes are taught using clickers and rewards and while we welcome all students, we expect our students to use reward-based training with their dogs.  Leash or other physical corrections for training are not supported in our classes.

Canine Good Citizen® Testing

$15 per dog

We offer testing for both the Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) and Community Canine (CGCA) several times each year.  The CGC program, established in 1989 by the American Kennel Club to promote responsible dog ownership and to encourage the training of well-mannered dogs, is a short behavioral evaluation of common skills necessary for good canine citizenship.  Dogs demonstrate greeting people politely, walking through a crowd with manners, and Come When Called along with other basic skills.  Any dog can become a Good Canine Citizen!  All breeds (including mixed) are welcome.

Therapy Dog Prep Class (currently not offered)

$75 for 3 weekly class sessions

Class Requirements:

• Dog is friendly to people and other dogs and is at least 1 year of age
• Attendance at the Behavior and Training 101 seminar
• Graduation at Good Dog level from Foundation Manners class or the equivalent
• Handler knowledge about using a marker signal, such as a clicker, to teach new skills*
• Attendance at the Just For You Behavior and Training 101 seminar
• Vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo), Rabies, and Bordetella

For those interested in volunteering with their dog, this class will prepare you and your dog for the Alliance of Therapy Dogs evaluation. This course helps you become eligible for possible certification – it does not guarantee certification. We will review behaviors your dog should know, become familiar with different types of equipment, cover handler etiquette, and review what to do in different and sometimes difficult situations.