Our puppy classes are uniquely designed to take advantage of your puppy’s developmental periods. These classes use our open registration format that allows you to start as soon as there’s an opening in class. Then you can continue for as long as you need to meet your training goals. Both classes allow off leash socialization opportunities with other puppies so your puppy can learn or build on good social play skills.
Registering for class? Behavior and Training 101 (available online!) is a prerequisite
Puppy Kindergarten (for puppies 8-14 weeks on first day of class)
$125 for 5 consecutive weeks
Book Recommendations: Perfect Puppy in 7 Days. Social, Civil, and Savvy: Training & Socializing Puppies.
Class Requirements:
- Covid-19 vaccination and up-to-date booster for each handler. Masks are recommended, but optional.
- Completion of Behavior and Training (BAT) 101 seminar
- Bordetella plus first vaccination for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo) at least 10 days prior to start date.
- Vaccinations must be administered by a veterinarian or puppy must have a well-puppy exam by a veterinarian prior to start date.
- Vaccinations must remain current, with a maximum of 3 week intervals. Mail confirmation to office@gsltc.org.
- Age 8 to 14 weeks on the first day of class
Puppies older than 14 weeks are not eligible for any GSLTC puppy classes but are eligible for Foundation Manners.
Puppy Kindergarten is the most important class your dog will ever attend! Don’t take our word for it, visit the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior to read more. This class is focused on the most vital aspects of puppy development – socialization and dog-to-dog interaction. Our Puppy classes are unique because they provide structured playtime, so puppies can learn social cues from each other, while also socializing puppies to new sights, sounds, people, and playmates in a fun and positive way. In puppy class, we play and work hard! In addition, we cover common puppy issues such as:
- Chewing
- Nipping
- House-Soiling
- The Foundation of Basic Training
Contact the office if the date you wish to start is not available upon clicking the Sign-Up button within the class registration link. It’s so important to get young puppies into Puppy Kindergarten class before the optimal socialization window closes, that we’ll work to get your puppy in class as soon as possible.
Puppy Elementary (Only available for current Puppy Kindergarten students)
$125 for 5 consecutive weeks
Book Recommendation: Perfect Puppy in 7 Days. Perfect Puppy in 7 Days. Social, Civil, and Savvy: Training & Socializing Puppies.
Register for Puppy Elementary only if you are already a student in Puppy Kindergarten. Puppies who have not attended Puppy Kindergarten should enroll in Foundation Manners.
Class Requirements:
- Covid-19 vaccination and up-to-date booster for each handler. Masks are recommended, but optional.
- Minimum of two weeks in Puppy Kindergarten
- Puppies transfer from Puppy Kindergarten into Puppy Elementary at 15 – 16 weeks. Only puppies who have attended our Puppy Kindergarten class are eligible for Puppy Elementary class.
- Vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo), Rabies, and Bordetella
- Appropriate play with other puppies
Puppies older than 14 weeks are not eligible for any GSLTC puppy classes and will be referred to Foundation Manners.
We proudly offer the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Award system in Puppy Elementary! In this class, puppies not only continue their socialization to new dogs and people, but begin the AKC S.T.A.R Puppy curriculum as well. They learn to be comfortable with handling and grooming and with brief separation from their owners. We also introduce more advanced training such as Walking on a Leash, Sit and Down, and Come When Called. At the end of 5 classes, all puppies have the opportunity to earn the S.T.A.R. Puppy Award provided by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Click here for more information on the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Certification.
Students are automatically enrolled in this class once graduating from Puppy Kindergarten. Contact the office if you have questions about enrollment in this class.
Missed Class Policy: For the consistency of your dog’s training and our ability to monitor our class size, we are not able to accommodate make-up sessions if you have to miss a class. We will deduct 1 training session from your pass if you have to miss.