In this Scent Work Advanced, also called nose work, class teams will learn to identify and indicate specific scents used by AKC Scent Work and other trialing organizations.

Teams will focus on refining key skills:

• Team handling, handler body movement
• Alert recognition and reward timing
• Working at a competition level

Mastering these techniques will increase your proficiency and can lead to the achievement of AKC Scent Work titles and titles from other trialing organizations. Whether you're preparing for a trial or simply looking to improve your scent detection skills, this class will help you and your dog excel in this dog sport.

Price:  $150 + 2.50 registration fee for 7 week session, classes are held on Tuesdays. 

Prerequisite: Completion and instructor referral from Scent Work Intermediate Training class.

What to bring to class: Flat, martingale collar, or harness,  at least a 10 foot leash that is easty to take on and off, high value treats, treat pouch, water and a crate is required (we recommend a collapsible one). No e-collars, pull harnesses or retractable leashes.

Cancellation & Refunds: 

Cancellations made the day before the first class of a session are eligible for a refund, minus processing fees (currently about $13). No refunds, credits, or prorated fees are available once a session has started, including for missed classes.

Registration is limited to one handler per dog. Any additional handler registrations for the same dog will be canceled and refunded, minus fees.

Our puppy training class provides you with the knowledge you need to prepare for your puppy's crucial first 8-16 weeks in your home, setting the foundation for a happy and well-behaved dog.

This class covers the 5 essential things to accomplish with your puppy before 16 weeks old, including:

• Curb unwanted behaviors: How to prevent guarding behaviors and minimize biting behavior
• Socialization: How to introduce your puppy to people, places, and things
• Start the obedience basics: Recall, Walking on leash, Sit, Down and Stay
• Fun Puppy Games to build focus: Watch me, responding to a name, drop it or give, and touch
• Household help: Potty training advice, handling vet visits, and separation anxiety prevention

Get your puppy started on the right paw!

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certificate is awarded at the conclusion of class provided dog and handler attend a minimum of 6 classes and complete all 20 Star Puppy behaviors.

Price:  $150 + 2.50 registration fee for 7 week session, classes are held on Tuesdays. 

Prerequisite: Your puppy must be under 16 weeks or younger on the first day of class. If your puppy is older, Beginner Obedience is the appropriate class to register. 

What to bring to class: Flat or martingale collar sized appropriately for your puppy, 6 foot leash, high value treats, treat pouch, water, mat/rug and a positive attitude! No e-collars or retractable leashes.

Cancellation & Refunds: 

Cancellations made the day before the first class of a session are eligible for a refund, minus processing fees (currently about $13). No refunds, credits, or prorated fees are available once a session has started, including for missed classes.

Registration is limited to one handler per dog. Any additional handler registrations for the same dog will be canceled and refunded, minus fees.

The AKC Utility class is the most challenging level of obedience, requiring precision, focus, and a strong bond between dog and handler. 

Key training areas include:

• Signal exercise - The dog learns to respond to only hand signals to stand, stay, down, sit, and come
• Scent discrimination - finds the handler's scent among the articles and returns the correct scent article
• Directed retrieve - follow a hand signal to retrieve an item and return it to the handler
• Moving stand and exam - the dog heels, stands, and stays while the handler moves away
• Directed jump - the dog is sent to the opposite end of the ring, commanded to sit and then directed to one of two jumps

AKC Utility (UD, UDX) titles are hard to achieve. We offer the level of training with experienced instructors that you need to make it happen.

Price:  $150 + 2.50 registration fee for 7 week session, classes are held on Tuesdays. 

Prerequisite: Must have Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title and prior instructor recommendation before registering for this class, no exceptions.

What to bring to class: Scent articles & gloves - available from J &J dog supply, Max 200, or Training Reasures.  Flat, martingale, or slip collar, 6 foot leash, long retractable flexi leash, high value treats, treat pouch, water, crate (we recommend a collapsible one) so your dog is safely put up during rotations.  No e-collars. 

Cancellation & Refunds: Cancellations made the day before the first class of a session are eligible for a refund, minus processing fees (currently about $13). No refunds, credits, or prorated fees are available once a session has started, including for missed classes.

Registration is limited to one handler per dog. Any additional registrations for the same dog will be canceled and refunded, minus fees.

The Rally Advanced, Excellent & Master class is an upper level Rally class where you and your dog move through a more challenging course made up of increasingly complex obedience skills and command signs.

In our Rally class you will:

• Learn the Advanced, Excellent & Masters Rally signs. Your dog will be in a crate while you do this part, known as a walk-through
• Work together with your dog on-leash to execute 14-18 command signs, including off leash
• Learn challenging commands - moving downs and moving stands where the handler moves out to a set point and gives change of position commands or recall, jumps, and back ups

The Rally dog sport emphasizes teamwork between you and your dog. 

Price: $150 + 2.50 registration fee for 7 week session, classes are held on Tuesdays. 

Prerequisites: Dogs must be at least 9 months of age prior to the start of the first class.  Successfully completed the Rally Novice & Intermediate class, with instructor approval.

What to bring to class: Flat, martingale, or slip collar, 6-foot leash, high-value treats, treat pouch, water, and a positive attitude!  No e-collars. A crate is required (we recommend a collapsible one) so your dog is safely put up during the walk-through that precedes each class.  

Cancellation & Refunds: 

Cancellations made the day before the first class of a session are eligible for a refund, minus processing fees (currently about $13). No refunds, credits, or prorated fees are available once a session has started, including for missed classes.

Registration is limited to one handler per dog. Any additional handler registrations for the same dog will be canceled and refunded, minus fees.

Our Therapy Dog Skills class prepares you and your dog with the skills needed to become a calm and compassionate therapy dog team. Therapy dog skills is not a service dog class but a class designed to teach you the tools for visitations with those that need comfort, affection or stress relief.  A therapy dog must be even tempered, enjoy interacting with people in all types of environments and have an unflappable disposition. 

The skills you can expect to work on include:

• Accepting petting from strangers, to stay calm around distractions, and walk in crowded areas of people and equipment
• Desensitization to mobility aids through positive, reward-based training exercises
• Learn to read your dog's body language and identify signs of discomfort in busy and unfamiliar spaces/situations.

Prerequisites: Dogs must be at least 6 months of age prior to the start of first class. Completion of at least one Intermediate Obedience class session or CGC title. 

Note:  This class doesn’t provide therapy dog certification. It is designed to help prepare teams for evaluations conducted by the therapy dog organization of your choice. 

What to bring to class: Flat, martingale, or slip collar, 6 foot leash, high value treats, treat pouch, and water.  No e-collars or retractable leashes.

Ready to compete! AKC Conformation Handling class is an opportunity for handlers and their dog to have a simulated show ring experience. Dogs in this class must be a breed recognized by the AKC and your dog is already registered with the AKC.

This class will work on presentation and handling techniques including:

• Stacking the dog and training a free-stack
• Adjusting speed for moving the dog around the ring to avoid pacing or trotting
• Introducing the dog to being approached and touched by a judge
• How to enter the ring
• Keep engagement with your dog while showing
• Handling treats (bait) while presenting your dog

Price:  $90 + 2.50 registration fee for a full session, classes are held on Tuesdays. 

NOTE:

• This is not an obedience training class, see our class offering for Obedience training
• This is a full session at a discounted price. We also offer the convenience to register for a single class on a chosen date. See the "AKC Conformation Handling - Single class.

What to bring to class: Collar should be what will be used in the ring (slip collar), 4 to 6 foot leather leash, Dog Toy, preferably on a rope/string, Dog Crate - optional, Soft treats (bait) and treat pouch. Note: Don't feed your dog within three hours of training.

Cancellations & Refunds: Cancellations made the day before the first class of a session are eligible for a refund, minus processing fees (currently about $13). No refunds, credits, or prorated fees are available once a session has started, including for missed classes.

Registration is limited to one handler per dog. Any additional handler registrations for the same dog will be canceled and refunded, minus fees.

The Intermediate Obedience class is designed for dog owners who are looking to improve their obedience skills or want to prepare for the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) required skills.

Key training areas include:

• Better focus - walking on a loose lead, ignoring distractions and working around other people and dogs
• Sitting quietly for petting and grooming by another person
• Drive and desire to work - longer stays and more reliable recall
• Separation - be able to separate from owner while with another person
• Transition from food to engagement - Food rewards are used initially, but students will also learn how to transition away from food rewards by incorporating engagement and play into training

Earn a title - Ask your instructor for more information about testing for the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate.

Classes should be repeated to become proficient in all skills before advancing to the next level class.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Beginner Obedience class or equivalent skill level.

What to bring to class: Flat, martingale, or slip collar, 6 foot leash, high value treats, treat pouch, water, mat/rug and a positive attitude! No e-collars or retractable leashes.

Price:  $150 + 2.50 registration fee for 7 week session, classes are held on Tuesdays. 

Cancellation & Refunds: 

Cancellations made the day before the first class of a session are eligible for a refund, minus processing fees (currently about $13). No refunds, credits, or prorated fees are available once a session has started, including for missed classes.

Registration is limited to one handler per dog. Any additional handler registrations for the same dog will be canceled and refunded, minus fees.

Our Novice Obedience class is a great next step to continue your obedience journey. Developed in the 1930s, competitive Obedience is one of the AKC’s oldest sporting events, and it’s open to all dogs. This class teaches you the drills to compete in AKC Obedience trials to possibly earn an AKC Companion Dog (CD) title or just to make sure that your dog is the most well-behaved one in your neighborhood!

Skills practiced include:

• Walking on and off leash
• Heeling with adjustment in pace, including stops and starts, and figure eights
• Sit-stay and recall from a distance
• Stand for exam, an exercise where the dog allows a stranger to come up and touch it while staying without the owner next to the dog

Our experienced trainers will help you build a competitive team with your dog and cultivate a willingness to work.

Classes should be repeated to become proficient in all skills before advancing to the next level class.

Price:  $150 + 2.50 registration fee for 7 week session, classes are held on Tuesdays. 

Prerequisite: Proficient in skills taught in Advanced Dog Obedience & Leash Skills and Intermediate Obedience class. Suggested class of Obedience & Rally - Focus & Heeling can be taken before or concurrently with this class.

What to bring to class: Flat, martingale, or slip collar, 6 foot leash, high value treats, treat pouch, water, and a positive attitude! No e-collars or retractable leashes.

Cancellations & Refunds: Cancellations made the day before the first class of a session are eligible for a refund, minus processing fees (currently about $13). No refunds, credits, or prorated fees are available once a session has started, including for missed classes.

Registration is limited to one handler per dog. Any additional handler registrations for the same dog will be canceled and refunded, minus fees.