Building the Bond

 

Start your training journey by learning how to communicate clearly and build enthusiastic engagement with your dog. This foundational course focuses on marker training, motivation, and reinforcement techniques essential for teaching manners like sit, down, and polite leash walking. You'll learn the mechanics of timing and reward delivery so your dog truly enjoys working with you. No prerequisites are required, making this the perfect starting point for any dog and handler team.

 

Growing the Bond

 

Take your foundational skills to the next level by strengthening focus and reliability around distractions. In this course, teams refine their leash manners, build solid stay criteria, and practice impulse control in dynamic exercises. You will also learn how to fade constant rewards into resilient, real-world behaviors while deepening your working relationship. Prerequisite: Successful graduation from Building the Bond.

 

Intro to Nosework

 

Tap into your dog’s extraordinary natural scenting ability and build incredible focus through the engaging sport of scent detection. Dogs learn the foundational detection skills while owners develop keen observational skills to read subtle body language and changes in behavior at source. It’s an empowering, low-impact activity that boosts canine confidence and provides tremendous mental enrichment. Prerequisite: Successful graduation from Building the Bond.

 

Intro to AKC Rally Competition

 

Discover the fast-paced, collaborative sport of AKC Rally, where you and your dog navigate a numbered course of obedience exercises as a synchronized team. Handlers will learn how to read course signage, execute precise turns and position changes, and maintain brisk engagement between stations. This class bridges the gap between everyday manners and competitive dog sports in a supportive, upbeat environment. Prerequisite: Successful graduation from Building the Bond.

 

Paper Plate Recall Drop-In Class

 

Transform your dog's recall into an enthusiastic, fast response using a simple target, marker mechanics and high-energy reinforcement. This focused drop-in session uses a simple structured distance games to teach your dog that sprinting to you is a highly rewarding choice. It's a great, flexible opportunity to polish your dog's response and handler mechanics without a multi-week commitment. Prerequisite: Successful graduation from Building the Bond.
 

Confidence Course Drop-In Class

 

Empower your dog to navigate novel environments, unusual surfaces, and low-impact obstacles with poise and curiosity. Handlers will learn how to read subtle stress signals, advocate for their dog’s comfort zone, and use positive reinforcement to build resiliency in their dog. The drop-in format offers a flexible, fun way to expand your dog's environmental resilience and problem-solving skills at your own pace. Prerequisite: Successful graduation from Building the Bond.