Companion Classes
Whether your goal is an adventure buddy or a quiet family dog who behaves well around guests and other dogs (or both!), socialization and positive training are crucial to help establish a solid foundation of manners and strengthen the bond that you have with your dog.
Our companion classes are designed for all ages and breeds.
We’re here to help you and your dog have your best life together, so please contact us if you have questions about a class, your dog’s suitability, or need a recommendation.
The Basics
Help your pup put their best paw forward with one of our foundation manners classes.
Whether you've got a puppy or an older dog that's new to you or that maybe just needs a little refresher, these classes are a great place to begin (or reset) your paw-sitive training relationship with your pup.
Most classes run for either four or six weeks.
Classes are listed below in order of progression.
Classes marked with a star (⭐️) are more specifically tailored for handler-dog teams who want to participate in dog sports.
Not Sure Where to Start? Evaluation Lessons Available!
We offer a 15-minute Private Manners Evaluation to get you and your dog into the right class. Is your dog extra barky or excited about other dogs, but you're not sure if they need Reactive Rover class or maybe just Rowdy to Well-Mannered? This is the perfect way to know for sure.
Puppy Classes (8-20 wks) 🐶
Puppy Kindergarten (8-16 wks at start)
This 4-week class has a rolling admission which means that you pick a day and join any week that has an opening. Once you start the class, you have a reserved spot for four weeks.
AKC S.T.A.R Puppy Class (8-20 wks at start)
This 6-week class is designed to prepare you for the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy® test. All dogs are welcome to participate in the program including purebreds and mixed breeds.
PUPPY PACKAGE
Bundle our Puppy Kindergarten class with the next class we recommend - Companion Dog Manner class!
Please contact us with questions.
Manners Base Classes (6 months +)
Each of these 3 classes follows a similar foundational manners curriculum and is a 6-week class. Topics will include: good manners, appropriate greetings, leash walking, and coming when called.
Learn more and Register here:
- Companion Dog Manners - appropriate for most dogs
- Rowdy to Well-Mannered - for dogs that are easily excited and may be barky but are not growly or reactive.
- Performance Manners - for those who would might want to go on to dog sports
Also:
- Sports Prep - this is the follow-on class from Performance Manners for those interested in agility or other sports
COMPANION PACKAGE - See our package deal on Companion Dog Manners plus the next class we recommend in the series - Canine Good Citizen Prep!
PERFORMANCE PACKAGE - Our Performance Manners class along with the next Sports class we recommend - Sports Prep!
🚫 Reactive dogs (dogs that aggressively bark, lunge, or growl at people or dogs) are not eligible for these classes, but may be suitable for Reactive Rover. Please contact us for recommendations or see our Reactive Rover section.
Reactive Rover Classes
Does your dog bark, lunge, growl or snap at other dogs or people*? We have a variety of classes and lessons!
Learn More and Register here:
- Reactive Rover Class - 6-week class w/o dogs the first week. 4 dog class limit including visual barriers.
- Private Behavior Lessons - private lessons including a written behavior plan. Also see our private lessons page for more options.
- Reactive Rover Continued Practices - after RR class, continue practices.
- Reactive Dog Sports Sampler - with instructor approval, try out a variety of sports!
- Reactive Dog Intro to Agility - with instructor approval, try agility!
*we are not able to include dogs with a bite history in our classes or lessons but we can refer you. Please contact us with any questions at [email protected]
Manners Workshops
Like our foundational manners classes, these 1-hour workshops have no pre-requisites. Learn some new skills that you can take home and practice!
- Come Here! Recalls
- Focus and Delayed Rewards
- Happy Vet and Groomer Visits
- Impulse Control
- Leash Manners
- Learn more and Register
Private Manners Lessons 💥
We offer multiple Private lesson options.
Please see our Private Classes page for more.
Clicking this button will open a new browser tab to our scheduling and registration system in BusyPaws.
Beyond Basics
Do you and your pup have the basics down?
Is your pup ready to tackle more advanced behaviors and reliability of existing behaviors to prepare for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title or maybe a career as a therapy dog?
The Beyond Basics classes are what’s next after a solid foundation of basic manners.
Classes are listed below in alphabetical order.
Canine Good Citizen Prep
This 6-week class series is designed to prepare you and your pup for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. It is also ideal for anyone who wants to expand their skills, teach their dog advanced behaviors, and build reliability of existing behaviors at a distance and around distractions.
🚫 Reactive dogs (dogs that aggressively bark, lunge, or growl at people or dogs) are not eligible for this class, but may be suitable for Reactive Rover. Please contact us for recommendations.
✅ Prerequisite: Successful completion of one of our Companion Manners classes or instructor approval
ℹ️ AKC registration is not required for the class or test, but would be required to receive the Title Certificate from AKC.
Intermediate Companion Dog Manners
If you’ve completed a foundational manners class and would like to continue training to take your dog’s skills to the next level, this is the class for you. This 6-week class focuses especially on polite people greetings, consistent loose leash walking, reliable recalls, and more advanced stays, along with other helpful daily life skills.
🚫 Reactive dogs (dogs that aggressively bark, lunge, or growl at people or dogs) are not eligible for this class, but may be suitable for Reactive Rover. Please contact us for recommendations.
✅ Prerequisite: Successful completion of one of our Manners classes or instructor approval
Connected, Confident, and Calm
Help your dog turn stress into confidence and distraction into focus! This 4-week class will get your dog prepared for staying connected and focused during high-energy dog sports as well as the challenges of everyday life. It will help dogs that are having difficulty focusing because they are anxious or over excited about people, other dogs, or other things in the environment. This class also provides strategies for preventing dogs from becoming reactive due to anxiety or excitement.
🚫 Reactive dogs (dogs that aggressively bark, lunge, or growl at people or dogs) are not eligible for this class, but may be suitable for Reactive Rover. Please contact us for recommendations.
✅ Prerequisite: Successful completion of one of our Manners classes as well as Canine Good Citizen Prep or Sports Prep. Your dog will need to be able to stay on their station (mat, bed, or platform) and be proficient with sit, down, stay, hand touch, and recall.
Therapy Dog Prep
In this 6-week course, you and your dog will learn the skills necessary to volunteer to visit hospitals, special needs centers, schools, nursing homes, and other facilities. Therapy dogs need to have a calm and gentle disposition. They must be good around other dogs, calm when strangers pet them all over, not jump on others, walk on a leash without pulling, and not be startled by things such as strange noises, smells, and medical equipment.
This course provides specific instruction to prepare for testing with Alliance for Dogs (formerly TDI), which is an accredited therapy organization through the American Kennel Club (AKC).
✅ Prerequisite: An appropriate temperament and completion of Companion Manners or a similar class. Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test completion is a plus, but not necessary.
Clicking this button will open a new browser tab to our scheduling and registration system in BusyPaws.
Doggy Life Skills
Are you ready to up-level skills like recall and loose-leash walking so you and your pup can live your best lives together?
Do you have a dog that loses their ever-loving mind reacting to other dogs, going deaf to your verbal cues for them to be quiet or be nice?
Doggy Life Skills build on a solid foundation of basic manners and it can also offer a refresher for older dogs who have maybe picked up some bad habits since completing basic manners training.
Classes are listed below in alphabetical order.
Reactive Rover
Does your dog bark, lunge, growl, snap at, or pull towards other dogs while on walks? Does your dog suddenly stop being able to listen when another dog appears? This 6-week class is designed to help fix on-leash reactivity towards dogs when out and about in public and on walks. You will learn management skills, focus and attention techniques, and other routines to help your dog be successful and walk more calmly when seeing other dogs. You will also learn to read dog body language, techniques for relaxation, and helping your dog perceive other dogs as something positive through counterconditioning and desensitization.
This semi-private class is limited to just four (4) dogs. The first class is lecture-only, so NO DOGS during the first class.
🚫 Dogs with a bite history are not eligible for this class.
Rapid Recalls
Does your dog refuse to come when called? Run away or play keep-away when you try to catch him at the park? Or do they chase after squirrels or other dogs even when you call them? Learn how to teach your dog to reliably come when called, in any scenario! In this 4-week class we will be going over fun games and exercises to help your dog learn to listen in controlled training scenarios as well as real life situations.
Special Equipment Needed:
- Lots of treats ranging from medium- to high-value
- A 12-15’ leash, or two leashes clipped together (not needed in Week 1)
🚫 Reactive dogs (dogs that aggressively bark, lunge, or growl at people or dogs) are not eligible for this class, but may be suitable for Reactive Rover. Please contact us for recommendations.
✅ Prerequisite: None
Wonderful Walking
Does walking your dog feel like a shoulder workout? Do you want a walk in the park to feel easy and fun? In this 4-week class, you’ll learn how to teach your dog to walk on a loose leash. We will be covering fun games and practice scenarios to help teach your dog to walk nicely with you to prep for neighborhood walks, walking in a store, walking on a trail, and more!
Special Equipment Needed:
- Collar
- Well-Fitted Harness (such as the Ruffwear Front Range or 2 Hounds Freedom No-Pull)
- 4-6′ Leash (no flexi/extendable leads)
- A lot of pea-sized medium- and high-value treats (jerky treats or freeze dried meats work well)
🚫 Reactive dogs (dogs that aggressively bark, lunge, or growl at people or dogs) are not eligible for this class, but may be suitable for Reactive Rover. Please contact us for recommendations.
Clicking this button will open a new browser tab to our scheduling and registration system in BusyPaws.
Sports for Fun
Are you and your dog ready to have some F-U-N?
Would you like a more casual approach to dog sports?
We design these classes to appeal to both sporty and companion pups, and all of them offer great opportunities to build your dog's confidence, provide physical and mental stimulation, and strengthen your bond with one another while playing and having fun together.
These classes typically have no prerequisites and are open to all ages and breeds of dogs.
Classes are listed below in alphabetical order.
Intro to Agility
In this 6-week course, you and your dog will be introduced to jumps, tunnels, contact obstacles and the weave poles. Learn how to change sides and even run a short course! Follow this class with our Agility for Fun class to become more proficient and learn more advanced handling. If you decide you'd like to compete you can move into our 'competition' track classes. Your dog must be able to work with you around other dogs.
🚫 Reactive dogs (dogs that aggressively bark, lunge, or growl at people or dogs) are not eligible for this class, but may be suitable for Reactive Rover.
✅ Prerequisite: a manners class (see The Basics section above) or instructor permission. Contact [email protected].
Tricks, Freestyle, and Rally for Fun
Learn foundations for fun new behaviors! Whether it’s to compete in sports or to just have a good time with your dog, this 6-week class will cover tricks, body awareness exercises, and heeling positions used in Rally, Rally Freestyle, and beyond. We can cover specific tricks you want to teach for Trick Dog titles too! Some trick ideas include retrieving items, taking a bow, and walking backwards around you—let your imagination run wild!
🚫 Reactive dogs (dogs that aggressively bark, lunge, or growl at people or dogs) are not eligible for this class, but may be suitable for Reactive Rover. Please contact us for recommendations.
✅ Prerequisite: None
Doggy Parkour
Doggy Parkour is a fun, interactive activity in which dogs can safely explore and conquer challenges found naturally in their everyday environment.
🚫 Reactive dogs (dogs that aggressively bark, lunge, or growl at people or dogs) are not eligible for this class, but may be suitable for Reactive Rover. Please contact us for recommendations.
✅ Prerequisite: None
Scent Games
Scent Games is the perfect class for teams interested in a casual introduction to nosework. Dogs will learn to search for food using a series of fun games that you can practice on rainy days and in the comfort of your own home. No special tools or equipment needed!
🚫 Reactive dogs (dogs that aggressively bark, lunge, or growl at people or dogs) are not eligible for this class, but may be suitable for Reactive Rover. Please contact us for recommendations.
✅ Prerequisite: None
Clicking this button will open a new browser tab to our scheduling and registration system in BusyPaws.
