Family Dog & CGC

Family Dog Basics

This class provides the first steps in helping your dog to become a successful member of your family! This class builds upon Puppy Experience, but can also be an introductory course for adolescent and adult dogs with their handlers. Through the use of training games and context learning you will work to build impulse control, focus, handler attention and basic skills. During this class we will teach your dog how to make good choices while introducing basic manners such as:

  • sit

  • down

  • stay

  • leave it

  • polite greetings

  • mat work

  • loose leash walking

  • recalls

  • 6 week session. Classes meet for 1 hour weekly.

  • $150/6 weeks

  • None. Puppies may join this class after completing Puppies Unleashed or Puppy Preschool.

Intermediate Family Dog & CGC (Canine Good Citizen)

This class places an emphasis on refining basic skills and is also a great refresher for any handler and dog to improve their connection. Class exercises are designed to challenge your dog’s skills, teaching them to work through sound and movement distractions.

This class will also address the ten specific skills that are included on the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. The 10-step CGC test is a non-competitive test for all dogs, including purebreds and mixed breeds. The CGC award is a prerequisite for many therapy dog groups. Testing is not required at course completion but will be offered to interested handlers.

  • 7 week session includes 6 weeks of instruction and CGC testing on week 7. Classes meet for 1 hour weekly.

  • $175/7 weeks

  • Dogs must have completed a Basic Skils class prior to joining Intermediate.

Advanced Family Dog

(Community & Urban CGC)

In this class, you will learn to apply the foundation skills your dog has acquired in the classroom to real world situations. Each week class will meet at a designated location, including: local parks, shopping plazas, stores and urban centers. Class exercises will focus on engagement between handler and dog, turning distracting environments into opportunities for reinforcement.

The curriculum of this class is based on the advanced levels of the AKC Canine Good Citizen program: Community Canine (CGCA) and Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGCU). Testing is not required at course completion but will be an option for interested handlers.

  • Classes meet for 1 hour weekly. Classes are offered on an individual basis with the option to register for multiple weeks. Students registering for 3 or more classes are able to purchase a session package at a discounted rate.

  • $35 for each individual class or $30 per class when registering for 3 or more classes in a session.

  • Dogs must have completed Basics & Intermediate before joining Advanced or have instructor permission.