If you're interested in fine-tuning your Focus & Heeling skills and learning new skills for AKC Obedience or AKC Rally competition, this class will focus on all the skills necessary in both sports. Focus & Heeling will not focus on specific ring exercises but instead on the handling aspects needed in dog sports.

 Emphasis will be on:

• Heeling - keeping your dog in position and making footwork adjustments to communicate with your dog
• Attention - working to keep the focus on you and minimize distractions
• Motivating your dog - refreshing skill and improving engagement
• Deliver rewards - Use of treat position, a positive tone of voice, and body language as a reward for your dog
• Setting yourself up for success with ring presence and preparation

This class can be taken on its own or concurrently with another class such as all levels of Rally or AKC Novice Obedience.

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

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 or AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title.

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.

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.

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 (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.

Ready to compete! Guided Run Through class is designed to help handlers and dogs prepare for the AKC Open (CDX) and Utility (UD) obedience titles with a trial-like experience. In this class, you'll have the chance to practice competition obedience exercises in a realistic, trial simulation environment.

• Provides students the opportunity to perform the required exercises while receiving personalized feedback from the experienced instructor.
• You'll get approximately ten minutes of individual attention per dog, allowing for targeted improvements and valuable training suggestions.

Whether you're aiming for your first AKC Open title or working on mastering the AKC Utility level exercises, Run Through class is an excellent way to boost your dog's trial performance and ring readiness. This class will be outside on grass and will include jumps.

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

What to bring to class: Dumbbell for Open, scent articles & gloves for Utility, crate (we recommend a collapsible one), treats and water.

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 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 (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 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.

AKC Open Obedience is the second level in competition obedience. We recommend this class for those competing in Novice Obedience, getting ready to compete in Open Obedience or those currently competing in Open Obedience who are looking to improve their skills and scores. 

Key training areas include:

• Command Discrimination
• Drop on Recall
• Retrieve on Flat
• Retrieve over High Jump
• Broad Jump
• Stand Stay - Get Your Leash

The level of focus required notches up as the dog is expected to compete in more exercises and harder exercises.

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

Prerequisite: Instructor recommendation required and have already mastered the Novice requirements.

What to bring to class:  Dumbbell will be used in class, consult with the trainer on how to choose the right size. Dumbbells available from J & J dog supply, Max 200, or Training Treasures. A crate (we recommend a collapsible one), flat, martingale, or slip collar, 6-foot leash and a long retractable flexi-leash, high-value treats, treat pouch, and water. 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 is a unique dog sport that emphasizes teamwork between you and your dog. Our Rally Novice & Intermediate class you and your dog move through a course made up of signs, each representing a different obedience command or skill. The course is designed by the instructor and will be different each week. Unlike Obedience, in Rally the handler is allowed to talk to the dog.

In our Rally class you will:

• Learn the Novice & Intermediate 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 10-14 command signs such as sit, down, stay, turns and movements
• Move at a brisk pace as Rally is a timed sport

To improve your finishes, leash & heeling skills, we suggest taking Advanced Obedience & Leash Skills or Obedience & Rally - Focus & Heeling Dog Training concurrently or before beginning your Rally journey.

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:  Dogs must be at least 6 months of age prior to the start of first class. Completion of one of the following: Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title, Advanced Obedience & Leash Skills or Obedience & Rally - Focus & Heeling Dog Training.

What to bring to class: Flat, martingale, or slip collar, 6 foot leash, high-value treats, treat pouch, water, a crate (we recommend a collapsible one). 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.