Group Classes

Puppy Classes - for pups from 2 thru 5.5 months (6 Classes)

We are proud to be the only school on the East Coast to offer the Sirius Puppy Training Program, long acknowledged as the hallmark of pet dog training. The program was developed in 1981 by English veterinarian, behaviorist and author, Dr. Ian Dunbar. Basically, Sirius classes base as much emphasis on the prevention of common behavior problems and on handling and gentling exercises to create a good temperament as they do on teaching basic household manners. Sirius classes advocate easy, effective and, above all, enjoyable methods which all family members can master-youngsters included. Training is decidedly "dog-friendly" in its endeavor to teach young puppies not only what we want them to do, but to want to do what we want them to do. Sirius puppy classes produce willingly compliant, mannerly, good natured, easily-handled adult dogs. Getting off to an early start sets you and your pup up for greater success.

Class topics include: ·How to prevent and deal with common puppy problems like chewing, nipping, jumping up, and barking.
·Teaching your puppy to walk nicely on leash, come when called, sit down and stand on request.
·Aggression, fear and anxiety prevention.
·Socializing your puppy with other dogs and people in a safe environment during supervised play time, and of course... Housetraining!
Click here to view the upcoming schedule.

Adolescent/Adult Classes - for dogs older than 5.5 months (6 Classes)

These Classes are based on the same premise as our Sirius Puppy classes: Dog training should be fast, fun and of course, effective. We cover all the training needs you and your dog should learn to master to share your life happily together. Course work includes: sit, down, stand, stay, come when called, walking nicely on leash (preventing sidewalk vacuuming!), impulse control, greeting people without jumping, house manners, and how to apply these skills in your day-to-day life with your dog.

Click here to view the upcoming schedule.

Agility

You've seen it on Animal Planet and ESPN...teach your dog to crawl through tunnels, walk across a see-saw, jump through hoops, leap over hurdles and more! Agility strengthens the bond between you and your dog, teaches you and your dog to work as a team and is a great way for you and your dog to have a blast!

We offer agility classes in our new 2,500 square foot training center in Soho! Classes are divided as follows:

Beginner Level: Open to dogs of any age, no prior agility experience necessary. This class will introduce the basics in obstacle performance, foundation jump training, target training, directionals and handling fundamentals. Obedience cues such as sit, down and stay will also be incorporated for potential improvement. Use of play, toy and food rewar ds will be covered. This class should be repeated as often as necessary before moving on to the next level per instructor.

Advanced Beginner: Dog/handler teams must have completed Beginner Level I & II to join this class. Dogs should be comfortable on most equipment. This class will continue to build on the skills that were introduced in beginner agility and will focus on more handling techniques, sequencing and obstacle independence. Techniques on building a working relationship and stronger bond between dog and handler will also be covered.

Intermediate Level: Instructor approval required for participation in this class. Dog/handler teams need to be proficient on all obstacles including weave poles. Advanced level handling and complex sequences will be the focus of this class.

Level II Obedience

This course is designed to build on the foundations established in the Puppy, Small Dog and Basic Adolescent/Adult classes. This course focuses on refining hand signals and improving verbal cues for sit, down, and stand, improving commands from a distance, automatic sit to for appropriate greetings, walking nicely on leash, come when called from a distance and around distractions, stay and impulse control, "leave it" while standing still and while walking with a variety of distractions including: food, toys, strangers, and other dogs, go to your place (blanket, bed, or crate, lay down and stay), retrieve and drop.

Tricks Class - for dogs of all sizes and ages (6 week and 3 week courses available)

Every dog should have a few tricks up his or her sleeve! Have a great time with your dog while teaching a variety of tricks chosen with your dog's particular personality and physique in mind. We cover a wide variety of fun tricks including (but, not limited to): spin, paw, take a bow, sit pretty, wave, hi five, rollover, jumps, weaving between your legs, and we take requests for additional tricks best suited to your dog! We use positive reinforcement utilizing luring and free shaping techniques. This course is a great pre-cursor to agility, therapy dog certification and a potential career as a dog star! Teaching tricks is a great way to enhance your relationship with your dog, to improve overall canine manners and your skills as a trainer while having a blast!

Small Dog Basic Obedience - for dogs older than 5.5 months and 25lbs and under (6 Weeks)

This class covers basic household and out on the town manners (sit, down, come, walk nicely on leash, stay, etc.) with an emphasis on small dog issues such as being touched, barking, and socialization. This class is ideal for those dogs and their people who thrive in a group class environment with other smaller dogs where there is the potential for off leash work.

Training Seminars

One time training seminars covering common training issues/topics: barking, puppy parenting, coming when called, impulse control, dog body lanuage, walking nicely on leash and more! These are a great supplement to any of our group classes and private lessons.

Please see our special events page for more information and a current list of our scheduled seminars!

Canine Good Citizen

Your dog can earn an award from the American Kennel Club!

Started in 1989, The Canine Good Citizen® Program is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. CGC is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club and are automatically recorded in the AKC's Canine Good Citizen Archive.

If you'd like to prepare your dog for the CGC test, our basic obedience classes cover the necessary skills and once you have completed the course you can schedule a time for us to test your dog for the CGC.

Dogs who have a solid obedience education are a joy to live with-they respond well to household routines, have good manners in the presence of people and other dogs, and they fully enjoy the company of the owner who took the time to provide training, intellectual stimulation, and a high quality life. We sincerely hope that CGC will be only a beginning for you and your dog and that after passing the CGC test, you'll continue training in obedience agility, and tricks!

Please contact us to schedule an appointment for testing. The test fee is $25 per dog and 100% of the testing fee is donated to Animal Haven Shelter.

The test covers the following:

Accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, appearance and grooming, walking on a loose leash, walking through a crowd, sit and down on command and stay in place, coming when called, reaction to another dog, reaction to distractions, supervised separation.

Group Class Fees:
Group classes meet once a week for one hour for six weeks. The fee for the six week course is $350.

Click Here for our Class Schedule and to Register