Classes >> Family Dog Program

Our family dog program provides a variety of classes all designed to bring out the very best in your family pet. These classes also are the foundation for our competition programs and for other activities you may want to pursue with your dog. Our classes are taught using the most up to date in positive reinforcement techniques.

Hi Shelly,
I forgot to mention before we left last night that LilliBelle & I  would like to continue Family Dog II with you at the same time, if it's  possible.  Thanks so much.... we're having a lot of fun with the class. (It even  got my 24 year old son out to do something with us!!)
Karen  & LilliBelle

Scroll down for our entire listing and class schedules.

• Family Dog I
• Puppy Kindergarten
• Family Dog II
• CGC Prep Class
• Social Puppy 101
• Really Reliable Recall

Family Dog I

Family Dog I is an introductory class for dogs of all ages that are just beginning training. You will learn to teach your dog to pay attention when asked, greet politely, come when called, walk on a loose leash and lie down and stay. Management skills, socialization and problem solving will also be stressed. Classes are small in size, fun for you and your dog and very effective.

Attendance is required at the first class. It is an informative seminar and dogs DO NOT attend. You will receive all handouts and reading material at this class. You will also have several easy, but important, homework assignments.

Fee: $175.00 plus tax (total $186.00) -  for 8 one hour classes. 

Classes meet once a week.

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Puppy Kindergarten

Puppy Kindergarten is an introductory class for puppies under 16 weeks at the start of class. This class teaches many of the same skills that are taught in Family Dog I with more emphasis placed on puppy behaviors like inappropriate mouthing and biting as well as house training advice. Classes are small in size, fun for you and your puppy and very effective.

Attendance is required at the first class. It is an informative seminar and puppies DO NOT attend. You will receive all handouts and reading material at this class. You will also have several important homework assignments.

Fee: $175.00 plus tax (total $186.00) - for 8 one hour classes. 

Classes meet once a week.

NEW! Puppies who are signed up for our PK/FD program and are under 5 months

of age are invited to try our Social Puppy 101 drop in class. See below for more information on day, time, cost, etc.

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Family Dog II

Family Dog II builds on what you and your dog already have learned. This class is the next step for those who have successfully completed either a Family Dog I or Puppy Kindergarten class with us. It would also be appropriate for clients from other programs with a firm understanding of positive reinforcement training techniques. Placement of students from other programs will be contingent on evaluation by the instructor.

In this class your dog will learn to respond reliably during exposure to increasing distractions. You will take the next step in teaching the Really Reliable Recall and you will prepare your dog to earn the title of Canine Good Citizen. You will learn to teach your dog to respond to signals at a distance, you’ll be introduced to the sports of agility and rally and you will teach tricks and play games.

After successfully completing Family Dog II, you and your dog have the skills necessary to participate in any of the programs offered at Tails. This includes agility, competition obedience, rally obedience, therapy dog training, freestyle dance and flyball. You can also continue on in the Family Dog Program. We offer several different class selections over the course of a year.

This is an 8 week class and dogs do attend the first week.

Fee: $175.00 plus tax (total $186.00) - for 8 one hour classes. 

Fee: $150.00  plus tax  (total $159.50) when signing up while in a Pk or FDI class

Classes meet once a week.

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Social Puppy 101

Did you just bring a new puppy home?  Are you currently enrolled in a Puppy Kindergarten class or waiting for one to start?  Then this class is for you! 
 
Puppies must be properly socialized in order to grow up into well-adjusted and well-behaved adults.  The ideal time to do this is when the puppy is 8 to 20 weeks of age.  In our Social Puppy 101 class, we will introduce your puppy to an array of different objects, surfaces, environments and situations.  And of course, there will also be supervised playtime! 
 
The on-going nature of this class will ensure that a new set of puppies sign up each week.  Such a variety will greatly benefit your puppy as they become more accustomed to different breeds, sizes and play styles.  This class will also nicely compliment the skills you and your puppy are learning in Puppy Kindergarten.**  

As a drop-in class, you decide just how many classes you want to take!  You can opt to take one, four or even a dozen classes.  We are fairly certain you and your puppy will have so much fun, you will want to keep coming back for more!

Bring your puppy, a clicker, a ton of tasty treats and a great sense of humor!

**This drop-in is open to puppies currently enrolled or preregistered for an upcoming Puppy Kindergarten class or is under 5 months old.

Instructor: Dianna Santos, KPA-CTP

When: Fridays at 5:00 pm

Fee: $15.00 total - which includes tax

FMI: dsantosclicks@hotmail.com

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Really Reliable Recall

Come join us for a 4 week Really Reliable Recall Adventure. We will cover a quick refresher of the Recall basics. We will then add to your Recall toolbox with "The Recall Race", "The Potato Chip Drive By", and the "Look! there's a person on the floor!" distraction. There will be many other fun exercises to strengthen your connection between you and your dog. It's so fabulous to see your dog turn on a dime and come running back to you with enthusiasm, looking like they are going to knock you over (or maybe they dog!) because they are so excited about returning to you!

The RRR exercise, when trained correctly, will always make your everyday recall stronger as well, and it will strengthen your overall relationship with your dog. It's also a blast to train!

Come join us. If you have not ever trained the Really Reliable Recall, we can also get you started in the right direction.

Bring your tasty treats, your enthusiasm, a good harness or buckle collar and a 4ft leash. Also bring a fun container to put your tasty treats in: a take out food container or bag, a plastic container that you can shake, something different to get your dog's curiosity going - bring a tug toy as well if your dog prefers that - be creative!  

Date:

When: 

Instructor: Penney Baker 

Fee: $42.50 (includes tax)

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Canine Good Citizen Prep Class

Periodically a Canine Good Citizen Prep Class will be offered for students preparing to take the CGC test. You will become familiarized with the test items and criteria for passing the test. This class is usually scheduled a couple of weeks prior to a scheduled test date. Students may sign up for one or all of the prep classes.

Fee: $15.00 per class

Instructor: Bonnie Henderson

Prep Classes

Date:  Wednesdays > next date TBA

Time: 7:30pm

CGC TEST

Date: Wednesday
Time: 7:30pm

Fee:  $10 for students who have taken a prep class / $15 for test only

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