Pet Dog Classes

Unleashed Talent: Trick Training & Shaping for the AKC Trick Dog

Ready to have fun and earn a title? This class is designed to help you and your dog build real skills while working toward the AKC Novice Trick Dog title—no prior trick experience needed!

You’ll learn how to use shaping—a powerful, game-based training method that teaches your dog to problem-solve and “think” their way through new challenges. Instead of just following a treat, your dog will begin offering behaviors, building confidence, and creating tricks step by step.

You’ll teach and refine novice-level tricks like “spin”, “high five”, “touch”, and “leg weaves” while learning how to break bigger goals (like “close a door” or “put away your toys”) into small, achievable pieces. We’ll focus on clear communication and precise timing so your dog understands exactly what they did right.

Along the way, your dog will learn to use their nose and paws to interact with their environment, and you’ll play engaging training games like 101 Things to Do with a Box to boost creativity, focus, and enthusiasm—perfect for busy brains and high-energy dogs!

By the end of class, teams will:

  • Have tricks ready for AKC Novice evaluation

  • Build confidence performing around distractions

  • Use clear cues with less reliance on lures

  • Understand how to shape and build more complex behaviors

  • Be ready to earn their AKC Novice Trick Dog title

AKC Novice Trick Dog testing option available at the end of the session.

Come train, laugh, and discover just how clever your dog can be—you might end up with a new title and a whole new way of training! 🐾

PREREQUISITES: Beyond “Sit” and “Stay” class, Sports Foundations, or instructor approval. Dogs should be comfortable around other dogs and people and able to work for food rewards. This class meets at my home.

Beyond “Sit” & “Stay”: Concept training for all dogs

Concept training focuses on building the core skills your dog needs to confidently navigate the world — not just respond to commands. Instead of only teaching behaviors, we strengthen the foundations behind them: Confidence, Impulse Control, Focus, Flexibility, Grit, and Optimism. When these skill gaps are missing, behaviors such as leash reactivity, jumping on guests, inability to settle, destructiveness, or nervousness can manifest. Through simple, intentional training games, we can create meaningful, long-term change..

PREREQUISITES: Basic obedience skills. Dogs should be comfortable around other dogs and able to work for food rewards. This class is held at my home.

AKC Canine Good Citizen Prep Class

Build real-world manners while working toward your dog’s AKC Canine Good Citizen title. This class focuses on polite greetings, loose leash walking, reliable stays, and calm behavior around people, dogs, and everyday distractions.

Using positive reinforcement and a dog’s choice approach, you’ll strengthen communication, improve focus, and create a dog you can confidently take anywhere.

CGC testing option available at the end of the session.

PREREQUISITES: Beyond “Sit” and “Stay” class or instructor approval. Dogs should be comfortable around other dogs and people and able to work for food rewards. This class meets at my home.

‍ ‍

Beyond “Sit” & “Stay”: Advanced Concept Games

Take your dog’s skills to the next level. Now we build: stronger focus under distraction, better impulse control, longer duration behaviors, and real-life reliability. We also include functional tricks for focus and redirection, movement-based games for real-world scenarios, and more advance mat work for calm behavior. This class meets at my home.

PREREQUISITES: Beyond “Sit” and “Stay” class or instructor approval. Dogs should be comfortable around other dogs and people and able to work for food rewards. This class meets at my home.

Beyond “Sit” & “Stay”: Concept Games in the Wild

In this class, we take your training out into real-life environments and apply everything you and your dog have learned! We will train around real distractions (people, dogs, environments), focus on staying calm in public spaces, and making good choices outside of the classroom. This class meets at various pet-friendly public places.

PREREQUISITES: Advanced Concept Games class.