PUPPY SOCIAL

Instructor: Hannah Donahoe, CPDT-KA & Taylor Wilkes, CPDT-KA
$40 drop in or 4 Passes for $120

Upcoming Sessions:
Wednesdays @ 6:30pm
Sundays @ 10am

Puppies have unique needs, so this class focuses on all things puppy. We’ll cover socialization, confidence-building, basic manners, and more.

Age maximum: We reccomend moving to Basic Manners & Life Skills around 5 months old. However, all puppies mature and develop at different rates, so we are happy to personalize a reccomendation for your pup after meeting them.

Basic Manners & Life Skills

Instructor: Coralyn Pedota, CPDT-KA | 6 Week Series | $300

Upcoming Sessions:
Saturdays @ 10am | May 4, 2024 – Jun 8, 2024
Tuesdays @ 7:15pm | May 7, 2024 – Jun 11, 2024
Tuesdays @ 7:15pm | Jun 25, 2024 – Jul 30, 2024
Saturdays @ 10am | Jul 6, 2024 – Aug 10, 2024

Learn the fundamentals of dog training and behavior while teaching your dog essential life skills. The class will start out divided in a way that minimizes distractions as you and your dog get the hang of things. Distraction and challenge are introduced methodically to set everyone up for success.

This class is a great starting point for private lesson students who want to give group class a try but desire a gentle introduction to working in a room full of other dogs. We’ll cover skills such as focus, coming when called, ignoring distractions, loose leash walking, sit, lie down, go to your spot, and stay.

Prerequisites: No prerequisite skills are required for this class. While we do everything possible to ease the dogs into a group class environment, it is unfortunately the case that not every dog is ready for even our Basic Manners class. This class is not appropriate for dogs who bark non-stop when around other dogs, and dogs that are continuously disruptive will be excused. If you are unsure if your dog is ready for group class, we encourage you to start with a private lesson instead.

Intermediate Life Skills

Instructor: Coralyn Pedota, CPDT-KA | 6 Week Series | $300

Upcoming Sessions:
Saturdays @ 2:30pm | May 4, 2024 – Jun 8, 2024
Tuesdays @ 6pm | May 7, 2024 – Jun 11, 2024
Tuesdays @ 6pm | Jun 25, 2024 – Jul 30, 2024
Saturdays @ 2:30pm | Jul 13, 2024 – Aug 24, 2024

This class focuses on polishing and advancing your dog’s skills so that they feel practical and applicable to real life situations. Working in closer proximity to the other dogs in class will be introduced. Dogs will be asked to handle moderate distraction and stay focused for longer periods of time – all in a fun and cheerful environment.

Prerequisites: Dog can hold a sit-stay for 5 seconds while mostly making eye contact with the handler. Dog can lie down with a hand signal that lowers to the floor. Dog can walk at the handler’s side for 6 feet. Dog can come when called, under minimal distraction, from 10 feet away. Dog can go to a mat/bed/cot 6 feet away from the handler. (Dog standing on object until guided to relax is okay.)

ACTION & DISTRACTION

Instructor: Coralyn Pedota, CPDT-KA | 3 Week Series | $150

Upcoming Sessions:
Saturdays @ 12:20pm | May 25, 2024 – Jun 8, 2024
Saturdays @ 12:20pm | Jun 15, 2024 – Jun 29, 2024
Saturdays @ 12:20pm | Jul 6, 2024 – Jul 20, 2024
Saturdays @ 12:20pm | Jul 27, 2024 – Aug 10, 2024

This class will focus on advanced training drills such as dog distractions, responsiveness while excited, off leash recall, and more.

This class has new curriculum for every round and adjusts to the level of its students. Feel free to sign up more than once!

Prerequisites: Intermediate Life Skills or instructor approval.

Canine Good Citizen Test Prep

Instructor: Taylor Wilkes, CPDT-KA | 6 Week Series | $300

Upcoming Sessions:
Sundays @ 11:30am | Jul 14, 2024 – Aug 25, 2024
Sundays @ 11:30am | Sep 15, 2024 – Oct 20, 2024

This class prepares its students for the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen certification test. This is a 10-skill test focused on demonstrating that the dog is a polite and well-mannered member of society.

Phases of the test: Accepting a friendly stranger, sitting for petting, tolerating mild handling and grooming from a stranger, walking on a loose lead, walking by people and an unknown dog, sit stay, down stay, coming when called, reaction to a sudden noise, and supervised separation.

Both this class and the CGC test can be taken multiple times. The sixth week will be the CGC test itself. Visit the AKC’s website to learn more about the details and judging criteria of each exercise.

Prerequisites: Intermediate Life Skills OR approval from your instructor.

Overexcited Greeters

Instructor: Coralyn Pedota, CPDT-KA | 3 Week Series | $150

Upcoming Sessions:
Saturdays @ 10am | Apr 6, 2024 – Apr 20, 2024
Saturdays @ 10am | Jun 15, 2024 – Jun 29, 2024
Saturdays @ 10am | Aug 17, 2024 – Aug 31, 2024
Saturdays @ 10am | Sep 7, 2024 – Oct 12, 2024

Is your dog a jumping bean when people come over? Do you dream of taking them to a patio, but they want to say hi to everyone who walks by? This class is for you! Learn the skills to teach your dog how to politely greet people – as well as how to ignore them – in this 3 week mini series.

Prerequisites: Basic Manners and Life Skills or equivalent. (Sit-stay with eye contact for 5 seconds. Down in response to a hand signal. Ability to walk beside you for at least 6 steps. Recall from 10 feet away. Going to a mat/bed/cot from 6 feet away.)

Rally-Obedience

Instructor: Coralyn Pedota, CPDT-KA | 6 Week Series | $300

Upcoming Sessions:
Wednesdays @ 6:30pm | May 1, 2024 – Jun 5, 2024
Wednesdays @ 6:30pm | Jul 3, 2024 – Aug 7, 2024
Wednesdays @ 6:30pm | Sep 4, 2024 – Oct 9, 2024

Rally training is an excellent project for sport newbies and seasoned trainers alike. We will focus on heelwork, positions, control, drive, enthusiasm, and proofing for competition environments, as well as learning how to precisely navigate Rally signs and courses. This class will be geared at beginner teams but will have options for intermediate and advanced drills based on the skill level of the class. (We hope to have multiple class levels available soon.) Check out the AKC’s website for more information about the sport.

Prerequisites: Intermediate Life Skills or equivalent.

Obstacle Course & Fitness Foundations

Instructor: Coralyn Pedota, CPDT-KA | 6 Week Series | $300

Upcoming Sessions:
Saturdays @ 11:10am | May 4, 2024 – Jun 8, 2024
Saturdays @ 11:10am | Jul 6, 2024 – Aug 10, 2024

This class is unique in its focus. The first half of the class will be spent on body awareness and strength training exercises that are perfect for burning your dog’s energy, even in small indoor spaces. This will include teaching your dog to isolate their front, rear, and individual leg movements. All props used can be substituted with household items, as will be discussed in class.

The second half of class will introduce the dogs to “obstacle course” equipment typically used in agility, competition obedience, Rally, and protection sports. Jumping foundations will be a main focus. Tunnels, turning around props, pause tables and more will also be used.

Prerequisites: Basic Manners and Life Skills OR approval from your instructor.

Obstacle & Fitness Bonus Skills

Instructor: Coralyn Pedota, CPDT-KA | 3 Week Series | $150

Upcoming Sessions:
Wednesdays @ 6:30pm | Jun 12, 2024 – Jun 26, 2024
Wednesdays @ 6:30pm | Aug 14, 2024 – Aug 28, 2024

This mixed level class will focus on select elements of its 6 week long sister: Jumping, puppy push ups, rear end awareness, send outs, and more. The class will be focused around the interests, goals, and skill level of its current students.

Prerequisites: Basic Manners and Life Skills OR approval from your instructor.

Practical Tricks

Instructor: Taylor Wilkes, CPDT-KA | 3 Week Series | $150

Upcoming Sessions:
Saturdays @ 3:45pm | May 11, 2024 – May 25, 2024
Saturdays @ 3:45pm | Jun 1, 2024 – Jun 15, 2024
Saturdays @ 3:45pm | Jul 13, 2024 – Jul 27, 2024

Are you interested in trick training, but you’re worried that you should be spending training time working on “useful” skills? Have your cake and eat it too with Practical Tricks class! We’ll be working on skills such as: find my keys; put your collar on; spin a circle while heeling; and hold still for husbandry procedures (grooming, vet checks).

Prerequisites: Basic Manners and Life Skills OR approval from your instructor.

Freestyle Circus School

Instructor: Coralyn Pedota, CPDT-KA | 3 Week Series | $150

Upcoming Sessions:
Saturdays @ 12:20pm | May 4, 2024 – May 18, 2024
Saturdays @ 11:10am | Jun 15, 2024 – Jun 29, 2024
Saturdays @ 11:10am | Aug 17, 2024 – Aug 31, 2024

Want to run away with your pup to the circus? This tricks class focuses on skills worth of the big top, with activities for basic to advanced students alike. Towards the end of the term, each team will create their own unique routine to perform on the last day of class.

Prerequisites: Basic Manners and Life Skills or equivalent foundation.

Study Hall

Instructor: Taylor Wilkes, CPTD-KA | $40 per single class

Upcoming Sessions:
Tuesdays @ 7pm
Sundays @ 2pm

This class is open only to current group class students and private lesson students with approval from their instructor. This is a drop-in, mixed-level study hall where students can work either individually or in collaboration on proofing various skills. Props from all classes will be available.

Proofing at the Park Introduction

Instructor: Matt Peters, CPDT-KA | 4 Week Series | $200

Upcoming Sessions:
TBD

“Proofing,” in dog training parlance, means practicing a behavior in different environments and situations, until your dog generalizes the desired behavior and can do it anywhere, even with distractions.

The class curriculum will be flexible and focused on the distraction of other dogs. The class will be open to teams working on “leash reactivity” that have their dog under control within ~10 ft of other dogs, and so it is imperative that everyone is respectful of each other’s space. Close proximity (<10 ft) exercises will only be done with the consent of each team.

Prerequisites: Intermediate Life Skills class OR approval from your instructor.

Weather and location: If there is inclement weather, we will be in communication with you about class being held or delayed. Class takes place at Humboldt Park, and your instructor will send you exact coordinates.

Proofing at the Park Advanced

Instructor: Matt Peters, CPDT-KA | 6 Week Punch Card | $300

Upcoming Sessions:
Saturdays @ 9am | Spring 2024

This version of Proofing at the Park is for students who have graduated a park class or been given approval from their instructor. 

This is a drop in class that uses a punch card. This means that you sign up for 6 classes, but you do not have to do consecutive dates. The software will ask you to pick which dates you will attend when you register. 

Weather and location: If there is inclement weather, we will be in communication with you about class being held or delayed. Class takes place at Humboldt Park, and your instructor will send you exact coordinates.