Junior Puppy Kindergarten

For puppies 2 to 4 months old at the starting date of class. Junior Puppy Kindergarten gives young puppies and their owners a head start on their new life together. This class introduces the basic skills of paying attention, the sit, down, stay and come commands, and walking on a leash. It also covers the importance of proper management of mouthing, housetraining and socialization. Class includes some supervised off-leash puppy playtime to help develop critical social skills AND burn off extra puppy energy!

Senior Puppy Kindergarten

For puppies 4 to 6 months old at the starting date of class. Senior Puppy Kindergarten is an introductory class on positive training and behavior management for older puppies. This class introduces the basic skills of paying attention, the sit, down, stay and come commands, and walking on a leash. Emphasis is placed on proper management of problem behaviors such as mouthing, housetraining and socialization. Class includes some supervised off-leash puppy playtime to help develop critical social skills AND burn off extra puppy energy!

Family Dog 1

For dogs 7 months old or older with no previous formal training. This is an introductory class on positive training and behavior management for any dog. Handlers will learn the basics of effective communication and proper use of training techniques. Skills covered in Family Dog 1 include attention, name responsiveness, the sit, down, stay and come commands, and the beginnings of loose-leash walking.

Family Dog 2

For graduates of Junior or Senior Puppy Kindergarten or Family Dog 1. Family Dog 2 expands on the skills learned in previous classes and introduces new elements such as wait, leave it, go to place, recalls and loose-leash walking with distractions.

Canine Good Citizen

This class prepares the companion and family dog to take the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. This test requires that your dog can be approached by a friendly stranger; be left alone with a friendly stranger; be able to sit, down, stay, recall and leash walk in a distracting environment; and calmly meet a person with a strange dog. The CGC test is administered on the last night of class, free to students.

PREREQUISITES: Family Dog 2

Really Reliable Recall

This class is designed for owners who want their dog to come when called, EVERY TIME! Come to this class to teach your dog this life-saving skill and have a lot of fun besides!

PREREQUISITES: Family Dog 1 or Puppy Classes

All-Star Tricks

One of the best ways to strengthen the bond between owner and dog is continuing to train new behaviors. Our All-Star Tricks class will focus on understanding positive training techniques like shaping, targeting and capturing. Learning tricks teaches your dog body control and keeps their mind actively engaged. It goes beyond the basics like “roll over” with unique tricks that will keep you and your dog totally entertained.

PREREQUISITES: None

Happy Heeling

The instructor will teach you the basics of heeling with your dog in a fun and supportive atmosphere with plenty of individual attention. Heeling is defined as your dog walking next to you with attention. The class is taught using the clicker training/choose to heel method, so a good working knowledge of using a clicker or a word to mark behavior is required. All dogs must be able to work off-leash (one at a time) and not have aggression issues with other people or dogs.

PREREQUISITES: Family Dog 2 and/or Canine Good Citizen

Therapy Dog

This class prepares handlers for registration with recognized therapy dog organizations. Emphasis is placed on helping the handler/dog team to work together successfully in a social setting, develop effective visiting skills, recognize signs of stress, and understand the obligations for dogs engaged in animal-enhanced programs. Instructors will help class members prepare for an evaluation with Delta Society or Therapy Dogs International. The first two weeks of class are without dogs and include lecture, video and discussions. Class fee does not include any fees associated with therapy dog organizations.

PREREQUISITES: Dogs must have passed the CGC test.

Drill Team

The P4E Drill Team performs choreographed routines to music and participates in local parades and national competitions. This class prepares students to join the Drill Team. Handlers and their dogs will learn basic freestyle moves including spins, parallel moves and heeling, as well as how to work as a team. The class will culminate in a simple choreographed team freestyle routine. The P4E Drill Team accepts new members in January (Winter Term) and September (Fall Term).

PREREQUISITES: Family Dog 2, Canine Good Citizen or Permission of Instructor

Breed Handling with Dale McElrath

A drop-in class appropriate for dogs with show ring aspirations. Our instructor, Dale McElrath, has more than 20 years of experience exhibiting dogs in AKC and UKC conformation with great success. Learn how to present your dog to his or her best advantage in the show ring. Teach your dog to bait, stack and gait properly and also accept examinations by a judge.

Foundation Agility

For dogs who have completed at least one group training class. This class emphasizes all component skills needed in agility: self-control, motivation, balance/coordination and handling. Dogs and handlers will learn a foundation of safety and skills that will enable them to continue to more advanced agility training if they wish. This class is geared toward dogs who have no prior experience with agility training.

Obstacle Skills

For dogs who have completed Foundation Agility or a comparable class. Introduce your dog to the agility obstacles in a positive, safe manner. Your dog will learn to tunnel, jump, table, tire and contact obstacles with confidence and speed.

Contacts & Weaves 1 & 2

Contact obstacles (A-frame, dog walk and see-saw) and weave poles comprise some of the most challenging skills in the sport. This class will focus on teaching and maintaining solid performances of contacts and weaves. We teach 2on-2off contacts, running contacts and 2x2 weaves. C&W Level 1 is for teams with little to no experience with contacts & weaves. Level 2 is for more advanced teams who need to practice or improve speed and accuracy on contacts & weaves.

Handling Skills

This class teaches handlers and dogs the finer points of handling. Skills covered include lead-outs, pushes and pulls, and front and rear crosses. Courses will be composed of jumps and tunnels, so dogs need only be proficient at those obstacles.

Sequencing Skills

Dogs in this class must be able to perform all obstacles at full height and perform sequences up to five obstacles long. This class focuses on running increasingly longer sequences while maintaining correct performance criteria. Dogs will also learn the strategies of walking the course and planning a good path for both handler and dog.

Novice Competition

This class is geared toward teams who are competing in AKC Open or above. Courses will contain all the obstacles (6–12 weave poles) and will feature challenges appropriate to the skill level of dog and handler. We will run standard courses and a variety of game-based training exercises.

Advanced Competition

For dogs and handlers already competing in AKC Excellent or USDAA Masters. We will work on a new, challenging course each week, focusing on more difficult skills and other obstacles, like 12 weave polls.

Competition Agility Games

In this class, we will work on developing the dog and handler skills necessary for successfully competing in Snooker and Gamblers/Jackpot. These competition games present a unique set of challenges for both dog and handler. Learn to formulate and execute a plan that works for you and your dog. This class is suitable for dogs and handlers who are currently competing or ready to compete in agility trials. Dogs should be proficient with contacts and weaves.

Agility Run-Throughs

This class is a drop-in class held most Friday nights. We set up a challenging numbered course for students to practice their skills. No instruction is offered, just time in the ring to practice. The cost is $5 per dog for unlimited runs. Dogs must be proficient at all obstacles and able to perform them safely.