WINTER 2023 GROUP TRAINING CLASSES:

ABOUT OUR GROUP CLASSES:

• Classes are held at our adoption and community center, located at 217 Landing Road in Westbrook or via Zoom
• TO REGISTER: Please follow this link to sign up for your class. We use a platform created specifically for dog training programs. You will be asked to create a custom profile of you and your dog, so we have all the essential information to get you started and maintain your family’s training record
• Registration Fees: All classes *excluding select puppy courses* are $175. ARLGP alumni dogs receive 20% off all class fees (when registering alumni: please enter promo code ‘alum’ at check-out to apply your adopter discount)
• Vaccinations must be sent to training@arlgp.org prior to class. We require an age appropriate DAPP and Rabies boosters.
• When registering for class, please check your schedule to ensure you are available for all class dates. While we will try to work with you on missing a class (catching you up in the next class or offering a spot in a different class for that week if space allows), note that there are no make-up classes.
• Learn more about our trainers

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CLASSES FOR PUPPIES

PUPPY 101 (DROP-IN CLASSES)

This class is specially designed for your new puppy! We have this class on a module system so puppies (and parents) can join when they can, with the option of coming to our entire 4-week in-person series or picking the sessions that fit your schedule. In this class, we discuss classic puppy problem-solving topics like house training and chewing. We also work on basic puppy training techniques like recall, drop it, and walking on-leash. And, no puppy class would be complete without games and playtime! Registration closes roughly 5pm on Saturdays. Please make sure to send over vaccination records to training@arlgp.org.

Requirements to join Puppy 101:

• Puppy parents are required to watch our one-hour orientation video from home, before attending a class
• Puppies joining must have at least one DHPP vaccine

Sessions: Available on select Sundays from 10-11am
Age group: Puppies should be within 8-17 weeks of age
Instructor: Kathleen Haggerty
Registration Fee: $45 per dog per class. ARLGP alumni dogs receive 20% off all class fees (when registering alumni: please enter promo code ‘alum’ at check-out to apply your adopter discount) register here

PUPPY 201: Rallying the Rascals (4-Week Module Class)

This class is designed for puppies who are growing into mature, adult dogs. During this class, we will explore what the landscape is like as our puppies begin to mature. This can be a tricky time not just for you but for your dog. This class will follow up on some puppy problem-solving topics, discuss enrichment items, impulse control, and take behaviors like downs, stays, recalls, and walking on-leash to the next step.

Sessions: Available on select Sundays from 11:30am-12:30pm (participants can register at any available start date and complete four consecutive classes *please note there are no Puppy 201 classes being held 11/26, 12/24 or 12/31.)
Age group: Puppies should be within 18 weeks-8 months of age
Instructor: Kathleen Haggerty
Registration: Register here

PUPPY POWER HOUR

Congratulations on adopting or purchasing your new puppy! Did you know that 3-16 weeks of age is considered the most critical period of time when socializing a new dog? During this time it is essential to create positive experiences with people, places, textures, and other dogs. Puppy Power Hour is a carefully arranged playgroup-style class designed to provide your puppy with a positive experience with other dogs, and some fun obstacles to explore. Puppies learn so much from one another- how to read body language, bite inhibition, the give-and-take of play, and more! Play will last 30-45 minutes depending on the group, and the remainder of the time will consist of Q&A. Registration closes roughly 5pm on Fridays. Please make sure to send over vaccination records to training@arlgp.org.

Sessions: Available on select Saturdays from 9:30-10:30am, or 4:30pm-5:30pm

• Puppies joining must have at least one DHPP vaccine

Age group: Puppies from 8-16 weeks
Instructor: Kim Tran
Registration Fee: $20 per dog per class. ARLGP alumni dogs receive 20% off all class fees (when registering alumni: please enter promo code ‘alum’ at check-out to apply your adopter discount) register here

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WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

With the holidays around the corner, we are offering single-session workshops for you and your pup through November-December! 

TABLE MANNERS

With the holiday season coming up, some of us might have lots of guests around our tables. Some of us might also have some exuberant four legged friends who want in on the action! This class is a drop-in class that focuses on good manners around the dinner table. We will set up a table for participants and their dogs and talk about how we can reinforce our dogs to make good decisions and capture any good behavior we see!

*This workshop is not for highly reactive dogs. Have questions on if your dog is able to participate? Email Training@arlgp.org!

Sessions:

• Friday, December 8th at 5:30pm
• Friday, December 29th at 5:30pm

Instructor: Kim Tran

Registration: Register here

ENRICHMENT GAMES: TRY IT OUT!

You may fall into one of 3 categories;
1- You’ve never tried puzzle toys with your dog before.
2- You buy puzzle toys for your dog all the time and they’re just not interested.
3- You keep buying puzzle toys for your dog and they figure it out too darn quickly!
That’s why this holiday season we want to introduce you to ARLGP’s first holiday try-out! Come to the shelter, meet our trainers and try out a plethora of enrichment items/toys for your dog before buying them. Our trainers will have the names and links to all of the toys offered to your dog and will give you instructions on how to best introduce new puzzles.

*This workshop is not for highly reactive dogs. Have questions on if your dog is able to participate? Email Training@arlgp.org!

Sessions:

• Monday, November 27th at 5:30pm
• Tuesday, December 19th at 5:30pm

Instructor: Faith Paglierani
Registration: $45 Register here

LEASH MANNERS

If you’re tired of being dragged on every walk, this class is for you! This workshop is a shortened version of our full course, ‘Pulling to Polite’ (being reoffered in the Spring). In this class, you will learn how to reinforce good leash manners and deter pulling. We will also discuss appropriate equipment for your specific dog as needed.

***This is an outdoor class. Please dress prepared for 45-60 minutes of cold weather as we come into the winter months. ***

This workshop is not designed for highly reactive dogs. If you have questions on if your dog is eligible, email training@arlgp.org!

Sessions: Select Sunday evenings throughout December (check registration link for available dates)

Instructor: Amber Zawrotny
Registration: $45 Register here

THE HOOVER HOUND: SCAVENGING ON WALKS

If your dog is constantly picking things up on their walks, this one is for you! Bring your dog and learn essential ways to manage scavenging through equipment, leave it, drop it, and trading games.

This class is not intended for highly reactive dogs. If you have a reactive dog and would like to schedule a private lesson, email training@arlgp.org!

Sessions: 

• Friday, December 29th at 6:45pm

Instructor: Amber Zawrotny & Kim Tran
Registration: $45 Register here

DOG SPORTS: TRY IT OUT!

If you’ve ever wanted to dip your toes into agility or nosework, here’s your chance! This one hour session will expose you and your dog to the equipment and how to navigate a course. Please note that our intro to agility and nosework sessions are not designed competitively, we are offering this solely for you to see if you enjoy the sport.

This class is intended for human and dog friendly, nonreactive dogs. If you have a reactive dog but would still like to try out the equipment, we welcome you to email training@arlgp.org for a private session! 

Sessions:

• Agility Monday, December 4th at 5:30pm
• Nosework Tuesday, December 12th at 5:30pm
• Agility Wednesday, December 20th at 5:30pm
• Nosework Thursday, December 28th at 5:30pm

Instructor: Amber Zawrotny & Kim Tran
Registration: $45 Register here

 

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NEW YEAR’S CLASSES

TRICKS & FUN! *Discounted course!

Tricks and Fun is a 4 week course where you will learn how to teach your dog fun new tricks to show off to your friends and family at parties! In this class you will learn the foundation of how to teach tricks, how to break down complicated tricks into specific parts, and how to piece those individual parts together to complete a trick. Most importantly you will learn how to better communicate with your dog, a useful skill to have for all kinds of dog training, whether it be basic obedience, sports training, or advanced obedience, and most importantly you will learn to have fun together!

Tricks and Fun is not a good fit for reactive dogs, if you are not sure if this class is a good fit for you and your dog feel free to reach out to us at training@arlgp.org with questions!

Sessions:

• Wednesdays, January 3rd-24th at 5:30pm

Instructor: Kim Tran

Registration: $130! Register here

CANINE GOOD CITIZEN- BEGINNER

Do you have a social dog who needs some manners? Maybe you’re thinking your pup would be a great candidate for therapy work, or want just a little less chaos when you bring them out and about? The Canine Good Citizen prep courses are designed to help with common problem areas like loose leash walking, manners around strangers, recall, and basic obedience.

Our Canine Good Citizen: Beginner course is the first of 3 classes to prepare you and your canine companion for the Canine Good Citizen test, which is often required for public therapy dog work.

This class is not for highly reactive dogs or dogs who are uncomfortable around strangers. We recommend utilizing our complementary behavior hotline if you are unsure of where to start. If you have questions about if your dog would succeed in this class, email training@arlgp.org.

Sessions:

• Sundays, January 7th- February 11th at 4pm
• Mondays, January 8th- February 12th at 5pm
• Mondays, January 8th- February 12th at 6:30pm

Instructor: Amber Zawrotny & Faith Paglierani
Registration: Register here

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WAITLISTED CLASSES

If you are interested in attending any of the courses below, please email training@arlgp.org to be notified via email when our next sessions open up.

Pulling to Polite (seasonal; spring-fall): Leash manners, leash manners and more leash manners! This is a five week course.

Confident Canine: This class is designed for shy/fearful dogs. We will learn appropriate coping mechanisms and how to expose our dogs to new or scary things with the goal of helping our dogs be the most confident they can be! This is a 6 week course.