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Dog Training Classes

WINTER/SPRING 2024 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

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.

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

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 3/31, 4/14, or 5/5.)
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


SPRING CLASSES

AKC TRICKS & FUN!

AKC 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! Class participants are also eligible to obtain an AKC Tricks title!

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:

  • Fridays, April 19th-May 10th @ 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:

  • Mondays, April 1st- May 6th @ 6:30pm
  • Mondays, April 8th- May 13th @ 5pm
  • Tuesdays, April 9th- May 14th @ 5pm

Instructor: Amber Zawrotny & Faith Paglierani
Registration:
Register here

PULLING TO POLITE

Walking our dogs is an essential part of pet ownership. New sights, smells, and getting out into some fresh air is just as good for their wellbeing at it is for us humans. Pulling to Polite’s goal is to make your walking experience just as fun for you as it is for your dog and provide a little peace to your daily routine!

This 5-week crash course is designed to take you step by step through common walking issues, appropriate equipment specific to your dog, proofing distractions, and more!

**This class is not for highly reactive dogs. Not sure if your dog will meet our requirements? Email training@arlgp.org to discuss!

Sessions:

  • Thursdays, April 11th- May 9th @ 5pm

Instructor: Amber Zawrotny & Kim Tran
Registration:
Register here

CONFIDENT CANINE

Confidence doesn’t come naturally to all of us, and this holds true with our dogs as well! This 6-week course is designed to help you better understand your dog, their phobias, and how to help them through their anxieties. Our goal is to help you and your dog exist peacefully in life and build confidence along the way by giving you building blocks throughout this course to apply in real life.

Confident Canine 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:

  • Thursdays, April 11th- May 9th @ 5pm

Instructor: Amber Zawrotny & Kim Tran
Registration:
Register here

 


WANT TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN WE POST NEW CLASSES?

Please email training@arlgp.org to be notified via email when our next sessions open up. Please specify which classes you are interested in, so we can add you to the appropriate waitlist!


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