Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $285
Prerequisite: Dogs must be between 6 months and 2 years at the start date of class. If your dog is 2 years or older, we recommend the Basic Manners class.
Total students: 6

Once an adolescent, your dog will experience a decrease in tolerance and often require more mental stimulation. Adolescent dogs become curious about their surroundings, yet may also start to show anxiety toward things they previously ignored. This developmental phase is normal, though it brings its own unique challenges. In class, we’ll focus on strengthening the bond and communication between you and your dog, working together as a team. The goal of this course is to support you and your adolescent dog during this transitional period, helping them grow into a well-adjusted adult. We will cover essential skills for everyday life, emotional regulation skills, and enrichment activities that cater to your dog's evolving needs.

• Is your adolescent now exploring and testing boundaries?
• Is your dog cautious about the world?
• Is your once well-mannered puppy now struggling to respond to known cues?
• Is your recently adopted adolescent dog having trouble coping with their new environments?

If your dog is between 6 months and 2 years old and you are choosing between Adolescent Manners and Basic Manners: Adolescent Manners focuses more on meeting your dog's needs and teaching emotional regulation, which is important for dogs in their "teenager" phase. Basic Manners is better suited for the mature dog and emphasizes teaching or enhancing their basic skills.

Length: 4 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $210
Prerequisite: Basic manners training with us in one of the following: Puppy Manners, Adolescent Manners, Basic Manners, Impulse Control or private training
Total students: 6

This course explores a variety of games specifically selected for fun and engagement. In Brain Games, we will show you and your dog how to collaborate on mental challenges and training games that not only give your dog an outlet for their brain power, but can also build confidence, problem solving skills, and patience. As a bonus, your own skills as your dog's teacher will be challenged and honed as you and your dog continue to work together.

Exercises may include...

• Shaping
• Stationing
• Find it games
• Tricks
• Instinctual Activites

Join our Brain Games class to build your dog’s problem-solving skills and engage their brain!

Length: 4 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $210
Prerequisite: completion of either Basic Manners, Puppy Manners, Adolescent Manners, Impulse Control, Dog Reactive Part 2 or Dog Reactive Intermediate Mini
Total students: 6

City walks takes your classroom skills out on the road. This class is held in a somewhat congested area, like Shirlington. In addition to testing the foundation cues during distraction, you and your dog will be exposed to concepts like dining out, taking an elevator, walking in busy areas, and visiting a store. Criteria setting is a key concept for this class.

• Is your dog excellent during practice inside your home and solid on walks in your neighborhood, but a bit unpredictable in other locations?
• Are you feeling a plateau in your training on your own?
• Have you attended our classes and workshops and want to pull it all together?

Length: 4 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $210
Prerequisite: completion of either Leash Manners, Meet & Greet, or Polite Greeting workshops. You can also join if you've completed either Basic Manners, Adolescent Manners, Impulse Control, Dog Reactive Part 2 or Dog Reactive Intermediate Mini classes.
Total students: 6

Nature walks is part green bathing, part socializing with other students (at a safe distance), and part sniffari. We will explore one of the local treed trails like Four Mile Run trail. Each week we may meet at a different location along the trail.

• Is your dog solid on walks in your neighborhood, but a bit skittish around the more urban noises?
• Would you like to get hands on practice on the variable ways we can use a 6 ft, 8 ft or 10ft leash with a trainer coaching you?
• Would you like to get proficient in transitions between letting your dog explore and getting your dog walking close to you and back again?
• Would you like to watch your dog really enjoy the natural environment as you do?

Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $285
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

Some dogs who are genetically predisposed to fear, lack appropriate socialization, are bred to be alert and vigilant, are living in an overwhelming environment, or have experienced trauma, adjust to the environment in ways that are inner focused. Rather than bark and chase, they will hide and cower. They may experience frequent digestive issues and may dabble in self-harming. These dogs often feel they lack control over their world. They would benefit greatly by being exposed to situations in which they have agency, a sense of control. In Confidence Building, we will show you ways to have your dog interact with their environment while continually giving them an opportunity to opt out. We will focus on different ways to expand and flex their mind in order to get them to open up and enjoy life.

• Does your dog prefer to stay at home rather than go out for a walk?
• Does your dog tremble, pant uncontrolably without being physically tired out, drool, or continuously whine more than once per month?
• Does your dog shy away from other members of your household?

Note: If your dog is experiencing separation issues, please consider our Separation Package, as your dog's comfort with solitude will be key to a healthy household.

Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $285
Prerequisite: Confidence I or Reactive Private Package
Total students: 6

This class offers the opportunity to continue and expand on the work that was started in the Confidence Building I class. It may also be suitable for dogs that have taken private training lessons with the purpose of improving the dog's confidence level. The focus is on using the agility equipment to build and further the confidence level of each dog. Elements of the regular confidence building class will be incorporated as well. Goal is for all the dogs to expand their comfort zone even further while having fun at the same time.

Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $345
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 5

When dogs bark and lunge while on leash, it is an uncomfortable time for the dog. It is also uncomfortable for others involved. In the Dog Reactive course, we will expose you to and practice ways to reduce the frequency of this happening. There is the management you can do at home to reduce overall stress. We will use body language to identify the moment before the bark so you can take action early. And yes, there will be other reactive dogs in the room. The dogs have visual blockers around their home cubby and will be out on the floor when ready. Having other dogs in a controlled environment is a perfect way to set up desensitization and counter conditioning.

• Are walks a drag because you feel like you're trying to dodge a bullet everytime you are out?
• Does your dog get aroused every time you see a dog on a walk?
• Does your dog get snappy if near another dog on leash?
• Does your dog grab the leash (or your other dog or you!) when another dog barks at your dog?

Note: if your dog is people reactive and dog reactive, please take the Dog Reactive course first. There is no prerequesite for this class.

Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $320
Prerequisite: Reactive Dog Part 1 or Private Reactive Package
Total students: 6

This class is designed for the student who has completed previous reactivity training with us and wants more practice opportunities in a safe space with committed fellow students and with the guidance of dog training instructors. We will continue the work that was initiated in the Dog Reactive Part 1 class. We realize it can be challenging to find people to work with whom you can set up a safe and structured space to practice with. While we realize that the dogs in this class may be at different stages of reactivity, and we will adjust the practice for this, we can only accept dogs in the maintenance class who have shown they are ready to be in the presence of other dogs outside of the cubby space. For dogs not quite there yet we recommend signing up for our reactive private package.

Length: 6 classes, 45-min each
Cost: $295
Prerequisite: Reactive Dog Part 1 or Reactive Package or Trainer Recommendation
Total students: 3

This mini-class has fewer students and is specifically designed to hone dog reactive leash-handling and management skills in increasingly varied scenarios with potential triggers.

Length: 4 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $210
Prerequisite: Basic manners training with us in one of the following: Puppy Manners, Adolescent Manners, Basic Manners, Impulse Control or private training
Total students: 6

Whether you are a new or experienced dog owner, teaching your dog tricks is a great way to bond with your dog and have a great time doing it! Tricks are an easygoing way to challenge your handling skills and your dog's mental accumen. In this introductory class, we will show you how to teach your dog new behaviors through key methods using luring, targeting, and shaping techniques. Tricks can also be extremely useful in everyday practice when attempting to refocus your dog on to appropriate behaviors. In this class, we will introduce you to simple and easy to teach tricks including Touch Targeting, Paws Up, Sit/Down/Release (foundational skills), Middle, Catch, Sit Pretty, Leg Weave, Bow, Spin, and Roll Over.

Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $285
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

Some dogs find it tough to hold back urges to engage in behaviors that might clash with our human lifestyles. While many of these behaviors are just part of being a dog, teaching them preferred responses can lead to a more peaceful home. This course is all about teaching dogs how to handle frustration, develop patience, and regulate their emotions. We’ll explore some strategies for setting your dog up for success through thoughtful management and enriching activities tailored to their needs.

• Is your dog easily frustrated?
• Is your dog always looking for something to do?
• Does your dog lack patience?
• Does your dog have intense reactions to the world?
• Does your dog have trouble settling down?
• Does your dog go from low arousal to high arousal in a matter of seconds?

Please note this class is not suitable for dogs with high reactivity (lunges, barks) towards people or other dogs. If this reactivity describes your dog, we have other, more suitable, class options.

Note: If you are considering Impulse Control and your dog is between 6 months and 2 year old, Adolescent Manners would be a better fit. Adolescent Manners is for dogs that are newly pushing the boundaries and recently discovered they can express their opinions.

Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $285
Prerequisite: Impulse Control I
Total students: 6

Now that you've worked on keeping your dog's self-control and response around distractions in Impulse Control I, it's time to take your dog to the next level. This class is tailored for dogs who have a good obedience foundation and are at an intermediate level, including Impulse Control I students. Your dog knows all the basic cues and has learned some self-control around mild distractions. The focus of this class is for the dog to learn to respond calmly and reliably to cues in the face of intermediate to more challenging distractions. The dogs will perform more detailed behaviors and in closer proximity to other dogs. The more you can channel exuberant behavior into calm and controlled responses the more you will be able to bring your dog with you to a variety of places without having to worry, allowing you to spend quality time with your dog and enrich the bond the two of you have together. It is also a great precursor to various dog sport activities you can do with your dog for fun.

Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $285
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

Basic Manners is a great class for both new and experienced dog owners. In this class, we will introduce basic bahaviors that you can use in everyday life. You'll learn what motivates your dog and how to understand their body language, especially in different environments. We'll focus on leash manners, coming when called, greeting people without jumping. Basic Manners integrates fun training activities to keep things enjoyable for both you and your dog. Every training session is an opportunity to give your dog mental stimulation and you coaching to push your training to the next level.

• Is your dog new to your home?
• Is your dog unfamiliar with basic skills and cues?
• Is your dog solid in their cues at home but struggle in other environments?

Note: If your dog is between 6 months and 2 years old and you are choosing between Adolescent Manners and Basic Manners: Adolescent Manners focuses more on meeting your dog's needs and teaching emotional regulation, which is important for dogs in their "teenager" phase. Adolescent Manners will include some fun activities from our Brain Games and Basic Manners classes and will also cover basic reactive skills. Basic Manners is better suited for the mature dog and emphasizes teaching or enhancing their basic skills.

Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $285
Prerequisite: Basic Manners
Total students: 6

This class is a continuation of our Basic Manners class but with benchmarks! We will continue our work on basic manners such as ...

• recall - in the classroom environment, will your dog come from 10ft away and be leashed up?
• leash handling - in the classroom, will your dog do a 20ft loop and give 2 seconds of eye contact during that walk?
• polite greeting - will your dog let a stranger, with permission, approach from 5ft away and keep a loose leash?
• leave it - will your dog leave items while walking by and stay 2ft away?
• wait - on cue for the food bowl plus wait at door
• stay - while you speak to someone, will your dog stay for 1 minute?
• settle - will your dog settle in a down for 1 minute and until released?
• tricks - will your dog perform spin or crawl within 3 seconds of the cue?

We’ll go for these and more inside and outside!

Length: 3 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $165
Prerequisite: dogs less than 6 months as of the start date of class
Total students: 6

Puppyhood provides us many opportunities to set our puppies up for success as future adult dogs. One of the ways we do this is through socialization which involved meeting the world and building comfort and confidence. This three week course is designed to introduce you and your puppy to the concept of structured, safe, socialization exercises as well as addressing common puppy concerns like housetraining, crate training, mouthing. We will also cover some foundational training concepts and behaviors to get you and your puppy off to a great start.

• Are you looking for ways to prevent future problems?
• Are you looking for structured ways to expose your puppy to novel sights and sounds?
• Are you eager to make sure your puppy is getting a good start?

This course functions well as a stand-alone course and does not require any prerequesites. If you are currently or have previously been enrolled in our Puppy Manners course, Puppy Socials, or Puppy Package private lessons, this course will compliment your learning, expanding on familiar concepts and introducing new ones.

Length: 3 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $165
Prerequisite: Dogs must be between 6 months and 2 years at the start date of class. If your dog is 2 years or older, we recommend the Basic Manners class.
Total students: 6

Adolescence can be a challenging time of life for your dog. Teenaged dogs tend to have an increased focus on being independent, exploring boundaries, and trying new things. With a brain under construction, we often see intense emotions, impulsive behavior, and a hard time self-regulating. This course focuses on core concepts to help your adolescent dog develop into an adult dog that can adapt, self-regulate, and make good decisions.

• Is your puppy beginning to take a greater interest in the world?
• Does your adolescent dog find the world to be overstimulating or overwhelming at times?
• Is your puppy becoming more emotional, intense, and distractable?
• Does it seem like your puppy has forgotten all of their previous training?

This course functions well as a stand-alone course and does not require any prerequesites. If you are currently or have previously been enrolled in our Adolescent Manners course, Tween Socials, or private lessons, this course will compliment your learning, expanding on familiar concepts and introducing new ones.

Length: 3 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $165
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

Some dogs find it tough to hold back urges to engage in behaviors that might clash with our human lifestyles. While many of these behaviors are just part of being a dog, teaching them preferred responses can lead to a more peaceful home. This mini course is all about teaching dogs how to handle frustration, develop patience, and regulate their emotions. We will introduce you to some key concepts and exercises to build communication and desirable behaviors.

• Does your dog have intense reactions to the world?
• Would you describe your dog as pushy or demanding?
• Does your dog have a hard time being patient and waiting for things to happen?

Please note this class is not suitable for dogs with high reactivity (lunges, barks) towards people or other dogs. If this reactivity describes your dog, we have other, more suitable, class options.

Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $285
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

This class is designed to help you create positive experiences with strangers. If you have a dog who is not comfortable meeting and greeting people on the street, is reactive to people passing by at a distance, does not do well when friends and family enters your house and/or have any other specific issues related to proximity to people this class is for you. The class will work on three main themes; (1) Teaching obedience cues to build a solid communication system between you and your dog and help you reinforce appropriate behavior around strangers, (2) Counter-conditioning and desensitization exercises to help the dog develop good feelings around strangers and (3) Problem-solving activities will be spaced out throughout the class to engage the dog cognitively and to encourage the dog to engage in activities that are fun while people are around. We will also discuss management strategies and have some time to address the specific challenges are facing in their lives with their dogs. This class requires that the students show a real commitment and are willing to work with their dogs outside of class. We request that all dogs who registered for this class is prepared to come with a minimum of two adults per dog. It can be the same person each class or vary from week to week. This way we will have a larger number of "new" people for each dog to work with during the six week class.

Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $285
Prerequisite: dogs less than 6 months as of the start date of class
Total students: 6

This class is designed for puppies and their specific needs. At this age, emphasis should be on building comfort with the world through positive interactions at a level they are upbeat about, also known as socialization. This is also the time to set up good habits early on and bond with your young dog. In this course, we will show you how to teach your puppy skills and manners for everyday life, as well as how to build your puppy's confidence and independence in the world through engagement activities. Puppies will be introduced to skills like how to respond to their name, come when called, walk on a loose leash, and greet people politely. Depending on the participants and the progress of the lesson plans, we may be able to get some puppy off-leash play. For a bunch of puppy play, check out our Puppy Socials, where we provide group play situations, another key to getting your pup the experiences they need.

• Do you have a cute fluff ball in your home?
• Are you eager to make sure your puppy is getting a good start?
• Have you noticed your puppy more cautious about meeting the world or more no holding back?
• Do you want your dog will be seeing, hearing, and smelling other people and dogs at a safe distance that they will see for 6 weeks?
• Are you looking for a structured environment in which you are coached how to teach your puppy desired manners?

Note: This class is for dogs from 10 weeks to 6 months old. Our Adolescent Manners class is best suited for young dogs between 6 months and 2 years old, as these dogs are in a different developmental phase and are entering their "teenage" years.

Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $285
Prerequisite: dogs should be a minimum 6 months of age
Total students: 5

We often, inadvertently, discourage our dogs from using their noses during walks, play in the yard and at home. This class is designed to give dogs an outlet to use their most specialized sense – smell. Your dog will learn to rely on their nose and develop a drive to hunt for odor. In turn, you will learn about your dog’s amazing scent capabilities and develop observation skills to read your dog’s body language. Scent Work takes this amazing working relationship and turns it into a fun game that any dog can play. This class is centered around your dog being a dog.

This class helps build a dog's confidence as well as the ability to focus and welcomes any type of dog; shy, reactive, low-energy, high-energy and older senior dogs. Since the exercises are conducted one dog at a time on the floor we have a lot of flexibility to set each dog up for success. Once you try this class, you'll see it is fun and super addicting!

All dogs love to use their nose and these classes will optimize your dog's natural scenting abilities. We begin by establishing a good search drive, then we transition to different challenges to expand their newly honed skills. The progression for searching for odors takes this path: in containers, in indoor areas, then outdoor areas, and ultimately searching for it when buried.

Your dog does not need to have had any prior training to take these classes. As a matter of fact you will hear the instructor say "leave the obedience at the door." This is all about the dog's ability to work and learn at his/her own pace without any pressure from the handler. It is also an activity that is super easy to set up at home so you have a great activity you can engage your dog with any time you feel like it within your own home environment.

Length: 6 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $285
Prerequisite: Scent Work I
Total students: 5

Once you and your dogs have completed the Intro to Scent Work class, you’ll be ready to add different search environments, like the outdoors! Just like with Scent Work I, we’ll be allowing and even encouraging your dog be a dog. Because Scent Work requires your dog be in charge, the confidence building is ever-growing. They will be encouraged to investigate their world. Their curiosity will increase their resilience and can be generalized to other situations in daily life that may otherwise be concerning or frustrating. Instead of bracing themselves for what the world is going to do next, your dog will be empowered and eager to discover the nuances of their environment in a way that is exciting and welcomed by all!

Length: 4 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $210
Prerequisite: ages 6 months and older
Total students: 6

This class will offer a safe place for you to teach your dog good boundaries and how to develop self-discipline in a social setting, combined with improving your off-lead control over your dog in the face of distractions. We work on relationship building skills and how to solicit engagement and keep it going strong despite competing interests in the environment. Class starts with working on a solid recall, getting a retrieve and other important life skills within a social setting. You will learn vital skills necessary to keep your dog within your control even in more challenging situations, building up your skill-set one step at a time. We will show you how you can get your dog to understand playing with other dogs is a privilege he will earn after learning the basic conditions of your relationship together first. Please note that we require full and active participation by the handlers and all exercises will start on-leash with the intent to continue on to off leash in Social Manners II for those who are interested.

Length: 4 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $210
Prerequisite: ages 6 months and older, Social Manners I
Total students: 6

This class will offer a safe place for you to continue to build on your dog’s social skills with the addition of providing off-leash play. We will continue working on relationship building skills and reliable responses in the presence of distractions. This class will provide a rotation between handler/dog exercises and off-leash play time. Please note that enrollment in Social Manners II is at the discretion of the instructors and will only apply to dogs suitable and ready for off leash play.

Length: 4 classes, 1 hour each
Cost: $210
Prerequisite: ages 2 years and older
Total students: 6

In this class, we'll use stations to present unique experiences to motivate, reward, and build emotional intelligence, similar to the "soft skills" we develop as humans. This is accomplished through a variety of small challenges that are achievable for the dogs. We'll focus on developing your dog's cognition by providing your dog opportunities to engage in their environment, rather than approaching life with “what can this environment do to me?” They will learn that their behavior has an effect on their environment. With this sense of agency, comes a reduction in frustration and an increase in behavioral flexibility. For example, if you were to get a new car, your dog may take awhile to feel comfortable getting in. Dogs with a flexible repertoire will be inclined to proactively try novel experiences and will be resilient enough to bounce back quickly from a minor set back.

If your dog is already emotionally and cognitively flexible and resilient, this class will invest more in ensuring your dog remains that way in the future, building up their knowledge stores. On the other hand, if your dog is rarely emotionally and cognitively flexible and resilient, this class will introduce or increase your dog’s sense of engaging proactively in the world. The stations will accommodate a range of cognitive skill and resilience. Exploration is the key to developing and maintaining resilience.

Length: 1 hour
Cost: $55
Prerequisite: None. Excellent for any dog especially puppies, adolescents, elderly dogs, and Impulse Control, Confidence Building, Brain Games, or Relax students and anyone with enrichment interest.
Total students: 6

Cooperative Care emphasizes active pet participation in grooming visits, vet visits, and handling at home. This workshop aims to introduce you and your dog to concepts to help your dog tolerate husbandry procedures by giving them greater control over their experiences through a framework of behaviors built on trust and collaboration.

• Does your dog struggle with grooming or vet visits?
• Does your dog avoid brushing and nail trims?
• Is your dog tolerant of handling and do you want to prevent potential problems?
• Do you want to learn how to help your dog feel more confident when faced with care tasks?

Join our Cooperative Care workshop for an introduction to building or maintaining your dog’s tolerance of handling!

Length: 1 hour
Cost: $55
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

Whether you have taken our Impulse Control class in the past or want to in the future, this workshop is for you! Impulsive behaviors can be hard to tackle on your own. The content of this workshop will vary slightly, depending on the needs of the dogs present. During this workshop, we’ll have an opportunity to discuss things you can do today to reduce your dog’s impulsiveness. We will offer examples and demonstrate how we work with the dogs that attend our Impulse Control School program and how you can become empowered to reduce impulsive behaviors in response to your dog’s environment.

Length: 1 hour
Cost: $55
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

Have you just started house training your puppy? Is your dog almost crate trained? Are you planning an overnight road trip with your newly adopted seven-year old? Having a crate-trained dog is useful for many reasons. It tremendously increases your pet care options over the course of the dog's life. In this workshop we will work with you and your dog using your own crate that you will bring to class with you. We will show you exercises on how to introduce the crate to your dog and build your dog’s comfort level in the crate. We will provide you some best practices for duration and location. Because you will be supplying the same crate you use at home, we will be able to give you guidance on the appropriateness of the crate (ie size) and location suggestions for the home. This will be a great workshop to take once you begin crate training at home. Then, if you reach a plateau, or want to get more guidance, come to this workshop and we can refresh your approach. This is also a great workshop for dogs that board or seek vet care in facilities that utilize crates.

* We recommend bringing your own crate but it is not required. We will have stand alone crates available as well as the same kennel systems we use in daycare for boarding.

Length: 2 sessions, 1 hour each
Cost: $95
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

Daycare can be a fun and stimulating environment for some dogs. Attending daycare comes with having to tolerate quite a lot of different things such as handling, crating, sharing resources, other dogs, and other people. There are many skills that can help your dog find the daycare experience to be more enjoyable, as well as be a safer and easier dog to manage in a play group. In this two-week workshop, we will cover foundational skills like name and recall, handling, crating, and settling. The content of this workshop will vary depending on the needs of the dogs present.

• Does your dog currently attend a dog daycare?
• Are you hoping for your dog to attend a dog daycare in the future?
• Do you struggle to manage your dog in social settings like dog playdates?
• Do you want to give your dog the best chance at participating in a daycare?

Please note that this workshop is not a substitute for Fur-Get Me Not's daycare evaluation, they will need to go through the entrance evaluation process as usual. This class is to increase their skills to better prepare them for future daycare or playdate experiences.

Length: 1 hour
Cost: $55
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

Teaching your dog tricks is a great way to bond with your dog and have a great time doing it! Tricks are an easygoing way to challenge your handling skills and your dog's mental accumen. Tricks can also be extremely useful in everyday practice when attempting to refocus your dog on to appropriate behaviors. In this workshop, we explain the concepts of using key methods like luring, targeting, and shaping techniques to teach any new behavior and we will introduce you to simple and easy to teach tricks such as Paws Up, Middle, Catch, Sit Pretty, Leg Weave, Bow, Spin, and/or Roll Over.

• Is your dog cautious about the world?
• Does your dog love to learn?
• Do you and your dog love to learn new things together?
• Do you want to advance your handling skills?
• Do you want to build a stronger bond and receive more active participation and attention from your dog?

Join our Fun Tricks workshop to learn adorable tricks and have fun with your dog!

Length: 1 hour
Cost: $55
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

Going for a walk with a dog that pulls can be a frustrating and often uncomfortable experience for both human and dog. In this workshop we will take a deep dive into the foundational skills and concepts to create a more pleasant walk for both ends of the leash. We will cover the concepts of safe leash handling, loose leash walking, regulating reactions to the environment, and controlled walking for more congested areas. We will work at a level of challenge that is appropriate for the class average but will work to individually challenge each team.

• Do you struggle to enjoy walks with your dog?
• Do you feel unsafe or out of control on walks?
• Does your dog often walk on a taught leash rather than a loose leash?
• Does your dog have a hard time breaking focus from the environment if prompted?

Join us for the foundations of an enjoyable and comfortable walk with your dog.

Length: 1 hour
Cost: $55
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

The emphasis of this workshop is how to effectively meet and greet other dogs and/or people at close proximity on the street while maintaining calm and responsive behaviors from the dog and the handler. Real life situations are always unpredictable and messy so preparedness is key. Therefore, the environment on the street requires a two-fold process. We will cover both effective training exercises to practice, as well as necessary management techniques on how to gradually build a desired response from our dogs while passing by other people and dogs.

Length: 1 hour
Cost: $55
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

It is a joy to have a happy dog, but if that means your dog is jumping on people all the time that can become a real nuisance. We teach you to combine management and training in everyday life and how to make the dog offer a sit whenever approached by a stranger or in the presence of other distractions.

• Is your dog a jumper?
• Does your dog get overly excited to greet others?
• Does your dog think it's their job to greet every person they see?
• Does your dog "push" their way onto people a little too strongly?
• Do you want an easy to teach your dog to ask for permission to greet another dog or person?

Join our polite greeting workshop. We'll teach you how to implement management techniques when you are not actively training and how to teach alternative behaviors for your dog to practice when granted the choice to greet others.

Length: 1 hour
Cost: $55
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

In this session we cover all the important principles you need to follow to in order to develop a reliable recall. We practice with a wide range of distractions and show you how to use body language and voice to your ultimate advantage. We teach you to be the one in your dog’s life and how to set up practice sessions in a way that your dog would always consider it in his best interest to come when called.

• Does your dog run away from you when you call them?
• If your dog got loose by mistake, would you be able to get them back easily?
• If your dog were lost, would your dog run up to a stranger for safety or run away?
• Would you like to learn how to train a reliable recall?

In this workshop we will help you learn how to strengthen your dog’s desire to come back to you in a variety of situations.

Length: 1 hour
Cost: $55
Prerequisite: None. Excellent for any dog especially puppies, adolescents, elderly dogs, and Impulse Control, Confidence Building, Brain Games, or Cooperative Care students and anyone with enrichment interest.
Total students: 6

Do you ever find yourself wishing your dog would just take it easy? Some dogs can be quite intense, whether they're excited or anxious, and this can lead to challenging behaviors. Our Relax workshop is designed to help you and your dog learn ways to manage those feelings and cope better in a busy world. We'll introduce exercises that boost confidence, teach authentic relaxation, and help reduce issues like barking and lunging. The class will include enrichment, pattern games, and relaxation exercises, giving you a well-rounded approach to help your dog feel calmer.

• Does your dog have trouble settling down?
• Does your dog have concerns about the world around them?
• Is your dog always on the go and struggles to switch off?
• Do you want to learn how to help encourage relaxation in your dog’s life?

Join our Relax workshop for exercises and techniques to help your dog take it easy.

Length: 1 hour
Cost: $55
Prerequisite: None. Excellent for any dog especially puppies, adolescents, elderly dogs, and Impulse Control, Confidence Building, Brain Games, or Cooperative Care students and anyone with enrichment interest.
Total students: 6

In this workshop, you and your dog will be a team, searching for clues to break the code. You’ll work against the clock leveraging your skills (such as having a thumb) with your dog’s skills of having a powerful nose. No experience needed. If your dog has any food limitations, please let us know and be sure to bring enough treats to provide us for when we set up each room.

Length: 2 sessions, 1 hour each
Cost: $95
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

Have you ever thought about what enrichment means for our dogs and how to meet their individual needs? In this fun, two-night, workshop we’ll explore enrichment activities designed to engage your dog's instincts. Over two weeks, we'll expose you and your dog to many fun activities, beyond your standard puzzle toys. You'll learn how to identify those activities that are most enriching for your dog and build an enrichment schedule that targets your dog's needs.

• Do you want more ideas of things to do with your dog without going far?/li>
• Do you want to be more intentional about how you use enrichment?
• Do you want to become more consistent in providing stimulation for your dog?
• Has your dog mastered their current games and puzzles?
• Does your dog get into the trash? Chew your couch or shoes? Steal things from around the house?

Join us to learn how to give your dog the fulfilling life they deserve.

Length: 1 hour
Cost: $55
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

Whether you have taken our Confidence Building class in the past or you see it might be in your future, this is the perfect workshop for you! Fear presents itself in different ways. Each dog has a unique response to fear and each dog may experience fear in different ways depending on the environment. We will be mindful of the presentation of fear in the dogs in attendance and will alter the discussion and content accordingly. During the workshop, we’ll have an opportunity to observe and discuss body language that can indicate the various ebbs and flows of a fearful experience and feelings of being more comfortable. We’ll talk through things you can do today to reduce your dog’s experience of fear. And we’ll give you an example of how to start and continue the process of desensitizing your dog to things that trigger the fear.

Length: 2 sessions, 1 hour each
Cost: $95
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

This is a two session workshop with a focus on applying good manners in the real world on a group walk. Every session begins with some prep work in the facility and then we take it on the road. In addition to working on foundation behaviors on the walk we will also incorporate good manners around other dogs and people. This workshop is a great precursor to the City Walks class if you want to test if you are ready. Please note that we will be outdoors for better part of the session and will only cancel in case of inclement weather.

** This workshop is sometimes offered outdoors as well, usually in Shirlington. Meet up location will be provided.

Length: 1 hour
Cost: $55
Prerequisite: N/A
Total students: 6

Wouldn't it be great if you could bring your four-legged companion to the restaurant or coffee shop? Don't think your dog can do it? Think again! We will talk about management aspects of bringing your dog to public spaces and then we will practice polite behavior. The later part of the workshop will include eating and drinking at the table while at the same time working with your dogs. You bring food (regular meal, sandwich or other snack per your preference) we will accommodate with drinks. Please note: This class is for dogs who already have a concept of the cue settle and/or a few minutes of duration with stay.