SERVICES - Dog Obedience

Happy and calm dog gazing at handler ready to learn new skills

Obedience Classes

Our Self Control Dog Obedience and Attention and Impulse Control classes focus on establishing a communication pathway and bond between you and your dog. We help you get your dog excited about learning and have fun while learning. In these classes you and your dog will learn how to respect each other and work together as a team. We primarily use positive reinforcement techniques and treats to teach your dog new commands.

We address various problem behaviors and help you and your dog overcome those problems. Most classes include 20-30 minutes of Dog Play where dogs learn how to socialize with one another. The remainder of the class is focused on the agenda for that day.

The goal of the Self Control Obedience classes is to provide you and your dog with the skills needed to pass a Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) test.

NEW Puppy Attention & Impulse Control Obedience Class

This 4 week class is for puppies that are between 12 & 16 weeks old and this is their 1st class. Puppies need their first series of DHLPP and Bordetella. The class is focused on socialization to make them a well rounded puppy. We also cover,

  • Puppy Communication - Establishing markers and cues and teaching puppy to pay attention to you

  • Socialization with Dog Play and introducing dogs to a variety of situations

  • Making sure puppy is good with touching especially for petting and attaching leashes

  • Teach dogs that it is ok to give things up (Drop It)

  • Address Common problems Potty Training, Mouthing, & Chewing and others.

This class is perfect to start your pup’s education. Each of the 4 week classes are 1.5 hours in duration.

Adult Dog Attention & Impulse Control

This 4 week class is focused on teaching your dog to pay attention to you which is one of the most critical skills a dog can have! It is a great class for a newly adopted dog or dogs who are easily distracted, overly excited, anxious, or fearful. We focus on creating a bond between you and your dog by working on attention, impulse control, and hand/nose targeting exercises used to redirect your dog to focus on you instead of distractions. All dogs must be 6 months or older to attend this class.

Self Control Obedience 1 Class

This 4 week class is focused on teaching you and your dog the fundamentals with emphasis on creating a communication pathway so that you can provide your dog feedback on when they are doing things you desire and when they are not. We focus on basic commands that help your dog with impulse control. Classes include the following topics and exercises:

  • Establishing the communication pathway between you and your dog

  • Understanding how dogs learn and works and what doesn’t

  • Teaching your dog to pay attention to you so that they can take guidance from you any time

  • Address jumping for greetings by teaching your dog to keep 4 paws on the floor

  • Basic commands that promote impulse control and deference

    • SIT for everything

    • DOWN to relax

    • STAY to hold a position

    • LEAVE IT to ignore distractions

    This is the perfect class for puppies and newly adopted dogs so that you can establish your relationship bond and life long partnership.

Self Control Obedience 2 Class

This 4 week class takes you and your dog to the next level. Once your dog has learned to pay attention to you and maintain basic impulse control, it is time to start raising the bar! In this class we will teach you and your dog to take what they learned in Self Control Obedience 1 and apply those skills to more complex behaviors such as walking calmly and ignoring distractions and coming when called even if they are engaged in something much more interesting! In this class we will cover:

  • Loose Leash Walking fundamentals and adding the ability to walk past other dogs

  • How to calmly greet other dogs while on leash

  • Make it fun for your dog to COME WHEN CALLED (Recall)

  • WAIT to be released to go through doors or up/down stairs

  • Introduce you and your dog to Rally O (obedience) and Agility!

This class is for those dogs who have already completed Self Control Obedience 1 or equivalent class.

Advanced Self Control Obedience 3 Class

This 4 week class is focused on solidifying your dog’s skills and strengthening his impulse control by increasing duration, adding more distractions, and distance so that your dog can consistently demonstrate good manners no matter what is going on around them.

  • Practicing SIT and/or DOWN STAY in the presence of different levels of distractions such as bouncing balls and adding distance so that your dog has a solid STAY even when you are not by their side

  • Sit Calmly for people greetings and doorbells

  • Improve Recall (Come When Called) so that dogs ignores treats, toys, and other people and dogs when coming to you

  • WAIT at all doors and stairs until released, even when someone knocks on door or rings doorbell

  • Learn to Go to their Bed (PARK IT) to prevent begging or chaos at the door when people arrive

This class is a great class for dogs to refresh or solidify skills they already know by creating real life situations where you and your dog practice calmness and impulse control.