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Serving Fairfield County, CT, NY Metro and the Surrounding Areas
(203) 838-7729
Training Classes at Dog Gone Smart!
Group classes are fun for the whole family. Dog Gone Smart offers many different types of classes for dogs of all breeds and ages.
Description of Obedience Classes: (prices do not include sales tax)
Puppy Kindergarten (For Puppies 8 - 16 Weeks Old)
Everything you'll need to know about having a puppy! An introductory class for you and your puppy. You learn about the puppy’s developmental stages while your pup socializes with other pups in a safe supervised environment. Puppy topics such as housebreaking, mouthing, chewing, jumping, barking etc. will be covered. And your puppy will learn some new useful behaviors such as intro to leash walking! Puppies must have first round of shots and a clear fecal by a local vet prior to entering Dog Gone Smart.
Foundations 1 - Elementary School (For Dogs 4 Months & Older)
Manners and Obedience A first obedience course: Your dog learns to SIT and lay DOWN, reliably. We teach COME so your dog responds! Polite walking on leash, greetings and household manners are covered. Stopping unwanted Behaviors such as JUMPING and excessive BARKING. Class environment great for practice! You will learn our training philosophy and techniques. We teach you how to become a loving and effective leader and how to create a joyful bonding experience for the whole family. Dogs must be fully vaccinated for Bordetella, Distemper, (if over 6 months, Rabies), and have a clear fecal by a local vet before entering Dog Gone Smart.
Foundations 2 - Middle School
Apply the skills learned in Foundation 1 to real-life situations. Your dog learns to sit-stay and down-stay reliably, walk and wait in a crowd, greet strangers politely, go to his bed on command and stay there, and come instantly in an emergency reliably. Focus is on the 3 D's, adding Distance, Duration and Distraction!
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If you think you are ready to skip Foundation 1 and go right into Foundation 2, please fill out this form for permission.
Intermediate/Canine Good Citizen - High School
CGC Intermediate Obedience is where you will prepare your dog to pass the CGC (Canine Good Citizen Test)! Hand signals are introduced. Distractions and distance are applied to the stays. We perfect leash-walking, and the recall. More attention is given to stopping new unwanted behaviors.
Advanced-College
This class is for those who are preparing to compete with their dogs in the AKC novice obedience competition.
Outdoor Distraction
Classes are held outdoors at different locations each week to practice and proof your dog with distractions. Sit-stay and down-stay exercises, leash-walking, and recalls are the focus of the class. Pre-requisite: Intermediate 1 or permission from the instructor
Description of Specialty Classes: (prices do not include sales tax)
Puppy Agility
Designed especially for "young whipper snappers". This course is a great way to build confidence in your pup! The class teaches attention, teamwork skills (for both you and the pup!), and safe and appropriate ground work for agility. Pups should have a nice temperament and a willingness to learn and have fun. Highly recommended for toy breeds or any size breed or mix of pup. This class if for puppies under one year old. The equipment will be scaled down for pups. It will also teach you to deepen your relationship with your dog that will be useful in obedience, agility or as a loving member of your household.
Canine Good Citizen
Prepare your dog to receive certification from the AKC by passing the Canine Good Citizen test. This program promotes responsible dog ownership by encouraging you to teach your dog basic good manners.
Clicker Training with Your Dog
Using a clicker introduces you to a new technology - one that makes training easier. With a clicker and the positive reinforcement that goes with it, your dog learns quickly, remembers well and is enthusiastic about the process.
Flyball
This is an exciting sport for dogs who love tennis balls! In Flyball a dog jumps over hurdles, strikes a box, and out pops a tennis ball! The dog catches the ball in his mouth and jumps back over the hurdles carrying the ball and returns it to his owner. Sometimes this is played as a relay race. Lots of fun and excitement!
Freestyle
Canine Freestyle is a fun sport that is a mixture of obedience, tricks and dance that allows for creative interaction between dogs and their owners. Choreographed performances are organized with music, illustrating the training and joyful relationship of a dog and his handler.
Fun and Games
Keep your dog mentally stimulated! Come and play musical chairs, relay races, tic-tac-toe, Simon Says and more with your dog! Sharpen your obedience skills while having fun! Bring the kids.
Hiking
Bond with your dog in the great outdoors. This class will help establish your leadership role, perfect your leash walking skills and learn basic trail etiquette. Explore a new trail every week – swimming will be available at several locations.
Instinct and Behavior
With Chris Onthank - For individuals who want to better understand dogs, their behavior and how they think. Learn what motivates the canine and how to apply different training techniques to teach new behaviors and alter old ones. Recommended for anyone who wants to volunteer at a local shelter.
Therapy
Become a Pet Assisted Animal Therapy team with your dog and volunteer in hospitals and nursing homes. Special commands such as leave it, back up, look, and touch will be taught. Regulations regarding therapy dogs and medical terminology will be covered. Class Requirements & Information
Tracking
Teach your dog to follow human scent. If you enjoy the outdoors and playing with your dog, tracking may be for you. This course covers the basics of air scenting, trailing, track laying and reading your dog.
Tricks-Circus School!
Teach your dog to bow, wave, roll over, and much more! Lots of fun – bring the kids!