Training - Indoor-Outdoor Classroom

Manners and Obedience

Fun and Certifications

FREE Supervised Puppy Socialization Hour

Mondays 5:30 pm

For puppies 8 to 16 weeks

Class size limited

FREE!

Facilitator: Paulina Rafa

Watch your new family member learn and interact with other puppies in a supervised environment.

Socialization is the process of positive exposure to new experiences, situations, environments, people of different ages, and other animals. It will help your puppy to develop the coping skills needed for a stable temperament.

Puppies must have first distemper/parvo and bordetella vaccinations (proof required).

Contact us to register

Pawsitively Puppies

Thursdays 6:30 pm

For puppies 3 to 6 months

Class size limited

6 weeks $165

Instructor: Dani Drogue CPDT-KA

Designed to help you build a strong, loving relationship with your new puppy. Getting a puppy is a lifelong commitment and our class will help you and your dog start your journey together. Curriculum jam packed with fun and useful information.

Includes:

*House Training

*Solve chewing problems

*Socialize with other dogs and people

*Come when called

*Constructive play training

*Stress free veterinary visits and grooming

*Sit and Down

*Leave-It and Wait

Contact us to register

Manners and More - Part 1

Tuesdays 5:00 pm

Thursdays 7:30 pm

For dogs 6 months and older

Class size limited

6 weeks $165

Instructors:

Tuesdays: Laurie Merritt CPDT-KA CNWI

Thursdays: Dani Drogue CPDT-KA

Taught using positive reinforcement via food, praise, and toys. Focus on teaching exercises that will help to build a strong relationship with your dog while developing the manners that make them a welcome family member in all areas of your life.

Includes:

*Attention/focus

*Sit and Down

*Greet people

*Loose leash walking

*Come when called

*Leave-It and Wait

*Settle

*Solving chewing problems

*Fun games and tricks

Contact us to register

Manners and More - Part 2

Tuesdays 6:00 pm

For dogs 6 months and older

Class size limited

6 weeks $165

Instructor: Laurie Merritt CPDT-KA CNWI

*Recommended pre-requisite: Manners Part 1

Reinforces training concepts and techniques learned in initial manners class. Specific focus on jumping, loose-leash walking and recall, plus expands proficiency with increasing the four D’s; distance, duration, distraction, and diversity. Develops a well-mannered dog and prepares you and your dog to transition to Canine Good Citizen level.

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Fun and Certifications

Canine Good Citizen (CGC)

Tuesdays 7:00 pm (semester alternates with AKC Novice Tricks)

For dogs 6 months and older

Class size limited

6 weeks $165

Instructor: Laurie Merritt CPDT-KA CNWI

**Some insurances will accept ‘restricted dog breeds’ with CGC certification in homeowner policies.

Nationally recognized AKC certification identifies your dog as a well-mannered dog and you as a responsible dog owner. Demonstrate proficiency of training without the aid of treats, toys, restrictive collars or harnesses. The CGC course prepares you and your dog for mastering 10 practical exercises.

Includes:

1. Accepting a friendly stranger

2. Sitting politely for petting

3. Appearance and grooming

4. Walking on a loose leash

5. Walking through a crowd

6. Sit and down on command and staying in place

7. Coming when called

8. Reaction to another dog

9. Reacting (or not reacting) to a distraction

10. Supervised separation

Contact us to register

AKC Novice Tricks

Tuesdays 7:00 pm (semester alternates with CGC)

For dogs 6 months and older

Class size limited

6 weeks $165

Instructor: Laurie Merritt CPDT-KA CNWI

*Pre-requisite: Manners and More - Part 1.

Nationally recognized AKC certification and title. Fine tunes your training techniques and sharpens your dog’s responsiveness. Requires your dog to use their brain and brain work is as exhausting as running a marathon. (And you don’t have to run!) The Novice Tricks course teaches you and your dog to master 10 tricks from the AKC list.

Includes:

Balance beam

Bark on cue

Crawl on belly

Fetch It

Find It (scent item hidden)

Names of items

Get In (box)

Sits (in box on cue)

Get on (4 paws)

Paws up (2 front)

Hand signals

High five

Hold (3 seconds)

Jump (through)

Kennel Up

Contact us to register

K9 Nose Work® Foundation

Fridays 6:00 pm

For dogs 6 months and older

Class size limited

6 weeks $165

Instructor: Laurie Merritt CPDT-KA CNWI

*Dogs must able to relax in your heated/cooled vehicle between working turns.

The activity and sport of K9 Nose Work® are open to virtually all dogs and their people. This journey can begin at any stage of your dog's life and lasts a lifetime. It brings out the best in your dog, and brings you both closer.

You set the pace. If your goal is to make K9 Nose Work® a regular play activity, there is no end to the games you can enjoy. If you are destined to face new and greater challenges together and experience the excitement of competition, K9 Nose Work® is also an organized, titling sport with official trials across the nation.

Contact us to register

Dani Drogue, CPDT-KA

Dani moved to Massachusetts from sunny Florida! She grew up with a free flighted cockatiel, a West Highland White Terrier, and three younger brothers, so she has been working with animals all of her life!

Dani volunteered at a shelter through her high school years, then shadowed with a local trainer who was kind enough to mentor her for two years. After that, she cut her teeth at one of the big box pet stores as an assistant trainer, then a lead trainer! It was a great experience at her particular store, despite their cookie cutter approach.

Dani went to school for Early Childhood Education (where parallels abound!) and has always split her time between kids and dogs. Often, she combines the two with classes catered to kids, or by volunteering with therapy dogs at pediatric hospital events and libraries.

Dani maintains her dog savvy by attending trainings and workshops as well as keeping up-to-date on published works in the field, both popular and peer reviewed. She has been certified by the CCPDT as “knowledge assessed” and is studying for her behaviorist credentials. She is an active member of the APDT and AKC as well.

“I look forward to meeting you and your dog!”

Laurie Merritt CPDT-KA CNWI

Laurie began training dogs in 1974, starting with her own Siberian Huskies. Initially her dogs competed in AKC obedience and conformation, earning numerous titles and often placing in the classes. More recently she has enjoyed teaching and competing in freestyle and K9 Nose Work®, which has proven to her to be the most interesting and thought provoking of the dog sports.

Laurie's current training partner, Darwin "Winiaken's Intelligent Design BN RN FD NW1" has proven to be a smart, eager, and patient teammate from whom Laurie has learned a great deal. While they dabble in K9 freestyle and obedience, their primary focus is Nose Work®.

Laurie has been involved in dog related activities and clubs for over 40 years. She has served in many capacities ranging from club officer positions in all breed and specialty clubs to trail crew boss for the Sandwich Notch 60 Sled Dog Race. Springfield KC has been grateful for her expertise as chairperson in both rally and obedience.

For more than 20 years, Laurie has been conducting dog training classes and providing in-home training and consults. She has worked for several obedience and all-breed clubs and has taught classes at two Massachusetts training centers. Classes included basic family dog, competition obedience, rally, breed handling, K9 freestyle and Nose Work®. During the past year, Laurie's students in both freestyle and Nose Work® have earned numerous titles, even though very few of them initially had any intention of competing.

"Here's hoping everyone can find the magic of this sport and others offered at Paw Plaza!"