Puppy Group Classes

(Puppies Under 12 Months)

Close-up of a brown Labrador Retriever dog wearing a yellow collar, sitting outdoors among fallen leaves, with part of a person's legs and blue jeans visible on the left side of the image.

Classes run for 6 weeks with 1 hour session each week.

This class meets all requirements for the AKC S.T.A.R Puppy Program. At completion of class, participants will receive certificate of completion of the program.

Training Covers:

  • Social Skills

  • Obedience

  • House Training

  • Marker Training

  • Play

Logo of the AKC S.T.A.R. PUPPY program with a yellow and blue color scheme, featuring a sitting dog with a star in front of its nose, and the word 'INSTRUCTOR' in bold yellow letters.

Training Your Puppy

The training program we use is designed to help you raise your family pet or working dog, it works well with all puppies. Most importantly you need to understand that puppy training is not something you do for ten minutes, or even a few hours a day, every minute you spend with your puppy is training. Everything that happens in the home, on walks, and during social interactions will teach your puppy something good or something bad. As a new puppy owner, it is essential to know how to properly guide your puppy through these experiences to ensure he or she comes away with the right lessons.

We focus our training in three areas:

  • Puppies, like young children, have limited attention spans, lack impulse control, and are highly curious. Without proper supervision, they can cause damage, make messes, or hurt themselves. Bringing a puppy home requires a plan to ensure safety and teach positive habits. Establishing effective management systems helps puppies develop good behaviors and prevents issues like separation anxiety, house soiling, and reactivity.

  • Proper obedience training can protect your puppy from harm and enrich their life. Canine Precision’s program teaches key behaviors, including:

    ·         Place Command

    ·         Recalls

    ·         Sit/Down/Stay

    ·         Heel

    ·         Kennel

    ·         Leave It

    ·         Structured Play

    Our approach makes training positive and engaging, helping puppies learn basic commands and understand expectations in a developmentally appropriate way. This foundation supports faster progress as they grow and tackle advanced skills.

  • One of the most frequently misunderstood aspects of puppy training is socialization. Many handlers inadvertently make significant errors when attempting to properly socialize their puppies. Unfortunately, readily available sources of information, such as Google and other online platforms, often mislead individuals regarding effective socialization techniques.

    Contrary to popular belief, effective socialization does not involve exposing a puppy to numerous interactions with unfamiliar people and dogs. Engaging in such practices, even with the use of treats, can increase a puppy’s anxiety about social encounters or lead to excessive excitement during these interactions. Neither outcome is beneficial for the dog’s development. Instead, it is essential to find a balanced approach, where the puppy learns to remain composed and attentive to the handler, regardless of the behavior of other dogs or strangers.

EQUIPMENT LIST:

The following list is the equipment necessary for our puppy group class.

  • Leash

  • Collar

  • Treats

  • Hungry Puppy (Don’t feed before class)

  • No correction collars

A copy of your dog’s vaccination records (DHLPP or DAPP (distemper) and Rabies- if the puppy is old enough) will need to be provided on or by first training session.

Client Reviews

“We can’t recommend Erin enough. Erin has been working with our lab for the past 4 years and as of recently our new puppy in the puppy class. Erin is knowledgeable, patient, and passionate. She takes the time to know the dog and the handler. She is able to problem solve what works best for the dog and owner. We are excited to continue to train with Erin and see how our dogs progress. They have learned so much as we have too. Five stars to Erin!

- The Peterson’s

A young dog with a black and tan coat, sitting on grass with dried leaves, looking directly at the camera.

“My son and his puppy worked with Erin for obedience training and preparation for the 4-H dog project. Erin was patient and kind. She explained things clearly and focused on positive reinforcement. After just a few sessions, we saw a huge improvement in our pup. He now walks so much better on a leash without pulling my son all over. Erin took the time to answer all of our questions and make us feel comfortable to continue working with him at home. Awesome experience and we would 100% recommend Erin to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, kind dog trainer”

— Christy O