Best Paw Forward Puts the FUN in Dog Training Classes

Basic Manners This 8-week course is designed for dogs older than 16 weeks of age. In addition to learning theory being discussed, Basic Manners teaches you to teach your dog the basic skills that will enable you to have a happy household as well as a happy dog. This course covers basic cues including Sit, Down, Come, Stay, Leave It, Drop It, Wait at the Door, and walking nicely on leash without pulling. Boundary training, impulse control and problem solving are also introduced. For those of you who have taken Puppy Kindergarten, the Basic Manners class adds distance and more distractions (like holding stays for longer times with squeaky toys going off and frisbees flying by). Unlike Puppy Kindergarten there are no off leash socialization periods. Class size is limited. This class is not for leash reactive dogs. Broadly speaking, leash reactivity is when a dog reacts in an unwanted manner toward a given stimulus while on a leash. One of the most common examples is a dog that, when leashed, barks or growls as another canine approaches. However, when that dog is not on a leash, it has no problems. In order to help you and your dog learn in a group setting, dogs must be okay on leash around other dogs (i.e. no growling, excessive lunging, or excessive barking). Class size is limited! Do NOT bring your dog to the first class (humans only for the first class!) The date listed is the start date of the class session. NEW CLASS BEGINS Wednesday, October 29th at 1:00pm in our Pewaukee location (1 Spot Left!) OR Monday, November 17th at 6:15pm in our Pewaukee.

Level 2 Manners Picks up where Basic Manners left off and concentrates on those hard to train areas. Improved manners and reliability, more emphasis on heeling and automatic sits, preparation for off-leash heeling, more attention exercises to keep your dog focused on you rather than another dog or person, proofing the recall so that it becomes automatic and reliable. All exercises take cues learned in Basic Manners and practice them at greater distances and with more distractions. Go to mat, drop on recall, fronts and finishes are also covered. Level 2 is a great way to prepare for Canine Good Citizen, Therapy Dog, Rally Obedience and Outdoor Adventures. Dogs must wear a harness or plain buckle or snap-release collar and must be well socialized with other dogs. Class size is limited! Prerequisites: Completion of Basic Manners, ability of dog to hold a 5-second stay in the presence of other dogs (not behind any barriers) with mild distractions. NEW CLASS BEGINS Wednedsay, November 5th at 7:40pm in our Pewaukee location. (skip 11/26)

Everyday Essentials Is walking your dog a battle from the minute your dog’s paws hit the pavement? Do you dream of getting your dog to love being handled so nail trims and grooming can be enjoyed by both of you? Pet parents usually tend to focus more on cues like sit, down and stay, and skip teaching their dogs things that will help them to feel comfortable with common life necessities. These things can be REALLY SCARY for our pups if they have not become appropriately acclimated to them and this has not been done in advance of the event occurring. We are going to show you how to take a thoughtful and kind approach using consent and choice to introduce your dogs to different procedures so they can be comfortable going to the vet and the groomer. This class is a great complement to Puppy and Basic class. There are no prerequisites so it can be taken at any time by dogs of any age. This is not a class for reactive dogs. Whether you have a puppy or a “new to you” dog, there are modules of the class that will help you navigate everyday life with your dog. We will take a deeper dive into the three biggest areas of everyday life with our dogs: walking nicely on a loose leash; 2) behaviors of jumpingn ipping and barking; 3) grooming aspects of brushing, nail trims ears, etc. This is not a reactive dog class. Dogs of ALL ages welcome. Class size is limited! NEW CLASS BEGINS Monday, November 17th at 6:15pm in our Hartland location.

Rally-O Rally is a sport, held in conjunction with obedience training, where the dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of directional signs in a manner similar to Agility but with obedience signs at each station instead of obstacles. The dog and handler team heel from sign to sign and perform the exercises indicated on the sign at each station. The goal is that the dog and handler learn to work together and create a beautiful flow as they progress on the Rally course. It is fun and a great way to continue working on cues and learning new skills. Dogs must wear a harness or plain buckle or snap-release collar and must be well socialized with other dogs. Class size is limited! Basic Manners is a prerequisite. NEW CLASS BEGINS Monday, November 17th at 7:40pm in our Pewaukee location. Come try something new with your dog if you have never done this before, no prior experience necessary! It's FUN!