
Do you have a newly adopted dog who needs to learn how to behave in your home?
An adolescent pup who has forgotten how to listen?
An older dog you just never had time to train?
Now is the time to get better behavior: Take your pet to class! School is in session for your dog starting next week.
Enroll your dog in Family Dog Manners & Obedience class. Classes meet Thursdays at 5:30 PM at Orange Innovation Center (the former mattress factory) at 131 West Main Street, Orange, MA. Class is scheduled to begin January 5, but will run once it fills. Register now to hold your dog’s place.
This six-week course gets your dog started on all the basics for good manners. Here’s a peek at what we cover:
Week 1: People-only Orientation
What is good training? How associative learning and learning by consequences combine. SMART (See, Mark, And Reward Training). Games to practice timing and mechanics. Practice on the guest Demo Dog.
Week 2
Concept: Consequences matter more than words
Behaviors: Mannerly mat (settle on a mat), Sit, Attention (respond to name), Down, Loose leash (polite leash walking), Wait at the door, drop it!
Week 3
Concept: High rate of reinforcement
Behaviors: Settle on mat, Sit, Polite greetings, Down, Attention, Loose leash walking, Touch (nose targeting), Wait
Week 4
Concept: The 3 Ds of Difficulty — Distraction, Duration, and Distance
Behaviors: Settle, Attention, Touch, Polite greeting, Down, Loose leash walking with side-sit, Leave it

Week 5
Concept: Build Powerful Cues!
Behaviors: Settle, Touch to build Recall, Polite greetings, Recall (coming when called), Loose leash walking with distraction, Stay, Leave it
Week 6
Concept: Bringing training into real life
Behaviors: Stay — Sit-stay, Down-stay, Recall — counterconditioning collar grabs, Recall past distractions, Loose leash walking with distractions, Leave it, Training Fun and Games, Raffle drawing
Classes are fun, informative, helpful, and local! See what previous students have said:
“We’re very happy to have found you & are really enjoying the class.” -Deb & Jake Smith
“It’s a great class! We are loving it. The best part of class for me is… Working around other dogs. Seeing his confidence build.” -S.L. of Greenfield
“I’m so happy with all we are learning. The best part of class for me is… Just learning all the steps to teaching my dog correctly. A great class I have learned a lot and will continue to work with my dog.” -T.E. of Shutesbury
Your six-week class, including homework and access to our library of helpful training handouts, is just $128.
Ready for better behavior? Register your dog for class today!