At All About Dogs, we believe in positive reinforcement as the cornerstone for nurturing well-adjusted and confident companion dogs. Our programs run for 6 weeks each and are available year-round. For upcoming dates and registration, visit our Registration page.
First Paw Forward (Puppy Life Skills Class)
This is a 6-week program designed to give your puppy the best possible start in life.
Classes run every Tuesday evening at All About Dogs, typically starting at 6:30 PM.
If you are looking for alternative dates or times, please email us and we will do our best to accommodate your schedule.
Build the Right Foundation Early
Start training your puppy early to establish a strong foundation for obedience, confidence, and socialization.
This program is tailored for puppies aged 8 to 16 weeks—a critical developmental window where learning happens quickly and effectively.
What Your Puppy Will Learn
Throughout the program, you and your puppy will be introduced to:
- Basic commands: sit, down, off, come when called
- Settling calmly on a mat
- Preliminary leash walking skills
- Building focus and attention around people and other dogs
- Developing self-control and impulse management
- Safe, structured socialization in a controlled environment
Our Approach
We believe positive reinforcement training is the key to raising a happy, confident puppy who clearly understands what is expected of them.
Training begins the moment your puppy comes home. Our program is designed to take full advantage of this early learning stage by:
- Building clear communication between you and your puppy
- Preventing common problem behaviors before they begin
- Creating positive associations with new environments, people, and dogs
Each class includes guided socialization, helping your puppy feel comfortable and confident in real-world situations like walks, parks, and public spaces.
Why It Matters
The skills learned in First Paw Forward set the stage for a lifetime of good habits. Puppies who start early are more likely to grow into well-adjusted, responsive, and confident adult dogs.
Class Structure & Support
Each class includes 45 minutes of instruction and coaching, where approximately three core skills are covered per session. Every skill your puppy learns acts as a building block for future abilities, ensuring steady progress from week to week.
To support your learning and consistency at home, we also provide:
- A 10-minute question-and-answer period at the end of each class
- Detailed lesson notes sent after every session
- A 15-minute make-up session available for any missed classes
Our goal is to make sure you feel confident, supported, and set up for success every step of the way.
Requirements:
- Puppies must be 8–16 weeks old at the start of the program
- Puppies must have received their first set of vaccinations
Never Too Late (Life Skills Level 1)
Ideal for older puppies (4 months +) and adult dogs, this beginner obedience class emphasizes:
- Basic obedience skills through positive reinforcement.
- Addressing common training issues.
- Understanding marker-based training.
Requirements: Proof of vaccination.
Coming Back for More
For graduates of First Paw Forward or Never Too Late, this intermediate-level class is designed to build on basic skills and make them applicable
in everyday life. During this six-week program, we enhance your dog’s focus and reliability under increasing distractions.
Skills include:
- Improving sit stays, down stays, and heeling around distractions.
- Introduction to retrieving skills, tricks, and training games.
Rally Obedience
Rally Obedience combines obedience exercises in a sequence format, emphasizing a positive handler-dog relationship. This advanced program is a compilation of traditional obedience exercises such as heeling, sit, down, stand, and stay. It builds a strong working relationship between dog and handler, serving as a foundation for everyday life skills, agility, and therapy programs.
Requirements: Participants must have successfully completed the Never Too Late and Coming Back for More programs. Dogs and handlers should be familiar with our training methods and basic obedience components: attention to handler, sit, down, stay, and loose lead walking.
Benefits:
- Improved body language interaction and loose lead walking.
- Builds foundational skills for agility and dog therapy programs.
Join us at All About Dogs to foster a strong bond and effective communication with your canine companion through positive training methods.
