K9 Kindergarten

K9 KINDERGARTEN

K9 Kindergarten

Puppy Skills Meet the Real World.

* Age: 6 months to 1 year

Your puppy learned the basics.

Now it's time to make those skills work when the world gets a little more interesting.

K9 Kindergarten builds on your dog's early training by developing greater focus, self-control, leash manners, recall, and appropriate behavior around people, dogs, and everyday distractions.

WORKING TOWARD CANINE GOOD CITIZEN

Our K9 Kindergarten curriculum incorporates the 10 skills of the AKC Canine Good Citizen® Program.

Kindergarteners work on:

Accepting a friendly stranger

Sitting politely for petting

Grooming and handling

Loose-leash walking

Walking through a crowd

Sit, down, and staying in place

Coming when called

Appropriate reactions to another dog

Appropriate reactions to distractions

Supervised separation

But the goal isn't simply to perform these behaviors inside a training room.

We want your dog to be able to use their skills in real life.

THE DESTINATION: CANINE GOOD CITIZEN.

Dogs who are ready have the opportunity to take the official AKC Canine Good Citizen® test with our AKC Approved CGC Evaluator.

Some dogs may be ready at the end of Kindergarten. Others may benefit from additional practice before testing.

Because our goal isn't simply to pass a test.

Our goal is to build a genuinely well-mannered dog.

OUR TRAINING PROMISE

Positive Methods. Practical Skills. Better Communication.

Every dog who walks through our doors is an individual.

Training isn't about forcing every dog through the exact same process.

It's about understanding the dog in front of us, finding what motivates them, teaching them how to succeed, and progressively building skills they can use in everyday life.

POSITIVE, REWARD-BASED TRAINING

We reinforce the behaviors we want and teach dogs how to make better choices.

NO E-COLLARS OR PRONG COLLARS

Our training philosophy does not rely on these tools.

INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING

Every dog learns differently. Our trainers adjust the process to the dog in front of them.

REAL-WORLD SKILLS

Training should work outside the classroom — at home, on walks, around distractions, and throughout everyday life.

PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE

Our trainers don't just train dogs. We help owners understand how to continue the process.

AKC MILESTONES

With an AKC Approved CGC Evaluator on our training team, eligible dogs can work toward nationally recognized AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy® and AKC Canine Good Citizen® achievements.

A CLEAR NEXT STEP

Training doesn't end at graduation.

We'll help you decide where to go next.