Sit. Stay. Love. Some of those are easier than the others (your pooch has the “love” part mastered already), but obedience and training classes can help with the “sit” and “stay” parts. They’re great for both you and your pup, as you gain handling and training experience, your pup learns manners and commands, and you both start to build a strong, positive relationship.
CHS supports positive reinforcement training. Positive reinforcement methods focus on acknowledging and rewarding good behaviors rather than correcting or reprimanding bad behaviors. Research shows that dogs learn faster and maintain learned commands when rewarded for good behavior. Positive reinforcement training also helps to strengthen your developing relationship with your dog since it’s based on positive rather than negative interactions.
CHS currently hosts dog training and obedience classes at the Newington location. All of the training classes offered are conducted by Pet Education and Therapy, LLC., owned and operated by Audrey Tucker, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KSA, CMT. You can learn more about Pet Education and Therapy and register for classes by visiting their website.
Class Information
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Classes meet once a week for six weeks. Each session will meet on the same day and at the same time unless otherwise noted.
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Classes are small so students get individualized attention.
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Classes are offered during weekday evenings and weekends.
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All canines must be up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations.
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Classes cost $95 for CHS canine alumni and $115 for the general public.
**Exception: Feisty Fido classes are $235 for ALL students.**
Puppy Kindergarten
This class is ideal for families with puppies under 5 months old. This 6-week session places emphasis on socialization including play with other puppies, interaction with humans, and handling. Puppies learn skills such as: sit, look, down, come, loose leash walking, stay, and give. Information is provided on issues such as house training, inappropriate mouthing and biting, jumping and more. You’ll learn how to prevent unwanted behavior and establish a bond with your puppy using positive reinforcement methods. Learn more and register.
Basic Obedience
This 6-week session is geared toward the adolescent or adult dog who is just beginning training. You will learn to teach your dog to be attentive, sit, come when called, walk politely on a leash, and listen to down and stay. Your dog will “unlearn” undesirable habits and replace them with good ones. Management skills and problem solving will also be discussed. Learn more and register.
Intermediate Dog & Handler
This 6-week session is designed to refine the behavior of a dog who knows the basic obedience commands. An increased exposure to distractions will be a key to success as well as controlling your dog at a distance. Commands and exercises covered include: take it, leave it, stand, wait, front, finish and figure 8. Information is provided concerning clicker training and performance event training. Learn more and register.
Advanced Canine
This 6-week session is designed to refine the behavior of your dog particularly in off-leash situations. Learn more and register.
CGC Preparatory Course
The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program started in 1989. CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the CGC test can receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club and be recorded in the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen archives. The purpose of the Canine Good Citizen program is to ensure that our favorite companion, the dog, can be a respected member of the community. To pass, dogs take the 10-item Canine Good Citizen Test. Items on the test include: accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, appearance and grooming, out for a walk, walking through a crowd, sit and down on command, coming when called, reaction to another dog, reaction to distraction, and supervised separation. Visit the American Kennel Club’s website for specifics on each test. Learn more and register.
Feisty Fido
This class is not currently being offered as of January 2022. Check back again later to see if it has returned to the schedule.
The class is specifically designed for dogs who are aggressive with other dogs and hard to manage in public settings or in a classroom environment. The class focuses on increasing attention and responsiveness in your dog. All this is done through POSITIVE training and desensitization.
Each Feisty Fido offers:
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One trainer per two dogs for increased attention and management;
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Very small class size;
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Controlled training environment;
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Positive solutions for you and your dog
Pet Education and Therapy offers lots of other classes for owners and pooches who can’t get enough training. Included are Agility, Rally, Nosework, Treibball and more. Check out the Pet Education and Therapy website for more information.
Behavior Consultations
If you adopted your pet from the Connecticut Humane Society, the behavior department may be able to provide some basic behavior support within 6 months of your adoption.
Please see the Behavior Consultation Program page for more information.
If you did not adopt your pet from CHS, or if your pet’s behavior concerns are beyond the scope of what CHS’ behavior consultation program can assist with, Pet Education and Therapy, LLC. offers behavior consultations. Behavior consultations are a fee-based service scheduled directly through Pet Education and Therapy, LLC. For more information, or to schedule a consultation, please contact PET directly.
Visit Pet Education and Therapy, LLC. for a current class schedule and to register for classes. You can also contact Pet Education and Therapy, LLC. by phone at 860-667-2663.