FORTIS Canine LLC proudly offers a six-week puppy training class incorporating the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program. This program consists of twice-weekly, one-hour sessions designed to build confidence and good manners in your puppy, providing an excellent foundation for future training and preparation for the Canine Good Citizen title.

Education:

Socializing: This will focus on safe puppy interactions and learning how to properly greet other dogs and interact with play.

Clicker training: This is the foundation for all training that requires time for the primary reward (food or toy). Clickers are a bridge or a promise that says you’re doing what I ask, and your reward is coming keep it up.

Sit: Let’s start with a bait and lure technique setting the foundation for the handler to start training their puppy with positive reinforcement. This helps the owner learn that every training session is a game and it needs to be fun.

Down: This is the second most important position for a puppy to learn. A down is a submissive position for a dog. So, by teaching a down stay your dog will learn that this position means to calm down and listen. It is also the foundation for teaching good home manners and place.

Come or recall: This is the most important skill in my opinion. This is a safety fundamental that keeps the puppy out of harm’s way, like the road or away from dangers like other dogs or grills that smell so good to the unknowing and hungry pup.

Heel: The puppy should learn this a position not a movement when you start to walk. The heel position should not change during sitting, walking, running or making turns.

Place: Place is a command used to put your puppy into a down stay or extended sit stay. You can place the dog in a crate on a dog bed, and they should do so happily and wait for further instructions. This is critical for hyper dogs when guests come over, or just to keep them from getting under your feet in the kitchen. It has many useful applications.

Door manners: Does your UPS or Amazon delivery driver know your dog too well because they bolt out of the house when you open the door? I can fix that. This is also a big safety tool to teach your dog.

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy: $25 for evaluation any time after the 6- week puppy class