The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy curriculum (< 1 year old) is designed to get puppies off to a good start. It is an excellent first in-person training class and provides a good foundation to earning the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluation. There are several levels of CGC to help dogs as they progress as Therapy dogs, Service dogs, Sport dogs, and amazing family pets! These 2 levels are taught together so that the more experienced dogs can serve as appropriate role models for the beginners. The beginner dogs can reciprocate by providing controlled distractions for the experienced dogs! I always bring one of my well socialized therapy dogs at a teaching assistant too :) Fear-free and choice-based training helps you communicate clearly with your dog about what you want. We use only fear-free, reinforcement based methods. Please leave all tools and methods designed for punishment at home. We all need to feel relaxed and safe for learning to happen quickly, and this is true for our dogs as well. This lowers anxiety and relaxes the learning process for everyone. Reinforcement is not just about using food as rewards. Anything your dog wants may be reinforcement, such as affection, toys, play, or access to an activity or person they enjoy. If you dog loves his toy, bring it to class! I am an AKC trainer & evaluator. You can train with me and earn a title! AKC curricula are listed and explained at AKC.org. You may purchase this package for a discount on all classes - https://pocketsuite.io/book/mary-torrano/item/group-class-package--5-sessions-for-the-price-of-4!

This group social walk will begin at the WR Library on Mondays and our Community Canine training field on Fridays. It is designed for teams to participate in a social walk under controlled conditions. It is especially useful for teams working on their CGC, CGCA, CGCU, therapy dog control evaluation, service dog public access, or who are in our Trick Troupe to gain exposure, build skills, and reinforce pro-social behavior in a public setting. AKC Community Canine is an advanced level of the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC). Dogs who pass the AKC Community Canine test earn the official AKC Community Canine title that is designated by the letters “CGCA” (Advanced CGC) on the dog’s title record. Canine Good Citizen Urban (CGCU) is the CGCA title where skills are evaluated in an urban setting. Fear-free and choice-based training helps you communicate clearly with your dog about what you want. We use only reinforcement based methods. Please leave all tools and methods designed for punishment at home. We all need to feel relaxed and safe for learning to happen quickly, and this is true for our dogs as well. This lowers anxiety and relaxes the learning process for everyone. Reinforcement is not just about using food as rewards. Anything your dog wants may be reinforcement, such as affection, toys, play, or access to an activity or person they enjoy. If you dog loves his toy, bring it to our walk!

This class uses AKC FIT Dog 1 & 2 skills to introduce dogs and their handlers to the sport of dog agility, focusing on body awareness, object interaction, and forward focus. Agility provides teams with a fun, challenging physical and mental workout. Foundational handling cues will allow for proper obstacle mechanics, and the beginnings of simple course sequences to build confidence and teamwork. The goal is to have fun, build confidence, and practice skills should a team desire to advance their skills towards competition. Activities focus on improving a dog's body awareness, balance, and coordination. Teams will learn to confidently interact with various agility equipment, including jumps, tunnels, weave poles, dog walk, A-frame and teeter. Handlers learn verbal cues, hand signals, and how to use their body language to guide their dog through a course. Agility class emphasizes strong communication and connection between the dog and handler, building trust and engagement. This class is ideal for any team, regardless of breed, age, size, or experience, who wants to learn the basics of agility. It will help build confidence by providing positive experiences on equipment and around other dogs and people. Teams will develop a stronger relationship through teamwork and improved communication.

This class focuses on building foundational skills for dogs and handlers, emphasizing odor recognition, search drive, and a clear alert behavior. Scent work is appropriate for all dogs as young as 16 weeks of age. This class lays the groundwork for participating in AKC Scent Work trials. The class goal is to build confidence and proficiency in searching for a target odor in various environments like containers, interiors, exteriors, and includes work in handler discrimination. The benefits of Scent Work are many and include: mental stimulation, building confidence, strengthening the team bond, and its just so much fun! Your dog will learn to identify and alert to a birch target odor. You will learn how to interpret your dog's alert cues to pinpoint the odor's location. Your dog will learn how to methodically hunt for the scent in different environments. You will learn how to follow your dog, interpret their alerts, and work as a team to find the hidden odors.

The AKC Trick and FIT dog programs complement each other in this well-designed class to systematically develop the mental and physical development of your dog. This class includes a short group social walk. Dogs participating in this class are eligible to audition for our Tricks Troupe! Teaching your dog tricks in a fear-free, choice-based environment supports growing confidence and is a fun way to reinforce focus amongst distractions. Trick Dog titles novice through performer are available for those wishing to add letters & ribbons to their team's achievements. The AKC Fit Dog program encourages teams to exercise together through structured activities. Participants can earn three levels of FIT dog titles: Bronze: Entry-level fitness title. Silver: Intermediate fitness goals. Gold: Advanced level achievement. This class is highly recommended for Therapy dogs, Service dogs, Sport dogs, and of course your amazing family friend! These 2 curricula are taught together so that the more experienced dogs can serve as appropriate role models for the beginners. The beginner dogs can reciprocate by providing controlled distractions for the experienced dogs! I always bring one of my well socialized therapy dogs at a teaching assistant too :) Fear-free and choice-based training helps you communicate clearly with your dog about what you want. We use only fear-free, reinforcement based methods. Please leave all tools and methods designed for punishment at home. We all need to feel relaxed and safe for learning to happen quickly, and this is true for our dogs as well. This lowers anxiety and relaxes the learning process for everyone. Reinforcement is not just about using food as rewards. Anything your dog wants may be reinforcement, such as affection, toys, play, or access to an activity or person they enjoy. If you dog loves his toy, bring it to class! I am an AKC trainer & evaluator. You can train with me and earn a title! AKC curricula are listed and explained at AKC.org. You may purchase this package for a discount on all classes - https://pocketsuite.io/book/mary-torrano/item/group-class-package--5-sessions-for-the-price-of-4!

This class is designed for those teams currently working on their CGCA, CGCU, therapy dog control evaluation, or service dog public access to gain exposure, build skills, and reinforce pro-social behavior in a public setting. AKC Community Canine is an advanced level of the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC). Dogs who pass the AKC Community Canine test earn the official AKC Community Canine title that is designated by the letters “CGCA” (Advanced CGC) on the dog’s title record. Canine Good Citizen Urban (CGCU) is the CGCA title where skills are evaluated in an urban setting. You must have a prior behavior evaluation and training plan or are otherwise approved by Mary Torrano to attend public classes. Fear-free and choice-based training helps you communicate clearly with your dog about what you want. We use only fear-free, reinforcement based methods. Please leave all tools and methods designed for punishment at home. We all need to feel relaxed and safe for learning to happen quickly, and this is true for our dogs as well. This lowers anxiety and relaxes the learning process for everyone. Reinforcement is not just about using food as rewards. Anything your dog wants may be reinforcement, such as affection, toys, play, or access to an activity or person they enjoy. If you dog loves his toy, bring it to class! You may purchase this package for a discount on all classes - https://pocketsuite.io/book/mary-torrano/item/group-class-package--5-sessions-for-the-price-of-4!