Control Unleashed®
Increase focus with pattern games & help for your reactive dog
The Control Unleashed (CU) program is based on the books and DVDs by Leslie McDevitt. Originally designed to help agility dogs learn how to relax, focus, and work reliably off-leash, CU uses “conversational” training to build a solid foundation of life skills. Create predicable, reliable patterns of behavior to help your pup learn that they can be more comfortable around stimulating or stressful situations.
These foundational exercises will give your dog a repertoire of more desirable methods of engaging with you and others. CU pattern games help your dog translate unfamiliar or overstimulating environments into a familiar, predictable framework that allows them to process the environment while remaining engaged and able to focus. Despite the class title, Control Unleashed is a fun curriculum taught while your dog is on-leash in our training center.
We offer several Control Unleashed options:
- Foundations – Live, online via Zoom
- Foundations – In Person (1 online, 6 in-person)
- Reactive to Relaxed – Hybrid (6 online, 6 in-person)
Foundations – Live, online via Zoom
Control Unleashed Foundations is great for dogs of all ages and skills, and helpful for dogs who:
- Have trouble focusing in stimulating environments
- Struggle with over-arousal (jumping up, leash-biting, nipping, etc.)
- Display reactive, fearful, anxious or shy behavior
- React to other dogs, react to people, or react to environmental triggers, such as cars, trucks, or bikes
- Are too fearful or overwhelmed to take an in-person class
- Live too far away from our training center (you can join from anywhere!)
Age range: 6 months and older
Prerequisites: None
Class length: 6 consecutive weeks (not including holidays). 60 minutes each. Make-up classes are not possible.
Fee: $200
Instructor: Angie Madden, CCUI
Foundations – 1 online, 6 in-person
- Helpful for dogs who have trouble focusing in stimulating environments
- Helpful for dogs who struggle with over-arousal (jumping up, leash-biting, etc.)
- Helpful for those who have already taken the live, online class
- Not appropriate for dogs who display reactive behavior (barking, lunging) toward people or other dogs
Age range: 6 months and older
Prerequisites: None
Class length: 7 consecutive weeks (not including holidays). 60 minutes each. Make-up classes are not possible.
Fee: $225
Instructor: Angie Madden, CCUI
Reactive to Relaxed – 6 online, 6 in-person
- For dogs who react to other dogs
- Helpful for those who have already taken the live, online class
- Not appropriate for dogs who display reactivity to humans
Our hybrid class (6 online and 6 in person) for dogs who are reactive to other dogs will begin online before meeting in person. This will allow you to get comfortable with the techniques and give your dog a chance to learn new behaviors, in a less distracting environment. Learn how to safely manage your dog on walks, recognize early warning signs before your dog reaches their threshold, use pattern games to help your dog disengage from the environment, and build communication skills to help your dog navigate challenges.
Age range: 6 months and older
Prerequisites: None
Class length: 12 consecutive weeks (not including holidays). 60 minutes each. Make-up classes are not possible.
Fee: $500
Instructor: Angie Madden, CCUI
To Register:
Check the start dates below, then click the Register for Class button to sign up for a class that works for you.
If the box is empty, there are no classes currently scheduled. Please join the notification list below, so we can email you when we schedule the next class.
Class fees help support the free programs and services provided by Your Dog’s Friend, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and supporting dog parents.
Join the Notification List
Not ready to sign up? Waiting for a better day to fit your schedule? Join the Control Unleashed notification list and we’ll email you as soon as we schedule new sessions of this class.
