We are currently enrolling for live, online Puppy Kindergarten classes. Join us from anywhere! You’ll be surprised by how much better your puppy can focus on you when not distracted in a classroom. Local friends, supplement online Puppy Kindergarten with in-person Puppy Party, Puppy Social, and Agility Special!
– C.R., Potomac, MD
About this Class:
Puppies should be 8 weeks – 6 months old when they begin Puppy Kindergarten. We encourage you to start your puppy in class early (as young as 8 weeks). You do not have to wait until your puppy’s vaccinations are complete. For more about this, please read the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior’s position statement on puppy socialization.
Our Puppy Kindergarten classes have rolling registration.* That means that your family and puppy can join the class you choose as soon as space opens. There is a list of the first dates available for each of our classes farther down on this page. You are registering for six weeks in a row, not including class cancellations. However, if you tell your instructor ahead of time about a date you have to miss, you can tack on one extra week at the end. *Please note: The classes beginning Tues Feb 2 and Mar 23 at 6:00 pm are not rolling enrollment, but distinct, six-week classes, thus makeup dates are not available for those two sections.
In Puppy Kindergarten, you will: start training your puppy in basic good manners (like sit, come, loose-leash walking, wait, leave it, attention, settle); learn how to deal with typical puppy challenges (including mouthing, house training, jumping); and practice training exercises, like “drop it” and handling, to help prevent future fear and aggression issues.
We will be using Zoom for our online Puppy Kindergarten classes. Pre-recorded video, discussion, and demos will be used and each participant will also be coached via video working with their own puppy during the class.
Before your first class, your instructor will send you information on how you will want to prepare and how to log on to the class. You will need a internet access and a smart phone or a computer to join.
We use only positive methods – no choke, prong, or electronic collars. Training is fun for both you and your dog!
Instructors:
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- Sarah Stoycos (Laughing Dog Academy) – Monday, Wednesday morning, Sunday evening
- Lisa Arant (Small and Tall Dog Training) – Saturday morning
- Marnie Montgomery (Joyful Dog) – Sunday morning & midday
- Susan Sanderson (Joyful Dog) – Tuesday (not rolling enrollment) & Wednesday evening
Fee: $165
Available Starting Dates
The classes below — with the exception of the Tues at 6pm classes beginning Feb 2 and Mar 23 — are rolling enrollment. These dates are when we can start another puppy in class.
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- Monday 10:15am – Mar 15
- Monday 6:00pm – Mar 29
- Monday 7:15pm – Mar 29
Tuesday 6:00pm – Feb 2 – Mar 9This section is full.
Please note: The Tues 6pm class beginning Feb 2 is not rolling enrollment, but six weeks only, so there aren’t makeup dates available.- Tuesday 6:00pm – Mar 23 – Apr 27
Please note: The Tues 6pm class beginning Mar 23 is not rolling enrollment, but six weeks only, so there aren’t makeup dates available. - Wednesday 10:15am – Mar 24
- Wednesday 6:00pm – Mar 31
- Saturday 8:30am – Mar 27
- Saturday 10:00am – Apr 24
- Sunday 10:45am – Apr 18
- Sunday 12:15pm – Apr 25
- Sunday 5:30pm – Apr 18
- Sunday 7:00pm – Apr 11
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