Obedience Class Descriptions

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy

For puppies approximately 9 weeks to 6 months old, this class helps owners start young dogs with the skills needed to become polite family companions. Work includes leash manners, sit and down, handling by the owner and others, impulse control such as wait, restrained recalls, house-training tips, socialization, and problem-solving for puppy behaviors. The class is also a starting point for families thinking about future therapy-dog work, and dogs may be tested for the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certification at the end of the course if eligible.

Obedience Beginner 1

The first adult-dog class for dogs over 5 months of age, and the next step for puppies that have completed AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy. Introduces or reinforces basic obedience and household manners, including sit, stay, down, wait, come, and loose-leash walking. It also addresses common unwanted behaviors such as jumping, leash pulling, chewing, and adolescent behavior challenges. The normal next step is Obedience Beginner 2.

Obedience Beginner 2

Continues the Beginner 1 curriculum for puppies and adult dogs that have completed Obedience Beginner 1. The same core behaviors are practiced with added difficulty and distractions — sit, stay, down, wait, and come. Teams also work on proofing known behaviors, linking behaviors into sequences, loose-leash walking, place, leave it, and problem-solving for jumping, pulling, chewing, and adolescence-related challenges. The normal next step is Intermediate 1.

Intermediate 1

Continues from Obedience Beginner 2 and develops stronger obedience and manners under increased difficulty and distraction. Teams continue building sit, down, stay, wait, and recalls, while adding higher-level behaviors such as heel and eye contact. Also introduces and practices the skills needed for the AKC Canine Good Citizen title.

Intermediate 2

Continues from Intermediate 1 and introduces higher-level obedience skills under increased difficulty and distraction. Work includes off-leash control, advanced stays, heel patterns, and skills that prepare teams for the competition obedience track or more advanced companion work.

Advanced Intermediate

A continuation of Intermediate 2 that further develops off-leash reliability, heeling, and obedience behaviors under real-world distraction. Teams refine the skills needed to move into competition-level classes or to excel as highly trained companion dogs.

Rally for Fun & Trick Dog

This non-competitive rally class uses rally signs as a fun way to strengthen obedience and teamwork, for handlers who enjoy training with their dogs but may not want to enter trials. Teams use rally exercises to fine-tune obedience skills while working on front-end and rear-end awareness, engagement games, and a positive handler-dog relationship. It also teaches AKC Trick Dog skills through positive-reinforcement methods such as luring, capturing, and shaping.

Therapy Dog Class

For dogs with solid basic obedience and manners. Provides advanced preparation for therapy-dog evaluation and public visits — working around medical equipment, polite greetings with people using crutches, walkers, or canes, and appropriate behavior around wheelchairs and other mobility equipment. Teams also focus on professional public walking and may be paired with a certified test dog to prepare for visits involving other dogs.

Canine Continued Education

For teams that have completed Obedience Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 and want to keep training active and enjoyable. Work may include obedience, rally, tricks, games, and other activities that maintain skills while keeping training fun. Also introduces foundation skills that can help teams move into future competition classes if they choose.

Foundation Skills for Rally and Obedience

Introduces skills used in both rally and competition obedience — the pop-up stand, down in motion, finishes in both directions, backing up in heel position, and other shared rally/obedience behaviors. Dogs are also introduced to the three jumps used in rally and competition obedience. Engagement games and building a strong working connection with the dog are part of the class.

Teaching Novice 1

A foundation class that introduces competition heelwork and behaviors used in AKC Competition Obedience. Part 1 covers focused attention (stationary and moving), hind-end awareness, stays, impulse control, and engagement games — teaching advanced skills while building the dog's enthusiasm and a solid handler-dog relationship. Dogs should already know sit, down, stay, and come. Not open to reactive or aggressive dogs.

Teaching Novice 2

A continuation of Teaching Novice 1 that builds on the Part 1 foundation and adds more difficulty and refinement. Teams continue developing focused heeling, stays, and competition-level obedience behaviors in preparation for Novice ring work. Not open to reactive or aggressive dogs.

Novice

A ring-preparation competition obedience class for teams getting ready for Beginner Novice and Novice obedience trials. Covers rules, ring procedure, and the formal exercises required at those levels. Teams polish and proof the exercises, and run-throughs may be conducted when time allows.

Open

Teaches foundation skills for the AKC Open exercises used to earn a Companion Dog Excellent title. A major focus is dumbbell work — take, hold, and carry. Also covers off-leash heeling, retrieving, the broad jump, and the drop on recall.

Utility

Teaches foundation skills for AKC Utility exercises used to earn a Utility Dog Excellent title. Work includes hand signals, scent discrimination, and directed jumping.

Rally Novice and Advanced

Teaches the signs needed for AKC Rally Novice and Rally Advanced titles. Teams learn the applicable rules, regulations, and handling tips. Novice signs are introduced and incorporated into short courses for practice.

Rally Excellent and Masters

Teaches the signs needed for AKC Rally Excellent and AKC Rally Master titles. Teams learn applicable rules, regulations, and handling tips. Excellent and Master signs are introduced and put into short practice courses.