Sandy Meadow Farm

BASIC MANNERS: 

The basic companion and manners class is a 6 consecutive week course (meets the same day and time for 6 weeks in a row) designed for adolescent dogs over 4 months of age, any dog who needs basic control, or puppies graduation from kindergarten class (it is NOT required that you complete puppy kindergarten before taking this class).  You will learn how to properly teach and cement the common obedience commands including sit, down, stand, stay, and come, as well as learn valuable home skills such as leave it, wait, off, attention, settle, and loose leash walking.  Behavior topics include proper communication and handling, relationship building through the rules to live by, appropriate meet and greet,  garbage and counter stealing,  managing your dogs energy, and  come when called  training.  Class size is limited to 6 dogs and PREREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Dogs must have proof of vaccination ( distemper, bordatella if recommeded by your vet, rabies) at first class.

• Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 10:30 - 11:30 am with Jim (FULL)
• Monday, April 15, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:00 am with Lauren (FULL)
• Wednesday, April 17, 2024 from 5:30 - 6:30 pm with Missy (FULL)
• Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 9:30 - 10:30 am with Missy (FULL)
• Tuesday, May 7, 2024 from 5:00 - 6:00 pm with Anne (FULL)
• Wednesday, May 8, 2024 from 10:30 - 11:30 am with Jill 
• Thursday, May 9, 2024 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm with Anne (FULL)
• Friday, May 10, 2024 from 5:30 - 6:30 pm with Elizabeth
• Monday, June 10, 2024 from 10:00 - 11:00 am with Lauren
• Wednesday, June 12, 2024 from 5:30 - 6:30 pm with Missy
• Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 9:30 - 10:30 am with Missy

 * registration form available for these classes on the REGISTRATION FORM tab 

Cost: $180.00 for all 6 weeks. You supply collar,6 foot  leash and soft treats.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS:

This course is a continuation of the basic class with new emphasis placed on formal heeling, hand signals, off lead training, distraction training, attention work, and ring etiquette. Bait and bait pouch or motivational toy required.  Class size is limited to 6 dogs.  $180.00/6weeks.

Next Available Class Date:  

• Monday, June 3, 2024 from 6:30 - 7:15 pm with Missy

*Registration form available in drop down menu on Registration tab

BETTER MANNERS CLASS

This 6 week outdoor course is designed for those individuals who don't want the formality of the intermediate class, but want to continue working toward distraction reliability and proper social manners.   Emphasis will be placed on proper leash control,  increasingly difficult stay exercises,  controlled dog to dog meet and greet,  real life attention work, and utilizing games and play for reward.  Owners must be prepared with a 6 foot leash, bait, bait pouch, and motivational toy.  Prerequisite is  successful completion of a basic manners course.   Class limit : 6 dogs.  Cost for class $180.00.

Next available class dates:

• Wednesday, May 8, 2024 from 9:15 - 10:00 am with Missy/Jill (FULL)
• Thursday, June 20, 2024 from 7:00 - 7:45 pm with Anne ( no class on July 4)
    

CANINE GOOD CITIZEN - ADVANCED MANNERS CLASS:

Prerequisite for this course is the successful completion of a basic manners class. Dogs and handlers should have a working knowledge of sit, down, stay, come when called, and leave it.  Dogs must be people and dog friendly and be comfortable with physical handling.  Bait, bait pouch, and grooming tool required.  This course includes 6 weeks of teaching and training plus a final class dedicated to administering the CGC test to interested participants. Class size is limited to 5 dogs.  $180.00

Next Available Class Dates:

• Monday, March 4, 2024 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm with Missy (FULL)

*Registration form available in drop down menu on Registration Tab

ADVANCE TRAINING CLASSES:

These drop in classes meet Wednesday evenings for those dog/handler teams who wish to continue to improve their training skills.  Handlers may come as frequently or as infrequently as they would like as it fits into their schedule.  Cost:  $15.00 /class. Trainer: Missy
** NOW OFFERING RALLY RUN THROUGH COURSE WEATHER PERMITTING DURING ADVANCE CLASS TIME!

4 WEEK MINI CLASSES!  Completed at least a Basic level class and ready to continue your training? Dust off your winter boots and keep your dog's brain active during these cold months with these fun, informative, short session classes. Class times will rotate throughout the winter months so check back often for current available times. Cost is $125.00 for each 4 week class - only 4 dogs/class so register early!

POLITE POOCH: This class will focus on exercises designed to improve skills when out and about from your home  including polite on leash behavior when around other dogs, appropriate on leash meet and greets with visitors, comfort and social acceptance of environmental stimuli (wheelchair, stroller, skateboard, etc), auto attention work to the handler, and building reliability in sit and down stay. 

 Class Times: 

• Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 5:15 - 6:00 pm with Anne

    

COURAGEOUS CANINE: Is your dog easily frightened by new people or new situations? Is he afraid to approach everyday items in his environment? Are other dogs a bit scary for her? Would you like to be able to help your dog build confidence and understand his/her worries a bit better? The courageous canine class is designed to develop foundation skills that will help you safely manage and support your fearful dog. Class time:

     Class Time: Friday, April 12, 2024 from 7:00 - 7:45 pm with Elizabeth

HOUSEHOLD HELPERS : Want to work on your at home skills with your dog? Let us help you continue to improve some of your basic skills plus introduce some new ones including: Find your mat with increased duration and distractions, door knock/doorbell response training, functional stays, increased Leave It proficiency, moving wait, and "Thank You/Drop It" cues.  

 Class Times:  

    Class Time: Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 11:00 - 11:45 am with Missy
 

SHAPING SKILLS: Shaping is a training technique that trains a dog to do something in small stages rather than all at once. You teach the dog to perform a new behavior by breaking it down into smaller parts.  Have your ever wondered about "clicker training"?  Or how to get complex behaviors like having your dog bring you a tissue when you sneeze? Shaping is a great way to fine tune your training relationship with your dog while you create behaviors from scratch using your dog's natural ability to learn.

Class  time: Wednesday, February 28, 2024 from 7:00 - 7:45 pm with Annmarie

CGC BRUSH UP CLASS:  Did you take the CGC test but struggled with a few of the exercises? The 4 week brush up class will focus on the more challenging exercises for most dogs including the dog to dog meet and greet, the stranger approach, and the grooming exercise. Other exercises will be reviewed as determined by the dogs attending.
Next class:  TBA                 

DANCING WITH YOUR DOG: Learn how to take the skills you have learned (while acquiring some new ones) and turn them into a choreographed routine set to music. A fun, relaxed, entertaining way to spend time with your dog while building confidence in you and your dog as a working team.  No previous dancing experience necessary from either end of the leash!!  

Class time: TBA

*Registration form for 4 week classes available on drop down menu of Registration Tab.   

 RALLY OBEDIENCE CLASSES     

Learn about Rally obedience and get ready to earn titles with your dog! Or just come enjoy working your dog in a venue that builds teamwork and communication.  Rally obedience is a sport that lets you and your dog navigate a predesigned course filled with signs indicating various exercises and skills. This is a fun way to  build a better relationship with  your dog whether you have a desire to compete or not. Prerequisite is successful completion of a better manners course (or equivalent) with good leash skills. This course is 4 weeks long and will be limited to 5 working teams. Cost for this class is $125.00

Next Available Class Date:

• Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 9:30 - 10:30 am with Missy

          
SNIFFER SKILLS!!

How good is your dog's nose? Does he love to search for prizes in your yard and follow his nose on your walks? Come learn how to team up with your dog to utilize his/her amazing sense of smell and desire to hunt to find specific items and scents. Based on scent detection training, Sniffer Skills will focus on teaching you how to encourage and develop your dog's natural sense of smell while building confidence, focus and burning mental energy.  This is a class that can be enjoyed by dogs of any age, but dogs must be able to be safely crated or left in your vehicle while classmate dogs are working.  If your dog loves food, toys, attention, and games, then your dog will LOVE Sniffer Skills! Class meets for 4 weeks - Cost $125.00  Maximum class size - 5 dogs
 

     Next Class Time:

Level 1:  

• Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 9:15 - 10:00 am with Jim 

          
TRICKS CAN BE FUN!!

Get the entire family involved teaching your dog how to shake, wave, high five, crawl, play dead, roll over, beg, be sad, weave, spin, clean up his toys,  roll his ball and more!

Class meets for 4 weeks - Cost: $125.00

    Next Class Time: 

• Thursday, March 28, 2024 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm with Jim

SOCIAL STRUGGLERS:
 Do you have a dog who get easily excitable and aroused on leash when he sees people or dogs? Does he jump, bark, whine, pull on the leash and act a bit crazy when environmentally stimulated? Do other folks think your dog is nasty even though you think he really just wants to say hi? Would you like a class that focuses just on these behaviors with an experienced, understanding trainer who can help you minimize these embarrassing and potentially dangerous moments?

• Friday, March 15, 2024 from 7:00 - 8:00 pm with Elizabeth (FULL)
• Friday, May 10, 2024 from 7:00 - 8:00 pm with Elizabeth

LEVEL 2: TBA                                

THERAPY DOG TRAINING

We offer classes to help train you and your dog for community service work as a Therapy team. We specialize in preparing dogs for pediatric work, but also include adult contact in the training process.  $150.00 /5 weeks. Contact School directly for more information, requirements, and available class space.
     
 Please contact school for schedule:  Pediatric Therapy Dog Training: April  22, 2024, 5:30 - 7:00 pm - please check the CGC class schedule if you need a test prior to registering for this class. 

 

PRIVATE LESSONS/ BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAMS/ GENERAL TRAINING

Private lessons are offered on an as need basis.  Lessons are routinely scheduled on  Tuesday and Thursday mornings, although other times may be offered when available. Cost - Initial Consult $150 (this is typically 1 1/2 hours)  Additional lessons:  $85.00/hour. Please contact school for details.