Canine Enrichment Class

With Jen

(4 wks / 1 hr per) $125+ tax

In this engaging class, we will introduce many different ideas of "enrichment". Including Food, Senses, Physical and Social Enrichment. We will we explore Food Enrichment with store bought and DIY options. We will get their bodies and minds working together with some physical enrichment including canine athletic equipment. We will explore "shaping" behaviors and  boosting confidence exploring new things.

Prerequisite: Completed any class with MDP in the past 9 months.

FIT Dog Club

As one of the AKC FIT Dog Clubs we will be holding basic canine fitness classes as well as organized group walks and hikes. Dog's and their owners participate at their individual skill level, making these activities appropriate for everyone.

For anyone interested in AKC titles they are offering FIT Dog titles. For more information visit their website: https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-family-dog-program/akc-fit-dog/akc-fit-dog-titles/

FIT Dog- Level 1

with Jen

(6 wk / 1 hr per) $180 + tax

Dogs receive the same health benefits as humans when we add physical activity to their lives. Increased performance, decreased risk of injury, lowered stress levels and better sleep habits to name a few. In this beginner level fitness program, we will be using simple fitness exercises to stimulate the dog’s brain and body.

The dogs will be learning new skills, using muscles they’ve never noticed before, becoming more confident with all these new skills. We will work in different exercise categories covering cardio, flexibility, balance and strength.

We will be teaching the humans what proper form look like for your own dog and how to spot fatigue or weaknesses. 

Prerequisites: Puppy Primer or Companion Dog Fundmentals

Fun with Rally

With Jen

(6 wks/ 1 hr per) $180 + tax

In this fun class, we will explore the ins and outs of canine sport of Rally Obedience.

We will work on skills like stand, stay, sit, down, loose leash walking and impulse control all while building your relationship with your dog.

Prerequisite: Companion Dog Essentials or Intro to Sports

Intro to Sports

With Jen

(6wks/ 1 hr per) $180 + tax

This class will spend each week exploring different canine sports. The sports we will be covering are Rally Obedience, Agility, Scenting, Clever K-9 Environmental Agility, AKC FIT Dog© and Flyball.

Sampling various sports will give you and your dog an opportunity to learn new skills, build general confidence and engage learned obedience cues. Hopefully you'll spark an interest in a sport to pursue with your dog.

Prerequisite:  My Dog's Place Companion Dog Fundamentals

Scenting

With Marge

(6wks/ 1 hr per) $180 + tax

Does your dog enjoy sniffing and following scent? If you said "yes" then this fun class will teach you how to give it a purpose. In this introductory class you will learn how to read your dogs body language to know when they are "in scent"!

The dogs will learn to "indicate" when they have found the scent that we have asked them to. The "indication" is the most important part of scent work. Once we have a strong indication then we will start to build search behaviors.

Any dog, any age with previous positive reinforcement training is welcome.

Canine Good Citizen Test Prep

 (4 wks/ 1 hr per) $125 + tax

This class will review the 10 steps of the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. Dogs should already have the skills needed for the test, Weeks 1 - 3 of this class will run through the 10 parts of the test so you and your dog are prepared and know what to expect and how to preform each part of the test. Week 4 we will administer the test. 

This class will NOT teach the obedience skills needed. To build those skills please enroll in a Companion Dog Advanced.

K9 Tricks

with Julianne

(3 wks / 1 hr per) $95 + tax

Beginner Tricks:

Want to have fun with your dog and burn off some excess energy? Each week we will work on improving our basic obedience skills while having fun learning tricks. Tricks may include, crawl, shake, high five, roll over, spin, sit pretty, wave, back up, hoop, paws up, push up. Teaching tricks with our dogs is a blast, continues to exercise the brain and keeps building that positive relationship. Prerequisites: Puppy Primer or Companion Dog Fundamentals

Stunt Dog:

This class will help you take your tricks to the next level. If you have ever thought about performing or doing demos with your dog at schools, nursing homes, fairs, etc. then this is the class for you. We will be creating a trick routine and learning strategies for keeping control of our dogs in the face of distractions and ring skills to inspire and entertain audiences. We will also be working toward the ability to pass a structured Stunt Dog Ring trial and title. Prerequisite: Tricks class 

Out & About

With Jen

(6wks/ 1 hr per) $180 + tax

You’ve taken a Companion Dog Esentials class and wonder what to do next. Then this may be the class you’re looking for! Here is your opportunity to "take it on the road!" We’ll be going outside to work through real life distractions.

Each session we’ll put to practical application all those skills you and your dog have been building at home and in class.

We will learn to work through stress and how to recognize stress in our dogs as well as refining skills such as walking on a loose leash, sit, down, attention, come/recall, and greeting strangers. Join us!

The East Lyme class will meet in East Lyme and surrounding areas.

The Stonington class will meet in Stonington/Mystic and surrounding areas.

Prerequisite:  My Dog's Place Companion Dog Essentials

Agility with Kristie

(6wks) $180 +tax

Foundation level:

The Foundations class is appropriate for a variety of situations. A solid foundation is crucial for the development of a good agility dog-human team. This class is intended for a variety of dogs and their handlers, including dogs and handlers just beginning agility, new dogs with experienced handlers, or new handlers with experienced dogs. This class will also be helpful to those already doing some agility who are interested in taking a foundations class to further develop or reinforce basic agility skills.  Prerequisite: My Dog's Place Companion Dog Essentials or equivalent.

Skills and Handling:

This class is designed for agility teams who have taken agility classes and are comfortable with the equipment, though the seesaw and weave poles do not have to be mastered. The sessions will include sets, sequences, and courses that focus on a variety of agility techniques and handling skills, as well as work on the human-dog connection and communication. Prerequisite: Foundations Agility with Kristie or instructor permission.

Basic: 

This class is designed to increase the dog-handler relationship, while helping dogs learn to perform agility equipment, including jumps, tunnels, contacts and poles. Basic handling techniques are introduced and practiced, and class sequences allow dogs and handlers to work on a variety of skills.  Prerequisite: Foundations Agility with Kristie.

Intermediate/Advanced level:

This class is designed for dog-handler teams who are comfortable with all agility equipment. Focus is on dog-handler communication through visual and verbal handling skills. Handlers learn a variety of handling techniques and determine which approaches will be most effective given their dog, the course set up, and other factors. Prerequisite: Basic or with instructor's permission.

Agility with Marge

 (6wks) $180 +tax

Fledgling:

Come learn the agility obstacles: A-Frame, Dog Walk, Tunnels ,and Jumps. Agility is fun for you and your dog, builds confidence, great exercise, and helps create a working relationship with your dog. Dogs new to MDP must take an obedience class with us prior to joining an Agility class. This introductory level is taught for fun and confidence and is open to any dog over nine months who has completed a basic obedience class. Correctly and safely learn one new obstacle each week, also practice the previously taught obstacles to achieve confidence with each obstacle.

Prerequisite: My Dog's Place Companion Dog Fundamentals or equivalent.

Apprentice:

Open to those dogs that have graduated from Fledgling Agility, continuing to build obstacle confidence for the dogs and handler skills. A variety of sets and sequence will be worked each week to gain a greater level of reliability and control. Dogs must have a reliable recall. As with Marge's other Agility levels, this class is based in confidence building and fun, this is not a competition style class.

Prerequisite: Dogs must have successfully completed Fledgling Agility. 

Veteran:

Now that you have learned the obstacles the Veteran level focuses on building more confidence with obstacles + handler skills as well as working off leash with distance. Reliable recall a must.

Repeat as needed.  Dogs must have successfully completed Apprentice Agility.