My Dog's Place - Connecticut (CT) Dog Training and Daycare

Class Descriptions
Puppy Play Group	Drop in to this group for an hour of off leash play. Great exercise and socialization for your puppy. Our staff will be here to answer questions and supervise play. New pups to this group may join from ages 10 weeks to 6 months of age. Proof of current immunizations mandatory at your pups first visit. If your pup is new to us and approaching the 6 month age please call us to check on their eligibility for this group. We can not introduce dogs new to My Dog's Place over 6 months of age into this group for safety reasons.
Puppy Kindergarten	A six week class for puppies 10 weeks to 5 months of age at the start of class. Socialization, manners, training and play! The first week is a 1 hour mandatory orientation for pups and their families. We will explain how to use positive reinforcement training in all aspects of puppy raising. This includes an introduction to a marker signal (a Clicker or "yes"), how to reinforce what you want and how to manage and re-train the behaviors you don't want. Remaining classes will be part Puppy Parenting, part Training, and part Free Play. The Puppy Parenting portion will cover topics like house training, mouthing, chewing, jumping, diet, socialization, stages of development, crate training and leadership training for owners. Obedience training will include sit, down, come and leash walking. This is a great starter class for young pups, get your pup started off on the right paw.
Adult and Adolescent Socialization	This drop-in group is for dogs that currently socialize well off leash in a My Dog's Place class, daycare or that have been regularly been attending My Dog's Place socializations. A great way to exercise your dog and keep them social, these groups are supervised by our instructors and assistants. If your dog has been out of class or socials for more than a month please check with us before re-joining these socials. Do you have a dog over 6 months of age has not socialized with My Dog's Place yet? Then joining one of our Basic Manners classes is the way to begin socializing them with us. We can not introduce dogs over 6 months of age into our drop in socials for safety reasons. Please check out our class schedule and get to know us through a class, we do socialize dogs in our classes if they are appropriate.
Basic Manners	This class is for any dog over 5 months who has not yet been to obedience class and graduates of Puppy Kindergarten. You will learn the theory and application of Positive Reinforcement training and the basics of how to use a marker signal (a Clicker or "yes"). This dog friendly approach is the cutting edge in training today, it's painless, creates a working, trustworthy relationship between dog and handler, and gets great results. The first class, a 1 hour mandatory orientation, is for people only and homework will be given to work on with your dog. The remaining seven weeks will focus on teaching your dog to pay attention, sit, down, stand, stay, come when called, leash walking, as well as leave it and settle. $115 for My Dog's Place Puppy K graduates.
Beyond Basics	This intermediate level obedience class is for those dogs continuing to build on their basic skills and those looking for Canine Good Citizen training. We will strengthen stays, add distractions and increase distance. More leash walking work will be included as well as an introduction to off leash heeling. Appropriate greetings with people and other dogs along with proper socialization. This class is great as a refresher, for those needing more work before moving on to an upper level class and those looking to take the Canine Good Citizen Test. Completion of a Basic Manners class or equivalent is a mandatory prerequisite for this class. 8 weeks / 1 hour
Companion & Therapy Levels I and II	This group of upper level obedience classes is geared toward making your dog a “go anywhere, do anything dog”. Exercises with your dog to include training properly greeting people and other dogs, distance sit-down-stays, accepting grooming and crowded petting, leash walking through crowds, exposure to loud noises and health care equipment as well as other skills. For those people looking ahead to Therapy work with their dogs this is a great primer for the Delta Society Pet Partners Program. Dogs must be able to work safely off leash for CNT level 2. Previous training to the Intermediate level (Beyond Basics or Canine Good Citizen certification) is required and positive reinforcement knowledge is necessary. 8 weeks / 1 hour
Fun with Canine Freestyle	Creativity, Fun and Action are what this course is all about. Canine Freestyle is a sport in which handler and dog perform routines to music. These routines are a combination of tricks and heelwork in which the team moves together. Individual moves and tricks will be taught first, then chained together to form a routine. You will learn to move as a team, improve your off-leash handling, appropriate music selection, choreography do's and dont's...but most of all have fun! Prerequisites: Beyond Basics or equivalent, or instructor approval
Breed Handling	This class is for all ages and skill levels from the beginner to the more experienced handler and dog. All aspects of handling in the show ring are taught including the stack, free bait, gaiting, ring procedure and handler presentation.
Flyball	An exciting and versatile sport for dogs and their companions. Simplified, each dog jumps four "Flyball Jumps", makes contact with a "Flyball Box" that propels a tennis ball, which is then caught by the dog and returned to his/her companion after completing the same four jumps. There are four dogs to a team with alternates available, the sport is played in relay style. Not for the faint of heart, although many a timid dog and person have found their confidence through training for this sport. Bea DeGruttola and My Dog's Place offers a Flyball class were your dog can learn the sport. Look for an Introductory level class on our schedule then join us to learn about Flyball and perhaps even aspire to join the My Dog's Place team, "Seaside Sprinters", Captained by Bea DeGruttola Nielsen.
Agility Introductory Agility	Agility is currently the most popular doggie activity around. Come learn the A-Frame, Dog Walk, Tunnels, Teeter Totter and Jumps with us. Agility is fun for you and your dog, builds confidence, great exercise, and helps create a working relationship with your dog. This introductory level, with Bea DeGruttola Nielsen, is taught for fun and confidence and is open to any dog over six 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. Dogs should have Basic Obedience skills, see our description above, including a reliable recall.
Agility II	Next step, focuses on building more confidence with obstacles + handler skills. Reliable recall a must. Repeat as needed. Dogs must have successfully completed Intro. Agility
Agility III	For dogs who are doing all obstacles independently and working off leash. Class will focus on running longer sequences. Dogs should have successfully completed Agility II
Agility with Kristie Foundation, Basic, Advanced Basic and Advanced	This series of classes, with Kristie Foss, are for those interested in the possibility of competitive agility. Foundations Class will introduce you and your dog to essential skills which form the foundations of agility. Dogs will be learning and working on skills they need, while their human teammates will work on handling skills to facilitate communication with their dogs. During the first 8 weeks dogs will not be using standard equipment. This class is appropriate for dogs 6 months and up. Dog/human teams who have learned some agility equipment can benefit from the handling and teamwork aspects of this class. Basic Agility - prerequisite Foundations - this class will focus on improving obstacle confidence, teamwork and handler skills. Advanced Basic- prerequisite Basic - this class involves longer sequences and greater ability dogs to perform obstacles independently. Advanced - This level is for dogs ready for competition. .
The following classes are offered intermittently Some classes are seasonal in nature and others are offered when our schedule and demand allows Please let us know if you are interested in attending any of these classes, we would be happy to put you on a wait list for the class and we will notify you as soon as we schedule it.
Soccer for dogs	This fun class will focus on teaching dogs to push the ball with their nose or paw while taking direction (left, right, forward) from their handlers. Dogs then learn to push the ball into a directed goal, while passing the ball to "teammates" and past the distraction of other dogs. 6 weeks / 1 hour
Advanced Obedience	The goals of this course will be to develop consistency amid increasingly challenging distractions and to eliminate food dependencies. This class will cover advanced skills such as distance commands, out-of-sight stays, and confident off-leash control. Prerequisite: Beyond Basics, equivalent or instructor approval.
Leash Walking	Have you done an obedience class, but need more practice with Leash Walking? Then this is the class for you! We will work specifically on teaching our dogs appropriate leash behavior. Starting with getting out the door politely and moving up to walking nicely with us. Our goal will be to get out to the sidewalk and work through real life situations. 6 weeks / 1 hour
Rally-O Intro. Level Coursework Rally III	The newest addition to Companion Events, Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler move continuously with the dog under control at the handler's left side, however perfect "heel position" is not required. They perform the obedience exercises indicated by a numbered sign at each designated station. Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. Rally is the place to build a relationship with your dog and refine your communication with him/her. Come join us to learn about this new and exciting sport. Previous training through at least the basic obedience level a must. Introduction - All new rally students are required to take this instruction level at least once. This will be an all-levels class so current students with novice only skills can take this course to learn advanced and excellence levels. No courses are taught during this session so all students must stay for coursework to apply what they have learned. Coursework - This is for all students who are currently taking the intro level or have previously taken the intro level. There will be varying levels of courses for both new and existing students. Rally III - This class will cover the APDT exercises not included in the AKC Rally exercises, and if time permits Canadian Rally's Versatility level. Students must have completed at least one Rally session.
Out & About	You’ve taken a Beyond Basics class, and wonder what to do next. Or maybe you’re in a Companion + Therapy class working toward the certificate. 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 practical skills you and your dog have been practicing 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 Niantic class is 6 weeks ,1 hr per week in Niantic and surrounding areas. The Mystic class is 6 weeks, 1 hr per week at various locations in Mystic and surrounding areas.
Scenting with a Purpose	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 class 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. No previous training required, any dog any age is welcome.


Skills Sampler	Have you taken an obedience class and wondering what to do next? Are you not sure you want to commit to a full course before you know if you like it? Here is your chance to try a variety of activities to explore your interests. Each week we will focus on one or more topics including Rally Obedience, Agility, Tricks, Flyball, Canine Freestyle, Scenting and more. 6 weeks/ 1 1/4 hours. Prerequisite: Basic Manners or equivalent.
Fun with Games	Want to have fun with your dog and burn off some excess energy? Then this class is for you. The emphasis will be on games, people who have previously taken the Tricks and Games Class will find a lot of new and challenging games presented. Each week we will work on improving our basic obedience skills while having fun learning exciting games. Tricks may include, shake, high five, roll over, spin, sit pretty, wave, back up. Teaching tricks and games with our dogs is a blast, continues to exercise the brain and keeps building that positive relationship. Positive training through at least the Basic level is required. 6 weeks / 1 1/4 hours.
Companion & Therapy - Level III	An upper level class for our well-trained dogs, this class will challenge the well-educated dog and companion to stay on their game in a non-competitive atmosphere. We will work on skills to keep your dog sharp under all levels of distractions and various situations. Previous training to the Companion & Therapy level II class is necessary. 8 weeks / 1 hour.
Intro. to Retrieving	Intro to Retrieving will work on motivating your dog to go out pick up an item and return it to your hand. These skills can be used just for building fun games with your dog or future Water work, Frisbee or Flyball. Depending on the progress of the dogs in class we may introduce delivery work. Delivery skills focus on teaching the dog to take an item away from the handler and drop it in a specific spot. Any dog, any age is welcome to join this class, we will use both food and toy drive to build a retrieve.
Canine Water Sports	FOUNDATION : This 6 week class is for pups/dogs who are showing interest in the water but are not swimming on their own yet. Building a confident, cooperative water companion is the primary goal of this class, dogs & handlers learn to swim safely as a team. A background of basic obedience and positive reinforcement training is required. Canine Lifejacket is strongly recommended, human lifejacket is required. 6 wks / 1 hour, at a fresh water lake in Ledyard. Instructor - Marge BEGINNER: This class is for dogs already swimming on their own and beginner retrievers. Safety, control and fun around and in the water is the primary goal of this class, dogs & handlers learn to swim safely as a team. Basic retrieve behaviors both on land and in the water will be covered. A background of basic obedience and positive reinforcement training is required. Canine Lifejacket is strongly recommended, human lifejacket is required. 6 wks / 1 hour, at a fresh water lake in Ledyard. Instructor - Marge INTERMEDIATE: This class is for dogs who are confident retrievers and are able swimmers. We will focus on retrieve variations, distance work, water retrieves and directional control. Additional topics include delivery tasks, carrying an object to a target (shore, boat, person or marker) by following directional signals. Tow work is an extension of delivery work, the dog learns to overcome the resistance of an objects weight and move it forward to a target. Boat work develops boat manners, boarding, sending and control. Dogs will learn to take direction to “jump” either from a water or boat platform. Prerequisite - Beginner Water Sports Class. Canine Life Jacket required for jumping, human lifejacket is required. 6 wks / 1 hour, at a fresh water lake in Ledyard. Instructor - Marge OPEN SWIM: This session will be offered to previous students of our Water Sports classes only. You must pre-register for the season but then each week you can call ahead or just drop in (if space allows) to enjoy the water with your dog. Marge will be present to oversee and offer guidance to participants, but no formal curriculum will be taught. You will be able to work on water skills of your choosing, building swim endurance and confidence, retrieves, platform work, etc. At a fresh water lake in Ledyard. Instructor - Marge For more information about Canine Water Sports (with Deborah Lee Miller Riley), other classes and workshops offered in Monroe CT, check out www.caninewatersports.com.

Canine Good Citizen Prep class	This 6 week flex course is designed to help prepare you and your dog for the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test. You may join this class at any time, attendance does not have to be consecutive, students can pick which weeks they would like to attend and have 3 months to complete the 6 week course. CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. Each week various exercises that prepare you for the CGC test will be taught. All dogs that pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate, a collar tag and patch from the American Kennel Club. Tests will be offered at MDP every other month. You may join this class any week other than a test week, see the schedule of exercises at the top of this page. Prerequisite: Beyond Basics Course or instructor’s approval.