OUR CLASSES
Enroll in a KPT or Beginner class online HERE.
NOTE:
You are NOT officially enrolled until your payment has been received
AND you have been officially contacted by our Registrar..
Please do not show up for class until our Registrar has given you your starting date.
For information about our Beginner classes, contact our Registrar
For information about our Puppy Kindergarten (KPT) contact our KPT Registrar
For information on all other classes, contact FurtherTraining@SuburbanDogTraining.com
~ ~ ~
NOTE:
You are NOT officially enrolled until your payment has been received
AND you have been officially contacted by our Registrar..
Please do not show up for class until our Registrar has given you your starting date.
For information about our Beginner classes, contact our Registrar
For information about our Puppy Kindergarten (KPT) contact our KPT Registrar
For information on all other classes, contact FurtherTraining@SuburbanDogTraining.com
~ ~ ~
Unless specifically indicated otherwise, all classes are for consecutive weeks.
If you miss one or more classes, you cannot extend your training for any additional time.
~ ~ ~
PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION ON THE TRAINING DURING COVID-19 PAGE
If you miss one or more classes, you cannot extend your training for any additional time.
~ ~ ~
PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION ON THE TRAINING DURING COVID-19 PAGE
To view our guide to class progression, click HERE.
Links to download class applications are included in each class description paragraph
There are limitations of class size, and anyone wishing to attend our classes must be pre-registered and approved.
KPT (Kindergarten Puppy Training)
KPT classes are structured for puppies as young as 8 weeks old. Classes are held one day a week. The six week class must be completed by the time the puppy is 20 weeks of age. Early socialization begins here and the new dog owner is helped through the difficult first weeks of dog ownership. Questions about housebreaking and other important topics are addressed. This is a consecutive 6-week class. The start date for each individual will be assigned via registrar following receipt of a completed application. To find out when KPT classes are held, see the Schedule. The cost is $165 for 6 weeks or $82.50 if you are a Club member with a paid training fee. To enroll online in a KPT class, click HERE. To download an application, click HERE. Online enrollment is preferred. Do not pay until your class is confirmed - an online link for payment will be sent to you after your class assignment is confirmed. NOTE: You cannot start the class until your payment is received. For more information about KPT or to find out when you can start, call the club phone 610-941-6394 and leave a message or send an email.
Beginner Class
A seven-week Beginner course is offered for dogs 4 months of age and older. Dogs must be housebroken. In this class, the following commands are taught: heel, sit, down, stand, stay and come. Your dog will learn to obey even in the presence of other dogs or with other distractions. Classes are limited in size and fill up quickly. To enroll online in a Beginner class, click HERE. To download an application, click HERE. Online enrollment is preferred. Do not pay until your class is confirmed - an online link for payment will be sent to you after your class assignment is confirmed. NOTE: You cannot start the class until your payment is received. For more information, or if you have any questions that have not been answered on the website, email our Registrar or call the club phone at 610-941-6394 and leave a message.
PLEASE NOTE: Class price is $185 for 7 weeks (Half price for training members)
Spots are filled based on when a fully complete application is received.
A complete application includes rabies, dog license and payment.
A registrant will not be assigned to a class until all of those items are received.
************************************************
Further Training
After completing the Beginner course a handler may take the Manners and More class. The cost is $210 for the 8-week course. The handler may also take the 8-week Rally Novice class for $210. At this time, all classes except for KPT and Beginners, are divided into sessions: March-April, May-June, July-August, etc. The classes are free for club members who have paid the training fee. See the class descriptions below. After completing either the Manners and More, Rally class, Confidence Building class or Show Handling class, one can apply for club membership.
Manners and More Level I
The Manners and More course is for those who have completed the Beginner class and need to continue working on the basics of good manners. The class fine-tunes good manners and further improves the skills which were introduced in the Beginner class. Many aspects of competition are reviewed but the emphasis is on practicing and perfecting all the skills desired for a great family pet. Dogs are trained for the exercises that are part of the Canine Good Citizen test, and the CGC test is included as part of the Manners and More course. To find out when the class is held, see the Schedule. To download an application, click HERE. For more information, email our Registrar or call (610) 941-6394 and leave a message.
Manners and More Level II
This class is intended for those dogs graduating from M & M I and for members who don’t have a particular interest in competition. The focus is to develop stronger obedience skills in the family pet/companion utilizing marker training. Skills that were started in M & M I are further developed. We continue to teach tricks and games, work on engagement, drive management, and impulse control. During this process, it is also a goal for handlers to become sensitive to their dog’s state of mind and to be able to manage it in order to get a confident and engaged companion. This class might be a nice option for members wishing to pursue preparing their dogs for pet therapy work. Prerequisite for this class is a Stable beginning of a stand and stay. To find out when the class is held, see the Schedule. To download an application, click HERE. For more information, email our Registrar or call (610) 941-6394 and leave a message.
Manners Off-Leash
This class is intended for those dogs who have attended M & M II and are ready to advance their understanding of off-leash engagement training and for members who don’t have an interest in competition. It is a goal for the dogs to learn to work reliably off leash in distracting environments, looking to their human training partner over all else. We work on the dog’s ability to stay focused on commands while in a distracting circumstance or environment. Prerequisites for this class are: good off-leash heeling, good off-leash recall, stand and stay, basic retrieving, sending to/wrapping around a cone, and understanding of target training. Instructor must evaluate/approve dogs moving into this class. To find out when the class is held, see the Schedule. To download an application, click HERE. For more information, email our Registrar or call (610) 941-6394 and leave a message.
Intro to Competition Obedience Level I & Level II
The primary focus of this class is to develop foundation Novice Obedience skills and to prepare teams to enter the Novice class.
LEVEL I is for dogs 3+ months and older. The focus will be working on marker training, stationary atention, heeling with attention, positions (tuck sit, drop back down, and kick back stand), stays, recalls, fronts, and finishes with an explanation of the optimal way of teaching these so as to prepare for more advanced exercises in the future.
Level II will build upon and progress the Level I skills. In addition to the Novice exercises, other important facets of competition will be taught such as entering the ring, transitions between exercises, set-ups, and how to enter and utilize matches to practice. This level will also incorporate doing preliminary work for teaching the retrieve exercise - i.e. playing/interacting with a dumbbell, holding a dumbbell, etc. This class requires an evaluation and approval by the instructor.
To find out when the class is held, see the Schedule. To download an application, click HERE. For more information, email our Registrar or call (610) 941-6394 and leave a message.
LEVEL I is for dogs 3+ months and older. The focus will be working on marker training, stationary atention, heeling with attention, positions (tuck sit, drop back down, and kick back stand), stays, recalls, fronts, and finishes with an explanation of the optimal way of teaching these so as to prepare for more advanced exercises in the future.
Level II will build upon and progress the Level I skills. In addition to the Novice exercises, other important facets of competition will be taught such as entering the ring, transitions between exercises, set-ups, and how to enter and utilize matches to practice. This level will also incorporate doing preliminary work for teaching the retrieve exercise - i.e. playing/interacting with a dumbbell, holding a dumbbell, etc. This class requires an evaluation and approval by the instructor.
To find out when the class is held, see the Schedule. To download an application, click HERE. For more information, email our Registrar or call (610) 941-6394 and leave a message.
Foundations for Dog Sports
For teams looking to create a solid foundation and partnership with their dog for various dog sports (Competition Obedience, Agility, Freestyle, Rally, etc.). Students will continue to use marker training, and work on advanced skills such as attention heeling with animation, body awareness, targeting, jumping, and beginning retrieving. An emphasis will be placed on building drive and motivation to create happy working teams. To find out when the class is held, see the Schedule. To download an application, click HERE. For more information, email our Registrar or call (610) 941-6394 and leave a message.
Competition Novice, Open & Utility
Competition Novice, Open and Utility classes are continuous, ongoing classes and are open to both members and non-members who meet eligibility requirements. To find out when these classes are held see the Schedule. For more information, contact our Training Director.
NOVICE CLASSES cover all of the AKC Beginner Novice and Novice exercises - Heeling on and off leash (including Figure 8), Sit and Stand for Examination, Recalls/Finishes, and Sit/Down Stays.
OPEN CLASSES cover all of the AKC Open Exercises - Heeling off leash (including Figure 8), Command Discrimination, Drop on Recall, Retrieve on the flat and over the high jump, Broad Jump, and Stand for Examination. Prerequisite: dog must be reliable off leash.
UTILITY CLASSES cover all of the AKC Utility Exercises - Signals, Scent Discrimination (articles), Directed Retrieve (glove exercise), Moving Stand, and Directed Jumping (go outs). Prerequisites: dog must be reliable off leash, as well as having a solid retrieve.
UDX CLASSES are intended for those dogs who have earned their UD title and wish to continue their obedience journey towards a UDX and/or possible OTCH. It will incorporate both Open and Utility exercises. Prerequisite: UD title on dog entering class.
NOVICE CLASSES cover all of the AKC Beginner Novice and Novice exercises - Heeling on and off leash (including Figure 8), Sit and Stand for Examination, Recalls/Finishes, and Sit/Down Stays.
OPEN CLASSES cover all of the AKC Open Exercises - Heeling off leash (including Figure 8), Command Discrimination, Drop on Recall, Retrieve on the flat and over the high jump, Broad Jump, and Stand for Examination. Prerequisite: dog must be reliable off leash.
UTILITY CLASSES cover all of the AKC Utility Exercises - Signals, Scent Discrimination (articles), Directed Retrieve (glove exercise), Moving Stand, and Directed Jumping (go outs). Prerequisites: dog must be reliable off leash, as well as having a solid retrieve.
UDX CLASSES are intended for those dogs who have earned their UD title and wish to continue their obedience journey towards a UDX and/or possible OTCH. It will incorporate both Open and Utility exercises. Prerequisite: UD title on dog entering class.
Rally
Rally classes are continuous, ongoing classes and are open to both members and non-members who meet eligibility requirements. Rally classes can be taken by those who have completed the Beginners class. Rally Novice, Rally Advanced/Excellent, and Rally Masters are offered as weekly classes. These classes focus on learning the signs for the respective level.
NOTE: Drop-in classes are temporarily discontinued during the pandemic.
PRE-REQUISITE FOR RALLY CLASSES:
Rally Novice: Dog must be able to walk on loose leash and sit and down on command.
Rally Advanced/Excellent: Must have taken 6 Novice classes and/or received RN title.
Rally Masters: Must have previously earned Rally titles.
To find out when the classes are held, see the Schedule. To download an application, click HERE. For more information, email our Registrar or call (610) 941-6394 and leave a message.
NOTE: Drop-in classes are temporarily discontinued during the pandemic.
PRE-REQUISITE FOR RALLY CLASSES:
Rally Novice: Dog must be able to walk on loose leash and sit and down on command.
Rally Advanced/Excellent: Must have taken 6 Novice classes and/or received RN title.
Rally Masters: Must have previously earned Rally titles.
To find out when the classes are held, see the Schedule. To download an application, click HERE. For more information, email our Registrar or call (610) 941-6394 and leave a message.
Confidence Building
This class is for calm dogs and dogs that lack confidence. Exercises are structured to help build dog’s confidence and to better handle stressors in their environment. Dogs that have graduated from a Beginners class are eligible to attend.
If you have any questions or need further information to determine if this is appropriate for your dog, please call Paula at 215-836-5059 or email her.
For class day and time, see the Schedule.
To download an application, click HERE.
If you have any questions or need further information to determine if this is appropriate for your dog, please call Paula at 215-836-5059 or email her.
For class day and time, see the Schedule.
To download an application, click HERE.
Show Handling
Conformation Show Ring Handling class is a continuous, ongoing class. To find out when it is held, see the Schedule. To download an application, click HERE. For more information, call Sue at (215) 257-7375 or send an email.
In nice weather some of our classes train outside, and our outdoor matches are held in our completely fenced private field adjacent to our training building.
* * *
If you are a Training Member, you may train on your own in the outdoor field at any time during daylight hours. Please keep the gate shut at all times, and please remember, the field is a "No Potty Zone" . . . make sure to walk your dog outside the field and, of course, clean up if necessary.
* * *
If you are a Training Member, you may train on your own in the outdoor field at any time during daylight hours. Please keep the gate shut at all times, and please remember, the field is a "No Potty Zone" . . . make sure to walk your dog outside the field and, of course, clean up if necessary.
Problems with this site? Broken links? CLICK HERE to contact the webmaster.
© All material on this site is copyright 2023 Suburban Dog Training Club and may not be used without permission of the club
Suburban Dog Training Club is a member of the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs
Suburban Dog Training Club is a member of the Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs
