Especially for Pets Dog Training Specialty Classes & New Workshops Dog training classes are offered in all seven Especially for Pets store locations. If you haven’t already, come and check out the new Especially for Pets Dog Training Academy at 424 Boston Post Road, (Rt 20) in Sudbury. Obedience classes are offered on a regularly scheduled basis. However, new classes are being created all the time! If you don’t see something you want, please ask. See schedule for updated class offerings at http://www.especiallyforpets.com/obedsched.htm. Pre-registration is required for all classes and workshops; class offerings below are at noted locations. Especially for Puppies…..Puppy 911 This private, at-home service will help you and your new puppy get off to a great start. One of our professional trainers will visit you in your home and help produce a customized plan for your family and new puppy. We will help you assimilate your puppy into your unique lifestyle and make your puppy’s transition easier. During an in-depth discussion regarding young puppy behavior, you will learn how your actions can influence your puppy’s success. Puppy 911 is especially beneficial for the client who wants or needs more guidance in their home environment. Topics include teaching owners how to shape wanted behaviors such as coming when called, proper play, proper interaction with children and housebreaking. We will also discuss housebreaking, crate training, fair pack leadership and more.  Participants will also learn how to prevent undesirable behaviors such as nipping, jumping, destructive behavior, fussing and barking at night. Details - Fee is $85 for a one-hour session - To schedule an appointment, email Leslie Zelamsky, Obedience Manager at    smidgenofsam@comcast.net New Puppy Workshop—Exclusively for Families with New Puppies Offered: - Monday, June 14 at 7:00pm in Sudbury with Angela Nickerson              - Saturday, June 19 at 2:30pm in Westborough with Christine Macdonald              - Thursday, June 24 at 6:00pm in Acton with Kate Horgan-Burke Join us for an informative 90-minute session that will get you, your puppy and your children off to a great start. We will be specifically addressing relationship and family dynamics, safe handling, and appropriate interactions, as well as house rules and teaching your puppy to understand and accept his place in the family. If time permits, we will touch on some of the general puppy issues such as housebreaking, teething and chewing. With hands-on training for puppies and children, we will practice appropriate play and handling, the exercises that should be part of everyday life, and what type of activities should be avoided. Your family will leave with a better understanding of how your puppy develops and learns and with some actual tools that you have practiced so that you can implement change right away at home. This workshop is limited to five families, based on size, to ensure everyone is able to fully participate and benefit from the training. A minimum of three families is required to run the class. Details - Fee is $45 per family for a 90-minute session - Puppy must have his second set of vaccines - Pre-registration required by calling the appropriate store Puppy Kindergarten: Children's Supplement Offered: - Wednesday, June 16 at 5:00pm in Acton with Kate Horgan-Burke              - Thursday, June 17 at 5:00pm in Canton with Heather Fournier If you are currently enrolled in one of our Puppy Kindergarten classes and have children, they are welcome to join our supplemental children’s sessions. These workshops are exclusively designed for younger family members and their puppies.  In addition to being able to practice the hands-on training we are doing during Puppy Kindergarten class, we will also introduce additional handling that is targeted just for kids. This will help support their efforts in becoming a leader rather than a "sibling.” Your children will feel more in control; which will result in increased comfort level, as they are able to better communicate with and understand their puppies. Having more control and some basic techniques will help prevent jumping, mouthing, and other unwanted behaviors. Details - Fee is $25 for a one-hour session for the first child and puppy - Additional children are welcome to attend for $10 each - Pre-registration required by calling the appropriate store Puppy Play Groups Offered: Saturday, June 12 at 9:00am in Sudbury with Angela Nickerson Early socialization is key to a well mannered and appropriate puppy. These fun and educational playgroups will allow your dog to socialize in a safe and structured environment. Participants will learn about interpreting canine body language, adapting behavior, engaging in appropriate energy levels and play styles. In addition to promoting positive and controlled interactions, handlers will be practicing clear communication with their dogs in name recognition, disengagement, and recalls.   Details     - Fee is $15 for one 30-minute session Focused Nose Work Offered: - Level I class Friday, June 4 at 8:00pm in Sudbury with Gail McCarthy              - Level II-B class Friday, June 4 at 4:00pm in Sudbury with Gail                McCarthy              - Level III class Friday, June 4 at 6:00pm in Sudbury with Gail McCarthy              - Level IV class Friday, June 4 at 5:00pm & 7:00pm with Gail McCarthy Focused Nose Work classes are a great new way to work with your dog. You will learn how to access your dog’s natural desire to hunt through positive reinforcement. We will use a reward system that your particular dog loves such as a highly-valued toy, special food and sincere praise. Focused Nose Work classes are exhilarating for both dog and handler. They can help develop confidence even in the most timid of dogs.  Additionally, the mental exercise of searching and problem-solving is great for calming down energetic or reactive dogs. Another huge benefit of the Focused Nose Work classes is the positive working relationship that develops between you and your dog when you both are hunting together as a team.    Focused Nose Work is quickly becoming the newest, fun sport in the world of canine training and competition. Check out the official Fun Nosework website at www.funnosework.com to learn all about it. Rules and regulations can be found at the National Association of Canine Scent Work website at www.nacsw.net. Level I:  Focused Hunting  Level I is where we build the dog’s desire to hunt using modern methods of positive reinforcement while simultaneously training the handler how to read their dog’s unique hunting behaviors and to pick up on those subtle signals that communicate to the handler that the dog is “working scent”. Level II-B:  Scent Discrimination-B Level II-B is where we introduce the dog to the remaining two target odors.  Additionally, we will continue to work on your handling skills and the dog’s ability to independently and reliability hunt for all three target odors. Dog teams enrolled in Level II-B must have completed Level II-A and must pass a minimum proficiency test in finding the initial target odor. Level III:  Problem-Solving Level III is where we continue to increase both the dog’s dedication to hunting for the target odors and the handler’s and the dog’s ability to work together as a team in solving progressively more challenging search problems. Dog handling techniques for on and off-leash work as well as search strategies will be discussed in these classes. Dog teams enrolled in Level III must have completed Level II-B and must pass a minimum proficiency test in finding the remaining two target odors. Level IV:  Final Indication Level IV is where we teach the dog to offer an independent indication which the dog will use to communicate to the handler that it has found the target odor. Our goal is to have a dog that intensely hunts and automatically indicates when it pinpoints the target odor. Dog teams enrolled in Level IV must have completed Level III. Details - Fee is $180 per dog for six one-hour weekly group sessions - Space is limited to six to eight dogs per class - Please reserve your time early as these classes sell out quickly—waiting lists are typical - All dogs participating must be at least six months old and be able to walk on a leash and come when called - Pre-registration required by calling 978.443.7682 Greyhound Specialty Class Offered: Saturday, June 5 at 1:30pm in Westborough with Christine Macdonald Congratulations on your very special adoption!  Greyhounds are very intelligent, loyal and friendly dogs who thrive on love, attention and human companionship.  Because Especially for Pets is aware of this, we have designed this class to address the specific needs of retired greyhounds. The main goal of our class is to develop a strong bond of trust between pet and owner using positive reinforcement. Our training philosophy is praise, focus and fun! This class will focus on basic obedience as well as some common issues of adopted greyhounds. Some of these issues are: becoming a pack leader to your dog, socialization including other dog breeds, separation anxiety, sensitivity and how to develop confidence, and navigating the new environment, including stairs.    Details - Fee is $150 for seven one-hour sessions - Class size is limited, so register early! - Please, no dogs first class due to discussion length - Pre-registration required by calling 508.366.9696 Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test Prep Class Offered: - Saturday, June 12 at 1:30pm in Sudbury with Angela Nickerson Continue working with your dog while putting your training to the test. This class focuses on the exercises needed to pass the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Therapy Dog Test. Your dog will demonstrate his skill in exercises such as come, walk on loose leash, sit and stay. In addition, he will learn to calmly meet a stranger and to behave around wheelchairs and walkers; items routinely used by nursing home residents. The Canine Good Citizen Test is sanctioned by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The Therapy Dog Exam is sanctioned by Therapy Dogs International (TDI). Pre-requisite: Graduate Puppy or Intermediate. Official testing for certification will be held at Especially for Pets in Sudbury at a later date (TBD) for an additional fee. Details - Fee is $130 for six one-hour sessions - Pre-registration required by calling the appropriate store Advanced Drop-In Obedience Offered: Wednesday, June 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 at 8:00pm in Newton with Elaine Stern   Just in time for spring, sharpen your dog’s existing obedience skills in our convenient drop-in format. Advanced Obedience Drop-In is for students who want to continue working their dogs in a structured environment. The class will sharpen existing skills and will teach new ones that address real-world issues. If you enjoy working with and training your dog and wish to continue building the bond you have created, then Advanced Obedience is for you! Details - Pre-requisite is Intermediate - Fee is $25 for a one-hour session - Registration deadline is ten minutes prior to class start time Puppourri/Agility Offered: - Puppourri/Agility I: Saturday. June 12 at 1:30pm or Tuesday, June 15                at 7:00pm with Angela Nickerson in Sudbury              - Puppourri/Agility II: Saturday, June 12 at 2:30pm with Angela                Nickerson in Sudbury This class is designed to showcase a variety of today’s popular canine sports and activities that you can enjoy with your canine companion. We will focus on the sport of Agility with introductions to Fly ball, Rally, Tricks and more.  Find out what activities you and your dog enjoy the most and perhaps want to further pursue. This class is based on positive reinforcement and the goal is to enhance the communication between dog and handler and to enjoy the time spent together. Puppourri is appropriate for any age dog that is well socialized, responsive to his handler and controllable around other dogs. Details - Puppourri Agility II is for graduates of Puppourri Agility I - Fee is $130 for a six-week course Adult Educational Play Groups Offered: Saturday, June 5 & 19 at 9:00am with Angela Nickerson in Sudbury These fun and educational playgroups will allow your dog to socialize in a safe and structured environment. Participants will learn about interpreting canine body language, adapting behavior, engaging in appropriate energy levels and play styles. In addition to promoting positive and controlled interactions, handlers will be practicing clear communication with their dogs in name recognition, disengagement, and recalls. Groups will be organized primarily by maturity and activity levels with consideration given to size and comfort levels. Details - Fee is $15 for one 30-minute session Kids Summer Workshop—Agility & Tricks Offered: Thursday, July 8 at 2:00pm in Sudbury with Angela Nickerson Looking for something fun to do over the summer? Kids, ask your parents if you can join us for this agility and tricks class designed especially for kids, ages eight and older, and their dogs! The class includes instruction and guidance—encouraging participants to work cooperatively over low jumps, agility obstacles as they respond to basic commands. We will use only positive, motivational training methods. The goal of the class is to encourage handlers and dogs to interact in a fun activity and enjoy the bond that develops when working together. Details - Fee is $85 for a four-week class - No previous obedience training experience necessary - Dogs must be friendly with children and other dogs

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