Training
Inspiring Dogs & Their People to Get Their Wag On!
Basic Obedience is not only the starting point in dog training and on the journey to a well-adjusted and well-mannered dog. It is also a critical aspect of the deep and respectful bond we all aspire to have with our family pets.
Here at The Academy at Wagging Tails Pet Resort, we show you step-by-step exactly how to achieve the reliable obedience that fosters that loving & respectful bond.
Classes meet once each week for one hour. Classes are offered in a group format at Wagging Tails Pet Resort or can also be arranged as private in-your-home classes for aggressive, fearful, or timid dogs – or simply for your convenience.
In-your-home lessons can be arranged within a 30 minute drive from Hadley MA, or throughout Southern New England for a small travel (gas) fee.
If you would like to register for a class please go to the Book Now button and set up your profile in our customer portal or call 413-288-6065.
Leash Manners 101
The leash walk is a bonding exercise that improves the dog-human relationship, and it is of course a safety issue for both dog and walker. We also know the dog who walks politely gets longer walks, which is also mutually beneficial to all involved.
The first week introduces the requisite skills and protocols and, after practicing for a week, we meet again to fine-tune the experience. A major improvement is guaranteed!
Tuition for the 2-week sequence is $195 with corrective collar additional (if required).
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Training Class
For Pups from 2 – 6 months old
=> Allows (in any position) petting by a person other than the owner
=> Grooming-Allows owner handling and brief exam (ears, feet) Walks on a Leash-Follows owner on lead in a straight line (15 steps)
=> Walks by other people-Walks on leash past other people 5-ft away
=> Sits on command-Owner may use a food lure
=> Down on command-Owner may use a food lure
=> Comes to owner from 5-ft when name is called Reacts well to Distractions-distractions are presented 15-ft away
=> Stay on leash with another person (owner walks 10 steps and returns)
Pups learn their name, as well as focus and orientation skills; we play confidence building games and work on some basic obedience skills. Puppy handlers learn about crate training, house-training, bite inhibition, dog handling and the importance of proper play behavior, socialization and more!
STAR stands for Socialization, Training, Activity and a Responsible owner and in addition to teaching and testing a variety of owner and puppy behaviors this six week long STAR puppy class, teach the following puppy behaviors and skills:
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy prepares pups to move on to the AKC Canine Good Citizen training. For example, in STAR, puppies must walk on a leash in a straight line. In CGC, the task becomes more advanced with dogs walking in a pattern that includes right and left turns and stops.
This class meets once each week for 6 consecutive weeks, from 7 pm to 8 pm for one hour. You can bring the kids as long as they are over 12 years of age, but NO CELL PHONE USE, PLEASE.
Tuition: $205 per puppy
In-Your-Home Tuition: $900 for 6 Classes
AKC Canine Good Citizen PLUS
Basic through Intermediate Obedience
This class focuses on improving the bond between you and your dog through effective communication and basic obedience. Through an understanding of K9 Learning Theory and correct and consistent communication, you will learn why dogs do what they do and how best to inspire them to do what you want them to do!
Your dog will learn to be a well-behaved member of the family through the use of basic to intermediate commands which will engender confidence, impulse control, focus and proper socialization.
For pups with the requisite temperament this class also earns the coveted AKC Canine Good Citizen certification! Bring the whole family, including children over 12 years of age, but NO CELL PHONE USE PLEASE.
It is a prerequisite for many therapy dog groups and some homeowner’s insurance companies encourage CGC testing. There are also an increasing number of apartments and condos that require resident dogs to pass the CGC test.
Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
Test 3: Good appearance and grooming
Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose leash)
Test 5: Walking through a crowd
Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
Test 7: Coming when called
Test 8: Good reaction to another dog
Test 9: Good reaction to distraction
Test 10: Supervised separation
In addition to the above-mandated commands (Sit, Down, Stay, Come and Walk on a leash) we will add Touch, The name game or Look, Off, Leave-It, and Go-To-Place!
This class meets once each week for 6 consecutive weeks, evenings from 7 pm to 8 pm for one hour.
Tuition: $195 per dog
In-Your-Home Tuition: $900 for 6 Lessons
Canine Good Citizen Certification Test (CGC)
For details on the test please follow this link: https://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm
Testing is scheduled directly through the Evaluator at 413-923-7034, takes place at Wagging Tails Pet Resort, and the cost for the test is $100
AKC Canine Good Citizen PLUS
Basic through Intermediate Obedience
They are animals defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties.
Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability
Perhaps more than anything else, persons with disabilities want to remain as independent as possible. A highly trained service dog helps to do just that. By assisting consumers with everyday tasks, service dogs give a tremendous boost to self-confidence and self-reliance.
Retrieving phones
Activating adaptive switches
Aiding in dressing/undressing
Carrying items
Picking up dropped items
Pulling a wheelchair
Assisting clients up from a fall
Help in climbing stairs
Help with balance issues
Turning light switches on & off
Barking to indicate help is needed
Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers are the most common breeds used as service dogs, but any breed or mix of breeds is capable of being a service dog, though few dogs have all of the health and temperament qualities needed.
Emotional Support Training for Dogs
While emotional support animals require much less training than service animals, there are requirements your dog must meet to become an ESD.
If you’re thinking of adopting an ESD, it is essential to follow all requirements, rules, and regulations before adopting one of these special animals.
Below we explore all things related to emotional training for dogs and how to become a responsible handler.
What Is an Emotional Support Dog?
While ESDs have slightly more rights than ordinary pets, they are not protected under US laws (other than housing) or granted the same public access rights as a trained service dog.
The primary rights afforded to ESDs fall under the Fair Housing Act, which states that these animals are allowed to live with their handler—even in accommodations where pets are not allowed.
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOGS VS. SERVICE DOGS
According to guidelines written in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service dogs are protected and able to enter public spaces, private residences, and public transportation.
Private spaces aren’t out of the question as well. Plus, laws outlined in the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) allow service dogs on airlines. That said, service dogs need specialized training to help their owner perform at least one task.
On the other hand, emotional support dogs don’t require any training. While they’re protected under the FHA they’re not protected under the ADA or ACAA. For these reasons, they have less protection than service dogs.
The biggest difference is that service dogs help someone with a disability accomplish a task or improve their quality of life. ESDs are limited to comforting someone with mental health disorders.
Achieving extremely high level obedience results takes a great deal of effort and a serious time commitment. For those with busy schedules or for whom spectacular dog obedience is desired or required The Academy offers our completely customizable Obedience Training Camps.
From basic obedience encompassing name recognition, focus and confidence building games and exercises as well as basic commands to advanced on and off leash obedience under high distraction, with full reliability,
The Academy at Wagging Tails Pet Resort offers standardized Basic, Intermediate and Advanced training camps or will customize a program for your specific needs and desires.
Additionally, through our Obedience Training Camps, The Academy offers your choice of the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen, Community Canine and/or Urban Canine certifications.
Dependent upon desired results, The Academy offers 5 Day, 12 Day and 19 Day Board and Train as well as “Day-School” programs.
All camps begin on Monday and culminate with a Saturday “graduation” where the “hoomans” are taught the skills and protocols requisite to maintain their pup’s awesome skills and behaviors.
Some examples of behaviors that may be addressed during the Daycare-Academy Program are:
✓ politely on leash
✓ Jumping on People
✓ Door/Guest etiquette
✓ Off-Leash refresher
Basic Obedience Cues such as:
✓ Down
✓ Stay/Wait
✓ Go-To-Place
✓ Off
✓ Leave-It
✓ Drop-It Or add distraction, distance or duration work to any known cue
5-Day Associate’s Level Training Camps
Tuition starts at
$995
5-day
Mirrors our Basic Obedience and Puppy courses.
12-Day Bachelor’s Level Training Camps
$1995
12-day
Mirrors our Basic + Intermediate Obedience courses.
19-Day Master’s Level Training Camps
$2895
Mirrors our Basic + Intermediate + Advanced Obedience courses and includes the AKC Canine Good Citizen certification.
Our Off-Leash Reliability Training can be added to any of the above programs for an additional tuition of $1000 plus the cost of an E-Collar
This is a great way to have your pup’s good behaviors reinforced or to have a professional trainer work to extinguish unwanted behaviors.
Our Off-Leash Reliability Training can be added to any of the above programs for an additional tuition of $1000 plus the cost of an E-Collar