REGISTRATION FOR SPRING 2026 CLASSES IS NOW OPEN!

Tuesdays
Choose from Adult Beginner, S.T.A.R. Puppy Beginner or Advanced Beginner/Trick Dog

Thursdays
Choose from Canine Good Citizen (CGC) prep or Beginner Scentwork class

Spring 2026 classes are described below. Classes are once per week and begin on Tuesday, April 14 and Thursday, April 16 for six or seven weeks depending on your class at the Potsdam Elementary School. The fee for each class is $80. Proof of rabies vaccination is required. Registration is via submission of the online form at the end of this page.

Please note that there are class size limits. Once the limit for your class is reached, you will be put on a waiting list. After your registration form is received, you will receive an email with a Paypal link for electronic payment or for instructions for how to mail a payment (whichever option you selected on your registration form). Keep in mind that registration is first come first served so prompt payment is important.

Please note that these are group classes and are not appropriate for dogs with behavioral issues such as persistent barking or reactivity toward dogs or people. These issues are better suited for individual instruction with behavioral specialists. If there is a question about your dog’s suitability for a class, please contact Sandra Morris. If you do enroll in a class which is not suitable for your dog, you may be asked to leave the class with your fee refunded.

For more information, contact Sandra Morris at 315-323-5112 (text is best) or morrissd.canton@gmail.com

TUESDAY

Adult Beginner Class – (10 months and up) 5:30 – 6:30 Limit 6 dogs. Instructor – Holly Sypniewski

This class will focus on the basics of obedience: attention, sit, down, come, stay/wait, and walking on a loose leash. This training teaches you how to communicate effectively with your dog and what it means to socialize your dog to be comfortable in a range of settings. In addition to developing basic skills, we will learn some easy games that make learning fun for you and your dog. Participants must commit to a minimum of 5 minutes training per day. DOGS SHOULD REMAIN IN VEHICLE FOR FIRST 20 MINUTES OF 1st CLASS.

S.T.A.R. Puppy Beginner Class (4 months to 10 months) 6:30 – 7:30 Limit 10 dogs.
Instructor – Sandra Morris

This training class teaches you how to best communicate with your puppy and what it means to socialize your dog. This class is aimed at earning the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy distinction. In addition to learning how to teach your puppy beginning obedience such as sit, come, and walk on a loose leash, you’ll be able to get information about all of your puppy-raising questions including housetraining and chewing. You can go to https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/akc-star-puppy/ to learn more about the S.T.A.R. puppy program. NO DOGS AT THE FIRST CLASS.

Advanced Beginner/Trick Dog Class 7:30 – 8:30 Limit 8 dogs.
Instructor – Sandra Morris

Continue improving your dog’s basic behaviors (watch, stay, come, walk nicely on a loose leash) and have some fun teaching your dog tricks. Training can become boring for your dog but you can keep it interesting with tricks. A Beginner class must be completed prior to joining this class. At the end of this session, you may choose to be evaluated for your first AKC Trick Dog title! For more about the five AKC Trick Titles, see https://www.akc.org/sports/trick-dog/.

THURSDAY

Canine Good Citizen Prep Class 6:00 – 7:00 Limit 6 dogs.
Instructor – Liz Donaldson/Sharon Toth

The goal of the AKC CGC Certification program is to encourage dog owners to teach their dogs the basic skills needed to behave appropriately in public. CGC certification is sometimes a requirement for dogs to go into public spaces, such as schools or nursing homes. In order to be certified, your dog is tested on ten skills related to good manners in public and must pass all ten in order to earn the GCG certificate. You can go to https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/ for more information on the CGC program and test.

The CGC prep class is designed to help you and your dog get ready to test for CGC certification. Dogs eligible to take this class will already have some knowledge of basic commands, such as sit, down, stay, and walking on a loose lead. We are not expecting dogs to be perfect coming into the class, but some proficiency is expected. In class, we will be practicing these skills in the context of the scenarios presented in the CGC test. You will have the opportunity to test for the CGC certificate on the last night of class.

Beginning Scentwork Class 7:00 – 8:30 Limit 6 dogs.
Instructor – DeeDee Brown

Do you want to put your dog’s nose to work? Come join us for a 6-week scent work class. Scent work is a great enrichment activity for you and your dog! Your dog will learn how to search for a specific odor located in different containers and locations in the gym. Dogs need to have basic obedience skills with a reliable sit, good leash manners, and are able to stay quiet and relaxed when waiting for their turn.

Please bring a shoebox size cardboard box and VERY high value treats (e.g., cut up hotdog, liver, cheese, chicken, etc) to the first class.

REGISTRATION FORM