Our Classes

(SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Advance registration recommended - class size limited for individual attention.

Discounts for PuppyLove and Basic Manners classes/club activities are available for veterinary staff, referring rescue dog groups, seniors, firefighters, police officers.

Become a member of Best Paw Forward Dog Sports Club for just $20 and take advantage of the great club activities at our club sites.

FOR THE PUP OR OLDER POOCH NEW TO OUR PROGRAM, to develop well-behaved happy pets, and also create a great foundation for show and performance dogs
     PuppyLove and Basic Manners are parallel programs in 6-week series that meet once a week for one hour (same time/same place) for DeLand and Maitland sites, or one or more times a week in the open-enrollment programs at the Osteen site.
     Our positive, effective family-friendly methods are the focus, with lots of opportunities in class to practice. Extensive outlines and behavior handouts on CD and a clicker are given at the first session or you may pick them up early once registered.
     Gentle Leader (Premier brand), all-nylon slip collar or all-nylon limited slip collar and a leather leash required for Basic Manners, and recommended for puppies as well. Puppies younger than 18 weeks old may also be on soft nylon or cotton leashes. Each puppy or dog on a Gentle Leader shouldalso wear a fabric or leather buckle or snap collar at the same time as the Gentle Leader.
     Beginners open enrollment in Osteen includes 3 months covering either PuppyLove or Basic Manners and Manners Plus for one low price. Open enrollment means you can start any time after a private or semi-private orientation class - no need to wait for a start date.

PUPPYLOVE: NOW INCLUDING AKC S.T.A.R. PUPPY PROGRAM!
For puppies 8-18 weeks on the first day of class (see birth date requirement for individual classes), includes off-leash work, puppy socialization emphasizing gentle puppy mouths, and training opportunities to show your puppy how to respond to you no matter how exciting the environment. Visit a class first and see why this is the best and longest-running puppy program in Central Florida! The Tues. & Sat. open-enrollment sessions allow you to set your own start date after a single orientation. E-mail or call us for details on the 6-week DeLand session or the 3-month Osteen program. Cost for either is $55 for orientation plus $110 for the series.

BASIC MANNERS:
For adult dogs and puppies older than 18 weeks on the first day of class. Allows for safe introduction and limited interaction with other class or club members and their dogs.
Open-enrollment sessions in DeLand and Osteen allow you to set your own start date after a single orientation. E-mail or call for more details on the 6-week DeLand or 3-month Osteen $165 programs.

TOPICS to keep your dog safe and your family sane. For both PuppyLove and Basic Manners (more material included in PuppyLove due to rapid learning rate for young pups and the opportunity to safely work off-leash immediately):
· Behaviors that make your pet a content, life-long canine companion, a joy to your family and friends; covered in a relaxed, family-friendly learning environment
· Basic obedience commands: sit, stand, down, stay, walk politely on a loose leash, come when called
· Stop or prevent your dog jumping up, stealing your belongings, barking excessively, pulling on leash, digging in the yard, being rough with his mouth
· with household management techniques including safe doggie toys, crate training, house training
· Tap into your dog’s natural work ethic - learn how to use treats appropriately so you don’t have to have them in your hand for your dog to do what you want, and how to incorporate life-rewards to maintain and increase appropriate doggie behavior
· Use fun obedience tricks to real-world situations: “get dressed,” wait at the door, greet house guests cordially and politely, “leave it,” “bang”
· Manage rough play/wrestling/tug-of-war, introducing dogs to children, dealing with fear stages
· Teach safe food bowl and toy etiquette
· Help your dog accept gentle and more insistent handling. Great for future experiences with family, house guests, veterinarian, groomer
· Safely trim your dog’s toenails as you learn the best tools to use; pick up healthy grooming tips
· Learn fun, useful tricks that will help keep your pet out of trouble, and that pave the way for advanced classes

$160-$165 for new students in PuppyLove/Basic Manners. Open enrollment start-any-week program for Volusia sites. Work study, continuing student, police officer, firefighter, military and other discounts available.


JUMP START Free foundation agility concepts for PuppyLove and Basic Manners dogs – a safe introduction to DOGGIE FITNESS equipment that encourages confidence and body awareness in your canine companion to enhance your dog’s quality of life, available only at club base site

FOR YOUR CANINE COMPANION’S CONTINUING EDUCATION
We offer monthly series in intermediate and advanced manners and competition programs to continue your dog’s good behavior, progress towards the Canine Good Citizen test, and competitive obedience, rally and agility. Conformation programs and a variety of workshops are also offered. Classes are held once a week for one hour at the same time and location each week.

MANNERS PLUS: Open only to PuppyLove & Basic Manners graduates and students who have taken BPF private classes. If you have completed beginning training in other programs, you may take one or more private sessions to qualify for this series, or experienced trainers may try our advanced programs.

TOPICS:

· Progress towards off-leash training for adolescent and adult dogs; getting ready for the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen evaluation and therapy dog evaluations (accepting a friendly stranger; sitting politely for petting; appearance and grooming; walking on a loose lead; walking through a crowd; sit and down on command and staying in place; coming when called; reaction to another dog; reaction to distraction; supervised separation)

· Intermediate targeting and shaping games to teach your dog to go to his bed, touch a disk or target stick and other fun tricks to wow family and friends

· Respond to commands from a distance

· Introduction to retrieving

· Useful tricks to keep bright canine minds busy

· Introduction to Rally - challenge yourself and your dog to new heights in precision work

· Use clickers or verbal reward markers so you don't need treats in the hand.
Manners Plus club program in Volusia also includes Doggie Fitness/agility equipment to maintain your dog’s confidence and body awareness to get you ready for a lifetime of agility fun with your dog.

For the best-behaved dogs in Central Florida, go on to Manners Plus after completing our puppy or basic programs. If you prefer, especially if unexpected events limited your practice time, you may repeat Basic Manners (or PuppyLove if your dog still meets the age requirement or has instructor approval) for $50 per series in Maitland and DeLand, or free at the club site.

MANNERS PLUS Monthly Cost: $95-$75 for Maitland, $75-$55 for Volusia; free with work study options.

PERFORMANCE: OBEDIENCE * RALLY * AGILITY

All levels (novice through the most advanced) month-long or drop-in obedience/rally/agility series for Manners Plus graduates, BPF private class students, experienced handler-dog teams.

Class focus changes weekly.

Relaxed friendly atmosphere to focus on great attitude for competitive events and for learning fun new things to enhance your dog’s quality of life.

Out-of-sight stays, retrieving, scent discrimination, heeling, jumps, attention work, precision work, recalls, finishes, rally skills, agility drills and courses and much more

Monthly cost $75 for Maitland, $35 for Volusia; drop in $20 Maitland, $10 Volusia.

CONFORMATION/Show Dog Training
Beginners as well as experienced handlers welcome in conformation programs.
Gentle methods that help you and your dog have a great time in the show ring.
Private sessions and frequent workshops offered

Contact us for workshop dates, details, & practice locations: Conformation, Field Retrieving, Obedience Retrieving, Scent Articles & Nose Work, Tracking for Beginners, Growl Class, & Detouring Doggie Delinquents aggression program.