Puppy Classes
The habits your puppy learns in the first few months will shape the dog they become. Our puppy classes are designed to set your new family member up for a lifetime of good behavior, confidence, and connection with you — and lay the groundwork for earning their AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification.
Whether this is your first puppy or your fifth, these classes give you the tools, knowledge, and hands-on practice to raise a well-mannered, happy dog — right from the start.
What We Cover
Basic obedience — Sit, down, stay, come, leave it, and leash manners
Socialization — Safe, supervised exposure to new people, sounds, surfaces, and experiences
Bite inhibition — Teaching your puppy to use their mouth appropriately
Potty training guidance — Practical strategies that work in your home
Crate training — Making the crate a safe, positive space
Body handling — Getting your puppy comfortable with grooming, vet visits, and being touched (a key part of the CGC test)
Impulse control — Learning patience, waiting, and not jumping on every person they meet
CGC foundations — Many of the skills we teach in puppy class directly align with the 10 AKC Canine Good Citizen test items, including accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, walking on a loose leash, and coming when called
Reading your puppy — We'll teach you how to understand your puppy's body language and signals
What Is the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test?
The AKC Canine Good Citizen program is a nationally recognized certification that proves your dog has good manners at home and in the community. The test covers 10 skills:
Accepting a friendly stranger
Sitting politely for petting
Appearance and grooming
Walking on a loose leash
Walking through a crowd
Sit, down, and stay on command
Coming when called
Reaction to another dog
Reaction to distractions
Supervised separation
Our puppy classes introduce and build toward every one of these skills. When your puppy is ready, you can move into our CGC Prep program to fine-tune and test. We offer CGC training adapted for both hearing and deaf dogs using balanced training methods and visual cues.
As an AKC Evaluator, Rebecca can administer the official CGC test right here — no need to travel to a separate testing facility.
Class Details
6 classes per series — $300
4 sessions offered per year (2026)
Small class sizes for personalized attention
Open to puppies of all breeds
What to Expect
Puppy class is fun — for you and your puppy. Here's how it works:
Class 1: Getting started — We'll go over the basics, get to know each puppy's personality, and start building foundational skills. You'll leave with homework you can practice at home right away.
Weekly sessions — Each class builds on the last. We'll introduce new skills, troubleshoot what's not working at home, and give your puppy supervised social time with their classmates.
Hands-on learning — This isn't a lecture. You'll be working with your puppy during every session so the skills transfer to real life.
Owner education — Half the training is for you. We'll cover how to communicate clearly with your puppy, set boundaries, and stay consistent between classes.
CGC skill tracking — As we progress, we'll let you know which CGC test items your puppy is already nailing and which ones need more work — so you'll have a clear picture of how close they are to being CGC-ready.
Graduation — By the end of the series, your puppy will have a solid foundation in basic obedience and social skills — and a head start on their Canine Good Citizen journey.
Puppies should be up to date on vaccinations before attending. Please bring treats your puppy loves, a leash, and a positive attitude!
The Path Forward: Puppy Class → CGC → Beyond
Puppy class is just the beginning. Here's how the journey can look:
Puppy Classes → Build the foundation (basic obedience, socialization, impulse control)
CGC Prep → Fine-tune the 10 CGC test items and prepare for the official evaluation
CGC Test → Administered on-site by Rebecca, AKC Evaluator
Advanced Training → Continue into advanced obedience, therapy dog work, or specialized training
Every step builds on the last. You don't have to commit to the whole path right now — but it's good to know where this can go.
Why Start Early?
Puppies have a critical socialization window that closes around 16 weeks. The experiences they have (and don't have) during this time shape their behavior for life. Early training means:
Fewer behavior problems down the road
A confident dog who isn't fearful of new situations
A stronger bond between you and your puppy from day one
Good habits that are easier to build now than to fix later
A head start on CGC — puppies who start early are often ready for their Canine Good Citizen test much sooner
Why Dalmatia BnB?
AKC Evaluator — Rebecca can evaluate your dog for CGC right here
Tom Rose School with professional, balanced training methods
CGC adapted for deaf dogs — visual cues, e-collar vibration, and hand signals so every dog can participate
Master's degree in psychology — understanding how learning works isn't just for people
Small class sizes so every puppy gets individual attention
Real-world focus — we train for your life at home, not just in a classroom
Red Cross Pet First Aid/CPR certified — safety always comes first
Proven results — 70+ dogs trained, group class graduates, and a 100% behavior modification success rate
Ready to Get Started?
📋 Fill out the Dog Training Evaluation Form 📞 Call us: 660-890-5766 Email: owner@dalmatiabnb.org
