Animal Care Center of Downers Grove
Pet Obedience Training
Our puppy classes include:
A fun, safe, and informal environment for puppies to learn and socialize
Positive Reinforcement (+R) training using treats and praise
Introducing puppies to new things and exercises to build confidence
Puppy playtime and learning to help them interact appropriately with other pups
Lessons on the best ways to raise your puppy and setting up your home for success
Training tips for common problems such as nipping/biting, crate training, housebreaking, jumping, hyperactivity, chewing, barking, and more
Requirements
We welcome puppies between 8 weeks and 6 months of age. Owners must bring proof that their puppies have at least received their first set of vaccinations and a negative fecal test before their first class.
Puppy I
Week 1
Obedience: Leave It, Sit-Stay
Activities: Follow the Leader
Topics: Pack Leader-No Free Lunch
Pup-Tips: Jump/Dig/Chew
Week 2
Obedience: Sit-Wait, Down
Activities: Puppy Playtime
Topics: Grooming & Handling
Pup-Tips: Biting/Nipping
Week 3
Obedience: Leash Walking 1
Activities: Fun Games/Toys
Topics: Exercise & Collars/Leashes
Pup-Tips: Hyperactive Pup
Puppy II
Week 1
Obedience: Leave It, Sit-Stay
Activities: Follow the Leader
Topics: Pack Leader-No Free Lunch
Pup-Tips: Jump/Dig/Chew
Week 2
Obedience: Leash Walking 2
Activities: Reliable Recalls
Topics: House Manners & More
Pup-Tips: Leash Pulling
Week 3
Obedience: Down-Stay
Activities: Obstacle Course
Topics: An Ounce of Prevention
Pup-Tips: Teenage Pups
Advanced Puppy Class (Puppy III)
Week 1
Obedience: Proofing the Sit, Leash Walking
Topics: Dogzilla!, Keeping Your Teen Pup Under Control
Week 2
Obedience: Reliable Recalls, Leave It
Topics: Outdoor Training, Those Pesky Squirrels!
Week 3
Obedience: Stay Means Stay, Heeling
Topics: Dog Play & Dog Parks -- Reading Canine Body Language
Week 4
Obedience: Distractions: Sit, Stay, Come
Topics: Introduction to Off-Leash Training & Using Hand Signals
Week 5
Obedience: Distractions: Leash Walking
Topics: More House Manners & Behavior Issues
Week 6
Obedience: Putting it All Together!
Topics: Graduation -- A Walk in the Park!
These group classes include:
Treat/reward-based training that makes learning fun for your dog
Homework and informative handouts to help you stay on track
A casual training environment so you and your pet can have a comfortable, enjoyable experience
Small class sizes for optimal learning (4-5 dogs maximum)
A certified instructor, Eve Zurawski, who has 15+ years of experience
Beginner Obedience 1
Learn how to teach your dog the basic obedience cues using positive reinforcement and get solid and reliable behaviors. Plus, it's fun for both you and your dog!
Week 1
Obedience: Sit, Watch Me, Wait, Come
Topics: How to train your dog to listen to you
Week 2
Obedience: Leash Walking 1, Leave It
Topics: Why use treats to train your dog?
Week 3
Obedience: Leash Walking 2, Down
Topics: Exercises Your Dog Can't Resist, Dog Socialization
Week 4
Obedience: Leash Walking 3, Stay
Topics: Safety, Common Behavior Issues, Handling, Grooming
Week 5
Obedience: Reliable Recalls, Review of Skills
Topics: Using Hand Signals and Body Language
Week 6
Obedience: A Walk in the Park!
Topics: Graduation
IIIntermediate Obedience 2
Continue learning and keep your dog under control in all situations. Proof basic skills and teach your dog how to listen to you with distractions around and in different situations. Focus on house manners.
Week 1
Obedience: Proofing the Basics Skills
Topics: How to Add Distractions to Your Training
Week 2
Obedience: Heeling 1, Moving Leave It
Topics: Wean Off Treats: The Power of Intermittent +R
Week 3
Obedience: Heeling 2, Reliable Recalls
Topics: Dog Play & Dog Parks - Canine Body Language
Week 4
Obedience: Sit/Stay, Down/Stay, Stop!
Topics: Pack Leadership, Dog Bites, Emergencies
Week 5
Obedience: House Manners, Review Skills
Topics: Obedience Skills in Everyday Situations
Week 6
Obedience: Introduction to Rally Obedience
Topics: Graduation
Advanced Obedience 3
More distraction work. Off-leash training, reliable calls, long duration stays with distractions, working your dog in public places, teaching, and prep for therapy dogs, learning tricks and preparing for competition.
Week 1
Obedience: 15-30 Minute Stays
Week 2
Obedience: Outdoor Recalls
Week 3
Obedience: Walk Anywhere
Week 4
Obedience: Show-off Tricks
Week 5
Obedience: Best Manners
Week 6
Obedience: Graduation
Crash-Course Obedience
If you are unable to commit to our regularly-scheduled 6-week classes, we offer a "Crash Course" in Obedience. You get everything we offer in our obedience classes but at the convenience of your schedule in 3 private lessons. You will work 1-on-1 with our professional trainer and learn or tune up the basic commands such as sit, down, come, stay, and leave it. We can also help you address common behavior problems.
Board & Train
Leave the training up to us! Drop your dog off for daycare, day or overnight boarding and let us know what you would like your dog to learn. Not limited to training! Can include exercising your pup, interactive play, massage or whatever you think your dog would enjoy. Dogs who get plenty of physical and mental stimulation do better when staying away from home. Treat your dog to a quality stay!
Private Lessons
Customized Training Plans for specific behavioral issues you are having with your dog. Work one-on-one privately with our trainer to resolve some of the more challenging problems such as separation anxiety, shyness, fear-aggression, resource guarding, hyperexcitability, growling, marking, etc. to help your dog become a better-adjusted member of your family and household. You will get a detailed management plan as well as step-by-step instructions and email follow-ups to ensure your success with resolving the issues.
Lesson 1
Obedience: Sit, Wait, Come
Topics: How to Train Your Dog to Listen to You
Lesson 2
Obedience: Leave It, Down
Topics: Be a Better Pack Leader, Canine Body Language
Lesson 3
Obedience: Leash-walk, Stay
Topics: Exercises Dogs Love, Safety, Impulse Control
