Group Classes
Why Take One Of Our Group Classes?
Group classes at Freak On A Leash provide socialization, manners training around people and dogs, enrichment, and the opportunity to learn skills in a fun, supportive environment. All of our classes are taught by trainers with years of experience.
Does your dog already know the basics like sit, down, stay, but only listens in your own home? Group classes will help your dog learn to listen everywhere and be calm in various settings around people and other dogs.
Great Start Puppy
It is never too early to start puppy training! Modern professional trainers and veterinarians value the importance of early, safe socialization in a puppy’s life. Our puppy classes are for puppies as young as 8 weeks and will teach you how to best communicate with your new companion. Structured classes provide the opportunity for your puppy to safely socialize with other pups and people, and our open enrollment classes allow for a quick start.
You’ll receive information on all your puppy raising questions including house training, chewing, and the most effective way to teach practical skills. Topics include loose leash walking, recall, settling and stationary behaviors, grooming and handling, and polite behaviors around food. Our instructors use kind and humane rewards-based training techniques to get your pup listening happily to whatever you are asking.
We require age appropriate DHPP (Distemper/Parvo) for puppy class, along with Rabies if over 4 months. Puppy classes are held at Healing with Heart Veterinary Care in Virginia Beach, VA and Church of the Messiah in Chesapeake, VA.
Continuing Your Dog’s Education
In order to successfully grow from puppyhood into adulthood your dog must continue to explore new places, learn how to control themselves when emotions take over, and tackle real life challenges while building confidence and trust in their humans. Watching your dog learning the skills to confidently navigate life (while having fun) is an amazing feeling!
Click here for class information, pricing and schedules!
Basic Manners…and Beyond!
Our Basic Manners and Beyond Basic Manners classes are the next steps after puppy class. They also serve as the initial training classes for adolescent and adult dogs. Classes are small, typically 4-5 dogs and handlers allowing for more individualized attention. Skills covered in Basic Manners include polite leash walking, sit, down, stay, come and how to handle common issues such as pulling and jumping.
Does your dog already know the basics but you want to continue improving skills? Have you taken a basic obedience class but need to refine loose leash walking, stay or recall? Want to work on maintenance of your dog’s existing skills? Beyond Basic Manners is an intermediate level training class that will further your abilities as a team. Manners classes are for dogs over 5 months old.
Canine Good Citizen Classes
Canine Good Citizen classes are geared towards dogs that are friendly towards people and neutral or friendly with other dogs.
We offer Canine Good Citizen classes in a variety of locations, such as Mount Trashmore and Town Center. You will learn how to keep your dog’s attention and focus on you in an environment with many distractions. You will learn all about the Canine Good Citizen test and the requirements needed to earn the title of CGC. Instructors are AKC evaluators, approved to hold Canine Good Citizen tests and evaluate your dog. For more information about CGC testing, please visit https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen.
After the CGC, increase the difficulties and distraction training for your dog through our Hounds Around Town and Canine Street Smarts classes! These classes teach the skills needed to earn the Canine Good Citizen Advanced (CGCA) and the Canine Good Citizen Urban (CGCU) titles, respectively.
Want your dog to be a Therapy Dog?
Our classes are the perfect stepping stone to get there.
Therapy dogs have the skills and training to provide comfort, not just to their owners or handlers, but to other individuals. They often work in group settings such as schools, nursing homes, hospitals, disaster zones, or other places where people need encouragement or a mental health break. Therapy dogs can also be used in therapeutic settings such as outpatient therapy providers or in professional counseling offices.
For novice dogs or owners, we recommend our Basic Manners series or Canine Good Citizen classes and certification as a first step to our Therapy Dog prep class. Dogs with sufficient prior training are welcome to join Therapy Dog classes directly. We also organize and hold Therapy Dog certification testing through Pet Partners. Not sure of the best next step for your dog? Contact us!
What Other Classes Do We Offer?
Group classes are the perfect way to enrich your dog’s life, enhance their well-being, and keep your dog mentally and physically fit. We offer a wide variety of classes.
Great Start Puppy and Basic Manners classes are offered regularly. Canine Good Citizen classes (Good Dogs in the City, Hounds Around Town CGCA, and Canine Street Smarts CGCU) are offered every other month. Specialty classes such as Therapy Dog, Rally, Scent Work, Parkour, Canine Fitness, and Tricks classes are not offered on a set schedule, so be sure to sign up when they are available! Have a class suggestion? Contact us!
Group Classes Help With
- Mental stimulation
- Improving focus
- Socialization
- Distraction training
- Acclimating to a variety of environments
- Polite greetings
- Manners out and about
- Overexcitement
- Hypersocial behaviors
- Service Dog training
- Public Access training
- Walking politely on leash
- Canine Good Citizen prep
- Therapy Dog prep
- And much more!
