Dog Training > Classes Offered

PLEASE BE AWARE: Some of our classes fill up more than a month in advance, so don’t delay, register your dog for class today!

Our classes focus on clear, consistent communication, positive reinforcement and refining each owner’s individual training technique. Our training program will allow you to achieve excellent reliability in everyday situations and help develop a companion for life.

Classes are open to the public through pre-registration only and are listed below.

All training classes are held at the Companions For Life Center at 3465 E Kleindale Rd., Tucson, Arizona 85716. Need Directions?

For more information or to register, contact us at 520.795.6225, by fax at 520.795.6523, or via email.

**Class Schedule**

Puppy I Class - 7 week class

puppy jpeg Ages 5 weeks to 16 weeks are the most crucial imprinting periods in your dog’s lifetime. The skills you teach during this time will become anchored in your puppy’s psyche. Starting your puppy off on the right paw now could mean heading off years of behavior problem solving! In this class puppies are socialized with new people and new puppies.

In addition to basic sits and downs, your puppy will learn to come to you during play with other dogs, develop a strong relationship with you, walk on a loose leash, and behave at the groomer. Housebreaking, chewing, digging and other behavior problems will be covered. Nutrition and proper diet will also be discussed.

7 week class at 1 hour intervals: $115.00 for dogs 8 weeks to 4 months of age. Puppies must also be under 25 lbs for this class.

Is your puppy already over 4 months or heavier than 25 pounds? It is not too late to catch this crucial imprinting period and start training and socializing your puppy! This course will provide your puppy with the opportunity to play with puppies his/her own size and give them the socialization skills that will carry into adult life. All the essential things you need to know to raise your puppy will be covered, such as house breaking, chewing and digging. We will also begin teaching your puppy some important basic obedience commands, like Sit, Watch, Recall and more!

Early training and socialization are both essential to raising a well-behaved puppy. Early socialization makes a difference in your puppy's outlook on life. Instead of reacting fearfully to new experiences, your puppy is comfortable when encountering new things, animals and people. This not only benefits your puppy, it benefits everyone, since the most common cause of dog aggression is lack of proper socialization.
What is socialization? Introducing and familiarizing a puppy to new experiences - including people, places, objects, other animals - in ways that help the dog learn how to respond to and interact with these experiences appropriately and without fear.

Every Sunday from 9-10 a.m., puppies age 8 weeks to 7 months are invited to “drop-in” to the Companions For Life Center for an hour of safe off-leash play and socialization. CLC trainers will offer basic training advice and techniques and facilitate games and interaction between owners and their puppies. Bring proof of current vaccinations, your puppy, a collar, leash and some soft puppy treats. Cost is $8 per puppy per class. Reservations are not required, but space is limited!

Weekly class for 1 hour interval: $8.00 per class for dogs 8 weeks to 7 months of age.

Having trouble fitting an eight week obedience class into your busy schedule? Or, does your dog need a short refresher course on basic commands? Then this class was designed just for you! In four classes, each one hour long, we will show you how to train Sit, Down, Recall, Watch, and to walk nicely on a leash. This condensed version of our seven week Basic Obedience class will provide you with the knowledge to continue working on your dog’s training at your own pace.

4 week class at 1 hour intervals: $65.00 for dogs 6 months of age and up.

We will show you all the basics for a well-mannered dog. The class begins with an orientation to our cutting edge style of training as well as lots of essential puppy raising information. The owners will be taught the foundation for all subsequent classes and to communicate effectively with their dogs while teaching the dogs to sit, down, heel, come and stay.

7 week class at 1 hour intervals: $115.00 for dogs 6 months of age and up.

Curious what the Click is all about? Clicker Training is the latest method in positive reinforcement dog training that has been thoroughly tested and proven very successful. Clicker training can be used for obedience, dog sports and behavior modification.

Whether you have a puppy that you want to begin clicker training or an older dog you want to teach new tricks, this is the class for you!

In five weeks we will give you the fundamentals of how to properly use a clicker to train your dog, explain the benefits of clicker training for both you and your dog, and how to use the clicker in conjunction with luring (the method we use in most of our obedience classes), shaping and capturing methods of training.

Because this class focuses on how to integrate the clicker at any level of training, it does not matter what training your dog has had in the past. Following this course, you will have the knowledge to continue training on your own at home or enter a class designed especially for your dog’s level of training and still be able to use your clicker!

5 week class at 1 hour interval per week: $75.00 for dogs 4 months of age and up. Cost of class includes a clicker.

This is a 4 week course that focuses primarily on training your dog to walk nicely on a leash and to come when you call. Perfect for any canine that has gone through Basic Obedience but does not feel ready for Intermediate!

4 week class at 1 hour intervals: $65.00 for dogs 6 months of age and up.

Refine your basic obedience skills. Focus is on owner technique and clarity of instruction between owner and dog. Duration, distraction and distance are added to behaviors taught in the basic class. Motivational retrieve and some agility equipment are also introduced. This class is specifically designed to prepare you for the advanced obedience class.

6 week class at 1 hour intervals: $115.00 for dogs 6 months of age and up.

This course is a combination of intermediate obedience and preparation for the AKC Canine Good Citizen Certification. Focus on fine tuning behaviors like loose leash walking, stay, and come as well as training your dog to behave politely when approached by strangers, examined by a veterinarian or when you need to leave the room for a few minutes. At the end of this six week course your dog will have the chance to test for the Canine Good Citizen Certification!

6 week class at 1 hour intervals: $115.00 for dogs that are 6 months of age and up and have taken either a Puppy or Basic Obedience Class.

Advanced obedience covers practical application of obedience commands in everyday situations, polishing your dog’s obedience skill in the pursuit of off leash control.

The advanced classes are generally smaller than the lower levels and are more intensive. This class is the crowning achievement of your success in developing a life long bond with your dog. Our graduates are capable of moving on to almost any other form of training with enough training to jump right in and enjoy themselves.

4 week class at 1 hour intervals: $50.00 for dogs 6 months of age and up.

The Reactive Dog Class is held at the Companions for Life Center but taught and coordinated by local trainer, Debora Hogan of Dog Directions. This class deals with dogs that react unfavorably to other dogs or animals as well as to people. These classes require diligent time and effort on the part of the handler. The first session will be an overview of the class methods and requirements. Owners are required to use an herbal remedy to de-stress their pets called Rescue Remedy (information will be provided on where to obtain). The end results will vary depending on time and effort put into the process and the dog's level of reaction, breed history etc. Most dogs are able to pass their particular object of reaction on the street without incident by the end of seven weeks.

Price for 7 week session meeting once a week is $185.00 if registered by January 1st, 2008. Price includes a bottle of Rescue Remedy. Contact Debora Hogan directly at 360.1679 for more information on this class.

Canine agility is a team sport that challenges each dog / handler team’s ability to communicate and work together. Whether you’re looking for a fun activity for you and your dog or someday hope to compete, this is a place to start. Class will emphasize building a positive relationship with your dog through a combination of “obedience games” that can increase focus and attention, simple exercises to increase confidence and flexibility, and an introduction to agility equipment (e.g., tunnel, table, jump). This class will help you and your dog be better prepared for a beginner level agility class. Dogs must be familiar with sit, stay and come commands and must be social with people and other dogs.

Agility 1 - 6 week class at 1 hour intervals: $100.00
Agility 2 - 6 week class at 1 hour intervals: $100.00

Required equipment: Flat buckle collar, six foot leash, 15 foot lead, dog crate, sport shoes, toys the dog loves (something you can throw), good variety of soft treats, water bowl, and proof of current vaccinations.

Learn to Dance with your Dog!

Come Tango with your Terrier, Rumba with your Rottie, Polka with your Poodle or Swing with your Scottie! Take your dogs to Dancing School! K9Freestyle (aka K9DanceSport) is a fun new sport that creates a very special and unique bond between you and your dog! Through a variety of methods that include: shaping behaviors, clicker training, luring and capturing behaviors, we design choreographed routines to music that will be the delight of all who watch them! Great as a cross training sport, wonderful for therapy dogs, or just to have more fun than you have ever experienced with your dog!

Classes will be held at the Companions for Life Center and are taught by Loren Jensen Carter, a local certified pet trainer with three years experience in training K9Freestyle throughout the southwest USA.

Cost: Only $200 for 18 hours of fun and unique training, plus a celebration at the end of the final class! Hurry! Space is Limited!

Contact: Loren Jensen Carter, 520.299.8600 or 520.906.9939 (cell),
Or via e-mail: lorenjc@bigplanet.com.

Strengthen your bond! Join this fun class to learn how to teach your dog cute tricks such as Shake, Roll-Over, Play Dead, and more! Is Fetch the only game your dog knows? This four week class also includes several games you and your canine companion can enjoy together.

4 week class at 1 hour intervals: $50.00 .00 for dogs 6 months of age and up.

We offer private 1 on 1 instruction at our indoor facility 6 days per week. Private instruction will yield you and your dog the most efficient training results. Our trainers are among the best in Southern Arizona and have received many accolades.

Each private session is 30 minutes in duration. Price is $30.00 per session

Our behaviorist can address and help with any behavior problem you may have with your pet. Our consultations consist of a complete history, temperament evaluation, owner education and the development of a treatment plan. References available.