TRAINING, EDUCATION & WORKSHOPS
Our lead trainer, Gail Furst CPDT/KA, specializes in pet therapy training as well as general dog training. Using positive, reward based methods, Gail will help you teach your dog to sit, settle, lie-down, walk on loose leash, meet and greet other dogs, say hello to your friends politely, come when you call and much more! Gail is respected nationally for her knowledge, positive training techniques and dedication to the safety and comfort of all canine volunteer teams.
We’ve built our program from the ground-up and have several training options whether you’re just getting involved in therapy dog volunteering or just want to have more confidence working with your dog in a variety of environments; we’ve got the training courses for you!
* Pet Connections is proud to offer a 10% discount for veterans
We’ve built our program from the ground-up and have several training options whether you’re just getting involved in therapy dog volunteering or just want to have more confidence working with your dog in a variety of environments; we’ve got the training courses for you!
* Pet Connections is proud to offer a 10% discount for veterans
Dog Training
Pet Connections is a leader in the education of dogs and their handlers. Whether your goal is to have a great family dog or a highly-trained therapy dog to work in the community or in your therapy practice, we will provide you and your dog with the tools to achieve your training goals.
2021 Sessions:
Connecting with Your Puppy - Online Course
Start Date: Monday, March 8, 2021 at 6:30pm
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Zoom & E-Mail Correspondence
Course Fee: $75
For puppies 16 weeks of age and younger, this online course is designed to prepare you and your puppy for your life together. Throughout this course, handlers will learn about:
Puppies and their handlers that fully participate and successfully complete this course will be better prepared for Level 1: Connecting with your Pet and awarded a diploma. All puppies and their handlers are invited to join us for the next level of training to continue to build on their skill set.
Level One:
Connecting with Your Pet - TBA
This class is recommended for puppies 16 weeks and older. Dog handlers will learn how to:
Upon completion, dogs and their handlers will be formally evaluated for basic obedience skills such as, “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and other skills. Dogs will be awarded either a letter of completion or, for promising students, a diploma. Those awarded a diploma are invited to complete a higher level of training required for a greater skill set and for volunteers visiting at public facilities.
Level Two:
Connecting with Your Pet & Others - TBA
This course will build on skills acquired in Level One and give handler-dog teams the abilities to work with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Handlers will learn how to empower people with different levels of abilities to direct their dog, resulting in a deeper human-animal bond. Your canine will become more proficient and acquire the ability to perform in different circumstances.
Dogs and their handlers will gain more complex, advanced skills including:
Upon completion, dogs and their handlers will be awarded either a letter of completion or a diploma, and offered the opportunity to take the test for Canine Good Citizen as well as their Pet Connections Certification evaluation. Those awarded a diploma are also invited to advance their studies with a higher set of skills to become eligible to work with therapists on specific physical and cognitive interventions.
Dog Obedience Workshops
Following are workshops offered by Pet Connections:
2021 Sessions:
Connecting with Your Puppy - Online Course
Start Date: Monday, March 8, 2021 at 6:30pm
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Zoom & E-Mail Correspondence
Course Fee: $75
For puppies 16 weeks of age and younger, this online course is designed to prepare you and your puppy for your life together. Throughout this course, handlers will learn about:
- Socialization – What it is, why it’s important, and how to put it
- Body Handling – Developing a lifelong comfort in being touched, groomed, and vetted
- Brain Games – Increasing enrichment opportunities and confidence
- Relationship-Building Games – Teaching foundation manners through teamwork
- Common Puppy Problems – Weekly discussion of issues such as potty training, mouthing, and jumping.
Puppies and their handlers that fully participate and successfully complete this course will be better prepared for Level 1: Connecting with your Pet and awarded a diploma. All puppies and their handlers are invited to join us for the next level of training to continue to build on their skill set.
Level One:
Connecting with Your Pet - TBA
This class is recommended for puppies 16 weeks and older. Dog handlers will learn how to:
- Use basic cues (sit, stay, etc.)
- Perform canine massages
- Identify signs of stress and calming techniques
- Utilize positive reinforcement
- Use contextual positioning
- Walking on a loose leash and on-leash recall
Upon completion, dogs and their handlers will be formally evaluated for basic obedience skills such as, “sit,” “stay,” “down,” and other skills. Dogs will be awarded either a letter of completion or, for promising students, a diploma. Those awarded a diploma are invited to complete a higher level of training required for a greater skill set and for volunteers visiting at public facilities.
Level Two:
Connecting with Your Pet & Others - TBA
This course will build on skills acquired in Level One and give handler-dog teams the abilities to work with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Handlers will learn how to empower people with different levels of abilities to direct their dog, resulting in a deeper human-animal bond. Your canine will become more proficient and acquire the ability to perform in different circumstances.
Dogs and their handlers will gain more complex, advanced skills including:
- Clicker training and verbal markers
- Animal welfare and the 5 Freedoms
- Types of reinforcement
- Advanced cues such as leave it, go to your mat, release words and stand
- Intro to working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have varying needs
- Interacting with children
- Working alongside other dogs
Upon completion, dogs and their handlers will be awarded either a letter of completion or a diploma, and offered the opportunity to take the test for Canine Good Citizen as well as their Pet Connections Certification evaluation. Those awarded a diploma are also invited to advance their studies with a higher set of skills to become eligible to work with therapists on specific physical and cognitive interventions.
Dog Obedience Workshops
Following are workshops offered by Pet Connections:
- Connecting With Your Pet and Others Through Education and Therapy
- Connecting With Your Pet and Others Through Therapy Activities
- Connecting with Your Pet Through a Common Language
- Connecting With Your Pet Through Game Playing
- Connecting With Your Pet Through TAGteach
- Connecting With Your Pet Through First Aid
- Connecting With Your Pet Through Scent
CLASS Enrollment FORM (REQUIRED)
Please complete the enrollment form and submit your payment below.
CLASS Enrollment FORM is REQUIRED (see above)
2021 Dog Training Classes
$75.00 - $130.00
Pet Connections is a leader in the education of dogs and their handlers. Whether your goal is to have a great family dog or a highly-trained therapy dog to work in the community or in your therapy practice, we will provide you and your dog with the tools to achieve your training goals.
You must complete the enrollment form.
You must complete the enrollment form.