Research has shown that the early weeks of a puppy’s life are crucial to social development, with other dogs and with people. For that reason, this class is especially for puppies who are 8-16 weeks old. You will pay $175 for four classes and attend for four consecutive weeks following your selected start date. Your puppy is eligible to attend classes as soon as it has been seen and declared to be healthy by a vet, until it is 20 weeks old. Therefore, please plan ahead to to find the consecutive four weeks when you and your puppy can attend class. Puppies will get to socialize and spend time learning to learn; you will get puppy-training tips and will learn how to teach your puppy to grow up to be a more confident dog. Read more about what to expect in puppy class and watch this video! Puppies in class may not have received all of their vaccinations. If you are concerned about this, speak to your vet. Every day that goes by without socializing and training your young pup is a day lost to his or her social future – register today!

What to bring to Puppy Play n’ Learn:

• A hungry puppy
• A flat buckle collar
• A normal leash (no flexi’s please!)
• Enough soft, tasty treats to feed your pup every minute or so!

Classes are on Saturdays at 11:45am & 1:00pm. Some sections are designated for the bigger/older/bolder puppies and others are for the smaller/younger/shyer puppies. If you are not sure which class your pup belongs in, email our Training Coordinator.

Please note: Unless you have a note from your vet showing a medical reason your puppy could not attend, we do not give refunds for PPNL classes if you do not bring your puppy to class. Make up classes in the event of an illness will be accommodated if possible.

(If your puppy is over 16 weeks of age, please enroll in our Teen Class or Learn to Train Your Dog: Level 1 class.)

Cost: $175 for 4 weeks

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Need a little extra help at home with your new puppy? Whether you’re a first-time puppy raiser, or it’s just been a long time since you had a puppy, we can help! This series of two one-hour, in-home sessions provides hands-on guidance for puppy management, housetraining, and more with one of our experienced puppy trainers. Decisions such as where to put the crate and how to puppy-proof your home are enhanced by having the on-site trainer’s help. This training is for puppies under six months of age; click here for other options. Please note that service area and availability are limited; to see if you are within the service area, please email our Training Coordinator.

Cost: $325 for two, 60-minute, in-home training sessions

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Teen Class is for puppies aged 4-7 months with a goal of getting you started on fun learning and positive early socialization experiences which are important for your puppy’s development. We will focus on training foundation behaviors and puppy rearing information. Your puppy must have been seen by your vet prior to enrolling in this class.

(Note: If your puppy is over 7 months of age, please enroll in our Learn to Train Your Dog: Level 1 class.)

Cost: $175 for 4 weeks

Does your dog pull more than you’d like? For some people, this pulling is more than an annoyance, it is causing injury to themselves and/or their dogs. In this focused, clinic-style class, you will work only on loose-leash walking and related behaviors.

Prerequisites: All dogs must be people and dog-friendly!  This means they cannot show signs of reactivity or aggression such as barking, growling or lunging at other dogs, humans, cars, etc.  Instead, we encourage you to check out our Reducing Dog Reactivity class, sign up for a behavior consult, or contact the office for more assistance if you are unsure.  

Cost: $155 for 4 weeks

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In this class, you will learn how to teach your dog to work for you for fun rewards, and the behaviors that will be taught in class are:  sit, stay, lie down, come when called, leave it, go to your mat, and loose-leash walking. These are the foundation behaviors that make your dog a good and well-behaved family member. Please note that dogs do not attend the first week of class, it is orientation, for humans only! (formerly Manners I.)

Cost: $260 for 7 weeks

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Longer stays, better recalls, better attention to you, and adding distractions so your dogs (and you) can continue to be challenged. Prerequisite: Level One or; if your dog has been trained using rewards and can sit or lie down on a verbal cue only, hold the position while you walk around them, and take ten consecutive steps in heel position at your left side in the presence of other dogs, you may enroll in this course. If you have any questions about these requirements, email our Training Coordinator.

Cost: $215 for 6 weeks

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Looking to strengthen your dog’s basic training even more, and learn how to teach them some new behaviors? Learn to Train Your Dog: Level 3 continues to enhance your dog’s loose leash walking, stay, recall, greetings, and mat behavior. We also introduce some new behaviors to work on your dog’s core strength (tuck sit, kick back stand, back up) as well as ones that are useful in an emergency (come front, stop on recall, moving stand.) Prerequisite: Level 2 or; if your dog has been trained using rewards and can sit, lie down, and stand in heel position; walk on a loose leash past other dogs; and walk on a loose leash past a container of food, you may enroll in this course. If you have any questions about these requirements, email our Training Coordinator. $215 for six classes.

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This class will walk you and your dog through preparation for the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC) testing.  Each owner/dog team will practice the 10 items on the test through 6 weeks of classes. In the 7th week, you’ll take the CGC Test. Dogs receiving this distinction are recognized as being ambassadors in their communities.  To learn more about the AKC’s CGC program, please visit their web site:  http://www.akc.org/

Prerequisite: Level Two or permission of the Training Coordinator.

Cost: $250 for 7 weeks, includes test fee

Register for Class

**Please contact the Dog Training Office for the next testing date. trainingnevins@mspca.org**

Agility’s popularity is skyrocketing and while it is certainly lots of fun and excitement, it’s also the highest level of Obedience training. To work on some of the foundational skills, consider this 30-minute long, 4-week class that will focus on attention, body awareness, and training concepts to give your dog a head start in Agility. The only prerequisite is familiarity with rewards-based training, ideally using a clicker. This class will not introduce the obstacles used in an Agility course.

Prerequisite: Familiarity with rewards-based training, ideally using a clicker. In order to enroll in this class your dog must be able to eat treats while training and not bark at other dogs, and you must be able to control them without the use of a chain or prong collar — a  martingale or flat collar is fine. (If you have relied on equipment such as a pinch collar or leash corrections and are interested in taking Agility, please email the Training Coordinator.) $80 for four, 30-minute classes. 

See Dates & Enroll in Pre-Agility Foundations

Agility is a dog-training sport where your dog learns how to fly through tunnels and over jumps, and run up and down see-saws!  It is the highest level of Obedience training and fun for any dog and handler, whether they want a little exercise with their dog or if their dog needs better responses to training or added confidence in a novel environment.  The class is taught under a large tent.

Prerequisite: Learn to Train Your Dog: Level 1. In order to enroll in this class your dog must be able to eat treats while training and not bark at other dogs, and you must be able to control them without the use of a chain or prong collar — a  martingale or flat collar is fine. (If you have relied on equipment such as a pinch collar or leash corrections and are interested in taking Agility, please email the Training Coordinator.) If you have not taken Learn to Train Your Dog: Level 1 at an MSPCA location, you must send your dog’s training history to request permission to enroll in this class. $215 for six classes. 

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Is your dog “fluent” on all the Agility equipment except, perhaps, the weaves? Do you have a start-line stay and leadout? Front and rear cross? Are you ready to take it to the next level and learn some speed, handling and control? Do you hope to compete someday?

Prerequisites: In order to enroll in this class you must have permission from the Behavior office. Please email your dog’s agility training history to our Training Coordinator.  If you have not previously taken classes at the MSPCA, please send your dog’s entire training history to the Training Coordinator to request permission to enroll in this class. $215 for six classes. 

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Looking for something fun to learn with your dog but not sure what, exactly? Come and try a little Agility, a little Nosework, a little Rally Obedience, and some Trick training, in an indoor classroom. A smorgasbord of training fun! Prerequisite: Learn to Train Your Dog: Level 1 or permission from the  Training Coordinator. $155 for four classes.

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The ‘Control Unleashed’ class and at-home activities will build your dog’s ability to relax, focus and work off-leash reliably in either stimulating or stressful situations through the use of training games that increase attention, reduce the power of stressors and the pull of distractions while you and your dog have fun in a friendly, safe and supportive environment.

Prerequisite: Level 2 class or prior approval from Training Coordinator.

Cost: $215 for 6 weeks

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Does your dog come when you call them? Every time? If they don’t, here is a novel new way to teach them – with a whistle! In this 4-week class, your dog will learn that when you blow the whistle; they should come running. We will supply the whistle, you supply the dog! Prerequisite: Learn to Train Your Dog: Level 1 or permission from the Training Coordinator. $155 for four classes.

See Dates and Enroll for Whistle Recall

Enhance your relationship with your dog, enrich his or her intellect, entertain your friends and even earn a title after teaching your dog some fun tricks. In this class you’ll learn the fundamentals needed to teach tricks like jump through a hoop, high five, crawl, find it, hand signals and many more. For a complete list of tricks go to http://www.akc.org/trick-Dog/trick-dog-applications/. You and your dog will move at your own pace. This class is designed to flow from one six week session to the next, to learn additional tricks as you continue. Prerequisite: Learn to Train Your Dog: Level 1 or an equivalent rewards-based class; email us to request permission to register if you’ve been training elsewhere. $215 for six weeks.

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This fun activity channels your dog’s natural curiosity and interest in using his nose. Much like detection dogs, your dog will learn to find a designated scent while getting mental and physical exercise. Most dogs can participate including shy or overly energetic dogs, puppies, and seniors. Participate for fun or get ready to compete in this upcoming sport. Limited to 6 dogs. NOTE: your dog must be able to be quietly crated away from you while other dogs are working in the room.

Cost: $215 per dog and handler for 6 weeks

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Dogs that are “reactive” to other dogs will bark and lunge when they see them. They may be well-behaved in other contexts, but are out of control at these times.

This package of four 30-minute private training sessions with our certified trainer will teach you the needed skills to improve your dog’s behavior when they see another dog. To decrease stress on dogs and make learning more reliable, “model” (stuffed) dogs may be used for practice. This offering replaces the group class formerly called Ruff Diamonds.

This training is not for dogs that have a bite history or that are deemed aggressive. It is also not appropriate for dogs that bark and lunge at people or children. Your dog will be assessed as to their appropriateness for the training, and may be referred to one of our behaviorists for a private consult instead.

If you have any questions about whether your dog would be a candidate for this training, please email the Training Coordinator.

If you need help addressing your dog’s aggressive behavior, a private consult with a behaviorist is recommended.

Cost: $450 for a 15-20 min. assessment & four 30-min. private training sessions at our facility

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If your dog is not able to tolerate learning in a classroom setting, or has other behavioral issues such as extreme fear, separation anxiety, or aggression, you may wish to book an appointment with a member of our behavior team.

Please call (617)989-1520 or email behavior@angell.org for information or an appointment

shy¹ (SHī/) adj. Being reserved or nervous and uncomfortable with other people [dogs]; easily frightened away; timid; reluctant; wary.

If this definition describes your dog, then our Shy Dog class can help. The 6 week class is limited to 4 dog/owner teams and will focus on helping you achieve personalized training goals and building a trusting partnership. The class is tailored to help dogs who are nervous or overwhelmed in new situations or environments such as loud noises, new people, other dogs or unfamiliar places or objects. Our goal is to teach you how to identify signs of stress in your dog while helping your dog become more confident and resilient in a calm, safe classroom environment.

Cost: $285 for 6 weeks

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Private lessons are a great way to get an introduction to clicker training or receive one-on-one coaching and a customized training plan for making progress with behaviors like keeping paws on the ground when guests visit, coming when called, settling down, playing without getting over aroused or walking nicely on a leash.

Lessons Scheduled by Appointment: We will coordinate an appropriate Instructor with your availability. Please note that geographic coverage is limited, and travel fees may apply.

Cost: $170 for 1 hour lesson or $108 for a half hour at the MSPCA at 400 Broadway, Methuen. Home visits are $209 per hour. Discounted packages of four lessons are available for cost savings.

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