Most of our group classes include 4-6 sessions, meeting once a week for one hour. Price per class ranges from $85-$125. Scroll down the page or click on the
following links to see a description of each class, as well as location and upcoming dates. To register for a class, call Judy Archer-Dick at (260) 238-3073.
Click here to see a list of discounts we offer.
Note to our returning clients: We have updated our classes and a couple of class titles have changed.
"Beginning Basics Puppy" replaces "Puppy II/Tweens"
"Beginning Basics Adult" replaces "Dog I"
"Training for the Real World Level 1" replaces "Dog II"
Class Information and Schedule
Tricks!
Tricks are a wonderful way to improve communication skills with our dogs. Tricks are often behaviors that dogs would not do naturally, so teaching them requires that we figure out new and improved ways to communicate. The more cues a dog learns to respond to, however trivial, the quicker and more automatic all of his responses become, whether it is a cue for a trick or a down stay. This variety of learned behaviors and improved responsiveness also gives us more tools for dealing with inappropriate behavior: we can cue one or more tricks to direct our dog’s energy and enthusiasm to appropriate behaviors. A little creativity and practice can solve many problems!
Tricks also provide the mental stimulation that all dogs need along with their physical exercise requirements. Since most tricks are not "essential" to life with our dogs, we tend to train these behaviors in a more light-hearted and relaxed manner, greatly benefiting our relationships with our dogs.
This six-week beginning tricks class will include: learning about targeting and shaping; learning to determine which individual behaviors are necessary to perform a given trick, and then how to chain them into the finished product; how to use cues, both visual and verbal; and of course learning as many tricks as we can!
Upcoming Tricks! Class
| Day: | TBA |
|---|---|
| Time: | TBA |
| Dates: | TBA |
| Location: | Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control, 3020 Hillegas Rd., Fort Wayne |
| Cost: | $125 (Regular My Best Friend discounts apply – see below.) |
Tracking
Tracking with your dog is a magical experience, a great way to strengthen your relationship with your dog, as well as work with your dog’s innate ability to
see the world with their noses. Tracking is a purely positive activity, where the dog gets to lead us on an incredible journey.
Dogs interpret the world based on what they smell. Tracking involves the dog processing all the smells in their environment, distinguishing the tracklayer’s
scent, and following it to the glove (or other article on the track laid by the tracklayer). How many of you have observed your dog, nose to the ground,
happily following some scent to and fro across a field, lawn, or parking lot? Dogs naturally have this wonderful ability to distinguish and follow one scent
over all the millions of smells around them. This is the essence of tracking.
Upcoming Tracking Class
| Day: | TBA |
|---|---|
| Time: | TBA |
| Dates: | TBA |
| Location: | TBA |
| Cost: | $125 (Regular My Best Friend discounts apply – see below.) |
Therapy and Visiting Dog Training
Do you have a dog that enjoys visiting with people? Would you like to help a child gain confidence in his reading, inspire a recovering patient to make the extra effort of walking down the hall because he has a dog to walk with, or bring the gentle touch of warm fur to residents of a retirement home? Have you ever thought that you and your dog might make a good visiting dog team?
Therapy Dog teams are community assets which add immeasurably to the quality of life of those with whom they interact. Many people find that the most rewarding work they have ever experienced has involved Therapy Dog activities.
Because we feel that temperament, training and proper placement of the Therapy Dog teams are crucial to success and satisfaction, My Best Friend Dog Training and P.A.W.S. (Pets Assisting Well-being and Success) will be contributing their respective experience to these fields during this upcoming Therapy Dog course. During the course you will be given a chance to talk with a P.A.W.S. representative about your interests, your dog’s unique qualities, and which Therapy Dog situations you would both be most comfortable in.
We require that you and your dog have already earned a C.G.C. (Canine Good Citizen) designation before entering the Therapy Dog class. If your dog has not already earned his C.G.C., he can be tested for $20.00. Please contact Judy at judy@mybestfrienddogtraining.com or (260) 238-2073 for more information.
Therapy Dog certification through Therapy Dogs, Inc. requires that dogs pass their evaluation before visiting in the community. Therefore, you will see that the first night of the course will be the evaluation, and you will pay for the course only after you have passed this evaluation. The three observations will take place during our class meetings at various community settings.
In order for you to have a chance to practice the exercises necessary for the evaluation, we will offer two optional pre-evaluation sessions.
Optional Pre-Evaluation Classes:
| Day: | Wednesday/Tuesday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 7:30/7:00 pm |
| Dates: | Wednesday February 22 at 7:30 and Tuesday February 28 at 7:00 |
| Location: | Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control, 3020 Hillegas Rd., Fort Wayne |
| Cost: | $20.00 Per Session |
Upcoming Evaluation:
By appointment beginning at 6:00 pm on Tuesday evening March 13,
at Grabill Library 13521 State Street, Grabill, IN
Upcoming Therapy Dog I Class and Observations
| Day: | Mostly Wednesday (there may be some day/date shifting dependent on visitation schedules at various facilities) |
|---|---|
| Time: | Evening (start time between 6:00 and 7:30 pm depending on location) |
| Dates: | March 14, 21 & 28, April 4, 11 & 18, May 3, 9, 16 & 23 |
| Location: | Wednesday March 14 we will meet at Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control, 3020 Hillegas Rd., Fort Wayne; other dates will be at various community facilities. |
| Cost: | $210 which includes all evaluations/observations and text (Delta Society: Pet Partners Team Training Course Manual, 2005). If you have a recent copy of this text that you wish to use, $30 will be deducted from your cost. Regular My Best Friend Dog Training discounts apply (see below for details). |
| Registration: | Call Judy Archer-Dick at (260) 238-3073 |
| Miscellaneous: | |
| Testing | will be done by a Therapy Dogs, Inc. certified evaluator (www.therapydogs.com), and final registration will be through Therapy Dogs, Inc. |
| Placement | services will be through P.A.W.S. unless a team prefers to find their own placement. Contact Kay Anderson at (260) 625-4520 for more information about the P.A.W.S. organization. |
| Evaluations/Observations | must be done with the dog on a four foot leash and flat (or Martingale) collar or head halter. Exceptions can be made if Therapy Dog, Inc. is contacted ahead of time. |
Rally Obedience
Rally obedience is a fun and exciting team sport for you and your dog. You will learn and practice some formal obedience exercises
such as “Heel” and “Figure 8″ without many of the communication restrictions of traditional training. The goal is to enjoy learning and working with your dog.
Rally obedience trials are also offered by the AKC and APDT if you would like to compete in the future!
Upcoming Rally Obedience Class
| Day: | TBA |
|---|---|
| Time: | TBA |
| Dates: | TBA |
| Location: | Northeast Fort Wayne (outdoors – near the intersection of Wheelock and St. Joe Road) |
| Cost: |
Beginning Basics Puppy
This 6-week class is specifically designed for pups up to 6 months of age who are dog and people friendly. Combining socialization, manners training and basic obedience, Beginning Basics Puppy will help you guide your adolescent pup on his road to social maturity.
Young dogs are very impressionable and their experiences can have lasting effects on their behavior. Our goal is to introduce you to a method of training that all dogs respond well to, without harsh corrections. We will give you the tools you need to create a strong foundation with results that will last a lifetime. Together we will give your pup the opportunity to think, learn and work enthusiastically with you.
We will introduce and practice sit, stand, down, stay, loose leash walking, recalls, attention, name recognition, leave it, and more! We will address issues like potty training, chewing, biting, and jumping up, and there will also be socialization time so that the pups can practice proper conduct with other dogs…and have fun!
We are happy to be partnering with green DogGoods for this class!
To register for this class please call 260 483-1267, stop in to green DogGoods (3421 North Anthony Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46825), or email Jody at lesley@greendoggoods.com.
Questions? Contact Margery at 260 456-5255 or margery@mbfdogtraining.com.
Upcoming Beginning Basics Puppy Class
| Day: | Tuesday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 7:30-8:30 pm |
| Dates: | TBD: Please contact us if you are interested in this class. |
| Location: | green DogGoods, 3421 North Anthony Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46825 |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
Beyond Basics Puppy
This class is designed for puppies who have completed Beginning Basics Puppy class (or another positive reinforcement-based puppy class) whose owners would like to solidify basic behaviors with their adolescent puppies before continuing on to a more advanced class.
We will begin to add more challenges to basic obedience and manners behaviors, and continue socialization and positive problem-solving.
We are happy to be partnering with green DogGoods for this class!
To register for this class please email lesley@greendoggoods.com or stop in to
green DogGoods (3421 North Anthony Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46825).
Questions? Contact Margery at 260 456-5255 or margery@mbfdogtraining.com.
Upcoming Beyond Basics Puppy Class
| Day: | Tuesday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 6:15-7:15 pm |
| Dates: | January 17, 24 & 31, February 7, 14 & 21 |
| Location: | green DogGoods, 3421 North Anthony Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46825 |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
Beginning Basics Adult
This class is for the dog over six months of age and/or over 35 pounds who has not taken a positive reinforcement-based training class before. It is never too
late to start! Obedience exercises such as sit, stand, down, and stay are introduced, as are loose-leash walking, polite greetings, “leave-it”, attention, and
the really reliable recall-skills crucial to the pet dog living in our human society. The owner will gain a better understanding of what dogs need and can be
expected to achieve, as well as how to positively approach common problems that arise with dogs in the household.
Upcoming Beginning Basics Adult Classes
| Day: | Monday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 7:30-8:30 pm |
| Dates: | January 23 & 30, February 13, 20 & 27, March 12 Note: no class on February 6 & March 5 |
| Location: | Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
| Day: | Thursday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 7:30-8:30 pm |
| Dates: | March 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, April 12 Note: no class on April 5 |
| Location: | Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
| Day: | Thursday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 7:30-8:30 pm |
| Dates: | May 17, 24 & 31, June 7, 14 & 21 |
| Location: | Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
Training for the Real World Level 1
Training for the Real World Level 1 takes the basic skills learned in Beginning Basics Puppy or Adult and helps owners learn how to begin applying these behaviors to real-life situations – when you really need your dog to respond!
Topics covered will include:
- Focus on Owner
- Greetings/Approaches
- Stay with Distraction and Distance
- Walking Calmly
- Recall
- Settle on a Mat
- Leave it and Drop it
Prerequisite: Beginning Basics Puppy or Adult class (or equivalent previous training/permission of the instructor). Your dog should have a good start on the behaviors listed above before entering this class.
Upcoming Training for the Real World Level 1 Classes
Adolescent
| Day: | Thursday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 6:15-7:15 pm |
| Dates: | March 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, April 12 Note: no class on April 5 |
| Location: | Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
Upcoming Training for the Real World Level 1 Classes
Adult
| Day: | Monday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 7:30-8:30 pm |
| Dates: | March 19 & 26, April 9, 16, 23 & 30 Please note: No class on April 2 |
| Location: | Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
| Day: | Tuesday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 6:15-7:15 pm |
| Dates: | May 15, 22 & 29, June 12, 19 & 26 Please note: No class on June 5 |
| Location: | Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
Training for the Real World Level 2
Building on TRW Level 1, dogs and owners will work through a variety of real-life scenarios, transitioning from classroom learning to training, managing, and enjoying experiences together in the real world.
Because of the restrictions human society places on pet dogs, dogs need to be compliant and responsive to their owners in many situations which might at first be confusing or overwhelming. Owners will gain confidence as they realize that with practice their dogs really CAN remain calm in situations which were formerly frustrating, boring or overly exciting. Occasional class trips are possible.
Prerequisite: Training for the Real World Level 1.
Upcoming Training for the Real World Level 2 Classes
| Day: | Monday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 6:15-7:15 pm |
| Dates: | January 23 & 30, February 6, 13, 20 & 27 |
| Location: | Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
| Day: | Monday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 6:15-7:15 pm |
| Dates: | March 19 & 26, April 9, 16, 23 & 30 Please note: No class on April 2 |
| Location: | Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
| Day: | Tuesday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 7:30-8:30 pm |
| Dates: | May 15, 22 & 29, June 5, 12 & 19 |
| Location: | Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
Canine Good Citizen
Started in 1989, CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen
Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the CGC test receive a
certificate from the American Kennel Club and as of January 1, 1999, they are automatically recorded in the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Archive.
All dogs, including both purebred and mixed breed dogs are welcome to participate in the CGC program. Dogs must be old enough to have received necessary
immunizations such as rabies vaccines, and there is no age limit on the test. A dog is never too old to be a good citizen. If dogs have been coached at home or
with other trainers and are well-mannered, owners can have their dogs tested.
We will periodically provide a CGC training course to owners and dogs who have already learned the basics of positive reinforcement training and would like
help with gradually improving their skills before taking the test. Cost and dates of the class include the CGC test. Please note: Participating
in the CGC class does not guarantee that you and your dog will pass the CGC test. You may take the CGC test without the course if you feel that your dog might
qualify for this certification without additional training classes.
Upcoming Canine Good Citizen Class
| Day: | TBA |
|---|---|
| Time: | TBA |
| Dates: | TBA |
| Location: | Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
Upcoming Canine Good Citizen Test
| Day: | TBA |
|---|---|
| Time: | Evening by appointment – 6:00-8:00 pm |
| Date: | TBA |
| Location: | Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 |
| Cost: | The cost of the test alone is $20 if a $10 deposit is received prior to the test, and $25 if no deposit is received. |
Taking it to the Streets
Handling your dog in a public place can be rather daunting. Although your dog may quickly follow your cues in your living room, it is much more difficult to
achieve those results when the distractions of people, other dogs, critters and bicycles are sharing a park with you! This class takes place in various Fort
Wayne parks, where you and your dog will learn how to deal with such situations so that you can relax and enjoy being out in public together.
Upcoming Taking it to the Streets Class
| Day: | Monday |
|---|---|
| Time: | 6:00-7:00 pm |
| Dates: | May 21, June 4, 11, 18 & 25, July 2 Please note: No class on May 28 |
| Location: | Shoaff Park, Headwaters Park, Lawton Park and Foster Park in Fort Wayne. We will let you know weekly which park we will visit next. |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
Pet Agility
A wonderful way to enhance your relationship with your dog, agility for the pet dog stresses safety while building confidence. You will learn how to guide your
dog through tunnels, over jumps, the dog-walk, teeter and more, in a positive manner that will minimize stress and maximize fun. Simple sequences will be
introduced.
Upcoming Pet Agility Class (Beginner)
| Day: | TBA |
|---|---|
| Time: | TBA |
| Dates: | TBA |
| Location: | Northeast Fort Wayne (outdoors – near the intersection of Wheelock and St. Joe Road) |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
Upcoming Pet Agility Class (Intermediate)
| Day: | TBA |
|---|---|
| Time: | TBA |
| Dates: | TBA |
| Location: | Northeast Fort Wayne (outdoors – near the intersection of Wheelock and St. Joe Road) |
| Cost: | $125.00 |
Discounts
| $20 | off if you register and pay for two consecutive 6-week courses at once (examples: Beginning Basics Puppy or Adult; Training for the Real World). *Please be aware that the total fee for both classes must be paid in advance for this discount to be effective.* |
|---|---|
| $10 | off if you bring your dog to a second 6-week course at a later date. |
| $10 | off if you have already attended one of our 6-week courses and bring a different dog to a course. |
