At Something Els Dog School, LLC, we use positive reinforcement dog training to teach you and your dog how to work together and to become a great team with wonderful communication skills. As you work with your dog, you’ll discover the many benefits and joys of training. You’ll enhance your bond with your dog and dogs with basic obedience training are a joy to live with and interact well with other people and dogs and respond well to household routines.   

All classes will be held in our indoor training facility, The Doghouse on AstroTurf.

We offer the following classes:

Puppy Fun Class

For dogs 8 weeks – 8 months old
6-week class, costs $140 

Puppy fun class (for dogs 8 weeks – 8 months old)

This class not only teaches basic dog obedience, but it also teaches you how to have fun and you will learn how to communicate with your pup. We will train household situations like getting your puppy used to being brushed and handled. You will be able to get information on all your puppy-raising questions including dog housetraining, chewing, jumping, and other issues you might encounter.

Under our supervision and guidance, you and your pup will visit a pet-friendly Store in session 4.

Attention (watch)
Sit
Stand
Stay/wait with release cue
Lie down
Flat/Side
Place
Walking without pulling on leash
Coming when called (recall)
Leave it and drop it
Basic manners
Toy play & games
Introduction to new objects and situations, obstacle course

Puppy Fun Class 2

For dogs 8 weeks – 8 months old
6-week class, costs $150

This class builds on skills learned in the Puppy Fun class for dogs that have taken the puppy fun class but are too young for dog household obedience I.
This class is suitable for puppies that have completed our puppy FUN class or a puppy training class elsewhere and are not old enough yet to be enrolled in Household Dog Obedience 1 class. In this class, we will be adding more distractions to the training sessions and we will continue impulse control training. We will train household situations like brushing, checking teeth, nail trimming, and being handled in general.

  • Attention (watch)
  • Sit
  • Stand
  • Stay/Wait with release cue
  • Down
  • Place
  • Flat
  • Back up
  • Leave it and drop it
  • Walking without pulling on leash and walking nicely next to you
  • Check teeth
  • Come when called (recall)
  • Basic manners
  • Toy play & games
  • Introduction to new objects and situations, obstacle course

Puppy Agility FUN Class

For dogs 4 months – 10 months old
6-week class, costs $150

Puppy Agility fun class is about laying down the basic skill essentials to dog agility training. Skills such as self-control, body awareness, coordination and balance, start line stay, playing, and confidence-building. The focus is learning and reinforcing focus and attention between your dog and you. We also introduce select agility obstacles at an age-appropriate level.

  • Stay/Wait with release cue
  • Place
  • Coming when called (recall)
  • Basic manners
  • Toy play & games
  • introduction to new objects and an obstacle course, suitable for very young dogs

Household Dog Obedience I

For dogs 6 months and older
6-week class, costs $150

The perfect class for dogs who already know basic cues like sit and down but need to practice behaviors with added distractions. We will also train household situations like brushing, checking teeth, wiping off, etc. You will be able to get information on all of your dog-related questions and issues you might encounter. Teaches the following dog obedience skills:

  • Attention (watch me or look at me)
  • Sit
  • Stand
  • Stay/Wait with a release cue
  • Down
  • Flat
  • Place
  • Back up
  • Leave it and drop it
  • Walking without pulling on the leash
  • Check teeth
  • Come when called (recall)
  • Basic manners
  • Toy play & games
  • Introduction to new objects and situations
  • Hand signals for attention, sit, stand, and stay

Household Dog Obedience II

For dogs 6 months and older
6-week class, costs $150

This class builds on skills learned in the puppy FUN and/or Household Dog Obedience 1 classes. We will visit Pet Friendly Stores and apply what we have learned to real-life situations. When you and your dog have graduated from this class, you will be ready to enter your dog into our 6-week class AKC Canine Good Citizen Program and testing class.

  • Attention (watch)
  • Sit
  • Stay
  • Down & Flat (on the side)
  • Walking without pulling on the leash
  • Place
  • Come when called (recall)
  • Foot
  • Basic in-and outside manners
  • Toy play & games
  • Tricks like ” high five “
  • Leave it and drop it
  • Accepting a friendly stranger
  • Walking through a crowd with a loose leash
  • Reaction to distraction
  • Supervised separation

Pre-Agility Fun Class

For dogs 10 months and older
Prerequisite: completion of any of our other 6-week classes.
6-week class, costs $150

This course teaches dog and handler the skills that relate to work in Agility and having lots of fun! Basic obedience training is included as we work with your dog to teach them the fundamentals of Agility. This course may be repeated in order to improve and build you and your dog’s skills.

  • General dog obedience training: attention (watch), sit, stay, down, recall
  • Fundamentals of dog agility equipment: tunnels, catwalk (at a low height), see-saw (with assistance), tire (at a low height), A-frame (at a low height), jumping, and much more.
  • Toy play & games to make dog agility fun!

Beginning Agility Class

For dogs 1 year and older
Classes are sold in blocks of 6 hourly lessons for $130

This class is ongoing and requires an evaluation by our dog agility instructor or completion of our Pre-Agility class and proven skills to move into the next level of classes.  In this class, students begin weave pole training and will continue to work with the dog walk, tunnel, the A-frame, teeter, and table. One jump exercises are expanded, and the sequencing of jumps begins. Independent obstacle performance and distance skills are encouraged. Exercises to improve a better understanding of dog agility and increase speed are done at this level.  

Prerequisite: completion of Pre-Agility class or private evaluation.

Hoopers & Barrel Racing Class

For dogs 6 months and older
6-week class, costs $150  

Your dog will need to know a few things before he or she can race, some will need obedience training, some just need to know how to learn. Some will just need to be shown the pattern and off they go.   

At the end of this class your dog will be able to go through hoops and tunnels and race around barrels. You will be able to send your dog away and call her/ him back from a distance.

This class is fun for every dog and especially for the bigger or older dog.  

AKC Trick Dog Training Class

For dogs 5 months and older
6-week class, costs $150  

Dogs and their owners can have fun learning tricks together, like “high five” or spin in a circle—and you can now earn AKC (American Kennel Club) titles! Titles apply to all dogs, with or without an AKC Pedigree.

Your very own AKC-approved evaluator will observe the tricks and sign off on the Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and/or Performer Trick Titles!

AKC Canine Good Citizen Program and Test

For dogs 6 months and older
6-week class, costs $160  

The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that is designed to both teach responsible dog ownership to owners as well as certify dogs that have the training and behaviors needed to be reliable, well-behaved members of their families and communities.

For more information about the AKC CGC program go to: www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen

Prerequisite: completion of both Household Obedience I and II classes or pre-approval by instructor

The following skills will be worked on during the first 5 weeks of the class with the final test occurring in week 6:

  • Accepting a friendly stranger
  • Sitting politely for petting
  • Appearance and grooming
  • Out for a walk (walking on a loose leash)
  • Walking through a crowd
  • Sit and down on command and staying in place
  • Coming when called
  • Reaction to another dog
  • Reaction to distractions
  • Supervised separation

Level 1 – AKC Fit Dog Program – not currently offered

For dogs 1 year and older
6-week class
$145 – class without the purchase or rent of the Cato board, you can use the board during class.
$165 – class with the rental of the Cato board (6 weeks) you can take the board home to train but you must return it after your class is over (You pay a refundable deposit of $35)
$200- Class with the purchase of a cato board

For more information about the Cato board, visit this website;
catooutdoors.com/

AKC Fit Dog, canine conditioning and fitness for your dog.
Dogs can benefit from a fitness plan like we humans do. Some of these benefits are increased strength, cardiovascular health, flexibility, balance and coordination. These benefits also result in a reduced risk of injury for canine athletes. Increased mental and physical stimulation also helps with behavioral wellness. This program can reduce boredom, increase confidence and help eliminate problem behaviors.You and your dog will be exercising with the Cato board, the cavaletti poles and other equipment during this class.

Introduction to Therapy Dog Training – $150

Therapy dog training has become a key component to healing for mental health and other disorders within the last few decades. Therapy dogs provide incredible comfort and companionship to those in stressful environments through a genuine, special connection. Therapy dogs do everything from comforting patients in hospitals and nursing homes to calming down people at disaster sites. They can deliver joy and happiness that is impossible to replicate elsewhere

Do you have a furry friend that you believe would make a good therapy dog? Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds. The most important characteristic those that certify therapy animals account for is temperament. The best therapy dogs are patient, friendly, gentle, confident, and easy-going.

If a dog does not enjoy human contact, particularly with strangers, it is unlikely to adjust well to therapy dog training. Outgoing animals are the best service animals because they are often cuddled, petted, and held by unfamiliar folks.

New dogs trained for therapy have obedience training as a benchmark for how equipped they are to function as therapy dogs. It is much more than just teaching new tricks. Specialized skills are necessary to help deal with any nervousness or discomfort a dog may express when in therapeutic settings.

This is why Something Els Dog School works with you and your dog on location in a small group setting.

PLEASE READ!

Who is eligible for our introduction to Therapy Dog training program; 

Teams (dog and handler) that have finished our Household Obedience 1 and Household Obedience 2 classes with our school and have not earned their Canine Good Citizen title yet, due to their age.

Because we go on location with our introduction to Therapy Dog Training Program, we want to make absolutely sure, the team is ready and equipped for this wonderful experience.

After finishing our Household Obedience 1 & 2 class, we are confident you and your dog have a good enough foundation of Obedience for this program. 

When you have finished this introduction class, you will know for sure if you and your dog would like to become a Therapy Dog team.

Week 1 – our dog training facility, Week 2-6, on location, Lowe’s, nursing home, and other locations.  

Therapy Dog Training Program and Evaluation – $200

Therapy dog training has become a key component to healing for mental health and other disorders within the last few decades. Therapy dogs provide incredible comfort and companionship to those in stressful environments through a genuine, special connection. Therapy dogs do everything from comforting patients in hospitals and nursing homes to calming down people at disaster sites. They can deliver joy and happiness that is impossible to replicate elsewhere

Do you have a furry friend that you believe would make a good therapy dog? Therapy dogs come in all sizes and breeds. The most important characteristic those that certify therapy animals account for is temperament. The best therapy dogs are patient, friendly, gentle, confident, and easy-going.

If a dog does not enjoy human contact, particularly with strangers, it is unlikely to adjust well to therapy dog training. Outgoing animals are the best service animals because they are often cuddled, petted, and held by unfamiliar folks.

New dogs trained for therapy have obedience training as a benchmark for how equipped they are to function as therapy dogs. It is much more than just teaching new tricks. Specialized skills are necessary to help deal with any nervousness or discomfort a dog may express when in therapeutic settings.

This is why Something Els Dog School works with you and your dog on location in a small group setting, with 4 dogs or fewer.

Week 1 and 2 of this training program will be held at Lowes, Asbury Road, Erie and week 3,4,5,6 will take place at Edinboro Manor in Edinboro.

We do the evaluation throughout the 6 weeks of this program.

PLEASE READ!

Who is eligible for our Therapy Dog training program; 

Teams (dog and handler) that have passed the Canine Good Citizen’s Test with our school, and/or the team has finished at least one or more of our other 6-week Obedience classes with Something Els Dog School. Because we go on location with our Therapy Dog Training Program, we want to make absolutely sure, the team is ready and equipped for this wonderful experience. 

Something Els Dog School evaluates for Therapy Dogs United.

Therapy Dogs United ;

According to the AKC, your dog is eligible to take the CGC evaluation at any age, however, if your dog receives his/her CGC certificate prior to turning one-year-old (12 months of age) you MUST retake the CGC exam as part of TDU’s therapy dog certification process. If your dog receives a passing grade from a Certified CGC Evaluator who is not working directly through TDU, we reserve the right to retest your dog as part of our therapy dog certification process. If it has been longer than 24 months since your dog was certified with the CGC, you will be required to retake and pass the CGC prior to your Therapy Dog evaluation.

We are proud of our great Therapy Dog Training program!

Go to this website and find out if volunteering with Therapy Dogs United is right for you and your dog.
https://www.therapydogsunited.org/

Introduction to Scent Work Class – $145

This introductory-level scent work class is for dogs that don’t have any prior scent
work experience. You will learn the basic concepts related to searching for odor, how
to teach your dog to hunt for odor in different settings.
We recommend completion of Puppy FUN 1 or/and 2, Household Obedience 1, or an obedience class somewhere else


– Scent Work encourages your dog to sniff, turning your dog’s favourite activity
into a rewarding game.
– Scent Work offers variety and provides mental challenges for your dog.
– Scent Work builds confidence, focus, and purpose in a safe and fun
environment.
– Scent Work training programs help you build a bond with your dog based on
trust, respect and cooperation. The teamwork stimulates a positive and
healthy human-to-dog relationship.
– Scent Work is all about having fun with your dog!

Scent Work Class 2 – $150

This class is for dogs that are familiar with searching for odor and ready to
build on those skills. This class will develop and expand on your dog’s
hunting and searching skills and apply them to Interiors, Exteriors, Buried
hides, and Containers. Must take Intro to Scent Work Class prior to enrolling
in this class.


– Scent Work encourages your dog to sniff, turning your dog’s favorite
activity into a rewarding game.
– Scent Work offers variety and provides mental challenges for your
dog.
– Scent Work builds confidence, focus, and purpose in a safe and fun
environment.
– Scent Work training programs help you build a bond with your dog
based on trust, respect, and cooperation. The teamwork stimulates a
positive and healthy human-to-dog relationship.
– Scent Work is all about having fun with your dog!