Available Classes
Beginning Puppy Training
Description:
The Beginning Puppy Training Class is designed to help you and your puppy bond, build confidence and learn basic, age-appropriate training skills, with an emphasis on having fun. FDTC’s training uses rewards and positive reinforcement. Class size is limited to 8 puppies to provide the best opportunity for interaction and individual attention, as needed.
Over a 7-week period, the following will be covered:
- Introduction to basic commands: Sit, Stay, Down, Come, and Heel (walking on a loose leash)
- Building your puppy’s confidence using various obstacles and challenges (for example: wobble boards, balance discs, plank, puppy dog walk, teeter-totter, puppy tunnel, and more)
- Puppy socialization (with other people and their puppies) to learn manners and teach puppy positive behaviors when at home or out in public
- Fun puppy painting project
The final class will feature graduation, fun activities, and an overview of additional classes offered at FDTC where you and your puppy can build on the skills learned in the Beginning Puppy Training Class.
Requirements:
- Your puppy must be between 14 weeks and ~6 months old; upon completion of the Beginning Puppy Training Class, they will be old enough to start FDTC’s Beginning Obedience Class
- A 4- to 6-foot leash
- Training collar just large enough to fit over puppy’s head such as buckle or martingale collar. NO harness
- Training treats your dog loves, cut into small pieces (bait bag for holding treats is optional), and/or a favorite toy
- Proof of Distemper and Parvo Virus vaccinations (DHPP minimum of 2 series); Bordatella is recommended but not required. Please bring proof of age-appropriate vaccines to your first class
Registration Details:
7 weeks, 55 minutes per week
$175 ($150 for Active Members)
Select the
button below to register online, or Download Registration Form. Contact Us for any additional questions.
Beginning Obedience
Description:
The Beginning Obedience Class is designed to help you, the owner, train your dog. Classes are limited to 8 dogs to provide the optimum educational experience, which includes special individual attention as needed.
This introductory course is designed for the inexperienced trainer or the untrained dog.
This class introduces the standard obedience commands while teaching the dog to have self-control around other dogs.
Commands and exercises covered in the beginning course are Sit, Sit/Stay, Down, Down/Stay, Heeling, Come, and Sit for Exam.
Requirements:
- Your dog must be at least 4½ months old
- A 6-foot leash
- Training collar just large enough to fit over dog’s head such as buckle or martingale collar. NO harness
- Training treats your dog loves, cut into small pieces. Bait bag for holding treats (optional)
- Proof of Rabies, Distemper, Parvo Virus and Kennel Cough vaccinations must be brought to first class for all dogs
Registration Details:
6 weeks, 55 minutes per week
$175 ($150 for Active Members)
Select thebutton below to register online, or Download Registration Form. Contact Us for any additional questions.
Novice Obedience
Description:
This Novice Class reinforces all the skills learned in the Beginning Obedience Class and now adapts foundation exercises to include Figure Eight, Stand for Exam, Heel Off-Leash, Recall, Sit & Walk Around. Trainer/dog strive to work as a team with the goal of showing the dog in AKC Novice and/or Beginner Novice competition. (Competition not mandatory.)
Requirements:
- Successful completion of the Beginning Obedience Class (or instructor approval)
- A 6-foot leash
- Training collar just large enough to fit over dog’s head, such as a buckle or martingale collar. NO harness
- Training treats your dog loves, cut into small pieces. Bait bag for holding treats (optional)
- Proof of Rabies, Distemper, Parvo Virus and Kennel Cough vaccinations must be brought to first class for all dogs
Registration Details:
6 weeks, 55 minutes per week
$175 ($150 for Active Members)
Select thebutton below to register online, or Download Registration Form. Contact Us for any additional questions.
Intermediate Obedience/Rally Introduction
Description:
The Intermediate Obedience/Rally Introduction Class is intended for continued training after the Beginning Obedience Class. Designed for the handler and dog to reinforce their basic education while incorporating more advanced techniques through the introduction of AKC Rally Novice exercises.
Rally is a sport in which dog and handler walk through a designated course performing specific obedience skills at numbered stations.
The skills include Sit, Down, Stay, Heel, Turns, Call Front, etc.
Basic commands, hand signals, simple course patterns, and AKC Rally foundation exercises will be covered. The exercises are taught using positive reinforcement.
Requirements:
- Successful completion of the Beginning Obedience Class (or instructor approval)
- A 6-foot leash
- Training collar just large enough to fit over dog’s head, such as a buckle or martingale collar. NO harness
- Training treats your dog loves, cut into small pieces. Bait bag for holding treats (optional)
- Proof of Rabies, Distemper, Parvo Virus and Kennel Cough vaccinations must be brought to first class for all dogs
Registration Details:
6 weeks, 55 minutes per week
$175 ($150 for Active Members)
Select thebutton below to register online, or Download Registration Form. Contact Us for any additional questions.
Advanced Rally Obedience
Description:
The Advanced Rally Obedience Class is intended for continued training of additional and more complex Rally skills. The goal of this class is to prepare dog and handler teams for competition in AKC Rally Obedience, introducing exercises in the higher levels of Rally beyond Novice. In this class, dogs and handlers will learn to navigate courses with increased difficulty and a greater variety of signs, demonstrating precision and a high degree of obedience, control, and teamwork. The progression is Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Excellent, and Master, with the number and difficulty of the signs increasing at each level.
Requirements:
- Successful completion of the Intermediate/Rally Introduction Class (or instructor approval)
- A 6-foot leash
- Training collar just large enough to fit over dog’s head, such as a buckle or martingale collar. NO harness
- Training treats your dog loves, cut into small pieces. Bait bag for holding treats (optional)
- Proof of Rabies, Distemper, Parvo Virus and Kennel Cough vaccinations must be brought to first class for all dogs
Registration Details:
6 weeks, 55 minutes per week
$175 ($150 for Active Members)
Select thebutton below to register online, or Download Registration Form. Contact Us for any additional questions.
Scent Work Introduction
Description:
This class introduces dogs and handlers to the exciting sport of AKC Scent Work, building a strong foundation in odor recognition and searching skills. Dogs will be taught to identify and search for the official AKC target odors: Birch, Anise, Clove, and Cypress.
Using positive reinforcement and game-based learning, teams will develop confidence, focus, and teamwork while learning how dogs use their natural scenting abilities. Training will progress at a dog-appropriate pace, emphasizing clear communication, motivation, and problem-solving.
What dogs will learn:
- Introduction and pairing of Birch, Anise, Clove, and Cypress odors
- Basic search skills and how to locate hidden odor
- Developing a clear and confident alert behavior
- Searching a variety of simple environments and containers
- Building independence, persistence, and enthusiasm for scent work
What handlers will learn:
- How to read canine body language during searches
- Proper handling techniques and leash skills
- Understanding AKC Scent Work rules and trial elements
- How to support the dog without influencing the search
This class is ideal for teams interested in enrichment, confidence building, or preparing for AKC Scent Work trials, while having fun and strengthening the human-dog bond.
Requirements:
- A basic Scent Work Kit that includes all 4 scents and some small containers and tweezers. (There are many for sale on the internet varying in price from $23-$90. For example, on Esty, an AKC Scent Work Training Kit goes for $23.00 that has everything needed for the class.)
- A 6-foot leash
- Training clicker for positive reinforcement
- Buckle collar or tracking harness
- Proof of Rabies, Distemper, Parvo Virus and Kennel Cough vaccinations must be brought to first class for all dogs
Registration Details:
6 weeks, 55 minutes per week
$175 ($150 for Active Members)
Select thebutton below to register online, or Download Registration Form. Contact Us for any additional questions.
Conformation
Description:
The Conformation Class is designed to help handlers prepare their dogs for AKC-sanctioned breed shows. The format of the class is “Conformation Handlers Helping Handlers.” Classes are led by one of three organizers. If comfortable doing so, attendees can take turns going over each dog. This is a great opportunity for both handlers and dogs. They experience the judging examination process from different perspectives. Handlers run their dogs through various conformation patterns. In addition, participants can share advice and exchange tips and tricks for success in the show ring. (Please note that we are teaching you how to show your dog. We do not evaluate the quality of the dog.)
This is a drop-in class held on Tuesday evenings from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. The cost is $10/class (check or cash only, exact amount, please). Classes are limited to 8 teams (dog and handler). To ensure we have enough people to hold a class, as well as limit class size, we will use Fremont Dog Training Club’s private Facebook group for sign-ups. (See Registration Details below.)
Requirements:
- Your dog must be at least 4½ months old
- Appropriate collar and lead (for example: slide leads, slip collar plus lead, martingale collar, swivel lead)
- “Bait” or your dog’s favorite treat, ideally small pieces (bait bag recommended) and/or a small toy
Registration Details:
Prerequisites:
-
- Join Facebook
- Request to join Fremont Dog Training Club’s private Facebook group (FDTC Facebook Group), if you haven’t already
- If you know of others who may be interested, have them send a request to join this group
To Sign up for a Specific Class:
-
- An organizer will make a Facebook group post for a specific Tuesday to sign up to attend that class
- Reply to the post, with your dog’s name, if you would like to attend
- The organizer will respond with a number, which indicates how many to date have signed up (maximum of 8 dog/handler teams)
- If the minimum (2 teams) is not reached, the organizer will reply in the specific day’s post that the class is canceled. (Note: Class may be canceled in the event the outside temperature at start of class is forecasted to be too hot for inside the building)
- Before heading to the building, visit the Facebook group to ensure the class has not been canceled