6-Week

Flex Class

The six-week class is a flexible style setup. You will be able to look at a calendar and decide/schedule from the class options when you want to come, up to twice a week. There will be evenings, a morning option, and weekend options to choose from. You can change what day(s) you come if you want to come each week, or schedule them out. The class style is set up so that you work at your own pace. We will give you written instructions and get you started on 1–2 items at a time and you will work through them with our help and test out each item one at a time. We will also coach you on specific needs and how to use what you learn to change the not-so-fun behaviors you are seeing in your dog. Once you have completed 80-100% of the behaviors on your sheet successfully, you will receive a certificate and can choose to move on to Level 2. The cost of this class is $250.

For Social Graces

Training for Dogs and Their People
ForSocialGraces.com
(615) 754-3417

Please watch the orientation below to get ready for the Flex class. If you have any further questions, please let us know.

A man and his dog playing frisbee in the park.

Canine Good Citizen Class

6 weeks of class $250

We will practice the 10 test items at our facility and out in public to prepare for the test in the last session.

A woman and her dog are smiling for the camera.

Canine Good Citizen Test Items

  • 1. Accepting a Friendly Stranger: The evaluator approaches and pretends to shake hands with the handler (hands 6-12” apart). The evaluator does not touch the dog.
  • 2. Sitting Politely for the Petting: The evaluator pets the dog; the dog must show no shyness or resentment.
  • 3. Appearance and Grooming: Evaluator inspects the dog, combs, or brushes lightly, and examines the ears and each front foot.
  • 4. Out for a Walk: Handler takes the dog for a short walk, including the right turn, left turn, about turn and stop.
  • 5. Walking Through a Crowd: The Dog and handler walk close to several people; the dog may show causal interest but not jump up.
  • 6. Sit and Down on Cue/staying in Place: Handler shows that a dog can do both sit and down, then chooses a position, leaves the dog, goes to the end of a 20 ft. line, and returns immediately.
  • 7. Coming When Called: With the dog still on the 20 ft. line from Test 6, handler walks out 10 ft. and calls the dog.
  • 8. Reaction to Another Dog: Two handlers and dogs approach, pretend to shake hands (hands 6-12” apart), exchange pleasantries, then move on.
  • 9. Reaction to Distractions: Distractions are presented; the dog may not panic or show aggression.
  • 10. Supervised Separation: Handler goes out of sight for 3 minutes. The dog is held on a 6-foot leash by an evaluator.

Puppy Preschool Will Include

  • 1. Off-Leash Playtime and Safe Socialization With People and Other Puppies
  • 2. Basic Puppy Cues
  • 3. Puppy Games
  • 4. Meet Other Dog People and Create a Community That Has Like Minds in Proper Care and Becoming Responsible Pet Owners.
  • 5. Q&A for General Puppy Issues

Click on the button to register and sign up for the sessions, and upload vaccination records.

For Puppies Up To 15 1/2 weeks old.

Your puppy must have at least the first round of distemper/parvo and updated vaccinations each session to participate.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) notes that behavioral issues, not infectious diseases, are the number one cause of relinquishment to shelters and cause of death for dogs under 3 years of age. For that reason, For Social Graces encourages clients to carefully socialize their puppies as soon as they have had their first round of distemper and parvo vaccinations. With this said, we do emphasize it carefully.

For Social Graces has been holding Puppy Preschool for nearly a decade. We have found that by monitoring clients’ vaccinations every session, providing a disinfectant towel/rug to wipe shoes at entry, and holding our high standards of cleanliness in our facility has helped hundreds of puppies get the best start in socialization and training. We have had zero reports of infection in that time.

We are happy to announce that we will have PUPPY PRESCHOOL every Saturday at 10 am. The cost will be FREE TO ALL.

A dog is holding a frisbee in its mouth.