Dog Obedience Classes & Private Training in Glendale AZ with FurBabies & Friends

Depending on your dog, and on you, different training options may be preferrable over others.  Some pet parents opt for private dog training.  Whereas some prefer group dog training classes.  No matter what your preference, FurBabies & Friends has both options for to get your started on your beginning obedience journey.

First off, no matter the age, a dog with solid obedience is always a joy to be around.  Which is why obedience is not just for the youngsters, it's applicable to all dogs including:

* Newly adopted dogs
* Adolescent dogs in need of structure
* Adult dogs needing a refresh on basics

• Sit, Down, Stand
• Watch (Focus)
• Off (People & Surfaces)
• Stay and Release
• Come When Called
• Name Recall
• Loose Leash Walking

BONUS TOPICS INCLUDE:

• Positive marker words & clicker training
• Understanding a dogs learning journey
• Avoiding poisoning dog cues
• Using pattern games for training
• Keeping you & your dog safe when in public

GENERAL AGE GUIDELINE FOR CLASS:

• Typically, dogs over 6 months of age do best in a real world group training class
• If your dog is under 6 months, consider private puppy training or the AKC STAR puppy class

• A complete Training Guide for all beginning obedience cues, education, reinforcement tips, videos & practice exercises
• Homework worksheet to guide at home practice
• Real life relevance practice worksheet
• Clicker
• Complimentary training treat bag provided at the first session

Service Area: Glendale, Peoria, and surrounding Phoenix West Valley neighborhoods.

The intermediate obedience program is designed for dogs who have mastered the basics and are ready for more complex tasks and real-world challenges. In order to be successful in this class dogs must be over 6 months of age, completed beginning obedience, and have the ability to focus and work in more distracting environments.

Overall, this course strengthens impulse control, transitions between commands, and sharpens responses in public settings.

• Expanding on beginning obedience cues building fluency & practicing position changes
• Advancing beginner cues with movement tasks
• Solidifying loose leash walking
• Heel & Reel - leash walking placement
• Pivot & Directional Changes Verbally
• Wait & Back - Boundary Control
• Touch Targeting
• Front, Middle & Behind
• Orbit, Weave, Spin & Twirl
• Back Up

EXTRA CLASS BONUS'S INCLUDE:

• Implementing & understanding pattern games in training
• Troubleshooting engagement issues
• Learning protocols for dog to dog or dog to human introductions
• Tactics and tools in your environment to keep training fun while increasing difficulty
• 101 Things to Do With a Box Exercise

• Printed or digital Training Guide for all intermediate obedience cues, education, reinforcement tips, videos & practice exercises.
• At home practice homework worksheet
• Practice worksheet for real life scenarios
• Free training treat bag provided at the first session

Areas of Service: Glendale, Peoria, and surrounding Phoenix West Valley neighborhoods.

The advanced obedience program is designed for dogs who have already developed solid foundation skills and are ready to work with greater precision, distance, and distraction. This class builds on all Level 1 and Level 2 obedience cues while introducing more complex skills that require stronger engagement, clearer communication, and improved handler mechanics.

To be successful in this class, dogs must have completed beginning and intermediate obedience, be over 12 months of age, and demonstrate consistent focus in outdoor or distracting environments. This program challenges both handler and dog to work as a cohesive team while refining behaviors for real world reliability.

Overall, this course strengthens advanced leash control, distance cue fluency, recall reliability, and real world proofing so dogs can perform confidently in public settings and everyday life scenarios.

• Strengthening precision heeling including halts, pace changes, tight turns, and figure 8s for increased engagement and focus
• Advancing leash finesse using Silky Leash work for feather-light communication
• Building reliable distance cues for Sit, Down, and Stand at 10 to 30 feet
• Improving Drop on Recall (Emergency Stop) for safer real world control
• Enhancing Fronts and Finishes for cleaner recall placement and sequencing
• Rally-inspired pattern work blending heeling, pivots, fronts, and transitions
• Developing implied sits during halts and stronger Stay & Release consistency
• Long line recalls around real distractions in outdoor environments
• Strengthening impulse control near triggers including people, dogs, food, and movement
• Practicing short obedience chains that build handler timing and communication
• Proofing cues in new environments such as parks, sidewalks, and busy outdoor settings
• Improving verbal-only performance and reducing body cue “leakage”

SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS:

• Structured pattern games to improve focus, engagement, and calmness
• Guidance for troubleshooting distance cue failures and slowing response times
• Real world generalization and proofing strategies for daily life scenarios
• Homework exercises designed to build endurance, reliability, and skill fluency
• Techniques for handler mechanics including reinforcement placement and timing
• Confidence-building activities that help dogs work through distraction safely

• Digital or printed Training Guide covering precision heel work, distance cues, recall drills, pattern exercises, and proofing strategies.
• In home practice homework worksheet with structured drills and repetition targets.
• Relevant real life practice scenarios for practicing skills in parks, neighborhoods, and shopping centers
• Choose a free training treat bag at the first class.

Service Available For: Glendale, Peoria, and surrounding Phoenix West Valley neighborhoods.

Ready to turn your dog into a confident, mannerly superstar? This 6-Week AKC CGC Class is a fun, paws-on training adventure held in the beautiful parks of West Valley, Phoenix. In this course, we’ll help you and your pup master the 10 skills needed to earn the AKC CGC title, the gold standard of polite dog behavior.

This class is not just about passing a test.  Realistically, it’s about strengthening the bond with your dog while working toward your dog being a good canine citizen. Imagine strolling through the park with a loose leash, or hosting guests without worrying about your dogs manners. Kristie will help you get there with gentle guidance and dog-centric fun. Each session includes Q&A and personalized tips.  So, whether your pup is a rambunctious teenager or a shy rescue, she tailors the training to help them shine. Join this CGC Class and become the proud parent of an official “Canine Good Citizen”! Last but not least, your dog will love the socialization and confidence-building; you’ll love the results of having a polite pup who’s welcome everywhere.

• Only dogs that are behaviorally healthy and show no dog or human aggression signs.
• Canines must be at least 6 months of age at the start of class with no upper age limit.
• Rabies and Distemper/Parvo vaccination records or titers must be provided before the first class for the AKC; however, FurBabies & Friends also requires Bordetella vaccinations due to group class environment.
• No shock collars, e-collars, prong collars or choke chains allowed in class.
• Final test does not allow for leash training tools such as halti's/gentle leaders or easy walk harnesses, all dogs must be able to walk politely with a collar or harness.
• During the final test, treats and rewards are not allowed but verbal & physical rewards are.

1 & 2: A friendly “stranger” approaches and greets the handler, then pets the dog.
3: The evaluator brushes the dog briefly and handles paws/ears.
4: Parent and dog do a quick loose-leash walk with turns and a stop.
5: Owner and dog weave through or by a small “crowd” of a few people.
6: Dog sits and downs on command, then does a 20-ft stay (we use the long line for safety).
7: Handler calls the dog to come from 10 feet away (using the long line).
8: The handler and a partner approach each other with dogs, do the brief greeting.
9: Two distractions are presented (for example, a noise and a moving object).
10: The dog is left with the evaluator for a three-minute supervised separation.

• CGC class training packet both printed & digital with detailed step-by-step instructions, explanation on test items, exercises to implement for each test item, troubleshooting, and corresponding videos.
• Weekly homework handouts
• Real-life enrichment and confidence-building exercises
• Certificate of completion (for all graduates) to register with the AKC
• Official AKC CGC certificate (for passing students)