top of page
lifestyle.17.png

Training Classes for Every Stage of the Journey

Structured, fear-free classes designed to help dogs and their people build confidence, practical skills, and a stronger bond, together.

Find the Right Class for Your Dog

Every dog learns differently, and the right class can make all the difference. Kennels & K9s offers supportive, fear-free training classes designed to build confidence, strengthen everyday skills, and help dogs and their people succeed together. From puppy foundations to virtual learning and future specialty classes, each program is designed to make training practical, positive, and easy to carry into real life.

Every Puppy Starts Somewhere

Whether you're welcoming home your first puppy or adding a new companion to the family, Puppy Academy is designed to make training simple, enjoyable, and rewarding. Each class focuses on a specific skill, allowing you to attend individual sessions or build a complete training foundation over time.

In-Person Puppy Academy

Hands-on training with real-world practice and socialization.

Fridays at 6 PM EST

$30 per class

60 minutes

Maximum 10 puppies

Minimum age: 8 weeks

First round of vaccinations required

AKC Puppy STAR eligible

Virtual Puppy Academy

Perfect for families who prefer to learn from home.

Mondays at 6 PM EST

Live on Zoom

$25 per class

60 minutes

Maximum 10 puppies

Makeup classes available by contacting us

What You'll Learn

Basic Obedience

Recall

Leash Walking

Social Skills

Manners

Confidence Building

Crate Training

Leave It & Wait

Real-Life Skills

In-Person Puppy Academy

Give your puppy the best possible start with our 10-week, hands-on Puppy Academy. Designed for puppies during their most important developmental months, this comprehensive program teaches foundational obedience, confidence, socialization, and real-world life skills using fear-free, science-based training methods.
Each weekly class builds upon the last while providing opportunities for supervised socialization with people and other puppies, personalized coaching, and live feedback. By graduation, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to continue building a strong, lifelong partnership with your dog—and your puppy will earn their AKC Puppy STAR Award.

Fridays • 6:00 PM EST

​

Includes hands-on coaching, socialization with people and other dogs, live feedback, and AKC Puppy STAR evaluation.

​

Week 1 | Sept. 18

Building the Foundation

  • How to mark success

  • Confidence-building "Up"

  • Teaching your puppy their name

  • Sit

  • Down

  • Potty training introduction

  • Leash desensitization

  • Socializing with people


Week 2 | Sept. 25

Confidence & Communication

  • Jump over a bar

  • Target training

  • Automatic Stay

  • Advancing Sit & Down

  • Beginning Recall

  • Crate desensitization

  • Leash introduction during training

  • Socializing with other dogs


Week 3 | Oct. 2

Movement & Focus

  • Forward, backward & side movement

  • Automatic Sit

  • Advancing Stay

  • Advancing Recall

  • Crate training progression

  • Leash communication

  • Appropriate puppy play


Week 4 | Oct. 9

Everyday Manners

  • Weaving through legs

  • Walking beside you

  • 5-second Stay

  • No jumping

  • Recall from 5 feet

  • Building trust

  • Handling desensitization

  • Potty pad introduction


Week 5 | Oct. 16

Real-Life Skills

  • Moving around your body

  • Combining Stay & Recall

  • Wait

  • Leave It

  • Sitting to greet people

  • Walking politely beside you

  • Puppy play pens


Week 6 | Oct. 23

Home & Public Manners

  • Waiting for food

  • "Say Hi"

  • Real-life Leave It

  • Grooming desensitization

  • Place/Bed command

  • Preventing reactivity on walks

  • Advancing potty training


Week 7 | Oct. 30

Building Reliability

  • Waiting at thresholds

  • Drop It

  • Puppy stretching exercises

  • Recall from 10 feet

  • 10-second Stay

  • Beginner Heel


Week 8 | Nov. 6

Confidence Through Play

  • Balance treats on paws

  • Preventing resource guarding

  • Playing fetch

  • Appropriate play skills

  • Creating an exercise routine


Week 9 | Nov. 13

Preparing for Adolescence

  • Navigating fear stages

  • Working through distractions

  • Advancing potty training

  • Sending puppy to Place/Bed/Crate

  • Improving leash walking


Week 10 | Nov. 20

Graduation Day

  • Sit to greet other dogs

  • Comprehensive review

  • Troubleshooting

  • Graduation Ceremony

  • AKC Puppy STAR Award

Virtual Puppy Academy

Our Virtual Puppy Academy brings the same structured curriculum and professional instruction directly to you, wherever you are. Perfect for busy schedules, long-distance clients, or puppies who are more comfortable learning in their home environment, these live online classes provide step-by-step guidance through every stage of early puppy development.

You'll learn essential obedience, confidence building, potty training, leash skills, recall, and everyday manners while receiving real-time instruction from an experienced trainer.

Follow along each week as your puppy develops the skills needed to become a happy, confident, and well-mannered companion.

Mondays • 6:00 PM EST

​

Receive the same structured curriculum from the comfort of your home with live virtual instruction and real-time coaching.

​

Week 1 | Sept. 14

  • How to mark success

  • Confidence-building "Up"

  • Name recognition

  • Sit

  • Down

  • Potty training introduction

  • Leash desensitization

​

Week 2 |  Sept. 21

  • Jump over a bar

  • Target training

  • Automatic Stay

  • Advancing Sit & Down

  • Beginning Recall

  • Crate desensitization

  • Leash introduction during training

​

Week 3 | Sept. 28

  • Forward, backward & side movement

  • Automatic Sit

  • Advancing Stay

  • Advancing Recall

  • Crate training progression

  • Leash communication

​

Week 4 | Oct. 5

  • Weaving through legs

  • Walking beside you

  • 5-second Stay

  • No jumping

  • Recall from 5 feet

  • Building trust

  • Handling desensitization

  • Potty pad introduction

​

Week 5 | Oct. 12

  • Moving around your body

  • Combining Stay & Recall

  • Wait

  • Leave It

  • Sitting to greet people

  • Walking politely beside you

  • Puppy play pens

​

Week 6 | Oct. 19

  • Waiting for food

  • "Say Hi"

  • Real-life Leave It

  • Grooming desensitization

  • Place/Bed command

  • Preventing reactivity on walks

  • Advancing potty training

​

Week 7 | Oct. 26

  • Waiting at thresholds

  • Drop It

  • Puppy stretching exercises

  • Recall from 10 feet

  • 10-second Stay

  • Beginner Heel

​

Week 8 | Nov. 2

  • Balance treats on paws

  • Preventing resource guarding

  • Playing fetch

  • Appropriate play skills

  • Developing an exercise routine

​

Week 9 | Nov. 9

  • Navigating fear stages

  • Working through distractions

  • Advancing potty training

  • Sending puppy to Place/Bed/Crate

  • Improving leash walking

​

Week 10 | Nov. 16

  • Comprehensive review

  • Troubleshooting

  • Graduation

lifestyle.new6.png

Why Fear Free?

What Does Fear Free Mean?

Fear Free training focuses on reducing stress while increasing learning.

Rather than relying on intimidation or punishment, Fear Free methods use positive reinforcement, patience, and clear communication to help dogs feel safe and successful throughout the learning process.

Dogs learn best when they feel confident—not fearful.

​

Benefits include:

✔ Stronger trust

✔ Less stress

✔ Better long-term results

✔ Improved confidence

✔ More enjoyable training experiences

Frequently asked questions

Ready to Get Started?

Whether you're joining us virtually or in person, we'd love to help your puppy build confidence and lifelong skills.

IMG_20260907_093534.png
bottom of page