SUN-1PM-The Joy of Sniffing-Dog Training

The Joy of Sniffing is a semi-private group dog training class for people and dogs who have completed a ForceFreePets Basic Manners class. 

If you have not taken a ForceFreePets Basic Manners, please DO NOT register for this class until contacting Don at Don@ForceFreePets.com.

Prerequisites for The Joy of Sniffing

• Successful completion of our Basic Manners course.
• Your dog must be able to sit, stand, or lay down quietly, their choice, with you in the presence of one or more handlers and their dogs. What we teach in this class is appropriate for bouncy, excited dogs, but not in a group setting. If your dog is highly enthused, ask us about private lessons.
• Additionally, you need to understand that your dog is an individual and that each dog in the class may progress at different rates. Your focus in this class is all about your dog enjoying learning new things together. It is not a competition.

In the Joy of Sniffing, we will teach you how to provide your dog with opportunities to use their innate sense of smell. Many dogs become anxious or hyperactive, both forms of stress, due to insufficient stimulation of their natural senses and our tendency to overcompensate with increased physical exercise. However, dogs need mental stimulation even more than physical exercise. By learning how to set up sniffing adventures for your dog, you will discover ways to enrich their life.

At ForceFreePets, we recognize that each dog is an amazing sentient being with physical and emotional needs that are very different from a person’s. The Joy of Sniffing is a semi-private group class consisting of two teams of one to two students with their dogs and one instructor. Classes may be held outdoors and in our upstairs training room; however, most classes will be outdoors, so dress appropriately. Each session is approximately 40 minutes long, and we will meet at the same time and day for four weeks. The cost is $129.

Green Acres Kennel Shop/ForceFreePets has been voted the Bangor region’s Best Dog Trainer every year since 2011. The program is The program is directed by Don Hanson, a Professional Canine Behavior Consultant (PCBC-A) accredited by the Pet Professional Accreditation Board (PPAB). Don’s accreditation requires ForceFreePets programs to follow strict ethical guidelines, which you can review at https://forcefreepets.com/ethics-policies/.

The ForceFreePets team is committed to the Pet Professional Guilds (PPG) Guiding Principles, which state: “No shock, No prong, No choke and No Pain, No fear, No Force are ever employed in the training, behavior modification, care, or management of any pet. “. ( https://www.petprofessionalguild.com/PPGs-Guiding-Principles )

We reserve the right to postpone or reschedule classes for the following reasons:

• Inclement weather.
• Instructor or facility availability.
• Public health emergencies.
• Other unforeseen circumstances.