Puppy Registration

Puppy & Rescue Headstart-ONLINE Dog Training Class

Puppy & Rescue Headstart – Online is specifically for those who are:

contemplating getting a puppy or a rescue dog,
getting a puppy or rescue dog, or
who already have a puppy or rescue dog.

You do not need your new canine friend to take the class. An increasing number of our students start the course before bringing their dog home, so they are ready on the first day.

This course is primarily for you, not your puppy. It emphasizes what you need to know before you start teaching your puppy and bringing them home.

The class is offered on Wednesdays at 6 PM and Saturdays at 9 AM. It runs for four consecutive weeks, with each class lasting 90 to 170 minutes.

It is an open-enrollment class, and you may complete the four modules in any order so that you can start immediately.

The cost is $99.

The class is held online via Zoom, so internet access is required. We recommend you use a personal computer or a tablet for the best viewing experience. Many students cast the presentation on their large-screen TVs.

What is Included with Puppy & Rescue Headstart-ONLINE?

A copy of the book Beyond Belly Rubs: The Compassionate Pet Guardian by Niki Tudge and Louise Stapleton-Frappell. (a $15 value)
A copy of Puppy Socialization: What It Is and How to Do It by Marge Rogers and Eileen Anderson (a $30 value).
A 100+ page handout as a downloadable PDF file.
Several complementary coupons with a value of more than $70.
Four weekly online classes with Don Hanson, PCBC-A, where you can ask questions.
Links to videos of your classes, which you will be able to access for up to 60 days after you complete the class.
One FREE day of Puppy Daycare, for puppies less than 6 months of age.

Topics Addressed in Class

The class covers the essential things you need to know to meet your new canine family member’s physical, mental, and emotional needs. It includes a discussion of canine behavior, emotions, body language, how your dog learns, and the most effective and humane way to teach them. Additionally, we will discuss the typical dog issues you may need to address, as listed below.

Socialization and habituation.
Housetraining & crates.
Play biting & bite inhibition.
Chewing & ingestion of inappropriate items.
Jumping up on people.
Getting your puppy to give up items they shouldn’t have.
Teaching your puppy to enjoy being handled.
The power of reward-based training.
The dangers and risks of punishment-based training.
What to do when your puppy misbehaves.
Managing the puppy and its environment.
Handling for grooming and veterinary exams.
Playing with other dogs.
Alone training and preventing separation anxiety.
The role of nutrition in physical, mental, and emotional health.

Green Acres Kennel Shop/ForceFreePets has been voted the Bangor region’s Best Dog Trainer every year since 2011. The program is under the direction of 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 Guild’s (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/join-ppg/principles-conduct/guiding-principles/ )

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