Family Dog Program

The Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club – AKC Family Dog Program

The Family Dog Program is a comprehensive good manners program for all dogs, purebred or mixed breed. While participating in enjoyable training activities that are fun for both dogs and people, dogs become well-socialized and develop a lifelong bond with their owners. Within the Family Dog Program umbrella are programs that teach family members how to best communicate with their dogs. The CGC programs (AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen, and AKC Community Canine and Urban CGC) begin with teaching basic skills such as sit, down, and come and they build on these skills as dogs move from one activity to the next. The result is a dog that any owner can be proud to take into the community. SMKC Family Dog Program is proud to offer a rich selection of choices that provide fun activities for all dogs and their people. SMKC will be offering many of these programs over the next year as we expand our Family Dog class offerings.

The AKC Family Dog Program consists of:

Class descriptions

STAR Puppy One

For Puppies 10 to 16 weeks that still have their baby canine teeth at the start of class

Length: 6 Weekly Classes, 50 minutes

Prerequisites: Must show proof that puppy has had two distemper/parvo vaccinations by email to instructor or in person at the first class.  Puppy must be 10 to 16 weeks at start of class.

About STAR Puppy One: The experiences your puppy has during the first 16 weeks of life, known as the “socialization window,” will lay the foundation for his future behavior. During this period, you must positively and gently introduce your puppy to a variety of people, dogs, places, sounds, and situations if you want him to develop into a friendly, well-adjusted adult dog. To this end, socialization and enrichment techniques are offered every week. This class also introduces basics such as sit, down, stay, come, leave it, and loose leash manners. Additional topics covered are: house-training, alone-training, chew-training, biting, and body handling to get your puppy comfortable visiting the vet and groomer. This course also offers the opportunity for your puppy to earn their very first AKC recognition: AKC STAR Puppy!

STAR Puppy Two/Family Pet Training

For puppies who have graduated from a STAR Puppy One class or starting with basics and are 5 months to a year old.

Length: 6 Weekly Classes, 50 minutes

Prerequisites: Completion of STAR Puppy One or within the age limit. Must show proof of current vaccinations by email to instructor or bring with you to the first class.

About STAR Puppy Two/ Family Pet Training: This is the next step as your puppy develops into an adolescent—a time when early training often seems challenging. Sometimes your puppy responds to commands he knows well, sometimes he acts like you don’t exist. This class will refine and strengthen the behaviors learned or is learning, with special emphasis on how to motivate your dog for quicker responses to your commands, better recalls, and starting stays. Also: better walking manners, focus commands, and games to strengthen your puppy’s existing skills. This class will take your dog’s knowledge to the next level and prepare you for higher levels of training to come!

Family Pet Manners Level 1 Basic Pet Obedience

For dogs that have not attended Puppy One and Two classes and are over 1 year of age at the start of class.

Length: 6 Weekly Classes, 50 minutes

Prerequisites: Must show proof of current vaccinations by email to instructor or bring with you to the first class. Your older dog must be friendly to dogs and people.

Family Pet Manners Level 1 Basic Pet Obedience

This class covers basic skills such as sit, down, come when called, heeling, attention, wait at the door, go to your bed and stay, with special attention on the challenges of young adolescent dogs, including impulse control, leave it, and jumping on people.

Family Pet Manners Level 2 Basic Pet Obedience for the Older Dog

For dogs who attended Family Pet Manners Level 1 Basic Pet Obedience or dogs older and older rescue dogs.

Length: 6 Weekly Classes, 50 minutes

Prerequisites: Recommended for dogs 4 years and older and rescue dogs.

About the Family Pet Manners Level 2 Basic Pet Obedience for the Older Dog: This is a class for older dogs who need to learn heeling, automatic sits, downs, stays, recalls, attention and other necessary exercises. Problems will be discussed and help given. This class will prepare your dog for future venues in dogs sports like Canine Good Citizen, Trick Dog, Fit Dog, and Obedience.

Canine Good Citizen

For dog/handler teams seeking to earn the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Award.

Length: 6 Weekly Classes, 50 minutes

Prerequisites: Most dogs need at least two training classes before entering the Canine Good Citizen Course; 3 classes are preferable and be at least 6 months of age. See the class descriptions for Puppy One/Two, Basic Pet Manners and Obedience Training, Advanced Skills for the Family Pet.

About Canine Good Citizen: Dogs do not need to be registered with AKC to take the course and receive the award. Dogs should be fairly reliable with basic commands at the start of the course: Sit, Down, Walk/Heel, Stay. Class work will focus on refining these skills to be reliable over the 5 weeks leading up to the CGC test on Week 6.

AKC Community Canine

The advanced level of AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program. For dog/handler teams who have earned the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Award.

Length: 6 Weekly Classes, 50 minutes

Prerequisites: Dog most have completed and passed the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program

About AKC Community Canine: As with CGC, AKC Community Canine: has a 10-step test of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC Community Canine title. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC.

AKC Urban CGC

For dog/handler teams who have earned the AKC Community Canine (CGC-A) Award.

Length: 6 Weekly Classes, 50 minutes

Prerequisites: Dog most have completed and passed the AKC Community Canine (CGC-A) program.

About AKC Urban CGC: It requires that the dog demonstrate CGC skills and beyond in a setting that includes traffic, crowds, noises, smells and other distractions that are present in a city or town. As with Canine Good Citizen, AKC Urban CGC is a 10-step test of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC Urban CGC title. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC.

AKC Urban CGC is a public access test that demonstrates dogs are well-behaved and well-trained when in public settings.

Trick Dog 1

For dog and people friendly dogs that have completed 2 levels (or more) of basic classes.

Length: 6 Weekly Classes, 50 minutes

Prerequisites: Completion of a level 2 basic class. Proof of current vaccinations. Dogs must not be leash aggressive or reactive with people or dogs and must be able to work with owner off leash.

About Trick Dog 1: Teaching your dog tricks is a fun and entertaining way to an even smarter, more focused pet and you will both have a blast showing off tricks! You’ll learn a variety of tricks, including: crawl, shake hands, get in a box, spin, touch, tunnel, leg weave, press a button, weave poles and more! Your dog will love this class and so will you! If you wish, you and your dog will have the opportunity to earn AKC Novice and Intermediate titles.

Trick Dog 2

For graduates of Trick Dog 1 or dogs who have earned the AKC Novice and Intermediate titles.

Length: 6 Weekly Classes, 50 minutes

Prerequisites: Completion of Trick Dog 1 or dogs who have earned their Novice and Intermediate titles. Proof of current vaccinations. Dogs must not be leash aggressive or reactive with people or dogs and must be able to work with owner off leash.

About Trick Dog 2: In this advanced class you will learn a higher level of tricks, including: back up, say your prayers, head down, jump over/run under handler, leg weave while walking, skateboard and more! If you wish, you and your dog will have the opportunity to earn AKC Advanced and Performer titles.

AKC Fetch Class

AKC Fetch is a fun Family Dog class that provides physical and mental exercise for dogs and their handlers. Handlers learn how to teach their dogs to retrieve, give, and drop a ball , bumper or toy that has been thrown 30 feet. The dog will learn to go between distractions to retrieve the ball or object and return to the handler. Upon completion of the class the dog will be ready to compete for the AKC Novice Fetch title. The class is designed for all breeds including mixed breed canine partners.

Length: 6 weekly classes, 50 minutes

Prerequisites: Dogs must have earned at least a CGC or equivalent.

About the AKC Fetch Program and Test:

The AKC fetch program is a new addition to the AKC family dog offerings. Testing for fetch titles will be available in the spring.

Introduction to Therapy Dog

This course provides basic information and training to become a Therapy dog team for a variety of Therapy dog visiting organizations.  Dogs must have completed at least one basic obedience class and be well-mannered around other dogs and people.   Dogs that do not currently have a Canine Good Citizen title can earn the title during this course.  

Introduction to Competition

Bridging the Gap from Family Pet to Competition Obedience

For: Handlers who wish to prepare dogs for an AKC Competition Obedience and Rally Class

Length: 6 Weekly Classes, 50 minutes

Prerequisites: CGC Certificate

About Introduction to Competition: This class is designed for the first level of formal obedience skills. It will bridge the gap from Family Pet to Competition handling. Dog/handler teams learn proper heeling positions, footwork, hand placement, body language and a Introduction to Sit For Exam (on leash) and a Introduction Sit-Stay and Recall at a distance (both off-leash) will be taught. These skills will be taught with and without your dog so please be able to crate your dog for short periods of time as this is also a competition requirement.