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Small Class Sizes. Great Education. So Much Fun!
*Current COVID restrictions: Masks are now optional, Each registered dog may bring 2 humans.*
Summer Camp ’23
3 week classes
camp inspired projects and outings
Registration Opens 3/31
Train Happy.
June Summer Camp
Special Activities
DIY Friendship Toys & Camp Hike n’ Bonfire 6/17
Canifit Camp
Fitness boot camp with your pup! Teams should be comfortable covering 2 miles at a brisk pace, willing to get dirty! Sundays 6/4 – 6/25 7 am Olin Park (poor weather = The Dog Hut) $109 REGISTER
Canine Good Citizen
This class is for those ready to go with their CGC skills. We’ll spend two weeks brushing up & test on Week 3. Sundays 6/4 – 6/25 (no class 6/11) 10 am The Dog Hut, McFarland $109 REGISTER
Canine Good(ish) Citizen
Looking to boost obedience skills but not quite ready for the test, this is your opportunity to get in some quality training without the pressure! Sundays 6/4 – 6/25 (no class 6/11) 9 am The Dog Hut, McFarland $109 REGISTER
A Little Tricky
Perfect for new tricksters! Learn wave, shake, high five, leg weaves, targeting, hoop jumping, bow, catch, rollover & crawl. Mondays 6/5-6/19 6:30 pm Camp K9 $109 REGISTER
Radical Recall
Dreaming of a dog who comes a-flying at you every time you call them? Build a rock solid, super enthusiastic recall with your best pal. Mondays 6/5-6/19 7:30 pm Camp K9 $109 REGISTER
Super Sniffer
Explore the world of scent, learning how to incorporate scent games into your training and daily life. Class will include food and odor games. Weds 6/7-6/21 6:30 pm Camp K9 $109 REGISTER
Smarty Paws
Teach your dogs to tell the difference between colors, read words, identify favorite toys by name, the power of choice, and more! Weds 6/7-6/21 7:30 pm Camp K9 $109 REGISTER
July Summer Camp
Special Activities
Tie-dye doggy bandanas & Scavenger Hunt Hike 7/15
Canifit Camp
Fitness boot camp with your pup! Teams should be comfortable covering 2 miles at a brisk pace, willing to get dirty! Sundays 7/9 – 7/30 7 am. Olbrich Park (poor weather = The Dog Hut) $109. REGISTER
Hiker Hound
Build stellar trail skills like on leash recall, passing with less stress, increase fitness & trail games to keep your dog engaged. Sundays 7/9 – 7/23 9 -10:30 am various locations $109 REGISTER
Doggy Parkour
Never have another boring walk. Explore the foundations of doggy parkour including balance, over/under, through/around and creativity. Tuesdays 7/11 – 7/25 6:30 pm. Camp K9 $109 REGISTER
Extra Tricky
Advanced tricksters will learn airplane, jump through hooped arms, footsies, backup, barrel rolling (2 paws), name toys and work at a distance. Mondays 7/10 – 7/24 6:30 pm Camp K9 $109 REGISTER
Play with Me!
Inspire more play between you and your dog. If tug and fetch are all you’ve got, get ready to level up the fun and expand your games to include play with your body, with new toys and with the environment. Mondays 7/10 – 7/24 7:30 pm. Camp K9 $109 REGISTER
August Summer Camp
Special Activities
Training Fun Sticks & Glow Hike 8/19
Canifit Camp
Fitness boot camp with your pup! Teams should be comfortable covering 2 miles at a brisk pace, willing to get dirty! Sundays 8/6 – 8/27 7 am. UW Lot 60 (poor weather = The Dog Hut) $109. REGISTER
Community Canine
Teams who have already achieved their CGC may advance to the next level, the Community Canine. Skills are outdoors in a far less controlled environment. Must have CGC title prior to registering. Sundays 8/6 – 8/20 9 am. Downtown Madison. $109 REGISTER
Dream Retriever
All dogs can retrieve! Improve your fetch game, teach your dog to hold objects, deliver to hand and maybe even pick up dropped items & clean up toys.- The uses of a retrieve are limitless. With special guest trainer, Addie Reis. Weds 8/9 – 8/23 6:30 pm. Camp K9 $109 REGISTER
Field Games
This outdoor course combines it all – scent games, Canine Hoopers, doggy parkour, polite leash skills, working around distractions and little surprises every week! Mondays 8/7 – 8/21 6:30 pm. Camp K9 $109. REGISTER
Even Smarty-er Paws
Continuation of Smarty Paws, dogs will build their skills adding in “match to sample” and “mimicry”. Weds 8/9 – 8/23 7:30 pm. Camp K9 $109. REGISTER
Tails on the Trails
An end of camp celebration! Fill your morning with non-stop trail fun. We’ll talk & train on predation substitute training, gear, long line skills, camping with dogs, eat snacks be merry and play Buried Bones (a treasure hunt game!) Saturday 8/26 9 am – noon $109 Wild Dog Run, New Lisbon REGISTER
Train Play Like its Your Job
While Local Dog believes in teaching our dogs great behavior, we don’t think the solution to training success is simply more obedience. Just as you learned valuable skills through sports, arts and music, our dogs can benefit in the same way from dog-centric learning, enrichment and play. At Local Dog, our philosophy is less sit stay and much more grow and play.
You and your dog learn so much more when you’re having fun. Our group dog training classes are very hands-on. Each class includes detailed homework with videos and handouts to help you and your dog with mid-week practice (and it’s expected that you practice!) Because our classes are very small (generally 6 teams or less), you’ll get the individual support you need to confidently practice new skills at home.
Our classes are designed to support you and your dog at every age and stage. Every class provides carefully curated curriculum, a humane, educated and ethical approach, skill building for both ends of the leash and access to bonus learning opportunities.
MANNERS & SOCIAL SKILLS TRAINING
Local Dog’s education experiences provide unparalleled support as you embark on your training adventure.
Ideal for: dogs 4 months and older, dogs who are comfortable around other dogs and people.
Real Life Skills Base Camp
Teach the skills that really matter to you and your dog – this course will introduce teams to essential foundation skills like: basic behaviors (sit, down & stand), coming when called, beginning leash walking, self control skills like leave it and drop it as well as discuss the ins and outs of how to most effectively train and live with your growing pup.
This class is appropriate for dogs over 4 months, an entry level class for newly adopted dogs or a refreshed for dogs out of training practice. $185
Classes are full. Registration for fall classes will open in June!
Real Life Skills Expedition
Let’s hit the trails! It’s time to take your classroom work into the real world – we’ll safely navigate dog-friendly trails and neighborhoods throughout the greater Madison area. This class emphasizes the skills needed to have an awesome time out and about with your dog. This advanced class teaches leash walking skills, polite greetings and settling/relaxing in public. First class is virtual, following classes will leave from dog friendly city or county parks, utilizing city streets and trails as our training ground. $185
Classes are full. Registration for fall courses will open in June!
Real Life Skills Summit
A continued journey into training, RLS Summit will take teams through more advanced skills bringing you and your dog new challenges and practical training opportunities. Dig into concepts like thinking in arousal, building calmness, disengagement, confidence and optimism, focus and independence.
To most enjoy this course, teams should complete at least one basic, positive reinforcement-based class before joining.
This course can be repeated as desired, as each Summit will have a new theme and activities.
Happy Hunting
Predatory activity is a very natural and rewarding behavior for our dogs to engage in, but it can definitely make outdoor experiences stressful and working with our dogs a challenge. Often behavior struggles like pulling on leash or a less-than-reliable recall are caused by our dog’s predatory desires, whether it’s chasing down those good sniffs or literally chasing the critter!
In this course, you’ll discover how to engage in the safe elements of hunting together with your pup, while teaching satisfying “pseudo-predation” games to allow our dogs the thrill of chasing down, catching, dissecting and consuming….without all the murder!
This is a 6 week, intensive, hybrid course. We will alternate live virtual classes with in person training. This class will be most effective if you have the time to commit to multiple mid-week training sessions. Virtual classes will be recorded. $225
Classes are full. Registration for fall classes will open in June!
FOCUSED & CONFIDENT
Behavior Change & Addressing Reactivity
Ideal for: dogs experiencing overarousal, fear, anxiety or stress on walks or at home.
Focused & Confident Base Camp
Learn to lower stress, build calmness and attention, train alternate behaviors to reactivity and over arousal and build your dog’s confidence and trust. This curriculum is carefully curated to give you exactly what you and your dog need on your training journey to reduce reactivity. This class is ideal for dogs who exhibit stress, fear or anxiety and may bark, growl, lunge, or over-react while on leash, at the front window, in the car, etc. Class is 6 weeks long. First two classes virtual, following classes in person. $225
Mondays 4/17 – 5/22 6:30 – 7:15 pm Camp K9 FULL
Mondays 4/17 – 5/22 7:30 – 8:15 pm Camp K9 FULL
Thursdays 6/1 – 7/6 6:30 – 7:30 pm Camp K9 REGISTER
Focused & Confident Expedition
Graduates of Focused & Confident Base Camp will be invited to join us on Expedition. We will help you work to effectively transition your excellent indoor skills to the outside world with a deeper look at BAT training, working in safe environments, emergency escape plans, improve leash walking skills, focus and attention around distractions. First class is virtual, following classes will meet at various locations throughout Madison. $185
Classes are full. Registration for fall classes will open in June!
Focused & Confident Summit
A continued journey into training, FC Summit will take Base Camp graduate teams through more advanced training, bringing you and your dog new challenges and practical training opportunities. Continue to dig into concepts like thinking in arousal, building calmness, disengagement, confidence and optimism, focus and independence.
Teams MUST have graduated from Local Dog Focused & Confident Basecamp (or Level 1)
This course can be repeated as each Summit with have a different theme and activities.
Thursdays July 20 – August 17 6:30 – 7:15 pm Camp K9 REGISTER
FC Happy Hunting
Predatory activity is a very natural and rewarding behavior for our dogs to engage in, but it can definitely make outdoor experiences stressful and working with our dogs a challenge. Often behavior struggles like overreactivity, pulling on leash or a less-than-reliable recall are caused by our dog’s predatory desires, whether it’s chasing down those good sniffs or literally chasing the critter!
In this course, you’ll discover how to engage in the safe elements of hunting together with your pup, while teaching satisfying “pseudo-predation” games to allow our dogs the thrill of chasing down, catching, dissecting and consuming….without all the murder!
This is a 6 week, intensive, hybrid course. We will alternate live virtual classes with in person training. This class will be most effective if you have the time to commit to multiple mid-week training sessions. $225
Classes are full. Registration for fall classes will open in June!
Fun & Games
Enrichment and fitness
Ideal for: everyone
Canicross
Learn to run or hike with your dog! The sport of Canicross and Cani-hiking are exciting ways to hit the trails for fitness and fun with your best bud. This 5 week class is designed for those new to running with a dog companion. Both hikers and runners are welcome. VERY beginner friendly. First class is humans only at The Dog Hut in McFarland, following classes will meet at various locations on the east side and downtown Madison. $185
Sundays 4/30 – 5/28 8:00 – 9:00 am REGISTER
Join our 2023 Fit Dog Club!
Explore the Madison area with other dog-people and their dogs. Join us for fun, free walks every month throughout our city’s best and dog-friendliest neighborhoods and trails. 2023 Fit Dog will meet March – October, typically on the first Saturday of each month. Sign up today to receive updates on each hike.
Pre-registration required.