We are in the process of class planning and updating class descriptions, please check back soon for up-to-date information!
Next Session: March 2026
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Registration for the March session will be Friday, February 27th at 8AM |
Registration will open February 27th at 8am.
- Between 8am and 8pm, you may submit one registration form per dog (regardless of handler). Any additional submissions will be thrown out. You will have the opportunity to mark a second choice class in case your first choice is full.
- After 8pm, you may register your dog(s) for as many classes as you want.
- IDTC members get preference in classes open to non-members if they register by 9am the day registration opens.
- Submitting the registration form does not guarantee a spot in class! If you do not get a spot in a class, you will be put on a wait list for this session in case a spot opens up.
- Please read the requirements listed for the class you are interested in and ensure you meet the prerequisites before submitting a registration form.
Click the plus sign to the right to learn more about priority registration!
Priority registration opens ~1 week before regular registration
Priority registration allows IDTC instructors to use one teaching certificate to register early for one class. Only certificates earned through teaching classes can be used for this perk and classes still need to be paid for as usual.
Dog Training Classes Open to the Public
Beginner obedience classes are held at the IDTC Training Space at The Shops at Ithaca Mall and are open to the general public. The progression through the classes is Puppy (if age appropriate), Beginner 1 (Adolescent or Adult, depending on age), Beginner 2, Beginner 3, CGC.
Preference is given to club members if they sign up within the first hour. Register using the link above. Once the registrar confirms your spot in the class, you will be asked to provide vaccination information and pay the fee ($110 for non-members, $40 for active members, $90 for inactive members) by check. Members may pay by PayPal.
If you want to check whether classes are full, or have other questions about the application process, please contact the registrar, Marian Szebenyi.
More information about each class can be found by clicking the plus sign to the right of the title.
Preference is given to club members if they sign up within the first hour. Register using the link above. Once the registrar confirms your spot in the class, you will be asked to provide vaccination information and pay the fee ($110 for non-members, $40 for active members, $90 for inactive members) by check. Members may pay by PayPal.
If you want to check whether classes are full, or have other questions about the application process, please contact the registrar, Marian Szebenyi.
More information about each class can be found by clicking the plus sign to the right of the title.
AKC STAR Puppy (3-5 months) / Wednesdays @ 6:15pm
Instructor:
8 teams; 1 hour; 7 weeks
Starts
Get your puppy started off on the right paw! This class is for puppies less than 1 year old. The class will follow the AKC S.T.A.R. puppy curriculum focusing on socialization, training, activity, and responsibility. Puppies will learn basic skills through positive training and games. Handlers will also learn how to properly reward their dogs, troubleshoot problem behaviors, and age-appropriate activity and socialization routines for their puppy.
Skills covered include:
Requirements:
After successful completion of Puppy Beginner, dogs will be ready to move on to Beginner 1.
8 teams; 1 hour; 7 weeks
Starts
Get your puppy started off on the right paw! This class is for puppies less than 1 year old. The class will follow the AKC S.T.A.R. puppy curriculum focusing on socialization, training, activity, and responsibility. Puppies will learn basic skills through positive training and games. Handlers will also learn how to properly reward their dogs, troubleshoot problem behaviors, and age-appropriate activity and socialization routines for their puppy.
Skills covered include:
- Basic manners
- Attention
- Leash walking
- Handling/grooming
- Sit
- Down
Requirements:
- This is an introductory class, no prior training is necessary.
- Puppies must be 3-6 months of age at the start of the session.
- Puppies must have age appropriate vaccinations per their vet’s recommendations.
- If students want the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certification, they will need to pass the evaluation and attend at least 6 of the classes.
After successful completion of Puppy Beginner, dogs will be ready to move on to Beginner 1.
Beginner 1 Adolescent (6-11 months) / Thursdays @ 6:15pm
Instructor:
8 teams; 1 hour; 7 weeks
Starts
8 teams; 1 hour; 7 weeks
Starts
Beginner 1 Adult (12+ Months) / Thursdays @ 5pm
Instructor:
8 teams; 1 hour; 7 weeks
Starts
Not sure where to begin to teach your dog new things? Start here! Beginner 1 is for puppies 6 months and up and adult dogs (no upper age limit) with no previous formal training. This class will introduce dogs to basic manners and self-control. Handlers will be introduced to effective canine communication, including rewarding and leash handling, and how to troubleshoot undesirable behaviors.
Skills covered include:
After successful completion of Beginner 1, dogs should move to Beginner 2.
8 teams; 1 hour; 7 weeks
Starts
Not sure where to begin to teach your dog new things? Start here! Beginner 1 is for puppies 6 months and up and adult dogs (no upper age limit) with no previous formal training. This class will introduce dogs to basic manners and self-control. Handlers will be introduced to effective canine communication, including rewarding and leash handling, and how to troubleshoot undesirable behaviors.
Skills covered include:
- Attention
- Sit
- Down
- Loose leash walking
- Recall
- Wait at a door
- Stay
- This is an introductory class, no prior training is required.
- Dogs should be at least 6 months old at the start of class.
- Dogs must have rabies vaccination and other age appropriate vaccinations per their vet’s recommendations.
- Please note: IDTC can not accept aggressive or reactive dogs in our classes.
After successful completion of Beginner 1, dogs should move to Beginner 2.
Beginner 2 / Mondays @ 5pm
Instructor:
8 teams; 1 hour; 7 weeks
Starts
Please note: This class used to be called "Beyond Beginner 1"
Beginner 2 is geared to help you and your dogs improve your skills and confidence in the following areas:
Requirements:
After successful completion of Beginner 2, dogs move to Beginner 3.
8 teams; 1 hour; 7 weeks
Starts
Please note: This class used to be called "Beyond Beginner 1"
Beginner 2 is geared to help you and your dogs improve your skills and confidence in the following areas:
- Attention/focus
- Wait/ stay
- Recall
- Loose leash walking
- Being calm and comfortable around other dogs and people
Requirements:
- Dogs should have successfully completed Beginner 1 (6-12 months OR adult).
- Dogs must have rabies vaccination and other age appropriate vaccinations per their vet’s recommendations.
- Please note: IDTC can not accept aggressive or reactive dogs in our classes.
After successful completion of Beginner 2, dogs move to Beginner 3.
Beginner 3 / Wednesdays @ 7:30pm
Please note: This class used to be called Beginner 2
Instructor
8 teams; 1 hour; 7 weeks
Starts
In Beginner 3, you will build on the training and skills started in Beginner 1 and 2 to improve reliability and precision. Sit and down will be taught without lures, and at both the left side and in front of the handler, and stand will be introduced. Changes of pace and left, right, and about turns will be added to left-side loose leash walking. Distractions and distance will be added to recalls. Sit for exam and other new skills will be introduced.
Requirements:
After successful completion of Beginner 2, dogs may continue on to Canine Good Citizen, themed classes open to the public, or certain other members-only classes.
Instructor
8 teams; 1 hour; 7 weeks
Starts
In Beginner 3, you will build on the training and skills started in Beginner 1 and 2 to improve reliability and precision. Sit and down will be taught without lures, and at both the left side and in front of the handler, and stand will be introduced. Changes of pace and left, right, and about turns will be added to left-side loose leash walking. Distractions and distance will be added to recalls. Sit for exam and other new skills will be introduced.
Requirements:
- Dogs need to have successfully completed Beginner 2. If you have had equivalent training elsewhere, please contact the Training Director for a placement evaluation.
- Dogs must have rabies vaccination and other age appropriate vaccinations per their vet’s recommendations.
- Please note: IDTC can not accept aggressive or reactive dogs in our classes.
After successful completion of Beginner 2, dogs may continue on to Canine Good Citizen, themed classes open to the public, or certain other members-only classes.
Beginner Drop-Ins / Not offered this session
Instructor
1 hour; limited to 8 dogs per week
This supervised practice opportunity is limited to students enrolled in the current session beginner classes (puppy through CGC). More information on weekly sign-ups will be emailed directly.
1 hour; limited to 8 dogs per week
This supervised practice opportunity is limited to students enrolled in the current session beginner classes (puppy through CGC). More information on weekly sign-ups will be emailed directly.
Canine Good Citizen / Wednesdays @ 5pm
Instructor
8 teams; 1 hour; 7 weeks
Starts
Preparation for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, which will be given at the end of this class.
8 teams; 1 hour; 7 weeks
Starts
Preparation for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, which will be given at the end of this class.
Big Feelings / Saturdays @ 10:30am
Instructors: Jean Bonasera and Martha Goelzer
4 dogs, 1 hour
Starts October 25
Registrar: Linda Pacioretty
Are you interested in signing up for a beginner class, but have a dog that loses his or her mind in the presence of other dogs or people?
The primary goal of this class is to give dogs an opportunity to habituate to the IDTC training space in a non-stressful way so that they will be comfortable in a group class situation and able to focus on and easily reorient to their handlers in the training space. More generally, the class is designed to strengthen a dog's ability to stay attuned to his or her handler while working on leash around other dogs. We aim to always keep the dogs in the class in the “think and learn” zone, and only gradually introduce the presence of other dogs, beginning with neutral dogs.
We will focus on exercises developed by Suzanne Clothier and Leslie McDevitt. The first class will be a handlers only class, then for each of the 4 weeks following we will work with 2 of the four teams in the class, alternating pairs. During each of those weeks new exercises will be introduced. The other handlers will observe and help with feedback of the working teams and may also have a chance to practice the mechanics of new skills with one of our neutral dogs. On the 6th and 7th week, we will orchestrate having the 4 dog/handler teams together in the space and use distance and gating to help keep dogs in the 'think and learn' zone as we work through skills together.
We will not be working with dogs that are aggressive to dogs or people. Dogs should be comfortable in a crate for 15 minutes at a time.
If you are unsure whether or not your dog is a good candidate for this class, please contact the instructors Jean ([email protected]) and Martha ([email protected]).
Students who submit a registration for this class will be contacted by the instructors for additional screening and information.
4 dogs, 1 hour
Starts October 25
Registrar: Linda Pacioretty
Are you interested in signing up for a beginner class, but have a dog that loses his or her mind in the presence of other dogs or people?
The primary goal of this class is to give dogs an opportunity to habituate to the IDTC training space in a non-stressful way so that they will be comfortable in a group class situation and able to focus on and easily reorient to their handlers in the training space. More generally, the class is designed to strengthen a dog's ability to stay attuned to his or her handler while working on leash around other dogs. We aim to always keep the dogs in the class in the “think and learn” zone, and only gradually introduce the presence of other dogs, beginning with neutral dogs.
We will focus on exercises developed by Suzanne Clothier and Leslie McDevitt. The first class will be a handlers only class, then for each of the 4 weeks following we will work with 2 of the four teams in the class, alternating pairs. During each of those weeks new exercises will be introduced. The other handlers will observe and help with feedback of the working teams and may also have a chance to practice the mechanics of new skills with one of our neutral dogs. On the 6th and 7th week, we will orchestrate having the 4 dog/handler teams together in the space and use distance and gating to help keep dogs in the 'think and learn' zone as we work through skills together.
We will not be working with dogs that are aggressive to dogs or people. Dogs should be comfortable in a crate for 15 minutes at a time.
If you are unsure whether or not your dog is a good candidate for this class, please contact the instructors Jean ([email protected]) and Martha ([email protected]).
Students who submit a registration for this class will be contacted by the instructors for additional screening and information.
Instructors: Becky Robinson
8 dogs, 1 hour
6 weeks
The AKC FIT DOG Level One course is designed to inspire dog owners to engage in fitness-related activities with their dogs. Learning new exercises will challenge the dogs mentally, build confidence, and enhance proprioception. This class is for any dog that will go on to compete in any sport. Teams will work on foundational skills, practice impulse control and focusing while around other dogs. At the end of class, teams can earn an AKC Fit Dog Bronze Title.
Skills
Nose Touch / Chin Rest
Tuck Sit
Front Paw Targeting
Offer a Paw
Kick Back Stand
Spin Left/Right
Fold Back Down
Caveletti Poles / Grid Jumping
Pivot /Rear Legs
Ring Etiquette
Distracted recalls
Agility Contact End Behavior
For Members or Non-Members
Requirements:
8 dogs, 1 hour
6 weeks
The AKC FIT DOG Level One course is designed to inspire dog owners to engage in fitness-related activities with their dogs. Learning new exercises will challenge the dogs mentally, build confidence, and enhance proprioception. This class is for any dog that will go on to compete in any sport. Teams will work on foundational skills, practice impulse control and focusing while around other dogs. At the end of class, teams can earn an AKC Fit Dog Bronze Title.
Skills
Nose Touch / Chin Rest
Tuck Sit
Front Paw Targeting
Offer a Paw
Kick Back Stand
Spin Left/Right
Fold Back Down
Caveletti Poles / Grid Jumping
Pivot /Rear Legs
Ring Etiquette
Distracted recalls
Agility Contact End Behavior
For Members or Non-Members
Requirements:
- Non-members must have completed Beginner 2 and/or CGC class with IDTC. Member dogs must be working at a comparable level.
- Dogs should understand the training game and be able to focus on tasks during a group class.
- Owners should understand lure-reward based training methods, though capturing, and shaping as training concepts will also be used in class.
- This class is only for healthy dogs with no significant prior injuries or ongoing conditions.
- Dogs will be crated during class and some time will be devoted to reinforcing positive and calm crate behaviors.
Members Only & Advanced Classes
Advanced classes are open to members only. Members will be accepted in a class based on the order they sign up or priority listed below. Register using the link above. Once the registrar confirms your spot in the class, you will be asked to provide vaccination information and pay the fee ($40 for active members, $90 for inactive members) by check or PayPal.
If you want to check whether classes are full, or have other questions about the application process, please contact the advanced class registrar, Linda Pacioretty. Some classes or special workshops will have a different registrar listed below.
More information about each class can be found by clicking the plus sign to the right of the title.
If you want to check whether classes are full, or have other questions about the application process, please contact the advanced class registrar, Linda Pacioretty. Some classes or special workshops will have a different registrar listed below.
More information about each class can be found by clicking the plus sign to the right of the title.
CGC-U / Wednesdays @ 3:45pm
Intro to Rally / Thursdays @ 7:30pm
Fetch / Mondays @ 1pm
Instructors:
8 teams, 1 hour
8 teams, 1 hour
Agility 1 / Tuesdays @ 6:15pm
Instructor:
6 dogs, 1 hour
Starts
6 dogs, 1 hour
Starts
intermediate Agility: Building Obstacle Value / Mondays @ 6:15pm
Instructor: Abby Christman
6 teams
Think of this class as “Agility 1 for dogs who have already taken Agility 1.” This class might be for you if:
Exercises will include handling on the flat, working single obstacles, and grids. Basic handling and crosses will be practiced on 1-4 obstacle sequences, but there will not be full courses to run.
Requirements:
6 teams
Think of this class as “Agility 1 for dogs who have already taken Agility 1.” This class might be for you if:
- You want to take the pressure of running courses off your dog (or yourself!) and focus on revisiting foundation skills and fun.
- You and your dog have taken a break from agility and want to get restarted.
- You want to improve your dog’s speed or rebuild confidence through simple, high reward rate exercises.
- You need to continue working on teaching teeter, weaves, tire, or other obstacle(s).
- You want to increase your dog’s ability to drive ahead or work laterally from you.
- You want to clean up your dog’s start line and 2o2o stays and releases.
Exercises will include handling on the flat, working single obstacles, and grids. Basic handling and crosses will be practiced on 1-4 obstacle sequences, but there will not be full courses to run.
Requirements:
- Teams should have agility experience equivalent to the Agility 1-2 goals (here).
- Dogs must have a solid stay and recall in an off-leash environment, including when two dogs are working (separated by low ring gating) at the same time.
- Dogs must be quietly crated when not working, including times that students are in the ring without dogs.
Intermediate Agility: Short Courses / Saturdays @ 3:30pm
Instructor: Marty Gold
6 dogs, 1 hour
6 weeks
We will be analyzing and running short sequences of 6-10 obstacles. These sequences will challenge the handler to consider and try various handling techniques. Participants are expected to help set-up and take down courses.
Requirements:
6 dogs, 1 hour
6 weeks
We will be analyzing and running short sequences of 6-10 obstacles. These sequences will challenge the handler to consider and try various handling techniques. Participants are expected to help set-up and take down courses.
Requirements:
- Teams must have agility experience equivalent to the IDTC Agility 1-2 goals found here.
- Teams should be able to complete a simple 5-6 obstacle course in flow without interruption with treats given at completion of course
- Teams should have familiarity with all obstacles (excluding weaves) but may need additional work with other obstacles to be done with confidence
- Dogs must have a decent start-line stay (out one obstacle) and a good recall in the ring
- Dogs will need to be crated while handler is walking the course and helping set up and take down the course. Dogs can be out of the crate under close supervision of the handler while other teams are in the ring as long as safety is maintained and it is not disruptive to other teams.
Please note that IDTC is unable to accept aggressive or reactive dogs in our classes. If you are concerned that your dog is aggressive or reactive to people or other dogs, please ask your vet for a referral to a certified animal behaviorist.