Next Step Puppy

August 7 – October 2, 2024
No class August 14 and 28
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.

Please read the Richmond SPCA Training Class COVID-19 Policies before attending your first class.

Instructor: Mariah Dudley

For puppies up to 12 months old at the start of class who have graduated from our Good Start Puppy 2 class.

The first class is for people only.

This class will take foundational skills learned in Good Start Puppy to the next step. Polish verbal cues, discover how behaviors can be practical solutions in everyday life, add some fun new behaviors, and continue to help your dog be more comfortable for visits to the veterinarian and groomers. The class will explore how management, training and enrichment can help address undesirable behavior issues common in adolescent dogs. Your puppy will have the opportunity to make new friends, and perhaps reunite with some old ones, during play and socialization time. Together, you’ll work on:

Creating positive experiences and learning helpful behaviors for grooming and veterinary visits
Position changes (sit, down, stand) for a verbal cue and hand signal
Stay and wait for ever increasing distractions
Loose Leash Walking
Recall
Addressing behavior issues common to young adult dogs
Confidence building

Requirements:

Puppy has completed Richmond SPCA’s Good Start Puppy 2.
Puppy is up to 12 months old
Spaying or neutering prior to the start of class is highly recommended

Seven-session, one-hour class at Smoky’s Training Center, Richmond, VA. $150

Training Classes Waiver:

By registering for training classes with the Richmond SPCA, I hereby waive, release and discharge for myself, my heirs, personal representatives and assigns any and all rights, liability, causes of action and claims that may now or hereafter accrue to me or which I may now or hereafter assert against the Richmond SPCA or the officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns of any of them for injury or illness and/or property damage that my dog may suffer or sustain as a result of his or her participation in Richmond SPCA animal training programs. I hereby assume all risks of any such injury, illness, or damage. I certify that my pet is physically fit to participate in Richmond SPCA animal training program activities.

BACK TO CLASSES

PET VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

All dogs must be current on the following vaccinations at least three days prior to their first class (protective titers also accepted):

Rabies: for all dogs ages 16 weeks and older, updated annually or every three years (per your veterinarian’s recommendation)
Distemper/Parvo: updated annually or every three years (per your veterinarian’s recommendation); puppies must have had at least two sets prior to class and by 16 weeks of age
Bordetella: updated every six months or annually (per your veterinarian's recommendation)

You or your veterinarian must provide proof of current vaccinations or protective titers on or before your pet’s first training class.

Send your veterinary records by email to gbirdnecklace@richmondspca.org, fax them to 804-521-0540 or bring printed copies to our humane center’s front desk. Please mark them to the attention of Gail Bird Necklace.

Vaccination waivers from your veterinarian should be sent by email to eholst-grubbe@richmondspca.org or faxed to 804-521-0540. Please mark them to the attention of Eileen Holst-Grubbe.

All waivers must be approved by our veterinarian and management team.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

We rarely cancel class due to inclement weather. If we're experiencing a significant weather event (snow, ice, etc.), we will make every effort to contact participants at least an hour and a half prior to class start time in the event that we have to cancel class.

CANCELLATION / REFUND POLICY

Registrations that are cancelled seven or more days prior to the start of class will be refunded in full. Registrations cancelled with fewer than seven days notice will not be refunded and we will not offer credit toward future sessions for missed classes.

Questions about your training class? Check out our Training Class FAQs and Policies. See you in class!

Next Step Puppy

Our Partners