Our Classes

Obedience Class

Classes Are One Hour, Once A Week, For Six Weeks

Obedience Classes Are $115 Per Session

For Juniors (Handlers 8-18 years of age): Discount Classes 40%, put in code: JUNIOR40 ​ 

​“Set your puppies up for success. When training 2 dogs at the same level from the same household you will have greater success by enrolling them in separate classes.”

Puppy Foundations Class

The puppy foundations class is for pupples 8 weeks to 5 months old
PUPPY FOUNDATIONS: 8 weeks to 5 months old. This will prepare your puppy for on going training through bonding games. Learn basic commands. Handler will learn puppy maintenance (nail care) and preparing for developmental changes ahead.

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Obedience

AKC STAR PUPPY: 8 weeks to 6 months old. Gentle puppy training teaches essential social skills: Sit, Stay, Down, Come when called, and controlled walking. Other activities include: tunnels, small jumps, and other obstacles for puppies to master.

AKC - Potty Training A Puppy: How To Potty Train Puppies: A Comprehensive Guide for Success

AKC - Fun With Heeling: It’s Easy to Teach Your Dog to Walk Beside You

AKC - How to Teach Your Dog to Lie Down

Introduction To Obedience

BEGINNERS 1 (Introduction to Obedience): Dogs 6 months and older who have had no prior formal training.  Ideal class for a newly rescued or adopted dog or for the first-time handler who has never trained before. Class designed to assist owners in training their dogs to have basic manners and socialization needed to become a good family pet. Class includes: basics of sit, down, walk nicely on leash, and a number of other useful exercises which will assist in the Beginners 2.

Beginning Obedience

BEGINNERS 2: Beginners 1 is recommended prior to taking this class. Handlers and dogs learn together basic training and proper methods for correcting unwanted behavior. Dogs are taught the proper heel position, automatic sits, sit/stay, down/stay, come when called, attention skills, and more. All exercises are done on lead. You and your dog will be working with additional distractions while inthis class.

Intermediate Obedience

INTERMEDIATE/CGC: This is the next step after Beginners 2. You will polish skills you and your dog learned: Proper heeling position, straight sits, attention, figure-8 heeling patterns and more successful at sit and down stays with distractions. More social skills are taught including, greeting, grooming and a 3 minute out of sight from the owner which leads to a testing for CGC (Canine Good Citizen) certificate.

NOTE: Your dog must pass the Intermediate/CGC testing to take all other standard obedience, rally and agility classes.

Advanced /CGCA Obedience

ADVANCED: Class is for handler/dog teams to build skills acquired from previous classes. The goal is to develop an attentive dog that responds correctly to the handler’s commands.

PRE-NOVICE: For the owner who wants a very well-behaved pet or is preparing to continue in obedience training while solidifying the fundamentals and time to mature. Successful completion of CGCA is required for this class.

BEGINNER NOVICE: Owner who wants a well-behaved dog or has interest in showing in obedience trials You will learn how to proof your dog for a steady performance, proper ring etiquette and how to sharpen your dog’s skills. Dogs will be introduced to off lead heeling. (Advanced must be completed before entering this class). Dog & handler teams that have perfected the skills taught in Beginner Novice class should be able to enter the “Beginner Novice Class” at obedience trials.

Novice Obedience

NOVICE OBEDIENCE: (Advanced obedience must be completed before entering this class). This is for the owner who wants a well-behaved pet or haws interest in showing in obedience trials. You will learn how to proof your dog’s heeling for a steady performance, ring etiquette, how to sharpen your dog’s skills. Dogs will perform off-lead for the dog and handler that have perfected the skills taught in Novice class and will be able to enter the “Novice Class” at obedience trials and earn their C.D. (Companion Dog Title).

Open Obedience

OPEN OBEDIENCE: For those working towards their C.D.X (Companion Dog Excellent) Title. Teams work at various levels, from introduction exercises to the exercises required of competitors trying to polish their skills.

Utility Obedience

UTILITY OBEDIENCE: Utility obedience is for those working towards their U.D. (Utility Dog) Title. Teams work at various levels and learn how to teach the exercises required for utility competition. This level will teach signal exercises (hand signals), scent articles, directed retrieve (gloves), moving stand and directed jumping.

Beginner Novice:

Owner who wants a well-behaved dog or has interest in showing in obedience trials. You will learn how to proof your dog for a steady performance, proper ring etiquette and how to sharpen your dog’s skills. Dogs will be introduced to off lead heeling. (Advanced must be completed before entering this class). Dog & handler teams that have perfected the skills taught in Beginner Novice class should be able to enter the “Beginner Novice Class” at obedience trials.

Competitive Obedience Classes 2-sessions

Competitive Open Obedience

This class will prepare you to compete in the AKC Open obedience class.  This is for dogs that are just beginning to learn the open exercises in order to compete.  The class will teach the basics of each exercise and progress to the finished product.  This is a TWO session course.

Prerequisite:  Proficient in Novice Exercises

Competitive Novice Obedience


This class is for those wanting to compete in the AKC Novice obedience class.  This is for students wanting to learn and perfect the foundation exercises of obedience.  We will work on the student’s footwork, placement of the dog, perfect turns and interaction with the dog in the ring.  We will start with the basics of the exercises for both the dog and the handler.

Prerequisite:  Advanced Obedience and/or Beginner Novice

Competitive Utility Obedience

This class is for those who are actively working the Utility exercises.  The class will help the handler perfect the skills for the dog and for themselves. This class will not teach the Utility exercises. 

COntact us

Registration Opens February 2, 2026 at NOON

Forest City Dog Training club has successfully trained thousands of area dogs since our club’s inception in 1968.

Facility Club Location

Mailing Address:

Forest City Dog Training Club P.O. Box 2576 Rockford,  IL 61132

Facility Club Location

Address:

6203 Material Ave. Loves Park, IL 61111

For Registration Questions

Email:

gschum3225@aol.com

Information Line

Call Us:

815-633-2350

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