Go Dog Go

Go Dog Go offers structured group classes progressing from Puppy Genius (10 weeks–5 months) to Family Manners, then to Rally Obedience and Agility. Intro to Agility is taught privately before advancing to Intermediate and then Advanced/Competition Agility. Rally Obedience and Agility classes are mixed-level and meet weekly. CGC/Therapy Dog Prep builds on basic manners and ends with an AKC test. Classes are held Monday through Sunday with multiple time slots per day, led by Christine Tilburg and guest instructors. Special workshops and run-throughs are also available.

Pricing Summary

Group classes cost $220 for five or six weeks depending on the program. Private Intro to Agility lessons are offered monthly on Saturdays and sometimes weeknights. No pricing details are listed for private lessons beyond group class fees.

Policies

If a class is full, students may request to be added to a waitlist, and spots are filled from the waitlist throughout the year. No explicit cancellation or rescheduling policy is stated.

Go Dog Go is a dog training facility in Saco, Maine, founded by Christine Tilburg, who has been training dogs for nearly 25 years. The business offers group classes for puppies, basic manners, rally obedience, and agility training from beginner to competition levels, all using positive, playful methods that emphasize building strong human-dog relationships. Classes are held at their facility in the Shaw’s Shopping Center at 4 Scammon Street, and they also feature guest instructors like Hannah Clifford, Casey Gardiner, and Larissa Savage who bring additional expertise in positive reinforcement training. The program includes Puppy Genius for young dogs, Family Manners for older puppies and adults, CGC/Therapy Dog Prep, and specialized agility classes that progress from intro to competition level. Laughter, celebration of progress, and community support are central to their philosophy.

Instructors focus on games and play to teach skills like recall, loose leash walking, stays, and obedience in fun, low-pressure environments. They encourage dogs of all sizes and breeds to participate, with classes tailored to different life stages and goals, including therapy work and agility competition. The facility supports a community of dog owners through shared experiences and celebrates the achievements of both dogs and handlers.

Go Dog Go also hosts special workshops, run-throughs, and boot camps, and offers private Intro to Agility lessons. Their team includes certified trainers with backgrounds in animal behavior, veterinary technology, and competitive dog sports, ensuring a well-rounded, evidence-based approach to training.

Accomplishments

Christine Tilburg has trained dogs for 25 years and has earned multiple AKC titles with her dogs, including MACH2, PACH2, CGCA, TKI, and more. Her dog Gnocchi has been ranked in the top 5 for her breed in AKC agility and invited to the AKC Agility Invitational three times. Instructor Hannah Clifford holds a B.S. in Animal Behavior and is an approved AKC CGC evaluator. Casey Gardiner is a CPDT-KA and licensed veterinary technician with over 10 years of training experience. Larissa Savage is a CPDT-KA with formal certification since 2019.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients can review class schedules and descriptions on the website, then register for available classes. For Intro to Agility, students must first complete a basic manners class. Registration is handled through the Contact & Registration page.