Joseph’s Obedience Training

Joseph’s Obedience Training School offers a wide range of classes including Puppy Kindergarten, Obedience Levels I and II, Competition Obedience, Agility, Canine Good Citizen, K9 Nose Work®, Rally-O, Tricks and Freestyle, Rocket Recall and Leash Manners, Reactive Dog Class, and Obility.

Puppy Kindergarten is a 7-week class (45 mins/week) for puppies up to 6 months, with the first class being “parent night” without the puppy. It covers housebreaking, feeding, crate training, sits/downs, recalls, and heeling, and includes an introduction to agility equipment. Puppies need their second set of vaccines.

Obedience Level I teaches essential commands like sit, stay, come, heel, leash training, and focus exercises for dogs at least 6 months old with a Rabies vaccine certificate. Level II refines these skills and introduces more complex commands, requiring graduation from Level I. Canine Good Citizen (CGC) training prepares dogs for the AKC CGC test, focusing on 10 essential skills over a 6-week class with the test on week 7. Completion of Level I Obedience is required, and Level II is recommended.

Agility training challenges dogs physically and mentally with tunnels, jumps, and weave poles, emphasizing positive reinforcement. It’s suitable for all experience levels, with modifications for puppies to ensure safety. Competition Obedience focuses on precision and accuracy for exercises like heeling, stand for examination, recall, long sit and down, retrieve on the flat, and retrieve over a high jump, with levels including Novice, Open, Utility, and Master.

K9 Nose Work® is a scent work sport open to all dogs, building confidence and mental stimulation by teaching dogs to locate hidden food and later essential oils (Birch, Anise, Clove). Classes progress through Intro to K9 Nose Work®, Intro to Odor, Level 1, and Level 2, with dogs crated when not searching. Rally Obedience is an AKC titling event that emphasizes a relaxed, interactive connection between dog and handler, moving through a course of numbered signs with commands like heeling, sits, downs, and more. Basic obedience (sit, down, stay, come, heel) is required.

Reactive Dog Training is for dogs that bark, lunge, or growl at other dogs or people, teaching them to remain calm using positive reinforcement. Rocket Recall and Leash Manners combines teaching fast recall and polite leash behavior. Tricks and Canine Freestyle classes teach impressive tricks and choreographed routines, building confidence and strengthening the bond. Canine Freestyle requires basic obedience and leash ability. They also offer Obedience Ring Rentals and Agility Ring Rentals.

Pricing Summary

The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) class fee includes the CGC test. Specific pricing for other classes is not detailed in the provided content, but a pricing page is linked.

Policies

Joseph’s Obedience Training School has specific rules regarding training equipment, prohibiting prong, choke, and e-collars. For puppy classes, puppies must have their second set of vaccines. For Rally Obedience, dogs must be in good physical condition, up to date on vaccinations, flea-free, and non-aggressive towards people and other dogs. For K9 Nose Work®, dogs must be able to tolerate crating in vehicles when not searching.

Joseph’s Obedience Training School, founded in 1995 by Joseph Mendonca, is a full-service dog training center located in Pocasset, MA, serving dog owners across Cape Cod and the South Shore. They are committed to positive reinforcement dog training and strictly prohibit the use of prong, choke, or e-collars in their school.

The school offers a wide array of classes including Puppy Kindergarten, Obedience Levels I and II, Competition Obedience, Rally Obedience, Agility, K9 Nose Work®, Canine Good Citizen, Tricks Class, Canine Freestyle, Reactive Dog Training, and Obility. They also provide Obedience and Agility Ring Rentals.

Joseph’s Obedience Training School prides itself on its experienced and knowledgeable dog trainers who use science-backed positive reinforcement techniques to build trust, encourage cooperation, and deliver lasting results. They are dedicated to helping dogs and their owners build strong, positive relationships and are recognized as one of the best dog training schools on Cape Cod.

Accomplishments

Joseph’s Obedience Training School was founded in 1995 by Joseph Mendonca. The school is recognized as one of the best dog training schools on Cape Cod. Their team includes three Certified K9 Nose Work® Instructors (CNWI): Tracey Costa, Susan James, and Maureen Dwyer.

How to Get Started!

To get started, clients can register for classes online. Pre-registration is required for some classes, such as K9 Nose Work®, due to limited class size. For K9 Nose Work®, a Pre-Class Questionnaire must be completed and submitted via email before the first class.