Sunnyside Training Center

Classes are typically 7 weeks long and cost $150. The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program focuses on 20 steps for success, communication, house-training, chewing, and practical skills. The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) class is a 7-week course for basic obedience, suitable for dogs 8 months or older or those coming from puppy class, and is a prerequisite for advanced classes.

The Canine Good Citizen Advanced (CGCA) / Therapy Dog Class is a 7-week course that requires prior completion of a basic obedience class like CGC. The first 4 weeks are held at the facility, focusing on skills for the CGCA and Therapy Dog tests. Weeks 5 and 6 involve public exposure at Polaris Mall, and week 7 is for testing. The Canine Good Citizen Urban Dog (CGCU) is a 7-week traveling class focused on public manners, offered in spring and fall, and requires a CGC title.

Competition-focused classes include Beginning Rally, Beginner Novice/Novice Obedience, Trick Dog, and Precision Obedience/Rally, all of which have CGC as a prerequisite, with some also requiring CGCA. Drop-in classes like Obedience Proofing, Obedience and Rally Run-Throughs, and Conformation Run-Throughs are also available, with specific schedules and fees.

Pricing Summary

Most class sessions run for 7 weeks and cost $150.00. Drop-in classes have varying fees: Obedience Proofing is $15.00, Obedience and Rally Run-Throughs are $10.00 per ring, and Conformation Run-Throughs are $15.00. Your spot in a class is secured only upon receipt of the registration form and payment.

Sunnyside Training Center is a privately owned, all-breed dog training facility located in Central Ohio, just north of New Albany. They are balanced trainers who focus on teaching owners to train their dogs, fostering the bond between dog and handler.

The center offers a variety of group classes including AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen (CGC), Canine Good Citizen Advanced (CGCA) / Therapy Dog Class, Canine Good Citizen Urban Dog (CGCU), Beginning Rally, Beginner Novice/Novice Obedience, Trick Dog, and Precision Obedience/Rally.

They also provide drop-in classes such as Obedience Proofing, Obedience and Rally Run-Throughs, and Conformation Run-Throughs. Additionally, Sunnyside Training Center hosts Grooming Workshops and AKC Fetch Tests.

Accomplishments

The journey for Sunnyside Training Center began in 1978. Karen Smith and her daughter Megan McClung have trained and put many titles on 26 Golden Retrievers. Karen has taught obedience for over 25 years.

They have chaired Field Events, Specialties, and Matches, and are Field Instructors, teaching Freestyle Dancing and Doga at Camp Pawsitive Adventure. Karen and Megan are approved evaluators for AKC Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R Puppy Programs, and are both evaluators for Therapy Dogs International. Don Smith joined in 2014, bringing over 45 years of dog training experience, with a focus on Retriever Field Training.

How to Get Started!

To get started, clients can register for any class either online by filling out a registration form and making a payment via PayPal, or by printing a downloadable registration form and mailing it in with payment. Classes fill on a first-come, first-served basis. Clients will receive an email a few days before the session starts with additional class information.