Group Classes 

Group classes provide the perfect environment for learning new behaviors and proofing established behavior. Your dog will have a chance to learn, and practice, self-control even in the presence of other dogs and people and help develop your dog’s social skills. Group classes help you learn to work with your dog to keep their attention in a new place and with distractions.

Classes will be at 1220 Weil Street, suite #4, Billings, MT 59101. Please park at the designated parking spots closes to Weil street, to ensure we are not parking in front of the other businesses.
​ Classes will only have between 4-5 dogs to ensure quality training.
Listed below is a description of all classes. Please note, that not all classes are offered at the same time.
​Find updated class schedule below the descriptions.
​If any questions or special requests, please don't hesitate to call at (406) 679-3826.

RULES FOR GROUP CLASS 
  • When working with our dogs, we will use the marker word "yes". Using a marker word helps give them instant and clear feedback, when they are performing the wanted behavior. Before coming to class, please watch this video  "How to charge your marker word" or if you want to use a clicker , watch this video start this exercise at home.
  • Please watch this video on how to teach your dogs to take treats gently, to avoid any issues in class.
  • Before coming to class, please watch this video on how we help the dog settle on a mat/blanket in the group class setting
  • Bring mat/towel to class. This is where your dog will "settle/relax", while in class.
  • Bring bully stick, stuffed Kong or bone to class. This will help your dog to settle in class.
  • Bring 3-4 different types of treats. Example: Kibble (low value), soft training treats (medium value) and boiled chicken or hot-dogs (high value) , all cut into pea-sized treats. And bring lots of them! 
  • Only flat buckle collar or harness allowed on dog in class. No exception!
  • Keep your dog on leash at all time. 
  • When walking in and out of class, keep distance. Don't let your dog walk up to another dog on a leash!
  • If for some reason your dog does get close to another dog on a leash, let them sniff each other on a loose leash for max 3 seconds and then call your dog to follow you - using "happy" voice (not a tight leash). 
  • Be respectful of your dog and other teams in the class.
  • Please no flip-flops or high heels. It is important that you can move freely and comfortably in your foot wear. 
  • Make sure to have lots of fun - training should be fun for both dog and handler.
  •  Please park at the designated parking spots closes to Weil street, to ensure we are not parking in front of the other businesses.
  • ​NEW: Prepayment for class is now required to secure your spot.
groupclassagreement_april2023.pdf
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New class schedule for 2023
Sign up by emailing bluecreekcanine@yahoo.com 
If you have any questions, please feel free to call (406) 679-3826
Please notice that currently, there is a Tricks course, a Canine Enrichment Activity course and a Creative Movement class available as online courses.
Link to the Online Shop: Blue Creek Canines Online Shop - Blue Creek Canine, Dog Training, BILLINGS
Group Class Descriptions:

Puppy Classes

What you teach (or neglect to teach) your pup during his first year of life can determine what kind of a dog he grows into. So come and join us for a fun 7 weeks puppy class with focus on proper socialization,  relationship between dog and handler, attention, impulse control as well as sit, down , stay,  leave it and drop it cues, recall, corporative care and much more, all to help give you and your puppy the best start together. Please know, that you will have access to an online puppy curriculum with training videos, so you have the extra support for your home work. 
UPDATE APRIL 2018: If you have a newly adopted dog from a rescue in the Billings area or one of the Reservation Rescues, you will need to have a health clearance for parvo/distemper before attending one of our classes or privates or play groups."

Canine Good Citizen  (CGC) class incl test with  Lara W.

The CGC Program is a great obedience foundation for all dogs, designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. In this class we will work on the 10-step requirements to pass the CGC test. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. The 10 test items for the CGC test
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Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGCA) incl. Test
 In this class we will work on the 10-step requirements to pass the CGCA test. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGCA test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. 
The 10 - test items for the CGCA title
Requirements:  All dogs are allowed to attend class (except reactive dogs though). However, only dogs with a CGC title are eligible to take the Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGCA) test.
​
Intro to Rally
Rally is a fun dog sport in which the dog and handler complete a course at their own pace through a course of designated stations (10 - 20, depending on the level). Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. This Intro Class will focus on the Novice signs and the importance of encouragement and  teamwork. All dogs are welcome, no matter their age or breed. 
Requirement: No reactive dogs allowed! If your dog is reactive, consider private sessions instead to work on that specific issue. 
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Mix Match 
This Mix Match class will focus on a different dog activity in each session. Topics will range from Rally, Nose work, Balance and Conditioning work, Creative Movements,  Tricks and Enrichment Puzzles to RallyFree.
This class is a chance for the handler to try some new activities beyond basic manners and is suitable for any dog, no matter age, breed or activity level. 
Come and try something new and have a fun time with your dog.
Note: No reactive dogs allowed. If your dog is reactive, consider private sessions instead to help work with your dog on this specific issue.
​

Balance, Awareness and Movement (BAM) 

In this 4 weeks class, we will focus on balance, body awareness and movement.  This class is a fantastic foundation class for any young adolescent dog as well as any dog who needs a boost in confidence. We will work on rear-end awareness, body awareness, movement and handler focus by using ladders, platforms, discs, balance beams and much more - all great foundation skills needed for any dog!​  

Creative Movement Class I 

This fun class is a great foundation class for Rally, Rally-FrEe or Freestyle dancing. We will work on transitional moves, such as spins, circle around, through legs with focus on precision in positioning and transferal of behaviors to verbal cues. This is a more technical class utilizing luring, shaping and target training.
Requirement: Must already have basic walking skills, and have a desire to take training beyond sit, down and stay.
Creative Movement Class II
In this class we will continue to work on new creative moves as well as working on creating small sequences with the moves we already know with a focus on improving flow. We will add music and really explore each individual team's style.
Requirement: Must have attended Creative Movement Class I
​

Tricks class with Lara Wagner

This class is set up similar to the CGC class, where we will practice various tricks throughout the class, and then have the opportunity to test for AKC trick titles on week 7. We will try a couple of tricks each class, and you will be able to choose which ones you like best for the test. If you have any requested tricks, let me know, otherwise we will be going off of the lists of tricks from AKC.

Fun with Shaping with Lara Wagner
 This is a class designed to help your dog ‘build their brain’, by making them think and come up with the behaviors we are wanting. This is another way of training, different from luring behaviors. We will shape with various objects, and you will get to choose which behavior you are rewarding your dog for (I will give suggestions, but you will choose).
Shaping can be a great way to teach some difficult behaviors, expand your animal’s capabilities and build confidence, while also building your handler and communication skills.

Basic Manners with Lara Wagner​

This is a basic manners class designed to help you and your dog build a better connection through positive reinforcement training. This class is tailored towards dogs that missed puppy class or want a refresher course after puppy class. The commands taught include ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘stand’, ‘settle’, ‘leave it’, ‘stay’, ‘heel’, ‘back’, recall, focus, and structured/loose-leash walking. We also discuss kennel training, greeting strangers, confidence building, body awareness, and thresholds, among other topics. There will be 4 dogs per class and they will all be on leash at all times. There are light barriers dividing the area into individual working spaces, and there will not be any physical interaction between dogs in this class. This type of group class is set up to help your dog learn to focus on you, the handler, and work around other dogs as a distraction without reacting to them. This class does not teach your dog how to interact with other dogs, only how to ignore them. As the instructor, I am giving you tips on training and building a relationship with your dog as much as we are teaching your dog basic manners. At the end of this class, your dog will have the skills to continue with a variety of other classes if you wish to continue with group classes. You will also have the skills to continue training at home, or maintain the commands your dog has learned in class.

Intermediate Manners with Lara Wagner

​Continuing to work more advanced basic manners skills such as proofing behaviors with different distractions, changing positions at a distance and with movement, recalling past distractions, and working on impulse control. We start to take barriers away in this class, so minimal reactivity is allowed.

Intro to nose work 

In this 4 weeks class, we will focus on building drive and commitment. A fun intro class to get started on Nose work and a great way to mentally exhaust your dog.
Picture

​We no longer accept puppies that go to dog parks or other off leash areas during this developmental phase. It is often bad play styles  and dangerous for puppies to be mixing with an adult off leash population, and it also increases the risk of your new puppy attracting a petri dish of germs and bacteria and vira, that we don't care to partake in. Thank you for respecting this. 

If you have any questions or special requests, please call Blue Creek Canine directly at (406) 679-3826 or email bluecreekcanine@yahoo.com. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have
​and recommend classes for you and your dog based on your specific needs. 

Please see a few pictures of some of our many accomplished students below