Puppy Building Blocks

Our 4-week Puppy Building Blocks program is designed for puppies between the ages of 9 and 16 weeks with a focus on household skills, socialization, play training and positive reinforcement behavior modeling. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) recommends classes of this type and that puppies have their first series of vaccinations at least one week prior to attending their first class.  Please do not allow puppies of this age to have access to any unknown dogs outside of this class or places where the stool and urine from unknown dogs may exist. 

View our Puppy Building Blocks brochure

View AVSAB's position statement on puppy socialization

We will address common concerns like housetraining, containment and control options, chewing and mouthing, constructive exercise and play.  This class is the perfect puppy primer to our comprehensive Basic Obedience & Behavior Course.

1) Housetraining

2) Supervision & Containment

3) Energy, Play, Exercise & Toys

4) Oral Behaviors and Tactile (touch) Desensitization

 •Calm, loose lead; stationary & walking

 •Constructive one-on-one socialization

 •Sit / Down / Sit / Stand/ Come / Sit

 •Stimulate & Settle

Meets every Saturday 9:15 to 10:30AM, $20 per class, or $60 for all 4 classes

Walk-ins with vaccination proof, are welcome.  Or, Register NOW for Puppy Building Blocks.

When:  Saturdays

Time:   9:15-10:30AM

Cost:   $20 per class, or $60 for all 4 classes ($10 to repeat any class)  Walk-ins with vaccination proof are welcome or register online

What to bring: a regular buckle collar, a 6-foot leash, vaccination records, and small, bite-sized treats.

Vaccinations: The first series of vaccinations must have been administered at least one week prior to your puppy's first class.  Bring vaccination record to your first class.

Exposure: We instruct all of our students to prohibit contact with any unknown, unhealthy or "exposed" dog outside of class and to stay away from any area where the stool or urine from unknown dogs may be present.

Basic Obedience Classes

	Our most popular course!  This class provides the right atmosphere for socializing and training dogs of all ages to learn consistent obedience, good manners and self control around many distractions. Teach your dog to walk politely on a loose lead, walk and sit at heel, come when called, sit stay, down stay, stand stay, kennel, respect boundaries, yield, and perform tricks. Discover how to address and prevent behavior problems such as chewing, mouthing, jumping up, soiling, stealing, scavenging, barking, bolting, pulling, digging, over-stimulation, aggression and fear. We also discuss how to select  the best food and treats for your dog. No question is left unanswered in this 7-week course (check our class schedule for more information). Dogs must be 16 weeks of age or older and be current on their vaccinations. Dogs do not attend the first class. Includes our book (and/or CD), "The Complete Family Dog."
When:	Monday, Thursday or Saturday; meets once every week for 7 weeks
Time:	Mondays: 6:30-8:30PM, Thursdays: 6:30-8:30PM  (Evening classes may be split if demand requires to 5PM and 7PM start times) Saturdays: 10:30AM-12:30PM and 1:00-3:00PM
Cost / Deposit:	$215 USD (or $195 for recognized rescue organization dogs, $175 for 2nd household dog enrolled in the same class).  Course fee due at first class, Week 1.
Registration required. Register Now! for a Basic Obedience class.

Good Citizen Classes

The American Kennel Club (AKC) offers any breed of dog the opportunity to earn the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certificate.  "Started in 1989, the CGC Program is 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. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the AKC.  ...The Canine Good Citizen Program lays the foundation for other AKC activities such as obedience, [therapy], agility, tracking, and performance events." (AKC.org)

This six-week advanced training course is designed around a wide variety of fun and challenging real life situations that usually drive dogs to distraction. Bouncing balls, Frisbees, fetching dogs, canes, crutches, wheelchairs, hospital gurneys, vacuum cleaners, total food control, loud noises, musical instruments, remote control devices, wind up devices, big hats, costumes, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, noisy kids, kids' toys, and small animals are some of the featured elements. Many of you will be happy to hear that there are no lectures in this course! We do long distance and extended term exercises to increase your dog's capabilities and reliability. Dogs that work very well on leash will begin off-leash work. This training prepares your dog for the AKC Good Citizen evaluation that is given in the sixth week of class.

Some insurance companies, apartment management, homeowner and condominium associations are requiring CGC certification or offering discounts to those who have dogs that have earned it. All dogs entering this class are required to have completed our beginning obedience course or an equivalent. WE HAVE LOTS OF FUN IN THIS CLASS!

Registration required.  Click here to Register Now! for Good Citizen class

Questions? call us at 303-232-1034, or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Refresher drop-ins encouraged, $10 per visit

Therapy Dog Classes [currently not offered]

This class will improve your dog's control and reliability around common medical equipment sights, sounds and contact.  Teach your dog to accept various forms of contact and approach from strangers, be controlled around food, sudden movement, and act politely around other animals.  This class prepares your dog for any of the therapy dog tests given by local hospitals and/or other therapy dog organizations, as well as prepare your dog to receive the TDI (Therapy Dog International) title.

When:      Mondays

Time:        4:00 - 5:00PM (by appointment only, call first)

Cost:        $20 per visit

Call us at 303.232.1034 before coming to this class.

"Anger Management" Classes

This drop-in class is designed for dogs that have aggression issues towards people or other dogs. We work dogs through exercises that are designed to control, substantially reduce, and remove the triggers that cause aggression. Please call us about your dog's specific issues before coming to this class.

When:      Thursdays

Time:        4:00 - 5:00PM

Cost:        $20 per visit

Call us at 303.232.1034 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it before coming to this class, first time only.

Private Instruction

If you need immediate help with a behavior or training issue, call us to schedule a family, private appointment with your dog.  We’ll help you identify the cause(s) and then teach you the best methods and approach.  We’ll give you all the tools and know-how you’ll need to address virtually any behavior issue, usually in one 2-hour session.

When:      By Appointment

Time:        2 hours, weekday business hours

Cost:        $155 includes our book, “The Complete Family Dog”

Call us at 303.232.1034 to schedule an appointment, or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Educational Programs

• Rescue & Foster Home Education Seminars
• Babies, Children and Dogs
• Injury / fall prevention (in association with Exempla-Lutheran Hospital)
• Elementary school presentations (career day, dog safety)

For more information about our Educational Programs, please call us at 303.232.1034, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click above image to view a sample agenda

Temperament Testing

Learn more about a dog's temperament before making a lifetime commitment. Early evalution of rescue and shelter dogs lay the groundwork for better placement.  One hour in length comprised of 35 minutes for drop-off testing and 25 minutes to discuss findings.

Cost: $60 (or $30 for recognized rescue and shelter organizations)

Call us at 303.232.1034 for an appointment, or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kennel / Board and Train

Let us help you train your dog while you're away.  Leave your dog at Action Kennels and make an appointment with us to visit your dog for training. Call us for details at 303.232.1034, or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  For a complete stand alone, three-to-four week board and train program, please contact the Terroux Training Kennel at 303.424.7703.

Sally Terroux Board and Train Kennel | 14601 W. 72nd Ave, Arvada CO 80005 | 303-424-7703

Action Kennel · 12975 W 80th Ave · Arvada, CO 80005 · 303-423-2243

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