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Dog Obedience Classes – Smith River Pet Care

Days/Times Grade/Ages Cost
May 9-June 13
*Sunday class on May 17th
*No class Memorial Day weekend!
Adult & Dog $180/dog for five week session
Location
TTCC REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

Program Description

Group Obedience Classes

With Smith River Pet Care

Join us for a 5-week group obedience class designed to build confidence, improve behavior, and strengthen the bond between you and your dog.

Classes are held at the Tapply-Thompson Community Center and meet once per week on Saturday afternoons, with one Sunday session included.


Session Dates

Saturday, May 9 – Saturday, June 13
Please note: There will be one Sunday session on May 17 instead of Saturday.

No class Memorial Day weekend! 


Class Options

Puppy Group (2–5 Months Old)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Focus on socialization, confidence-building, and foundational obedience skills.

6+ Month Group
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Focus on structure, reliability, focus, and real-world training around distractions.

Level 2 Group
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Designed for dogs ready to build on foundational skills with more advanced training and consistency.


What You’ll Learn

Group training classes are a fun, supportive way to set your dog up for lifelong success. In a small-group setting, you’ll work alongside your dog to build a strong training foundation together using positive reinforcement techniques.

Level 1: Puppies (2–5 Months)

  • Socialization and confidence-building
  • Foundational obedience skills (sit, down, stay, leash walking, no jumping, leave it, and more)
  • Learning to focus and work around distractions

Level 1: Dogs (6+ Months)

  • Building attention and engagement in distracting environments
  • Foundational obedience skills (sit, down, stay, leash walking, no jumping, leave it, and more)
  • Developing clear communication between you and your dog

Level 2: All Ages (must complete Level 1)

  • Refining skills with increased difficulty and real-world distractions
  • Beginning to phase out treats and build reliability
  • Learning new skills such as place, touch, heel, and more

Training Approach

Smith River Pet Care group classes provide a supportive, small-group environment designed to build a strong training foundation between dog and owner. All training is positive reinforcement–based and focuses on trust, clear communication, and strengthening the bond between handler and dog.

Classes emphasize:

  • Basic obedience skills
  • Clear communication between handler and dog
  • Strengthening the relationship between you and your dog
  • Practical training in real-world environments

For safety and to maintain a positive learning environment, all participating dogs must be dog-friendly to attend group classes.


Registration Information

$180 per dog
5-week session

Spots are limited. Early registration is encouraged.

Register online: ttccrec.org


Meet the Trainer

Kristen Belanger, Owner – Smith River Pet Care

Kristen Belanger has worked professionally in animal welfare since 2015, serving in roles ranging from Animal Caregiver to Director of Animal Care and Practice Manager. She has overseen animal intake and outcomes, medical and behavioral programs, foster care systems, and daily operations for facilities caring for 50–70 animals at a time.

Kristen also helped open and manage a general practice veterinary hospital within a shelter setting, gaining hands-on experience supporting complex medical and behavioral cases.

In 2026, she opened Smith River Pet Care, a locally based pet sitting, dog walking, and dog training service serving the Newfound Lake area. Her professional focus centers on animal care, welfare, and behavior, with a strong passion for helping people better understand and communicate with their pets.

She holds certifications in Animal CPR, Fear Free Shelter practices, Shelter Animal Medical Management, Clinic Management, and Shelter Animal Behavioral Management. Her background blends medical, behavioral, and husbandry expertise, allowing her to confidently work with a wide variety of animals—from small exotics to companion animals and livestock.


Questions?

Phone: (603) 455-1274
Email: smithriverpetcare@gmail.com

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