| Days/Times | Grade/Ages | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 10/18/26-Sunday 11/22/26 Drop in classes now available! |
Adult & Dog | $180/dog for five week session | $30/drop in |
| Location | ||
| TTCC | REGISTER ONLINE NOW! | |
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 Sunday afternoons.
Session Dates
Sunday, October 18th – Sunday, November 22nd
Class Options
Level 1 Group Options: Must complete either the Puppy Group or 6+ Month Group to move onto the Level 2 Group!
Puppy Group (2–5 Months Old) | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Designed for puppies during their critical learning period, this class focuses on positive socialization, confidence-building, and foundational obedience skills. Puppies will learn basic cues while developing good manners and appropriate interactions with people and other dogs.
6+ Month Group | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Perfect for adolescent and adult dogs beginning their training journey. This class emphasizes building attention and engagement, teaching foundational obedience skills, and strengthening communication between you and your dog through positive reinforcement.
Level 2 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
For dogs who have successfully completed a Level 1 obedience class. This class builds on foundational skills by increasing reliability, introducing more advanced behaviors, and practicing in real-world situations with added distractions.
Level 3 (AKC Canine Good Citizen®) | 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Designed for dogs that have mastered the skills taught in Level 2 and are ready for more advanced training. This class focuses on polishing obedience, improving reliability in real-world situations, and preparing teams for the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluation. Dogs will strengthen advanced manners, self-control, and confidence while continuing to build a strong working relationship with their handler.
Drop-In Training Classes ($30/class) | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Join us for flexible, topic-based training classes designed to help you and your dog build real-life skills—without committing to a multi-week program. Each class focuses on a different training topic, giving you the opportunity to strengthen specific skills while working alongside a professional trainer in a fun, supportive environment.
Topics may include loose leash walking, reliable recall, impulse control, tricks, confidence building, cooperative care, nose work, puppy socialization, and more. Attend the classes that interest you most and continue building your dog’s skills one class at a time.
Upcoming Drop-In Class Schedule
Sunday, October 18 – Loose Leash Skills (Repeat Topic)
Learn techniques to help your dog walk politely on a leash without pulling, making walks more enjoyable for both you and your dog.
Sunday, November 1 – Confidence Club (Repeat Topic)
Help shy or nervous dogs build confidence as they explore new environments, objects, and experiences in a safe, encouraging setting.
Sunday, November 8 – Open Gym
Practice the skills you’ve been working on in a controlled environment with real-world distractions, including other dogs and people. Whether you’d like guidance from the trainer or prefer to practice independently, Open Gym provides an excellent opportunity to reinforce training in a safe and supportive setting.
To ensure everyone has plenty of room to work, this class is limited to five dogs.
Sunday, November 15 – CGC Club
Perfect for teams who have already earned their AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title or for those preparing to take the evaluation.
Dogs that have already passed can continue sharpening their skills while working toward more advanced AKC titles, including Community Canine (CGCA) and Urban CGC (CGCU).
Dogs preparing for the CGC should already have a solid foundation in basic obedience.
Sunday, November 22 – Impulse Control Skills
Learn fun exercises and practical games that teach your dog self-control and thoughtful decision-making. Building impulse control helps dogs make better choices in everyday situations instead of reacting impulsively, creating a calmer and more responsive companion.
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.
Puppy Group 2–5 Months (Level 1)
6+ Month Group (Level 1)
Level 2 (Must Complete Level 1)
Level 3 (AKC Canine Good Citizen®) (Must complete Level 2)
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:
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
$30 per dog/each drop in 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
