Dog Training Services

This program is designed for puppies between 10 weeks and 17 weeks. In this group class, we will go over more age-appropriate topics like potty training and crate training. We also work on walking without pulling, sitting, down, stay, place, and leave it. This is three sessions, meeting once a week for an hour. These sessions are scheduled in the evenings during the week. If you go through our puppy class, you also get a discount on our day training program. This is the equivalent of the cost of the puppy class, should you choose to enroll after your puppy is older. 

Equipment included with this program:

• A standard Herm Sprenger prong collar

If your dog requires any specialty equipment, such as a micro size, hypoallergenic, or a half-link prong, you will be asked to pay the difference. Otherwise, the cost of the program includes the collar.

This class will be a group class for dogs 17 weeks and older to work on things like walking on a leash, sit, down, place, stay, and leave it. Think of this as an introduction to dog training and obedience. This is a fun way to socialize with some other dog parents, as well as giving you a good introduction to what dog training is all about. This class is a good starting point for young and old dogs alike.

After completing this class, we have additional programs to take your dog to the next level.  If you wish to proceed to a day training program, you can apply what you paid for this class as a discount towards the regular price of a day training program.

You are not required to complete this class in order to move to our other programs. If you wish, you may jump straight to general obedience or day training.

Equipment included with this program:

• A standard Herm Sprenger prong collar

If your dog requires any specialty equipment, such as a micro size, hypoallergenic, or a half-link prong, you will be asked to pay the difference. The cost of standard equipment is included in the cost of the class.

Our Canine Good Citizen program (CGC) is designed to recognize dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. This rapidly growing, nationally recognized program stresses responsible dog ownership for owners and basic training and good manners for dogs. Dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test can receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. 

Classes can be purchased individually or in punch cards of five or 10 sessions.

This class will be taught by one of our in-house AKC-approved CGC evaluators, so you can do the practice and the test without needing to hunt down a test administrator. This program is open enrollment, and you do not need to attend each week, though it is encouraged. Classes will be held at local pet-friendly stores, and you will be notified of the exact location prior to the class day. You can take this class as many times as you need until you and your dog are ready to take the test. CGC classes are offered in Bismarck every Monday at 6:00 PM and in Fargo every Thursday at 7:30 P.M.

The test is $25. Upon passing, you may request your certificate from the AKC for $25. You may also choose to earn your CGC as an official AKC title at that time if you wish.

A CGC certification is a prerequisite for many therapy dog programs. It is also a great start for many dog sports such as rally, obedience trials, or agility. A CGC certificate may also help you when applying for rental housing or insurance, as the CGC certificate often indicates a lower risk compared to an untested dog.

There are no breed, size, or age restrictions for dogs to go through the program and take the test. We also do not require the dog to have gone through one of our training programs prior to the class. However, any dog that has not been through our program will be asked to come to the facility and demonstrate their current skills to prove they are ready for the class.

The CGC test will be focused on 10 skills that we will practice during the class sessions. 

1. Accepting a friendly stranger 
2. Sitting politely for petting
3. The dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit someone, such as a veterinarian, groomer, or friend of the owner, to do so
4. Walk on a loose leash
5. Walking through a crowd and proving that they can behave politely around pedestrians, while under control in public places
6. Sit and down on command and stay in place
7. Coming when called.
8. The dog will remain neutral, under control, and polite when seeing and passing another dog in public.
9. The dog is confident when faced with common distracting situations such as loud sounds or unexpected movements (a dropping chair, a rolling dolly, a runner passing by, or a cane or crutch being dropped)
10. The dog can handle being left with a trusted person and will remain under control even when their owner is out of sight for a period of time

For more details about the test and expanded descriptions of the exercises above, please visit the AKC website. To schedule this program, please reach out to info@elevatecanine.com.

This program is customizable and allows you to pick from a variety of training and enrichment activities! 

 It also provides a safe and supervised environment to leave your dog(s) for the day without the risks that come with a social daycare! Plus, it is a convenient way to ask our trainers any questions that may pop up in day-to-day life, allowing us to focus on specific issues. 

Just like dogs in our day training program, your dog will get one-on-one time with our trainers, doing a variety of mentally and physically stimulating activities in a structured setting throughout the day.

Just give us a call ahead of time, and if there’s space, we’ll add your dog to our schedule! 

This program can be used as one-off sessions, or you may purchase a punch card and use the days however you wish. Our punch card is a great way to maintain structure and keep your dog in a routine!

Single-day and 10-day cards are available. For two-dog households, we offer the option to split a 10-day card. If you buy your punch card within two weeks of your dog's graduation date, you'll get $200 off. You can also get $200 off if you renew the same day as your last punch. If you renew within one week of your last punch, you'll save $100!

Please note that there is a limit of three days per calendar week. If it has been over six months since your dog last attended training, a one-week refresher course will be necessary before starting the maintenance program. 

To be eligible for this program, you must have completed day training or a one-week refresh. This is to ensure your dog is familiar with the facility and staff. Do you know someone who would benefit from our programs? Refer a friend and earn a single drop-in day if they register and mention you!

This is a one-hour group class intended to help your dog socialize with other dogs that have also gone through one of our training programs. In this session, the dogs will work on proper play and interactions with other dogs, along with a healthy mix of obedience! This program is separated into two classes to accommodate different developmental levels. Puppy Social is for dogs eight months and younger (down to 13 weeks), and Dog Social is for dogs nine months and older. This is a single one-hour session, but you are welcome to register for multiple sessions.

Training is something you will need to continue throughout your dog’s life. We have started a foundation of obedience that will leave you with a much better relationship with your dog if you maintain it. If you don't maintain it, your dog will start to regress into the behaviors that you experienced before training. However, we get it, life happens. That's why we offer a few programs to help you and your dog stay in a routine or even just give you both a refresher.

Our obedience refresh is a one-week program designed for dogs that have already completed our day training or general obedience program. This means the dogs are already familiar with the commands and boundaries that we teach. This program focuses on reinforcing the three key components of obedience training: boundaries, consequences, and consistency. Through this program, we can do a general refresh on all the things your dog learned in the training program, as well as focus on specific issues you may be facing.

Each day, your dog will receive approximately 1.5 hours of one-on-one training time. During the remaining time, they will work on impulse control through group activities, such as maintaining a down position while other dogs are training or playing fetch. Our facility is uniquely equipped to expose your dog to other dogs and a high volume of foot traffic. This exposure helps your dog become comfortable around various people, noises, and general everyday chaos. This is an especially great opportunity if the dog has only been through our general obedience program, since now they will have time working around other dogs and people. 

This program includes approximately 35 hours of training time. To secure a spot on the schedule, a deposit of half the total cost, along with the completed agreement and questionnaire, is required.

Now that you and your dog have all these new skills, why not try them out doing something fun with other Elevate Canine Academy graduates? 

Pack walks are held once a month at public parks during nice weather. Keep an eye on our calendar to see when one is coming up.

The best part is that pack walks are free. We do ask that dogs come on their equipment. Just call to reserve your spot, and you're good to go.

Are you taking the general obedience class at a slower pace? Did a family member miss out on the included one-on-one session of the day training? Or do you just want more one-on-one time with the trainers? This is the class for you! 

Just like general obedience, this is scheduled in the early afternoon or evening for a one-hour time slot. During this time, we can continue through the general obedience program at a slower pace, address a specific issue or goal, or simply practice under the watchful eye of one of our trainers. 

This class is available for anyone who has gone through day training or general obedience, and the goals and topics of the session can be customized based on the dog and owner’s needs.

We understand that dogs can sometimes present behaviors at home that we don’t always see in a training facility environment, or you may be facing a house-specific problem. In these cases, we offer a home visit. A trainer will come out to your house for one hour to address any specific issues or questions you may have regarding your dog’s behavior in the home. We can also meet at a pet-friendly store or public park if that would be preferred and would better address the specific problem you are facing.

If you completed the day training program, a home visit is included in your program that may be scheduled free of charge.