Tiny classes
Never more than six dogs, so every student gets coaching, and the shy ones never get lost in the crowd.
Est. 2016 · Apex, North Carolina
Where good dogs go to school.
Structured, reward-based obedience classes for family dogs, from Puppy Kindergarten all the way to the AKC Canine Good Citizen title.
6dogs max per class
5levels, from puppy to CGC
1,800+graduates since 2016
Why families choose us
A proper school, built for family dogs.
A real lesson plan
Written by a former teacher. Each week builds on the last, with a take-home practice sheet and short videos.
Graduation day
Every level ends with a report card, a class photo and a spot in our Hall of Fame. Families love it.
The level path
Five levels. One very good dog.
Start where your dog is today, then follow the paw prints. Every level is a six-week term that ends with a graduation.
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Puppy K1
Puppy Kindergarten
Name games, gentle mouths, handling and confident socialization, plus crate and potty tips for the whole family.
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Level 12
Basic Manners
Sit, down, stay, leave it, come when called, loose-leash basics and polite greetings.
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Level 23
Intermediate
Longer stays, more distance, real distractions, settling on a mat and calm walks past other dogs.
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Level 34
Advanced
Field trips to downtown Apex, a garden center and the park, with door, car and sidewalk manners.
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Final5
Canine Good Citizen
Rehearse all 10 AKC CGC test items, then earn the official title with Lena as your evaluator.
Biscuit
Meet the principal
Every student is greeted at the door by Biscuit.
Biscuit was a shoe-chewing, guest-jumping, leash-pulling Lab mix when Lena adopted him in 2014. His first obedience class changed both their lives, and it’s the reason this school exists.
Today he’s gray around the muzzle, very good at “settle,” and serious about his job as greeter, demo dog and official tester of treats.
Read our story
For the whole family
Kids are welcome in class, and they’re often the best handlers.
Good manners only stick when everyone at home uses the same cues. We hand every family a simple “house rules” sheet and invite kids 8 and up to take a turn at the leash.
- Same cues, same rewards, for every family member
- Short practice games kids actually want to play
- Dog-and-kid safety tips built into every level
Hall of Fame
Recent graduates
Notes from parents
Straight A’s from our families
★★★★★
Our doodle went from greeting guests at eye level to sitting politely at the door. The weekly practice sheets made it so easy for our kids to help.
★★★★★
Lena runs class like the best teacher you ever had: organized, encouraging and a little bit silly. Our puppy cried when Puppy K ended. So did I.
★★★★★
We walked into the Advanced field trip at the garden center and Mabel just… heeled. Passed her CGC two months later. Couldn’t be prouder.
Not sure where to start?
Take the 30-second placement quiz.
Answer three quick questions and we’ll point you to the right level. Adult dogs can also come in for a free 20-minute placement visit.