3 hours of socialization, enrichment, and training for puppies 6 months and younger, in a small group setting. Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
-Safe and personalized experience, with positive reinforcement training
-Stationing; settling for a more content, relaxed puppy
-Free play to encourage reading dog to dog body language and polite play
-Puppy safe obstacle courses building body awareness and confidence
-Enrichment exercises for your dog’s brain, encouraging problem solving and good decisions making
-Basic manners and obedience such as sit, down, stay with opportunities to practice loose leash walking and reduced jumping
-Outdoor potty time
Eligible dogs:
-12-23 weeks of age
-Age-appropriate vaccinations & clear stool culture
-No bite history, aggression, or reactivity to humans/dogs
-Comfortable in a crate for short periods
Puppy school is designed to be paired with our group classes and private training to encourage bonding and connection for a harmonious life with your new furry family member.
Open to all puppies 12 weeks- 5 months at the start of class.
Puppy Kindergarten classes are key to a well behaved, well socialized, confident dog!
Your puppy will learn proper play etiquette, bite inhibition, play off-leash games and learn basic obedience.
Puppy Kindergarten:
Starts your puppy with....
Sit
Down
Stay
Focus Exercises
Loose-Leash walking
Leave It!
Jumping
Mouthing.
***Please note the location of your class. We hold classes at Wags Doggie Daycamp in Danbury one night a week. All other classes are at The Exceptional Pet in Newtown,
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
For an Exceptional Pet, a High School diploma is a must. Many dogs can pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test after this class. Mastering this class should be everyone's goal!
We will strengthen the skills taught in Middle School to help make them achievable in different settings with harder distractions. ***Please note the location of your class. We hold classes at Wags Doggie Daycamp in Danbury one night a week. All other classes are at The Exceptional Pet in Newtown
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
For dogs over 6 months of age.
Do you have a new dog in your home? How about a dog who's been there a while but could use a refresher course? Well then we have the class for you! Our Elementary School is a class for both dogs who need a beginner course in manners, and for dogs who have been around the block and might need some help remembering.
During this six week class your dogs will learn:
Sit
Down
Stand
Stay
Leave It
Loose Leash Walking
Recall
Heel
Not only is this class a fun way to bond with your dog and get out and meet new people but it will start you on the path to passing the Canine Good Citizen test. It will also teach you how to train through real life situations, which aren't always ideal. ***Please note the location of your class. We hold classes at Wags Doggie Daycamp in Danbury one night a week. All other classes are at The Exceptional Pet in Newtown
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
Once you and your dog have learned the basics it's time to put these skills into real life situations. This class will get you on the right track to having your dog well behaved in public. Many dogs can pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test after this class.
We will cover...
Sit for Petting
Greeting a Stranger
Walking through a Crowd
Stay at a Distance
Go to Bed/Settle in Place
Hand Signals
Mastering this class should be everyone's goal! A well mannered dog needs all of these skills to be a good citizen. ***Please note the location of your class. We hold classes at Wags Doggie Daycamp in Danbury one night a week. All other classes are at The Exceptional Pet in Newtown
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
Once you and your dog have learned the basics it's time to put these skills into real life situations. This class will get you on the right track to having your dog well behaved in public. Many dogs can pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test after this class.
We will cover...
Sit for Petting
Greeting a Stranger
Walking through a Crowd
Stay at a Distance
Go to Bed/Settle in Place
Hand Signals
Mastering this class should be everyone's goal! A well mannered dog needs all of these skills to be a good citizen.
***Please note the location of your class. We hold classes at Wags Doggie Daycamp in Danbury one night a week. All other classes are at The Exceptional Pet in Newtown.
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
Sharpen your dog's obedience skills and loose leash walking in public and at home! Have fun while you and your dog navigate a course of signs, like agility, but with obedience. Each sign provides instructions for the skills to be performed that transfer into real life situations. Spend time bonding with your dog, while increasing attention, focus, and impulse control.
Prerequisites: Middle School or equivalent with trainer approval. Dog must reliably know basic commands: sit, down, come, stay. Dogs must be at least 6 months old.
Equipment needed: flat buckle collar, martingale collar, or harness, 4 or 6 foot clip leash, bait bag, tons of tiny treats, and tons of enthusiasm.
Tunnels, jumps, tricks, dog walk, A-frame, and the teeter—oh my!
Want to teach your dog some amazing tricks or pretend you are an agility star?! This one hour class will get you there.
This class is all about fun, confidence-building, and teamwork, not competition. Dogs will explore agility-style obstacles at a relaxed pace while enjoying engaging brain work and physical exercise.
You’ll boost your dog’s confidence, strengthen your bond, and improve focus and obedience in a supportive, low-pressure environment. Each week includes individual off-leash time, tailored to your dog’s comfort level. We’ll also incorporate trick training, ranging from novice skills (like “give a paw”) to advanced behaviors (such as bows). For those interested, tricks can even count toward AKC Trick Dog Titles. Your dog will leave exhausted and your cheeks will hurt from smiling.
This class is limited to 4 dogs so everyone gets plenty of attention on the equipment.
This class is for all non-reactive dogs.
We will teach your dog the basic skills needed to safely use our agility and FitPaws equipment as well as explore other tricks that your dog might be appropriate to learn.
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
Take your skills on the road! Join our small group class at local dog friendly businesses and parks each week and put the skills you have learned in the center into real life situations. Work as a team to expand your skills with higher level distractions, socialization, and fun!
Your dog must be under control and not reactive to people or other dogs in order to join this fun class. Great for those that have completed Middle School, considering therapy dog, and those working towards their CGC.
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
Training Games - once per week, 60 minutes, 6 sessions.
It’s all fun and games—until you realize how much your dog’s manners have improved!
This class uses playful training games that mimic real-life situations, making it easy to transfer your dog’s skills to everyday life at home and on the go.
Each session is fresh, engaging, and tailored to build your dog’s focus, even around other dogs and distractions. You'll strengthen obedience, deepen your bond, and make sure Fido’s listening—no matter where you are.
Great for:
Dogs of all ages and sizes.
Teams hoping to do therapy work.
Middle school or like skills.
Pawrents that want to keep and expand their dogs training.
Dogs working towards AKC trick titles and AKC CGC tests.
Not appropriate for:
Reactive/aggressive dogs
Dogs that do not have basic obedience skills
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
This class is all about having fun with your dog! Our Fun Agility class is not designed to prepare you for competition—instead, it focuses on building confidence, teamwork, and joy through safe, positive interaction with agility equipment.
Together, we’ll jump, crawl, climb, and explore a variety of obstacles at a pace that’s comfortable for each dog. The goal is to provide both mental and physical exercise while strengthening your bond and letting your dog burn off energy in a constructive way.
Classes are kept small so every dog gets plenty of individual time on the equipment, with guidance to ensure a positive and successful experience for all skill levels. No prior agility experience is required—just a willingness to have fun with your dog.
Please note: this class is not appropriate for reactive dogs, as dogs will be working in the same space. If you’re unsure whether this class is a good fit for your dog, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help guide you.
Come ready to play, laugh, and leave with a happily tired pup. 🐾
Does your dog get overly excited, jump on guests, pull on the leash, or grab things they shouldn't? Our Impulse Control Group Class is designed to teach dogs the power of patience and focus, even in distracting environments. Help your dog learn to pause, focus, and make better choices—no more chaos, just calm!
Using positive reinforcement activities, the engage and disengage game, and real-life scenarios, we’ll help your dog build self-control, while strengthening your bond through clear communication and trust as we work on behaviors such as:
🐶 Calm greetings (no more jumping!)
🍖 Waiting for food or toys until given the OK
🐿 Leave it - for items they can never have
🐾 Settling on a mat—even with distractions around
🐕🦺 Walking politely on leash near other dogs
🚪 Waiting at doors and gates
Whether you have a rambunctious puppy or a spirited adult dog, this class is perfect for anyone looking to bring a little more calm into their daily routine.
Note: this is not a reactive dog class, but for dogs that struggle with extra energy, focus around distractions, and self calming.
This workshop runs for a total of 4 weeks and focuses on making you and your dog's walks more enjoyable.
Don't be the passenger on your dogs journey through the neighborhood. Take back your walks with a special class just for loose leash walking.
We will focus on:
Loose leash walking, leave it will be practiced with various distractions to give dog parents more control when walking their dogs in their neighborhood or around town. This can prepare them for Dogs Around Town. This will just be open to previous TEP students.
This class is for all non-reactive dogs.
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
Looking for a fun way to boost your dog’s brainpower and body awareness? Movement Puzzles are a unique training class that combine mental challenges with physical coordination.
Using simple setups like cones, platforms, balance discs, and the 2-bowl game, dogs learn to move with confidence, problem-solve in real time, and strengthen their connection with you. Best part? This game transfers easily to play at home.
Prepare your pup for summer outings!
In this 4-week class, you'll learn the ins and outs of taking your dog to pet-friendly restaurants, patios, and coffee shops with confidence and calm.
We’ll focus on:
Building polite public behavior
Increasing your dog’s ability to settle for longer durations
Working through real-world distractions like food, people, other dogs, and outdoor noises.
Class Schedule:
📍 Weeks 1–3: Held at The Exceptional Pet
☕ Week 4: Final session on a real restaurant patio to put your skills into practice!
Perfect for dogs who have basic obedience and are ready for real-world challenges.
A Reliable Recall is the most important skill you can teach your dog. One in three pets will become lost at some point during their life. Our Reliable Recall class is designed to help you build a strong and dependable recall, using different levels of distractions while engaging in fun activities and games. 4 weeks
Don’t become a statistic! One in three dogs get lost in their lifetime. Join us to build and strengthen your recall to keep your puppy safe and at home. 4-weeks
Always wanted to try a class to build on your bond and relationship with your dogs while improving their focus, attention, and obedience skills... all while having fun? This is your chance to try agility and learn a few tricks in Crazy Canines; take your training on the road and visit local dog friendly places during Dogs Around Town; learn new skills during Rally Fun - all in one 6-week session.
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
Does your dog love EVERYONE they have ever met... and have yet to meet? Do you want to bring joy and comfort to those of all ages?
This class will give your dog and you the opportunity to work around medical equipment and the public to see if your dog truly wants to be a therapy dog. We teach a visit command, handling skills for you and your dog, and prepare you for a typical therapy dog test.
Your dog must have passed the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test or have like skills (by approval of instructor) before enrolling in this Therapy Dog class.
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
Therapy dogs come in all shapes and sizes, and their most important characteristic is their temperament. They are friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease with strangers. They provide unconditional acceptance and never fail to put smiles on the faces of children and adults.
A therapy dog must not only enjoy human contact and excessive petting but seek it out. They must be comfortable staying in place, whether it is on a floor, chair, couch, bed or lap, or in their handler's arms.This class expands on the basic handling skills introduced in Therapy Dog 101 and focuses on the skills needed to pass the AKC Urban CGC tests required by The Exceptional Sidekick before taking their therapy dog test. This class will travel in and around Newtown for visits in pet friendly public spaces.
Prerequisite:
*AKC Community Canine test or approval from a TEP trainer.
*All age of dogs can participate in class but training must continue well into adulthood for any working dog.
*Be in good health and sound body.
*Handlers must be 16 and up and supervised by an adult if under 18
Rules and Guidelines:
*Dog must be trained using only positive training techniques.
*Dog must be well groomed.
*Dogs may wear harnesses, flat collars, or head collars. No choke or prong collars allowed.
*Dogs can never show fear, shyness, aggression, or agitation. If they get startled they should recover quickly.
AKC Canine Good Citizen, Community Canine, and Urban test are given separately. All therapy dog testing will be done through The Exceptional Sidekick Therapy Dog Program or you could apply through another national organization.
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
FAN FAVORITE! Enjoy individual off leash play with your best friend as you encourage them to go over, under, and through fun obstacles providing physical and mental exercise, as well as building confidence and communication. 1 session. Good for dogs of all ages; but not appropriate for reactive or very fearful dogs. Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
Congratulations on all of your training successes to this point. If you believe you are ready to test your skills with the AKC CGC Advanced or Urban tests, you can find more information at https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/.
Congratulations on all of your training successes to this point. If you believe you are ready to test your skills with the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, you can find more information at https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/.
Thinking your dog is a great candidate for therapy work? Come to this 1-hour session to learn more about this important job and if it is right for you and your best friend. Session is for humans and canines. Dogs reactive to other dogs or people are not appropriate for therapy work. Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
Field Trip Fun! Take your training on the road and into the real world. Locations vary to dog friendly locations in the greater Newtown area. A enjoy pup-cup / ice cream, shop at a dog friendly store, an outdoor walk at a park, an easy hike and more. For our clients that have basic obedience skills and want to practice with a trainer by their side out in public.
Come laugh and play with your pup while refreshing all those family manners. Fun games such as musical chairs, red light/ green light, sandy says, and more will be played!
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
Celebrate the holidays with your best fur-friend! Festivities include holiday themed training games and a chance to destress, laugh, and play with your pup. Not appropriate for reactive, nervous, or fearful dogs.
If your dog has done group classes with us, we want to thank you by offering a 50% off coupon for our Holiday Parties. Reach out for a discount code.
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
FAN FAVORITE! Enjoy individual off leash play with your best friend as you encourage them to go over, under, and through fun obstacles providing physical and mental exercise, as well as building confidence and communication. 1 session. Good for dogs of all ages; but not appropriate for reactive or very fearful dogs.
Click BOOK NOW to see the upcoming schedule or to get on our waitlist.
Bring your mat, we will bring the puppies. Join us for a 50 min yoga class with a litter of 9 week old lab puppies. This is your time to stretch, laugh, and get some puppy kisses. No experience necessary. Taught by Certified Yoga Instructor, Trish Wootton. ***Our system requires a pet to be entered but you will not be bringing your dog to class.***
Tricks are great ways to expand your dog's repertoire and help her learn to learn faster! Fun will be had while we explore the benefits of trick training. Beginner through advanced tricks will be taught. Work towards your AKC Trick Titles. (Paperwork and ribbon will be provided for titles earned.) 1-session
Join us for a three-week AKC Canine Good Citizen Test Prep. For your first two classes we will be practicing all of the items in the test and then on week 3 you get to show off all of your hard work for our AKC CGC evaluator! Testing fee included.
