About Ann Gafke’s Dogschooling

Ann Gafke's Dogschooling is a dedicated training campus on the north side of Columbia, at 325 E. Dripping Springs Rd. It was originally known as Ann Gafke's Teacher's Pet, and its own pages say it has been helping Central Missouri families train their dogs for more than 50 years.

Classes and programs

The class ladder starts with Puppy Kindergarten for dogs under six months, built around socialization with other dogs and people, basic obedience and confidence, and working toward the American Kennel Club's STAR Puppy award. Level 1 takes older puppies and adult dogs through the same foundation and introduces the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, including preparation for grooming and veterinary handling. Beyond the basics the school lists advanced obedience, tricks, agility and freestyle routines, taught both in person and through online coaching.

Aggression and reactive dogs

The school runs a separate class, called Sassy Dog, for dogs that are aggressive toward other dogs or people, which its own description often attributes to fear. The program combines obedience, confidence building and impulse control for the dog with coaching for the owner.

Therapy and service work

Therapy and service preparation is a core line rather than an afterthought. The school says its therapy teams visit hospitals, libraries, nursing homes and schools through the year, and it also runs a drill team, described as freestyle obedience, that is often combined with therapy work.

How it is taught and what it costs

Basic classes are weekly group meetings supported by one-on-one coaching sessions, 24/7 video tutorials, written homework assignments and downloadable summaries. Students may film their own training and send it in for a critique. The home page lists tuition for Puppy Kindergarten or Level 1 at $285, which includes private lessons, group work, tutorials and video critiques, with continuing enrollment in those classes for as long as the dog needs. An annual family membership covers any class, member-only events, private lessons and use of the grounds outside class time.

Facilities

The campus is described as 27 acres with a 3,200 square-foot training building, a fenced training yard, a 10-acre wooded dog park, obedience and agility equipment and setups for tracking. Members may reserve the dog parks and the training building for practice outside class hours.