About Best Paw Forward

The school

Best Paw Forward sells classes, not programs, and says so in its own headline: "Best Paw Forward Puts the FUN in Dog Training Classes. We offer a variety of positive reinforcement dog training classes for all dogs and handlers." The course list is grouped three ways in the navigation – Manners Classes (Puppy Kindergarten, Basic Manners, Level 2), Dog Sport Classes (Puppy Agility, Agility 1, 2 and Advanced, an Agility/Rally Combo, Rally 1 and 2, and Flyball 1, 2 and 3) and Specialty Classes (Rocket Recall, Focus & Control, Loose Leash Walking, Shy Dog, Everyday Essentials, Outdoor Adventures, Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog). The site runs at least two locations, with class sessions listed at Hartland and Pewaukee.

What positive means here

The site defines the term rather than leaving it as a label: "What does positive mean? We reward the behaviors that we like/want. We get those behaviors by using methods that do not use fear, force or intimidation. We reward by using praise, treats, toys, etc. Trust and cooperation are the root of our relationship-based training. The result is a happy, well adjusted dog with great manners, who is a joy to share your life."

The manners ladder

Puppy Kindergarten takes "puppies 9 to 15 weeks of age (when they start the class)" for six weeks and covers "crate training, house breaking, nipping, chewing, jumping, separation anxiety, basic cues, confidence building exercises and more," with dedicated socialization time to "people, objects, sounds, a new environment and to other puppies." Basic Manners is an eight-week course for dogs older than 16 weeks, covering "Sit, Down, Come, Stay, Leave It, Drop It, Wait at the Door, and walking nicely on leash without pulling," plus "boundary training, impulse control and problem solving," and it adds distance and distraction for puppy-class graduates. Level 2 Manners "picks up where Basic Manners left off and concentrates on those hard to train areas," with "preparation for off-leash heeling," proofing the recall, go to mat, drop on recall, fronts and finishes, and the site notes it "is a great way to prepare for Canine Good Citizen, Therapy Dog, Rally Obedience and Outdoor Adventures."

Entry rules the site is strict about

Two conditions come up repeatedly. The first class of the manners courses is for people only – "Do NOT bring your dog to the first class (humans only for the first class!)" – with a video link supplied if you miss the orientation. The second is a screen on reactivity: Basic Manners "is not for leash reactive dogs," and the site explains what it means by that and why, requiring that "dogs must be okay on leash around other dogs (i.e. no growling, excessive lunging, or excessive barking)" so the group can learn. Level 2 requires completion of Basic Manners and the ability "to hold a 5-second stay in the presence of other dogs (not behind any barriers) with mild distractions"; Agility 1 requires Basic Manners, takes dogs "10 months of age or older," and asks for "a harness or plain buckle or snap-release collar." Class size is described as limited throughout.

Practical notes

The site publishes dated start times against each class – for example a Puppy Kindergarten beginning Tuesday, September 29th at 6:15pm at the Pewaukee location, a Basic Manners beginning Sunday, October 11th at 5:30pm with a skip week on 11/29, a Level 2 beginning Wednesday, September 23rd at 7:40pm in Hartland marked "1 SPOT LEFT!", and an Agility 1 beginning Tuesday, September 29th at 7:40pm in Hartland. A weather line tells owners where to check whether a class is called off in bad weather, and gift certificates are offered "for any class." Ask about class fees and instructors when you register.