School of Rock

Our program is unlike any other Board & Train option out there. We honor the special relationship we have with our best friends and build a foundation of mutual respect and trust. We do not use aversive methods based on force or fear-based tactics or promise a quick fix to “cure” unwanted behaviors. We pride ourselves in being transparent and adhering to the philosophy of LIMA: least invasive and minimally aversive, which means we truly respect your dog and his or her needs, preferences and limitations, and set expectations that set your dog and you up for success!

Contact us for availability and rates.

A spot in class will be saved for you only after you have completed payment. Once payment is received for class it is NON-REFUNDABLE.

Curriculum for course to include:

• Basic Obedience Cues as well as some more advanced/useful cues to include: Focus, Sit, Down, Stay, Intro to Heel, Loose-leash Walking, Walking & Greeting Politely On-Leash, Targeting, Drop It, Leave It, Come When Called. Hand-outs will be provided as we cover material for study at home.
• Focus on Proper Socialization, Play, and Doggie Body Language.
• Specific Problem Behaviors & Management Methods—using your cues to manage every day real life situations in your dog’s environment.

Group will meet for a total of 6 sessions. This course will have a focus on passing the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Evaluation administered in class at Session #6 for dogs under 1 year of age. For more information please visit: AKC. Please note that Wednesday and Thursday Beginner Band Practice courses may be blended with adult dogs in need of the basics at BnR’s discretion. Monday courses are strictly for puppies 1 year and under.

First class:  First lesson attendance is MANDATORY and is for HUMAN STUDENTS ONLY. Doggie students will attend classes 2–6. Our first class will cover what to bring in addition to your furry friend to the following sessions. A notebook and pen or pencil would be handy for the first meeting. Bring your questions as well and we will cover appropriate topics during any remaining class time.

Training methodology:  Our training methods are POSITIVE and family-friendly. We use reward-based training (treats or anything appropriate that your dog finds rewarding enough to motivate him to learn new behaviors. We will teach the steps to move on to a random reward schedule as well once new cues are reliable.). You will learn the basics of clicker theory as well as alternative methods to train if the clicker isn’t for you (though we believe that the Clicker is Quicker!).

Included with class enrollment (see above):

• 2 Clickers
• Package of Bil-Jacs training treats
• BnR training waist pouch
• Soda Pup durable treat dispensing toy

Bring to class: All dogs must be on a 4 to 6 foot non-retractable leash for class. We DO NOT use pinch, choke or prong collars in class so please make sure your dog is wearing the proper collar or harness. You will also need to bring a small blanket, towel, mat or bed to class for your pup for training exercises. If you need assistance choosing equipment please feel free to contact us.

A spot in class will be saved for you only after you have completed payment. Once payment is received for class it is NON-REFUNDABLE.

Curriculum for course to include:

• Basic Obedience Cues as well as some more advanced/useful cues to include: Focus, Sit, Down, Stay, Intro to Heel, Loose-leash Walking, Walking & Greeting Politely On-Leash, Targeting, Drop It, Leave It, Come When Called. Hand-outs will be provided as we cover material for study at home.
• Focus on Proper Socialization, Play, and Doggie Body Language.
• Specific Problem Behaviors & Management Methods—using your cues to manage every day real life situations in your dog’s environment.

Group will meet for a total of 6 sessions. First lesson attendance is MANDATORY and is for HUMAN STUDENTS ONLY. Doggie students will attend classes 2-6. Our first class will cover what to bring in addition to your furry friend to the following sessions. A notebook and pen or pencil would be handy for the first meeting. Bring your questions as well and we will cover appropriate topics during any remaining class time.

Training methodology:  Our training methods are POSITIVE and family-friendly. We use reward-based training (treats or anything appropriate that your dog finds rewarding enough to motivate him to learn new behaviors. We will teach the steps to move on to a random reward schedule as well once new cues are reliable.).

You will learn the basics of clicker theory as well as alternative methods to train if the clicker isn’t for you (though we believe that the Clicker is Quicker!).

All dogs must be on a 4 to 6 foot non-retractable leash for class. We DO NOT use pinch, choke or prong collars in class so please make sure your dog is wearing the proper collar or harness. If you need assistance choosing equipment please feel free to contact us.

Included with class enrollment: 

• 2 Clickers
• Package of Bil-Jacs training treats
• BnR training waist pouch
• Soda Pup durable treat dispensing toy

This class will fine tune your dog’s basic obedience cues and enhance communication skills! During this six-week session, you will help your dog build impulse control in multiple scenarios and environments.  You will practice proper leash walking etiquette, including loose leash and heel techniques.

Each class will build on strengthening the reliability and duration of cues around distractions and at a distance. Working together on these goals will deepen your bond and encourage a relationship grounded in mutual respect and improved ability to read body language and speak fluent ‘dog.’

This class is also a rockin’ representation of the skills needed to practice toward becoming a headliner in our three-week Advanced CGC Prep Course and/or taking the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test.

Prerequisites:  Completion of a positive reinforcement Puppy or Beginner class OR three private training sessions with one of our certified trainers. Family members must be able to successfully request through use of positive reinforcement and motivation Sit, Stay, Down, and Watch Me cues. As we support a force free and fear free training approach, harsh verbal commands or actions and aversive equipment (e.g., prong, shock, pinch, choke collars) will not be permitted on stage.

Have you heard about our awesome add ons? We recommend adding an optional waist leash as well as a Bark n’ Roll waist training pouch. Contact us to order prior to the start of the course.

A spot in class will be saved for you only after you have completed payment. Please note all classes are non-refundable.

Group will meet for a total of 6 sessions. Dog students will attend all classes.

If you are enrolled in class on a Monday evening the test will be the following Monday evening after course completion.

If you are enrolled in class on a Saturday morning the test will be scheduled on a Sunday date provided when enrolling after course completion.

Our training methods are Least Invasive and Minimally Aversive with a focus on Positive Reinforcement.

During class you will:

• Refine basic obedience skills to improve on your 3D’s: Distance, Duration & Distraction, along with the 3 C’s: Calmness, Clarity and Consistency
• Practice the skills and requirements of the AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluation.
• The CGC Evaluation will be administered bi-monthly on dates to be announced in advance. Cost to take the AKC CGC Evaluation will be included in class fee.
• Work on polite greeting of humans and other dogs, accepting grooming tools without fear, extended stays, recall at a distance, loose-leash walking, heel, automatic sit, and walking through a crowd.
• Transition from using food-based rewards (treats) to reward-based training using voice and body language. We help you teach your dog to perform the cues without requiring food, as food lures are not allowed during the CGC evaluation.
• Increase familiarity with scenarios that a therapy dog may experience.

Please note: manually or verbally forcing a dog into position or jerking/popping the leash is not permitted.

The following are the 10 test items on the CGC test:

1. Accepting a friendly stranger
2. Sitting politely for petting
3. Appearance and grooming
4. Out for a walk (walking on a loose leash)
5. Walking through a crowd
6. Sit and Down on command / Staying in place
7. Coming when called
8. Reaction to another dog
9. Reaction to distractions
10. Supervised separation

Bring to class:  All dogs must be on a 4- to 6-foot non-retractable leash for class. We DO NOT use pinch, shock, remote, choke or prong collars in class.  Please make sure your dog is wearing the proper flat buckle collar or harness. If you need assistance choosing equipment please feel free to contact us.

Disclaimer:  Passing the CGC Evaluation does not ensure that your dog will behave safely in all conditions or scenarios.  We advise that you continue to work on positive behavior and training throughout your dog’s life.
Please note all classes are non-refundable.

Please contact us to see if your dog would be appropriate for this specialized course.

Class size is intimate for this course to provide maximum comfort and attention to our “socially challenged” students and their humans. If deemed necessary to assess on-leash reactive behaviors and leash handling skills, 1 private session may be required with you and your pup prior to class start date.

Curriculum for course to include:

• Behavior Adjustment Training Techniques that teach your dog to cope with his or her environment through practice confronting his or her triggers in a controlled and rewarding way. Our Punky Pups class specifically addresses on-leash reactive behaviors by using positive motivation and does not attempt to recreate a stressful situation to send a dog over threshold (point of tolerance or point at which a dog begins to feel fearful) in order to ‘bring out’ a fear-based response. We don’t aim to encourage barking/lunging in order to ‘correct’ this behavior, instead addressing how best to encourage your dog to remain calm in proximity to other dogs using positive focusing techniques.
• Focus on properly reading Canine Body Language and proper leash management techniques.
• Specific Problem Behaviors & Management Methods—using your cues to manage challenging every day real life situations in your dog’s environment in order to make them less challenging over time.

First class: Group will meet for a total of 6 sessions. The first session is HUMANS ONLY. Dogs will be coming in pairs to sessions 2-5 and all dogs will attend session 6 if their humans and class instructors deem appropriate.

Training methodology:  Our training methods are POSITIVE and family-friendly. We use reward-based training (treats or anything appropriate that your dog finds rewarding enough to motivate him to learn new behaviors. We will teach the steps to move on to a random reward schedule as well once new cues are reliable.). You will learn the basics of clicker theory as well as alternative methods to train if the clicker isn’t for you (though we believe that the Clicker is Quicker!).

Bring to class:  All dogs must be on a 4 to 6 foot non-retractable leash for class. We DO NOT use pinch, choke or prong collars in class so please make sure your dog is wearing the proper collar or harness. If you need assistance choosing equipment please feel free to contact us.

A spot in class will be saved for you only after you have completed payment. Please note all classes are non-refundable.

Please fill out Questionnaire when you register. You are not confirmed until you hear from a BnR Team Trainer.

Group will meet for a total of 5 sessions. Doggie students will attend ALL classes.

In this enriching and dynamic course, we will increase the reliability of your pup’s training cues and improve his/her impulse control across multiple skill sets and challenges. We will help you and your dog to gain confidence and build a better relationship as you embark on exciting physical challenges together. We will provide individualized methods for each skill station, and you will learn the foundational skills to work as a successful team through basic obstacle work and other sensory challenges.

During class you will:

• Learn the basics of Canine gym and basic agility equipment such a Wobble Board, Tunnel, Jumps, Weave Poles and more.
• Improve the reliability of your dog’s basic commands including sit, down, wait and come when called.
• Target peak muscle function through activating dormant muscles and core strength.
• Rotate through stations over the course of each hour long class.

Training methodology: Our training methods are POSITIVE and family-friendly. We use reward-based training (treats or anything appropriate that your dog finds rewarding enough to motivate him to learn new behaviors, teaching the steps to move on to random rewarding once new cues are reliable) and positive reinforcement training methods. We do not use fear-based or aversive methods such as corrective collars (e.g., prong, pinch/choke, shock, e-collar) or startle methods. During and in between training with us whether through group classes and/or private sessions, we ask that you please do not use aversive methods to ensure that our positive methods are getting a fair shake in helping your pup to progress in building lifelong solid training and socialization skills. We just like to be clear on our philosophy so there is no confusion if/when you book with us.

Requirements to Enroll:

• If your dog has mobility issues or past injuries please contact us before you register.
• Class requires a flat buckle collar and back clip harness.
• Pups will remain on a 4-6’ standard (non-retractable) leash for the duration of all classes.
• If your dog is reactive towards other dogs or people, please contact us prior to registering for the class. All dogs attending class must be friendly toward and comfortable being around humans and other dogs. If your dog is overly timid/nervous, please contact us to discuss if private training might be a better starting place. Additionally, please contact us before enrolling if your dog is reactive on-leash around other dogs or people, or anxious in new places. Our training staff will be happy to discuss your individual situation as it pertains to this class.
• Once registered you will receive a brief video to watch to become familiar with each skill station.
• Anyone living with your dog is encouraged to participate in class, though space is limited, so please specify attendees on Registration Form. Children under 18 MUST be supervised by an adult and well behaved in consideration of the other students (human and dog). Any student of any age (human or dog) may be asked to leave at any time should they cause disruptions that prevent the class from training in a productive and positive atmosphere (this includes consistent late arrivals to class).
• For weather-related postponements, you will be notified via email the day of if a class is postponed. If in doubt, please call before coming to confirm class will be held.

A spot in class will be saved for you only after you have completed payment. Please note all classes are non refundable.

Come Rock Out with your pups under the supervision of our team trainers!

When:  One Sunday per month.

Where: ~ 72 Main Street, North Reading, MA. Located between AAA and Dollar Tree.

Who:  Puppies that have been vaccinated current to their age, for puppies 8 weeks to 6 months (up to 1 year if dog is under 15 pounds) Puppies should wear a flat (non-choke) collar, no harnesses please. Owners must provide proof of current vaccinations to participate.

What:  An opportunity for your puppy to socialize off-leash with other puppies similar in size and play style.  The group class will help puppy parents learn about managing puppy play, positive puppy handling techniques and to read canine body language. Team Bark n’ Roll Trainer(s) will organize and oversee the group.

Why:  Puppies will naturally behave in a way that may be considered inappropriate to humans but completely normal to other puppies.  When paired with other puppies, your pup will learn natural manners from his peers and gain experience with canine body language. What if I already have a dog or a few dogs that my puppy socializes with in our home or nearby?  Your puppy has been socialized to only a small number of dogs in a world of many dogs.  She will benefit from meeting and playing with a variety of new friends.

Space is limited. Reserving your spot in advance is required.

Bark n’ Roll offers Basic & Advanced Obedience Training through Private In-home, In-studio or On Tour Field Trip Courses & Sessions. We will work out a realistic program that specializes in the needs of you, your dog and your home/environment that can include basic obedience cues, obedience refresher sessions, troubleshooting problem behaviors, helping you prepare for welcoming a new puppy into your home, potty/crate training basics, and more.

We believe in the Power of PAWSITIVE Training and use only positive methods when working with dogs.

Please  contact us for more details and pricing for Private Training for some Solo time! You can also save a few buckaroos by setting up In-Studio Duet Sessions when you book Semi-Private In-Studio sessions with a friend or family member!

Packages are non-refundable and to be paid in full at first private session. We have a 24 hour cancellation policy.

If you are not local to Bark n’ Roll to meet for an in-person behavioral evaluation, this option allows you to work with one of our certified behavior consultants or trainers experienced in working with behavioral issues such as aggression and anxiety.

We would schedule to meet by remote video chat (Zoom), where we will provide a thorough evaluation, and follow up with an email including recommendations and training and management program goals. Remote consultations are typically between 60 to 90 minutes in length.

Contact us for more details or to schedule a session.

BnR will be holding a Kids n’ Canines seminar to discuss dog & child safety & management within the home and community. It will cover many topics ranging from preparing the family dog for a new human addition to the household, life with dogs and little ones in the home, as well as welcoming a dog into a home with little ones.

This is not just open to expecting or new parents, but also to those with dogs that currently live with or may live with or interact with little ones ranging from newborn to 5-7 years old or so (ex. grandparents, aunts & uncles, family friends, caregivers, etc). It will be humans only and geared towards an adult audience.

Being family-friendly trainers, we truly believe in the importance of the information that will be presented in this seminar and look forward to educating our local community on this vital topic and engaging in an active discussion with all present. We believe that proper preparation, professional guidance and management can prevent injury, family tension, as well as the re-homing or worse of the family dog due to miscommunication and lack of training and education. In our experience not enough attention is paid to this topic until it is unfortunately too late. We hope to encourage pro-activity over reactivity!