AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy · 5-week group series, 1 Puppy Social included
Puppy Preschool 101
For puppies 8 weeks to 5 months. Perfect for basic training and socialization, giving your young puppy the best foundation with positive reinforcement methods.
Wednesday's track starts Oct 21. Saturday's starts Oct 17.
- 4.9 from 200+ Google reviews
- Certified trainers since 2004
- Fully insured
$300 for the 5-week program
Includes 1 Puppy Social and the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certification path.
| Package | Price |
|---|---|
| 5-week courseAges 8 weeks to 5 months | $300per 5 weeks |
- Small class sizesMax 6-8 dogs for personalized attention
- 5-week program1 Puppy Social included
- S.T.A.R. Puppy titlePuppy Social required for certification
- 50-min sessionsTraining handouts and videos included
Pick your cohort and track
Week 1 is a no-puppies orientation held at your track's weekly day and time. Weeks 2 to 5 are hands-on classes with puppies present.
| Cohort | Saturdays at 9:00 am | Wednesdays at 6:00 pm |
|---|---|---|
| Octoberhumans-only kickoff Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17 to Nov 14, 2026 | Oct 21 to Nov 18, 2026 |
A 5-week series. Week 1 is humans only, weeks 2 to 5 include puppies. Register for Saturday 9 am or Register for Wednesday 6 pm
The perfect complement to Puppy Head Start
Our puppy preschool classes help both you and your puppy navigate new experiences positively and successfully.
Puppy Head Start foundation
In our Puppy Head Start program, each day your puppy learns to:
- Socialize with other puppies, environment & humans
- Play appropriately
- Basic obedience skills
- Be confident away from you
- Crate time and alone time
- Potty training
- Positive reinforcement training
Benefits of preschool
- Deepen your understanding of your pup's needs
- Improve communication and strengthen your bond
- Learn to apply and reinforce skills in real-life scenarios
- Gain tools to teach new skills for lifelong learning
- Understand how your pup learns and responds
- Help your pup build confidence in various environments
Set your pup up for lifelong success. Join our preschool today.
What's included and what you'll learn
Ages 8 weeks to 5 months. $300 for the 5-week series, including 1 Puppy Social.
What's included
- Small class sizes (max 6-8 dogs)
- 5-week progressive curriculum
- Puppy Social required to receive the S.T.A.R. Puppy title
- Positive reinforcement methods
- Training handouts and videos
The S.T.A.R. curriculum
- SSocialization
- Positive experiences in new environments, with new people and animals
- TTraining
- Power of positive reinforcement and laying foundations
- AActivity
- Games and daily routines to keep pups active and content
- RResponsibility
- What it takes to be a responsible pet parent
Your take-home kit
- Bait bag
- Training clicker
- Weekly homework assignments
- Training handouts
- Bag of high-value treats
- AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy certificate (upon completion)
The foundation of responsible dog ownership
A key component of the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program is a responsible owner. Responsibility should start the moment you decide to add a new dog or puppy to your family.
S.T.A.R. stands for socialization, training, activity, and responsibility: the four things every puppy needs to start life right.
The AKC CGC Responsible Dog Owner's Pledge
I will be responsible for my dog's health needs
- Routine veterinary care including check-ups and vaccines
- Adequate nutrition through proper diet; clean water at all times
- Daily exercise and regular bathing and grooming
I will be responsible for my dog's safety
- I will properly control my dog by providing fencing where appropriate, not letting my dog run loose, and using a leash in public
- I will ensure that my dog has some form of identification when appropriate (which may include collar tags, tattoos, or microchip ID)
- I will provide adequate supervision when my dog and children are together
I will not allow my dog to infringe on the rights of others
- I will not allow my dog to run loose in the neighborhood
- I will not allow my dog to be a nuisance to others by barking while in the yard, in a hotel room, etc.
- I will pick up and properly dispose of my dog's waste in all public areas such as on the grounds of hotels, on sidewalks, parks, etc.
- I will pick up and properly dispose of my dog's waste in wilderness areas, on hiking trails, campgrounds and in off-leash parks
I will be responsible for my dog's quality of life
- I understand that basic training is beneficial to all dogs
- I will give my dog attention and playtime
- I understand that owning a dog is a commitment in time and caring
20 steps to success: the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy test
Owner behaviors (steps 1-6)
- Maintains puppy's health (vaccines, exams, appears healthy)
- Owner receives Responsible Dog Owner's Pledge
- Owner describes adequate daily play and exercise plan
- Owner and puppy attend at least 6 classes by an AKC approved CGC evaluator
- Owner brings bags to classes for cleaning up after puppy
- Owner has obtained some form of ID for puppy (collar tag, etc.)
Puppy behaviors (steps 7-11)
- Free of aggression toward people during at least 6 weeks of class
- Free of aggression toward other puppies in class
- Tolerates collar or body harness of owner's choice
- Owner can hug or hold puppy (depending on size)
- Puppy allows owner to take away a treat or toy
Pre-Canine Good Citizen test (steps 12-20)
- Allows (in any position) petting by a person other than the owner
- Grooming: allows owner handling and brief exam (ears, feet)
- Walks on a leash: follows owner on lead in a straight line (15 steps)
- Walks by other people: walks on leash past other people 5 ft away
- Sits on cue: owner may use a food lure
- Down on cue: owner may use a food lure
- Comes to owner from 5 ft when name is called
- Reaction to distractions: distractions are presented 15 ft away
- Stay on leash with another person (owner walks 10 steps and returns)
Add a social: required for the S.T.A.R. title
For puppies under 18 weeks (small breeds) or 16 weeks (large breeds). Saturdays at 10:00 am, 50 minutes, $35 per session.
All classes and socials are located at 2121 Taraval St, San Francisco.
Common questions about Puppy Preschool 101
What age is Puppy Preschool 101 for?
How many dogs are in each Puppy Preschool class?
How long is the Puppy Preschool 101 program?
Can my puppy earn a certification?
What training methods do you use?
Finished Preschool? Puppy Kindergarten 201 is the next step.
Your puppy's first friends
Weeks 2 to 5 put your puppy in a safe, supervised group: the socialization window that shapes a confident adult dog. Small class sizes mean every puppy gets real attention.
Ready to start your puppy's education?
Join our Puppy Preschool 101 and give your puppy the best foundation for a lifetime of success.