Specialty Classes
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Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Class
Prepare your dog for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test with practical skills for polite, calm behavior in public. Test optional.
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Cooperative Care
Help your dog feel comfortable with grooming, vet visits, and handling by teaching stress-free cooperative care skills.
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Trick & Treat
Learn fun and useful tricks tailored to your dog’s abilities, from showy performances to everyday helpful behaviors.
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Nosework Foundations
Introduce your pup to scent games that reduce stress and build confidence while learning the basics of odor hunting.
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Nosework 101
Advance your dog’s scent skills with target odors and more challenging indoor and container searches, perfect for future competitors.
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Nosework 102
Take scent work to the next level with new odors, cues, and multiple hides in this fun three-week short course.
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Nosework 201
Build advanced search skills through live practice and outdoor challenges, including vehicle and exterior searches.
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Nosework 300
Teach your pup to play detective by finding personal items through human scent in this six-week course.
CANINE GOOD CITIZEN CLASS
Overview
Thinking about earning the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title with your pup? This 6-week course helps you practice the required skills in a supportive, positive environment. Testing is available as a separate event and fee at the end of the course if you and your trainer feel ready. You’re also welcome to repeat the course to keep building your pup’s skills.
As with all of PumpkinPups classes, and in accordance with test requirements, equipment allowed for this class includes any type of body harness, flat collar or martingale style collar and a 6 foot leash.
Skills covered include:
Polite greetings (no jumping)
Calm behavior around other dogs
Loose leash walking
Sit, down, and stay
Recall
Supervised separation from guardian
Dogs should be comfortable around people and other dogs, and tolerant of gentle handling. If your pup struggles with fear, anxiety, or reactivity, our trainers can recommend private sessions as a starting point.
Class Details
Class Cost: $415
Duration: 6 weeks
Location: Butterfly Gardens, Park Slope (7th Ave & 18th St)
Schedule: Sundays at 3:30 pm ET — 9/14, 9/21, 9/28, 10/5 (skip 10/12), 10/19, 10/26
Capacity: Limited to 5 pups
Requirement: Recent vaccination records. Please send a copy to info.pumpkinpups@gmail.com after completing registration.
Click Register if you’re ready to join this class now. Click Waitlist if the class is full or the current dates don’t work with your schedule.
CANINE GOOD CITIZEN TEST
Overview
The CGC test is recognized by some housing associations and often serves as a first step for therapy dog certification.
Skills tested include:
Polite greetings without jumping
Calm demeanor when meeting strangers and being petted
Comfort with handling/grooming
Calm behavior when passing another dog
Loose leash walking
Sit, down, stay, and recall
Supervised separation from guardian
Reactions to distractions
Class Details
Fee: $150
Location: 239 East 5th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11218
Retest discount available for previous PumpkinPups students (email us)
CGC title registration: $25 (paid to AKC after passing)
Testing dates: Arranged individually after registration. Dates will be determined with the individual testers once a registration is received. Feel free to email us for more info.
Equipment: 6-ft leash, long line (15–20 ft), body harness, flat or martingale collar. Head halters allowed if your dog is comfortable.
Requirement: Recent vaccination records. Please send a copy to info.pumpkinpups@gmail.com after completing registration.
FEAR FREE COOPERATIVE CARE CLASS
Overview
Does your pup dislike nail trims, baths, or vet visits? This 6-week class helps dogs learn to relax and participate in grooming and handling with confidence. You’ll develop a step-by-step training plan tailored to your dog’s needs, while also building a set of core cooperative care behaviors.
Examples of skills covered:
Standing calmly for brushing or nail trims
Getting comfortable with harnesses and grooming tools
Easing stress during vet exams or dental care
Each week includes follow-up email support to help you continue at home.
Class Details
Class Cost: $415
Duration: 6 weeks
Schedule: Sundays at 6p EST Dates: 1/4, 1/11, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/22
Capacity: Limited to 5 pups
Requirement: Recent vaccination records. Please send a copy to info.pumpkinpups@gmail.com after completing registration.
Click Register if you’re ready to join this class now. Click Waitlist if the class is full or the current dates don’t work with your schedule.
TRICK & TREAT
Training Fun Behaviors
Overview
Looking to add some fun to your pup’s routine? This 4-session virtual class focuses on teaching playful tricks and useful skills that impress in the living room or on stage.
You’ll learn customized tricks based on your goals, such as:
Leg weaves and spins
Offering a paw for nail trims
Jumping onto a chair to get leashed up
Party tricks like high fives and turns
The class is designed for all skill levels, with plenty of fun and encouragement along the way.
Class Details
Class Cost: $275
Location: Virtual
Duration: 4 weeks
Schedule: Mondays at 6 pm ET → 9/29, 10/6 (skip 10/13), 10/20, 10/27
Capacity: Limited to 6 pups
Requirement: Recent vaccination records. Please send a copy to info.pumpkinpups@gmail.com after completing registration.
Click Register if you’re ready to join this class now. Click Waitlist if the class is full or the current dates don’t work with your schedule.
NOSEWORK FOUNDATIONS
A Nose to Toes K9 Six Week Course
Scent Work for Stress Relief™
Overview
Introduce your dog to the fun and calming world of scent work! In this course, dogs will imprint on a novel odor and learn to hunt for it indoors through scent-based games and tricks. This foundation is perfect for mental exercise, stress relief, and confidence building — and it’s a prerequisite for the sport-focused Nosework 101.
Class Structure
Each week includes lecture, video examples, and live coached practice. Classes are cumulative, with homework that builds week by week. Expect to practice about 3–5 minutes per day, 3–5 times a week. You’ll also have access to a private Facebook group for questions and instructor feedback between sessions.
Class Details
Class Cost: $415
Additional Supplies: $45–$50 (recommendations sent after registration)
Learning Prerequisites: None
Dog Age Requirements: None
Your Setup at Home: Position your camera so the instructor can see you and your dog. Plan for brief restraint (crate, gate, or another room) while searches are set up.
Schedule: Fall 2025 — Tuesdays at 7pm ET (9/9, 9/16, skip 9/23 for Rosh Hashanah, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21)
Class Length: 45–60 minutes
Capacity: Limited to 5 pups
**Classes #1, 2, 4 & 6 will be on Zoom. Classes # 3 & 5 will be in person at Fort Greene Park. Please note: we will pivot any in person classes to virtual in the event of inclement weather.
Requirement: Recent vaccination records. Please send a copy to info.pumpkinpups@gmail.com after completing registration.
Click Register if you’re ready to join this class now. Click Waitlist if the class is full or the current dates don’t work with your schedule.
NOSEWORK 101
A Nose to Toes K9 Six Week Course
Scent Work for Stress Relief™
Overview
Take the next step in scent work! This course is designed for teams ready to build on their foundations and explore the sport of Nosework. Dogs are introduced to NACSW and AKC target odors while practicing more complex indoor and container searches.
Class Structure
Each week includes lecture, video examples, and live coached practice. Classes are cumulative, so short practice sessions several times a week are needed to make progress. A private Facebook group is available for questions and homework feedback.
Class Details
Class Cost: $415
Additional Supplies: $45–$50 (recommendations sent after registration)
Learning Prerequisites: Nosework Foundations
Dog Age Requirements: None
Your Setup at Home: Position your camera so the instructor can see you and your dog. Plan for brief restraint (crate, gate, or another room) while searches are set up.
Schedule: New dates coming soon!
Class Length: 45–60 minutes
Capacity: Limited to 5 pups
**Classes #1, 2, 4 & 6 will be on Zoom. Classes # 3 & 5 will be in person at Fort Greene Park. Please note: we will pivot any in person classes to virtual in the event of inclement weather.
Requirement: Recent vaccination records. Please send a copy to info.pumpkinpups@gmail.com after completing registration.
By Invitation Only
NOSEWORK 102: USE YOUR TWO SCENTS
A Nose to Toes K9 Three Week Course
Scent Work for Stress Relief™
Overview
Expand your dog’s scent skills with new odors, new cues, and multiple hides! This short three-week course offers fast progress and fun challenges at half the cost of a full-length class. Perfect for teams eager to sharpen their skills.
Class Structure
Each session includes lecture, demonstration, and live practice. Homework is shared and reviewed in a private Facebook group.
Class Details
Class Cost: $210
Additional Supplies: Scent kit and additional supplies recommended after registration
Learning Prerequisites: Graduation from Nosework 101 or equivalent title (Fenzi NW, AKC, NACSW, C-WAGS Level 1). If you believe your dog qualifies, submit a short video showing two interior searches and one container search.
Dog Age Requirements: None
Your Setup at Home: Camera positioned to capture the search area; dog should be able to free-search interiors with hidden vessels.
Schedule: New dates coming soon!
Class Length: 45–60 minutes
Capacity: Limited to 5 pups
Note: If your dog isn’t quite ready for multiple hides yet, no worries! This course will be offered again. Sign up for the waiting list to be notified.
Requirement: Recent vaccination records. Please send a copy to info.pumpkinpups@gmail.com after completing registration.
By Invitation Only
NOSEWORK 201: ADVANCED SEARCH TECHNIQUES
A Nose to Toes K9 Six Week Course
Scent Work for Stress Relief™
Overview
Step up your Nosework game with advanced searches and handling techniques. This course adds outdoor and vehicle searches, introduces new challenges, and helps you become a more confident team.
Class Structure
Weekly classes include lecture, examples, and live practice. Participants also video outdoor and vehicle searches to share in the private Facebook group for instructor feedback.
Topics Covered
Advanced interior searches
Basic exterior searches
Vehicle searches
Handling skills for leashed searches
Understanding odor movement outdoors
Setting fair hides
Class Details
Class Cost: $415
Additional Supplies: Odor kit, vessels, harness, start line marker, 10–15 ft leash (10 ft preferred). Optional: tripod, vehicle, travel case, flagging tape. (Full list in Welcome email after registration.)
Learning Prerequisites: Nosework 101 or equivalent; dog must be imprinted on at least one odor and able to free-search interiors
Dog Age Requirements: None
Your Setup at Home: Safe outdoor area and access to a vehicle recommended. Camera set up for live sessions.
Schedule: Fall 2025 — Wednesdays at 7pm ET (9/10, 9/17, skip 9/24 for Rosh Hashanah, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22)
Class Length: 45–60 minutes
Capacity: Limited to 5 pups
Optional Add-On: In-person session in Prospect Park (fee applies; date arranged during course).
Requirement: Recent vaccination records. Please send a copy to info.pumpkinpups@gmail.com after completing registration.
By Invitation Only
NOSEWORK 300: SHERLOCK HOUNDS
A Nose to Toes K9 Six Week Course
Scent Work for Stress Relief™
Overview
Calling all Sherlock Hounds! This course teaches your dog to detect and find human scent. Start with locating your own belongings, then progress to finding items belonging to anyone. A fun and challenging next step in scent work!
Class Structure
Weekly classes include lecture, demonstrations, and live practice. Homework is reviewed via a private Facebook group. Optional in-person sessions may be offered for dogs ready to work outdoors.
Class Details
Class Cost: $415
Additional Supplies: Personal items (socks, keys, wallets, etc.), mylar or Ziploc bags. Additional recommendations included in Welcome email.
Learning Prerequisites: Nosework 101 or equivalent; dog must be imprinted on at least one odor and able to free-search interiors
Dog Age Requirements: None
Your Setup at Home: Camera positioned to capture search area.
Schedule: New dates coming soon!
Class Length: 45–60 minutes
Capacity: Limited to 5 pups
Optional Add-On: In-person session in Prospect Park (fee applies; date arranged during course).
Requirement: Recent vaccination records. Please send a copy to info.pumpkinpups@gmail.com after completing registration.
By Invitation Only
OUR GOALS AND METHODS:
All our classes are based on positive reinforcement methods.
We’ll show you how to apply what you learn in class to your everyday life.
Start training from the very first lesson! You’ll receive the tools you need to help your pup practice good behaviors right away.
Our positive reinforcement trainers and assistants make sure every pup has a positive experience and learns at their own pace.
We provide homework after every class and offer email support between multi-session classes for questions that can’t wait until the next session.
You’ll also receive comprehensive training materials covering everything taught in class.