AWS Canine Training

AWS Canine Training AWS trainers offer group classes and one-on-one sessions for pups of all ages, breeds + abilities. Check back often for all the latest!

Find the latest updates, information and photos pertaining to training classes and programs at AWS as well as just general doggone fun.

We had a festive end to our 2024 Pack Walks last week on Halloween day! Willow, Frankie, Lily, Cooper and Indy.
11/03/2024

We had a festive end to our 2024 Pack Walks last week on Halloween day! Willow, Frankie, Lily, Cooper and Indy.

Congratulations to Roxie on earning her AKC Community Canine certification!
10/30/2024

Congratulations to Roxie on earning her AKC Community Canine certification!

Eight years in the making—Stomper passed his CGC! Brenda, an AWS trainer and Stomper’s proud mom, adopted him as a puppy...
10/28/2024

Eight years in the making—Stomper passed his CGC! Brenda, an AWS trainer and Stomper’s proud mom, adopted him as a puppy and soon began working through his reactivity, which emerged at a young age. Their journey has had its ups and downs, but they recently reached a point where they felt he was ready to take the AKC Canine Good Citizen test—and he passed! Brenda says, 'It takes a village of kindness, patience, encouragement, support, and no judgment to help a reactive dog.' We are so proud of you Stompy! ❤

10/27/2024
AWS alumni, Jordy, just graduated from Basic Training! Looks like he found the perfect home. ❤
10/21/2024

AWS alumni, Jordy, just graduated from Basic Training! Looks like he found the perfect home. ❤

Tonight!
10/15/2024

Tonight!

The Maine 6: How Six Pet Dogs Were Trained to Hunt Invasive Species.

On Tuesday, October 15 at 6:00 p.m., dog trainer Melissa McCue-McGrath will be at the Kennebunk Free Library to share the story of how six local pets were trained to hunt an invasive species. 🐾🐾

In April of 2023, researchers at Texas Tech and Virginia Tech teamed up to run a proof-of-concept study - could pet dogs around the U.S. be trained to find one of the most environmentally damaging invasive species, the spotted lantern fly (SLF)? SLF is presently in 17 states, including New York and Massachusetts, and leaves the environment looking like "scorched earth without the fire.” It's predicted to be in Maine by 2026. When the study started in May, Maine was absent from the roster.

Local dog trainer, Melissa McCue-McGrath, received an email in November. The researchers were looking for a second cohort of dogs and trainers to complete the study that winter. Six dogs enrolled in McCue-McGrath's scent work classes at the Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk were tapped to represent Vacationland in the study. These pet dogs, already trained to find a variety of oils on a q-tip for fun, pivoted their focus to save the environment.

They were shipped dead SLF eggs, packed them in a Pokemon lunchbox, and got to work. This presentation describes the six teams’ journey helping researchers across the country, how they trained their dogs to find SLF, and the challenges they overcame training in a brutal Maine winter as another environmental threat - climate change - threatened their plans.

Melissa McCue-McGrath grew up in an accidental sled dog family in Midcoast Maine. She spent most of her 20 years training dogs and working challenging behavior cases in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2015 she wrote Considerations for the City Dog, a book targeting the urban dogs and families who are left out of conventional training books, and has spoken internationally on the subject. She's given up the conveniences of ride shares to come back home to Maine. Melissa's family resides with two ancient cats, fourteen bougie chickens, and Captain Love, one of the dogs involved in a nationwide study on training pet dogs to detect invasive species.🐾🐾

Another successful autumn trip to the Seashore Trolley Museum with this year's AKC Community Canine class! A fun place t...
10/06/2024

Another successful autumn trip to the Seashore Trolley Museum with this year's AKC Community Canine class! A fun place to bring your kid and/or your dog.

10/04/2024

Here is your weekly puppy playgroup video to brighten your day! ❤

Our Community Canine class ran into some spooky patrons last night in downtown Kennebunk! 💀🎃
10/01/2024

Our Community Canine class ran into some spooky patrons last night in downtown Kennebunk! 💀🎃

Another fun Community Canine class at the Colony Hotel! If these dogs could use a computer they'd be booking a stay. 😅
09/25/2024

Another fun Community Canine class at the Colony Hotel! If these dogs could use a computer they'd be booking a stay. 😅

09/22/2024

Rosie was at FULL SPEED in our Puppy Playgroup. Try not to get dizzy watching! 😵‍💫

Address

46 Holland Road
Kennebunk, ME
04043

Telephone

(207) 985-3244

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Videos

Here is your weekly puppy playgroup video to brighten your day! ❤

Rosie's speed was met with a formidable playmate named Winnie this past week! If you have a young puppy, join us tomorrow evening for another playgroup. https://animalwelfaresociety.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cat=16

Puppy Playgroup
Puppy Playgroup

Rosie was at FULL SPEED in our Puppy Playgroup. Try not to get dizzy watching! 😵‍💫

Join us on a pack walk!
Join us on a pack walk!

Two more pack walk times just added! https://animalwelfaresociety.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cat=12

Debit is a superstar!! 😎🤩

Our Circus Dog class was a real show stopper! These dogs grand finale had them balancing over a shark tank, rolling out the red carpet, and jumping through hoops of fire! It truly was the greatest show on Earth! 🎪

Have you ever wondered what your dog “sees” when sniffing? This 4-week class will bring a fun, engaging, low-impact activity for you and your dog to enjoy. https://animalwelfaresociety.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?schedule=307

Making Focus Fun
Making Focus Fun

Go from PLAYTIME to FOCUS TIME! Our Making Focus Fun class is all about handler engagement and teaching your dog how to relax, focus, and work with you! https://animalwelfaresociety.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=23

Tahoe approved Agility Classes!
Tahoe approved Agility Classes!

Adoptable dog Tahoe is seen here testing out some of our agility equipment. He says it is approved and good to use in our new Agility classes starting Saturday, Feb. 24th. Sign up today! https://animalwelfaresociety.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cat=4

You know who’s smart as a whip and will do anything for a cookie? Karhu! He’s already so well versed in many cues and tricks, he would love to work more with his new family! #adopt Karhu today and you’ll see how amazingly smart, friendly, and silly this boy really is!

We're happy to let kids take the lead during our Junior Trainers class! You can register today online or by scanning the QR code at the end of this video. We hope to see the whole family there!

Holiday trick - Trim the tree!
Holiday trick - Trim the tree!

These pups learned how to trim the tree in our holiday tricks class! Rosie, Skyler and Nanda are superstars. ⭐😎

Oliver and Andy are both dogs that can pull their owners off their feet to excitedly greet another dog or human. Focus games (like you see in this video) have helped slow them down and promote more calm behavior around stimuli.

Blitzen's Brain Teasers
Blitzen's Brain Teasers

Gamify your Holiday class is now called Blitzen's Brain Teasers! This class challenges the human and the dog with all the creative games we play. One of my favorite classes! https://animalwelfaresociety.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cat=12

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