Nothing is more important to us than your health and safety. This priority has not changed, and we continue reevaluating our efforts to minimize health risks to our staff, volunteers, visitors, and our community.
As part of our efforts to slowly and safely reopen our shelter, programs, and services to the community, we are restaring our pet behavior and obedience training classes. These classes will be taught to no more than 6 participants at a time and will be outside until further notice.
Should you have any questions, please reach out to Jessie Clifford, Director of Humane Education, at jclifford@hstc1.org. For more information pertaining to our shelter's efforts through COVID-19, please click here.
The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast offers a multitude of classes to help your dog become the best version of itself! Unless otherwise noted in the class description, all classes are:
For more information, please contact Jessie Clifford, Director of Humane Education, by phone at (772) 600-3221 or by email at jclifford@hstc1.org.
Aren't sure which class to take?
You can schedule an appointment with Heidi Fischer to evaluate which class you and your dog would be most successful in. HSTC requests a $20 donation for these evaluations. On occasion, we
can also accommodate 1-on-1 private lessons for dogs that might not be suitable for our class setting. These private lessons are $40/hour. To learn more or schedule an appointment, contact
Heidi at (772) 600-3207 or hfischer@hstc1.org.
Puppy S.T.A.R. Class (7 months and younger)
Socialization - Training - Activity - Responsibility - Puppy S.T.A.R. will teach your pup all of the age-appropriate obedience skills to learn their name, correctly reply to commands, recall, and more. Our trainer will also walk you through the joys of puppyhood, including: housetraining, chewing, jumping and so much more.
*Puppies must have their first set of shots in order to participate in this class (DHLPP).
*To properly maintain social distance practices, classes will be held under the large tent in the back of our shelter's property.
Puppy Agility Fun (7 months and younger)
Puppies’ natural curiosity and abundant energy are harnessed to introduce them to the fun sport of agility! This class will focus on some fundamentals of agility, using puppy games that
will utilize targeting, wobble boards, focus and basic obedience skills. Puppies will be introduced to new sights, sounds, and techniques that are helpful toward building confidence without
stress on baby joints. This class will also help build confidence while strengthening the pup-to-parent bond and partnership.
*This is a 4-week class, and costs $80.
* Puppies must have recently completed Puppy S.T.A.R.
*To properly maintain social distance practices, classes will be held under the large tent in the back of our shelter's property.
Basic Obedience (7 months and older OR completion of Puppy S.T.A.R.)
Learn how to "listen to your dog" as your dog learns to "listen to you." During Basic obedience, your dog will learn how to sit, lay down, stay, come when called, wait patiently at a
doorway, and how to walk nicely on a leash. Basic Obedience is a pre-requisite for Pet Therapy Class.
*To properly maintain social distance practices, classes will be held under the large tent in the back of our shelter's property.
Advanced Obedience (All ages; completion of Basic Obedience)
This is an advanced obedience course that also prepares dogs to pass the Canine Good Citizens (CGC) exam. Dogs will be tested and evaluated on the last class, by an official American Kennel Club evaluator.
*Must first have completed the pre-requisite Basic Obedience course.
Focus Proofing (7 months or older)
Focus Proofing class strengthens dogs’ obedience skills while introducing them to the outdoor environment. This class teaches dogs to stay obedient even around other dogs and distractions. Part of each session is allocated to introducing the agility equipment to the dogs to gain confidence.
*Must first have completed the pre-requisite Basic Obedience course.
*To properly maintain social distance practices, classes will be held under the large tent in the back of our shelter's property.
Pet Therapy Class (1 year and older)
Give back to our community while spending time with your dog! This advanced course prepares dogs and their handlers for evaluation by a therapy dog organization. Dogs will also be evaluated on the Canine Good Citizens exam on the last class. Pet Therapy is required by those who wish to volunteer with Misty’s Pals at HSTC (link to hstc1.org/pettherapy).
*Must first have completed the pre-requisite Basic Obedience course
Sampler Class (All ages)
This class gives participants the opportunity to try activities from four different classes to see which full-length course might be best for them! Agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through a series of obstacles. Rally-O shows a series of signs that tell owners and their dogs which direction to go and what obedience skill to perform. Nose Work is a search and scent activity. K-9 Fitness increases dogs’ strength, balance, and body awareness.
*This class is limited to 6 spots.
Nose Work I (All ages)
Nose Work is a search-and-scent activity that is not only fun, but is also a great tool to help build confidence and increase focus in dogs. This class also provides a safe way to engage dogs in mental and physical exercise. Participants receive their own take-home scent kit!
*This class costs $140
*Participants must bring a soft crate to class. If you don’t own one, HSTC can provide one to you.
Nose Work II (All ages)
Continue to challenge your dog in the fun game of Nose Work with Nose Work 2 class. Dogs will be presented with burried hides and vehicle searches. With more distractions and more oders to the game your dog will love these new challenges.
Tune Up Your Dog (All ages)
This course helps pet owners fine-tune some specific behavior-related issues a dog might be having. Common issues include jumping on people, lunging at other dogs while out on walks, pulling on the leash, etc. This course will work on whatever individual problems its participants are struggling with.
*This 3-week class costs $60
*Must first have completed the pre-requisite Basic Obedience course
AKC Trick Dog (All ages)
This American Kennel Club class is fun for dogs and their parents as participants set out to learn new tricks. This course strengthens communication and bonding between pet and parent. AKC Trick Dog concludes with an opportunity for the dogs to earn another AKC title.
*This 3-week class costs $60
*Capping class to 5 participants, and holding it inside the Humane Education Center.
Loose Leash & Reliable Recalls (All ages)
Loose Leash & Reliable Recall Class is a 3-week course that will help develop appropriate leash manners and will make your dog's recall solid, even with distractions.
*This 3-week class costs $60
Barn Hunt 101
Looking for a fun, new class that encourages communication between dog and handler? Does your dog love sniffing and searching? Barn Hunting may be just the class for you and your dog! Barn Hunting is an exciting and fun sport for your dog where they have to use their nose to locate rats that are securely and safely enclosed in aerated PVC tubes, hidden among a maze of straw.
This introductory class will focus on the three aspects of barn hunt requirements:
In this five-week class, we will build the dog’s confidence in climbing on straw bales stacked up to two-high. Dogs will learn to navigate tunnels made of straw bales with up to one turn. We will develop the dog’s interest in finding the rat and teaching them to communicate and alert their handler that the find has been made. In addition, students will learn barn hunt rules and procedures that will enable them to compete at the Instinct and Novice levels. Basic handling skills will be discussed as well.
Please Note:
This five-week class costs $140
Barn Hunting 201: Intermediate
For those that have completed the Introductory Class: Barn Hunt 101 or have experience at the Novice level. This class will build the confidence of the teams in increasingly more difficult finds. Will complete Tunnels from 1-3 turns in this 5 week class. Barn Hunt 201 is for those that are looking to compete in Open and Senior level. Will continue to review Rules and expectations for Barn Hunt Trials.
Please Note:
This five-week class costs $140
Barn Hunt Clinic
Curious to see if your dog will like Barn Hunt before committing to a 5-week class? Join a Barn Hunt clinic to get a feel for how your dog will enjoy the sport. This 2-hour clinic will introduce you and your dog to the fun sport of Barn Hunt.
Teams will be introduced to the 3 required elements to be successful at Barn Hunt: the Tunnel, the Climb and the Rat. Basic rules and specifications will be covered. Instinct and Novice level courses will be included during this Clinic.
Please Note:
$50 per dog.
9:30am-11:30am
1-on-1 Private Training
On various days and times during the week, we offer 1-on-1 basic training to dog owners who are experiencing challenges with their dog. In these sessions, pet parents learn positive reinforcement and proactive training methods proven to produce quick, happy responses and long lasting results.
These private trainings are $40 per hour and the trainer is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays to conduct them.
Please register online, and Heidi Fischer, our Animal Trainer & Behavior Specialist, will contact you to schedule your training. For specific questions, please contact her at hfischer@hstc1.org or (772) 600-3207.
Please have your dog on a regular 4-6 foot leash and bring LOTS of small, soft treats.
Class Evaluation
Not sure which class to take? Register for a 30 minute assesment with our trainer to find out which class will fit the needs for you and your dog.
This evaluation is $20 and the trainer is available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays to conduct them.
Please register online, and Heidi Fischer, our Animal Trainer & Behavior Specialist, will contact you to schedule your class evaluation. For specific questions, please contact her at hfischer@hstc1.org or (772) 600-3207.
Please have your dog on a regular 4-6 foot leash and bring LOTS of small, soft treats.
The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast offers a variety of agility classes for the dog at every level. Handler teams must have at taken Basic Obedience & Focus Proofing classes to participate in Agility. If you have previous agility experience, please call Heidi Fischer at (772) 600-3207 to see which class would be the right fit for your dog!
Agility Club memberships are open to all handler teams who have successfully completed at least six (6) weeks of agility classes and have a basic understanding of the use of the equipment. Joining the HSTC Agility Club will allow you to practice at HSTC on your own schedule, whenever there isn't an HSTC-scheduled class or event!
A completed membership application, with check payable to HSTC in the amount of $150, should be returned to the shelter or emailed to jclifford@hstc1.org. Upon completion of the application and acceptance by the Humane Society, the member will receive the gate code.
The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast is home to three highly-skilled and multi-talented obedience and agility trainers. We are so grateful to have them as part of our obedience and agility team!
Animal Behavior & Training Specialist
Heidi Fischer, the Animal Trainer and Behavioral Specialist at the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, has been involved with the organization for 14 years. She also has been with the HSTC’s pet therapy group, Misty’s Pals. She has titles in AKC, Agility, Rally USDA and CPE and she has made successful champions with the pack of dogs that she rescued. Her rescue dog, Diesel, was ranked #3 in the country for AKC agility at the Invitational Eukanuba in Orlando. She has attended many seminars with top international handlers to keep her skills up to date for her students. Heidi also has attended outside dog training and behavioral seminars, and she is an AKC evaluator for CGC testing. Heidi's training method is always positive for dogs and owners to help them develop their training skills to grow and have confidence — whether it’s to compete or just want to have a fun, social time in her classes.
Agility Trainer
Sonya Cerron fell in love with agility years ago. She had seen it on TV and decided she wanted her cattle dogs and herself to at least try the new sport. She loves all of the training that went into it as well as watching her dogs catch on to each new lesson. Primarily, Sonya enjoys being around others who share her love for dogs and the sport, and she also loves teaching agility, watching her students succeed at each level and learning to be in touch with their dogs. She finds it soothes her soul just to be out at the field. As an instructor, she makes a point to keep up with all the changes in agility and new techniques and handling. With more than 16 years of agility experience, she has witnessed many changes to the sport. She tries and trains with Pike, her 7-year-old border collie, and Albe, a 3-year-old border collie. Both compete at the master’s level in AKC. Sonya’s history with animals is as a dog groomer in Dayton Ohio, obedience instructor and animal warden in Marathon, Florida, and as an agility instructor since 1999.
Agility Trainer
Bill Becker has been training dogs for more than 15 years and through the mentorship of Sonya Cerron, has been an instructor at The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast since 2010. He has been playing, training and competing in AKC Agility since 2005, earning many agility titles, including five Master Agility Champion (MACh) titles and was nationally ranked annually with his rat terrier, Maggie Mae, now at the Rainbow Bridge. He continues to compete in agility and enjoys teaching the Competition Agility Class at our facility. Bill was instrumental in organizing the HSTC’s first team to go to the Dog Agility Competition of Florida (DACOF) in 2012, has helped organize the teams each year since, and has become president of DACOF for the third year in a row. Bill believes his strengths are helping handlers evaluate courses, identifying off-course potentials and proper paths, while helping the handlers “Align their Cues” to help the handler/dog teams be successful and to have as much fun as possible. Bill’s philosophies are “It’s all about making it fun for your dog,” “If you’re not training your dog, it’s training you,” and “The best trainer in the world is the one whose dog is having the most fun.”
Kristi Jackson fell into training through working with a great Llama named Inky who taught her that positive training was the way to a Llama's heart. She has been training for 20 years with a variety of breeds, but her true love is herding dogs. She has trained all levels of obedience from Puppy Class to Utility as well as Agility Foundations. She has earned both Rally and Obedience titles on a Shetland Sheepdog and two Collies. Her Shetland Sheepdog, Lorelei, was a rescue with no hearing but loved the game of agility. She was master's level when she passed away. She has trained and evaluated many dogs for pet therapy and is an AKC evaluator for CGC testing. She has also attended outside dog training and behavior seminar. Kristi loves watching those light bulb moments for owners as they build a bond with their dogs. It's all about having fun with your partner!
Humane Society of the Treasure Coast
4100 SW Leighton Farm Ave
Palm City, Florida 34990
Main Line: (772) 223-8822
Fax: (772) 220-3610
admin@hstc1.org
Central Thrift Store:
2585 SE Federal Hwy., Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 286-6909
North Thrift Store:
1099 NW 21st St., Stuart, FL 34994
(772) 232-4887
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