STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Kids aren’t the only ones heading back to school in the next couple weeks. Dogs are, too.

Scotch Pines Dog Training, which specializes in off-leash obedience, will start doggie obedience classes on Sept. 6 with a graduation ceremony featuring mortarboards, diploma and plenty of doggie treats nine weeks later.

Dogs will learn such skills as heel, automatic sit, down, stay, come, and stand for exam. They will also learn to leave live animals, such as bunnies, alone. And doggie parents will learn how to address such problems as jumping, biting, chewing, digging, barking and fighting.

Classes begin Friday, Sept. 6, in Hailey, with additional classes beginning Saturday, Sept. 7, in Burley, Twin Falls and Buhl. The Hailey class runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Fridays. The Burley class runs from 9-11 a.m. Saturdays followed by the Twin Falls class from 1-3 p.m. and the Buhl class from 4-6 p.m.

There also will be a live online Zoom group at 8 p.m. Mountain Time that begins Wednesday, Sept. 4.

Classes meet once a week for nine weeks—that’s kindergarten to graduation in nine weeks.

Training techniques involve one part correction with a yank on a training collar and two parts praise. The class is taught by Stephanie Hostetter, who has been offering classes in Hailey and Twin Falls for years.

Cost is $400 per dog; enroll two dogs for a $100 Double Dog Discount Deal.

Doggies must be at least six months old to attend class, but new this year is Puppy Preschool for those ages 10 weeks to six months.

Dogs and parents are given free passage into future classes for the lifetime of the dog for those who want to refresh skills.

Learn more by going to http://www.spdogtraining.com/about.htm. Or, call 208-484-5784.