Wilmette Park District, Spring and Summer 2025
Instructor for all Wilmette Park District dog training classes: Sally Bushwaller, CPDT-KSA, CSAT, CNWI.
Location for all WPD classes: Community Recreation Center, Room 107, 3000 Glenview Road, Wilmette (corner of Skokie Blvd. and Glenview Road, about 1/4 mile north of Old Orchard.
You must sign up for Wilmette Park District classes on their website, I cannot sign you up. http://www.wilmettepark.org/
NOTE: Starting in the 2021 fall session, all NOSE WORK classes are purchased by the individual class. You can purchase as many or as few as you would like. But, since class sizes are very small to allow an adequate amount of work for each dog/handler team, I suggest that you purchase all your classes at the beginning of the session, so you do not get locked out of later classes because they are full.
You MUST pay for class before the class starts. For instance, if you want to sign up for a class that starts at 6:30, and you arrive late and get there at 6:31, then you may NOT attend class unless you paid before 6:30 pm. This is all because of the way the park district computer system is set up. You are locked out of the system after the start of class.
Intro to K9 Nose Work®
K9 Nose Work is an exciting dog sport that allows dogs to do what they are genetically predisposed to do — use their noses! K9 Nose Work gives your dog a “job”, builds confidence, teaches creative problem solving, provides great mental exercise, and much more by encouraging your dog’s innate drive to hunt and find scent. If you’re interested in finding new ways to continue to build your relationship with your dog while having fun and doing something dogs love to do, then K9 Nose Work is for you! (Note, dogs will be confined in crates and/or behind barriers when they are not working, therefore even dogs who don’t love other dogs can attend and enjoy this class).
Time: 7:45 pm – 8:45 pm 8 weeks
Start Date: Monday, April 2, 2025
Class Dates: 4-7-25 through 6-2-25 May 26
Class Fee: Resident $27/class, Non-resident $34/class
Time: 7:45 pm – 8:45 pm 9 weeks
Start Date: Monday, June 9, 2025
Class Dates: 6-9-25 through 8-11-25 No class on June 23
Class Fee: Resident $27/class, Non-resident $34/class
Intro to Odor
Once dogs are fluent in the foundational skills they learn in Intro to Nose Work, they are ready to move on to hunting for novel target odors. Dogs will practice hunting for these odors in interior, exterior, vehicle and container searches. We will be working both inside and outside. Dogs must be crated in class and/or behind a barrier. The prerequisite for this class is at least one full session of Intro to Nose Work. You must contact Sally Bushwaller, sally@bushwaller.com, to see if your dog is eligible for this class, prior to signing up.
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm 10 weeks
Start Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Class Dates: 4-1-25 through 6-3-25
Class Fee: Resident $27/class, Non-resident $34/class
Time: 7:45 pm – 8:45 pm 7 weeks
Start Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Class Dates: 6-10-25 through 8-12-25 No class on June 24
Class Fee: Resident $27/class, Non-resident $34/class
Fresh Start Beginner Dog Training
Help your adult dog learn to become responsible for his own actions. Your dog will learn the basics, sit, down, stay, come, leave it, get started on leash walking and learn other helpful skills. Please contact me so I can determine if this class is a good fit for you and your dog: sally@bushwaller.com.
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm 6 weeks
Start Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Class Dates: 6-10-25 through 7-22-25 No class on June 24
Class Fee: Resident $163, Non-resident $204
Continuing K9 Nose Work®
You and your dog must have taken Intro to K9 Nose Work. In this class we work on complex hides, work in different rooms, practice container, vehicle and exterior searches, go on field trips.
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm 10 weeks
Start Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Class Dates: 4-2-25 through 6-4-25
Class Fee: Resident $27/class, Non-resident $34/class
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm 11 weeks
Start Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Class Dates: 6-11-25 through 8-13-25 No class on June 25
Class Fee: Resident $27/class, Non-resident $34/class
Perfect Puppy
Help your puppy learn to become responsible for his own actions. Your pup will learn the basics, sit, down, stay, come, leave it, get started on leash walking, socialization and learn other helpful skills. For puppies 8 weeks to 5 months of age.
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm 6 weeks
Start Date: Monday, April 7, 2025
Class Dates: 4-7-25 through 5-12-25
Class Fee: Resident $163, Non-resident $204
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm 6 weeks
Start Date: Monday, June 9, 2025
Class Dates: 6-9-25 through 7-21-25 No class on June 23
Class Fee: Resident $163, Non-resident $204
Grad School
An advanced class working on improving your dog’s stay, recall, loose lead walking, and teaching your dogs to file their own front nails. Must have attended one of my other basic classes — puppy or beginner. Bring a dog bed to class each week.
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm 6 weeks
Start Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025
Class Dates: 4-12-25 through 5-31-25 No class on April 19 or May 17
Class Fee: Resident $163, Non-resident $204
Time: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm 6 weeks
Start Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Class Dates: 6-14-25 through 8-2-25 No class on June 21 and 28
Class Fee: Resident $163, Non-resident $204
_____________________
*Below is a link to the Wilmette Park District: http://www.wilmettepark.org/
Link to 2024/25 class schedule with my classes:
https://wilmettepark.org/general-recreation/general-recreation-programs-crc-spring/
You must sign up directly with the park district. I can’t sign you up.