Training Class Descriptions


Click a class title to view a description of the class.

Group Class Settings
Beginners Class -- Basic Training Principles/Methodology Manners Class Canine Good Citizen Preparation
Puppy Class K9 Sampler Agility -- Introduction
Canine Good Citizen/
Therapy Dog Class
Rally-Obedience -- Introduction Reliable Recalls
Loose Leash Walking Conformation Competition Obedience Competition
Kids Klub Tricks Class Attention Tuning
Doggie Day Camp     

NOTE -- We strongly recommend the Beginners or Puppy classes
as a "prerequisite" for participation in other classes.
Although NOT REQUIRED, it will help lay the groundwork for greater understanding
of how dogs learn, and will promote better communication between handlers and trainers.

     
Individualized Instruction
Private Training in Principles and Methodology Remedial Training or Consultation
     
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Beginners Class -- Basic Training Principles/Methodology

  • Entry Level course.  Designed to assist with obedience concepts and training of the older dog (more than 6 months of age).  Polish skills, provide socialization, and learn new handler techniques while focusing on teaching the dogs manners and self-control.
PURPOSE: To help handlers socialize their dogs and to teach basic obedience skills.
 
Week 1    Explain operant conditioning (clicker training) & choose an indicator.  Begin sit,
               come, loose leash walking
Week 2    Review indicator. Continue sit, come, loose leash walk.  Begin attention game,
               down, come
Week 3    Review breed differences, sit, down, come, attention.  Teach
               no jumping or off
Week 4    Continue come, off, sit, down, attention, loose leash walking. 
               Talk about grooming, daily exam.  Teach stand, sit for exam. 
               Introduce rally
Week 5    Review loose leash walking, sit for exam, stand, stay.  Play
               ‘Meet your Neighbor’.  Teach tunnel & 2 rally tasks.  Teach
               trick
Week 6    Review all skills with games.  Show off tricks.  Graduation

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Manners Class

  • A continuation for training for the dog and handler who have successfully completed either Puppy Behavior or Basic Manners.  Focuses on skills needed to become well-behaved family members.  (Waiting at doorways, no jumping on people, greeting people and other dogs calmly and politely, etc.)
     
PURPOSE: To help handlers to teach their dogs to have good ‘everyday’ manners and to be under control in home and public.
Week 1    Begin Dog attention, Loose Leash walking, Shake.  Take a seat—basic commands
               from a sitting position
Week 2    Continue attention, sit, down, come.  Begin Stay, Go to Place, Meet Your Neighbor,
               & Roll Over.  "Most Dogs are NOT Deaf" game
Week 3    Teach no jumping or off, Touch a Target, Guide Dog down.
               The Mailman Cometh.
Week 4    Teach In & Out (dog waits at door), Wave bye-bye.  Speedy
               Gonzalez recalls.  Introduce rally activity
Week 5    Review all skills.  Teach Run to the Den, tunnel, Time Out. 
               Practice rally course
Week 6    Review all weeks.  Take a field trip.  Show off tricks. 
                                                  Graduation Party with games
 
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  • Puppy Behavior Classes
    • Designed for puppies up to 6 months old at the time the class sessions begin.  Includes basic discipline and manners, training tips and puppy socialization. 
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    K9 Sampler
    •  A fun introduction to the various kinds of dog training and competition, including Obedience, Rally-O, Agility, Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog concepts.
    PURPOSE: To introduce dogs and handlers to some of the activities and sports available. This is a class for a dog who has already learned the basics of good behavior and who can reliably sit, down, stay, and walk on a leash nicely.
     
    Week 1     Introduction to Rally and use of signs.  Practice mini Rally course
    Week 2     Introduction to Competition Obedience (Novice Level).  Practice
                    the 6 exercises in Novice Obedience
    Week 3    Games and Tricks to teach your Dog. 
                            Shake/Wave/High Five                   Roll Over
                            Spin                                               Fetch
                            The Shell Game                              Hide & Seek
    Week 4     Introduction to Agility with low obstacles.  Practice a mini Agility course.
    Week 5     Introduction to CGC & Therapy Dog testing.  Review of evaluation components.
                    Practice a Therapy Dog evaluation
     
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    Kids Klub

    This class is designed for 8 to 16-year-olds and their dogs.  Designed to help the young handler build the relationship with their dogs, and understand the basics of working with their dogs.  The participants will
    • Learn how to teach their dogs sit, down and come
    • Play games with their dogs, and teach their dogs a trick
    • introduce the variety of canine competition sports
    • Learn how to interact with unfamiliar dogs
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    Doggie Day Camp

    A week-long daytime program (held during summer months) for children 3rd grade and up.  Campers will learn about different breeds of dogs, including how to groom and train them.  Dog safety -- including how to approach dogs that are not known -- and behavior will be covered.   Campers may bring their own well-behaved dogs, or may use dogs provided by the camp staff.

    • Program will run from 9 am to 4 pm Monday thru Friday.
    • Campers should bring a bag lunch and soft treats for their dog.
    • Cost includes all program & equipment supplies.  Drinks will be provided for lunch.
    • Parents are welcome to attend/participate. 

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    Agility -- Introduction

    PURPOSE: To build confidence in dogs over 6 months of age and to introduce the obstacles commonly used in Agility Competition. Obstacles will be very close to the ground and easily maneuvered by all dogs.  Beginner Obedience course is a prerequisite.
     
    Week 1    Dogs will be introduced to various walking surfaces
                          Weave poles (3)                               Tunnel
    Week 2           Dog Walk                                         Weave poles (4)
                          Chute
    Week 3           Weave poles (6)                               High jump (8” or less)
                          A-Frame
    Week 4           Pause Box                                        Bar jump
              Weave poles (8)
    Week 5          Tire jump                                        Weave poles (10)
                     Learn to do consecutive obstacles
    Week 6    Dogs will run a full course of all obstacles introduced in class

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    Rally Obedience -- Introduction

    PURPOSE: To introduce dogs and handlers to the sport of Rally Obedience Competition.  Beginner Obedience course is a prerequisite.
     
    Week 1     Introduction to Rally and use of signs
                            Start                                                  Finish
    HALT/Sit                                            Right turn
                            270 Right                                           360 Right
    About Turn Right                                Slow Pace
    Week 2             HALT/Sit/Down                                  Fast Pace
                            Left Turn                                            About “U” Turn
                            270 Left                                             360 Left
    Week 3             Call Front/Finish Right/Forward           Call Front/Finish Right/HALT
                            Normal Pace                                        Left About Turn
                            HALT/Fast Forward from Sit                Spiral Right, Dog Outside
    Week 4             Call Front/Finish Left/Forward             Call Front/Finish Left/HALT
                            Moving Side Step Right                        Spiral Left, Dog Inside
                            Straight Figure 8 Weave Twice             Serpentine Weave Once
                            HALT/Walk around Dog                        HALT/Down/Walk Around Dog
    Week 5             HALT/1, 2, and 3 Steps Forward
                      Moving Down/Then Forward
                            Call Front/1, 2, and 3 Steps Backward
    Week 6     Dogs will run a full Rally Novice Course

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    Reliable Recalls

    PURPOSE: To teach handlers how to train their dog to come under any circumstance and in any location.
     
    Week 1     Choice of a Cue/Command.  How to introduce the cue to the dog.  Practice in a
                    6’ X 6’ confined area
    Week 2     Recalls in larger areas.  Teaching friends & family to use the Recall cue
    Week 3     Recalls with distractions (toys, food, other dogs, people).  Recalls by different class
                    members
    Week 4    Recalls in new locations.  Recall Relay Game

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    Loose Leash Walking

    PURPOSE: To teach handlers how to train their dog to walk by their side under any circumstance and in any location. This is a class for the dog that pulls when walking.
     
    Week 1     Introduction of training tools available to help.  Choice of
                    cue/command and reward. 
                    Importance of rate of movement.  Walking 2-3 steps on a loose leash.
    Week 2     Teaching attention when walking.  Long leash walking in straight lines. 
                    The difference between exercise and walking.
    Week 3     Walking with turns and changes in direction.  Walking with distractions (toys,
                    animals, food, children)
    Week 4    Taking a walk through the neighborhood

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    Conformation Competition Level 1

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    Obedience Competition Level 1 (Novice exercises)

    An introduction to obedience training for competition in the obedience ring.  Among the topics covered

    • Individual exercises
    • Basic concepts for training for each exercise
    • What a judge is looking for
    • What works, and what will get you into trouble

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    Canine Good Citizen/Therapy Dog Class

    • This class is a combination of the Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog Preparation classes.  Focus will be on the skills necessary to become certified by Therapy Dogs testing organizations as a Therapy Dog-Handler Team.  It will also introduce all of the skills necessary to successfully earn the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen title
    PURPOSE: To prepare dogs and handlers to successfully obtain the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title offered by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and to pass the Therapy Dog evaluation.
     
    Week 1    Intro to CGC & Therapy Dog expectations, Accepting a Friendly Stranger, Out for a
                   Walk, Come When Called and Supervised Separation.
    Week 2    Sitting Politely for Petting, Appearance & Grooming, Out for a Walk, Working
                   around adaptive equipment, and Supervised Separation
    Week 3    Practice Walking through a Crowd, Sit & Down on Command, Reactions to
                   Distractions, and Supervised Separation
    Week 4    Practice Staying in Place, Out for a Walk, Leave It, Reaction to Another Dog,
                   working around a child, and Supervised Separation
    Week 5    Review of all CGC/Therapy Dog stations and mock evaluation.

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    Tricks Class

    • This 2-week class will focus on some of the fun things you can do with your dog, and help them to perform some tricks to “show off” to family and friends.  “Design your own trick”, and we’ll help you to develop the steps and the training plan to help you toward your goal.

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    Attention Tuning

    • Attention is a major key to success in many aspects of dog training.  Whether your goal is basic training of a family pet, working toward a CGC or Therapy Dog certification, or more advanced competition training (Obedience, Breed Showing, Dock Dogs, Freestyle, etc.), the dog who is giving good attention is the one who will succeed at a higher level

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    Private Training in Principles and Methodology

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    Remedial Training or Consultation

    • Tailored to each dog and their unique needs and challenges.  Offers training in a wide variety of skills.  Some examples would be walking nicely on a leash, greeting other dogs calmly, coming when called, house-training and other basic or advanced skills.

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    09.20.08

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