DOG TRAINING

Our next 6-week session begins January 3, 2012.

TRAINING CLASSES SCHEDULE

TRAINING CLASSES

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*Free to enrolled students

TRAINING CLASSES

Puppy Kindergarten:
This is a six week training class for puppies who are twelve weeks to six months old.  The primary goal of this class is teaching and using positive training techniques for socializing your puppy in a safe and stimulating environment.  You will learn the basic manners and commands:  watch, sit, down, come, stay, and leash walking; bite inhibition will also be introduced.  Your puppy will be exposed to obstacle and other cutting edge confidence building activities like proprioception training which will enhance the development of a happy and well rounded puppy.


AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Prep and Certification Class:
Your puppy can earn the AKC  “S.T.A.R. Puppy Award”.  Your puppy continues its basic obedience training and socialization in a positive, educational and fun environment.  In addition, you will learn responsible dog ownership to ensure appropriate exercise activities and training.   The class is open to all dogs. Puppies will be required to pass all the items on the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Test to achieve certification.  The S.T.A.R. puppy certification will be listed in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy records.  Puppy and owner must attend all six classes, there are no exceptions.  Class fees include AKC testing charges.  Puppy’s twelve weeks to one year old are welcomed.


Obedience 101:
Our goal is to educate the handler on how to train your dog to think.  Using operant training techniques you will train your dog in the basic verbal  commands of watch, sit, down, stay, come, loose leash walking, “leave it” and proper manners regarding meeting people and other dogs.   This class is educational, intriguing, and enjoyable for both the dog and owner.


Canine Good Citizen Prep and Certification Class:
This class designed to reward a dog for having good manners at home and in the community.  The class stresses the importance of responsible dog ownership and basic good manners for the dog.  The participants will prepare for the 10-step CGC test.  All testing items will be covered in class.  Class fees include AKC testing charges. Prong collars not permitted. 
Prerequisites: Obedience 101 or instructor approval.


Obedience 201:
This class will expand the basic obedience skills learned in Obedience 101.  Your dog will begin learning hand signals for sit, down, stand, stay, and come, as well as, heeling and loose leashing walking with directional changes.  Distraction training and generalizing behaviors will be emphasized.  Prerequisites:  Obedience 101 or instructor approval.


Puppy Agility:
Agility training for puppies that are at least six months to one year old.  Basic obedience and focus exercises combined with agility foundation training are taught with positive training principles that will help your puppy to be well on its way to becoming a confident dog. Puppies will build confidence and proprioception by utilizing wobble boards, contact boards. We will work on core strengthening and hind leg awareness activities. Flat buckle collars or shoulder harnesses permitted.  Puppies six months to one year old welcomed.


Agility Obedience:
Focusing on more than basic obedience, this class expands to include instruction on two-sided off-leash performance skills.  The dog and handler team will learn foundation exercises of agility using positive training techniques.  Proprioception, contact training, start line stays, weaving, jumping basics and beginner handling maneuvers will provide the foundation skills necessary for safe and adequate performance of agility apparatus.  Only flat buckle collars or shoulder harness permitted.  This class is a prerequisite for all agility classes.

Agility 101:
Building on the skills learned in Agility Obedience, handler and dog teams will continue to put together a solid foundation for safe and competitive agility performance.  The APHS (Awesome Paws Handling System) will be introduced.  Teams will begin working on contact obstacles at low levels. Weave pole, tunnel & chute performance, more advanced jumping and handling skills will be introduced.  Only flat buckle collars or shoulder harnesses permitted.
Prerequisite:  Agility Obedience.  This class may be repeated.


Agility 201:
Teams will begin performing sequence training using the APHS.  Emphasis will be placed on correct handling cues and crossing positions and techniques. Obstacles will begin at low levels with the goal of full height performance at the end of the session.  Weave pole training continues to include 6-12 weave pole performance.  Only flat buckle collars or shoulder harnesses permitted.  Prerequisite: Agility 101.  This class may be repeated.


Competition Novice Agility:
For those handlers who want to continue training their dog for agility competition.  Continued emphasis is placed on obstacle discrimination and performance, start line strategies, correct use of body cues and handling of more advanced sequences helps to prepare the dog and handler teams for successful novice competition performance.  Twelve weave pole performance will be emphasized.  Attention to the rules and regulations for performing in AKC agility competitions will be discussed.  Only flat buckle collars or shoulder harnesses permitted. 
Prerequisites: Agility 201 also dogs must be able to perform obstacles at competition heights. This class may be repeated.


Competition Open Agility:  For competition Novice level teams who are actively competing.  The objectives for this class are to improve handling of open level competition jumping sequences, independent weave pole entries and adding more distance on the agility course.  Only flat buckle collars or shoulder harnesses permitted.  
Prerequisites: Competition Novice Agility class or Instructor’s approval.


Competition Excellent Agility: For teams competing at the open agility or equivalent level class. Performance and handling technique analysis and modification will be presented.   Students will continue working on complex agility handling skills. Continued instruction of advanced jumping sequences, lead outs, distance, layering techniques and course running strategies will be offered.  Only flat buckle collars or shoulder harness permitted. Prerequisites: Competition Open Agility or Instructor’s approval.


Competition Master Agility:  Teams at the excellent or equivalent agility competition level will perform elite handling sequences.  Specific handling strategies and complex course analysis will be offered.
Prerequisites: Competition Excellent Agility or Instructor’s approval.


Rally Obedience Novice Class:
Rally Obedience is a fun and exciting team sport that emphasizes teamwork.  Rally-O enhances the working relationship between dog and handler.  Teams will learn proper performance of the novice level Rally signs and stations.  AKC Rally rules for Novice competition levels will be discussed.  All exercises are performed with the dog on lead.  Prong collars not permitted.  Prerequisites: Obedience 101 and Obedience 201 or Instructors approval.


Rally Obedience Advanced and Excellent Class:  Teams will learn appropriate performance of the Advanced and Excellent level Rally signs and stations.  All exercises are performed while off lead.  AKC Rally rules for Advanced and Excellent competition levels will be discussed.  Prong collars not permitted.  Prerequisites: Obedience 101, Obedience 201, Rally-O Novice or Instructors approval.

REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAINING DOGS
Puppies 8-16 weeks must have been examined by a veterinarian, have had first vaccinations, and be in overall good health.

Dogs for group classes and private sessions are required to have the following vaccinations: DHLP, Parvo, and Rabies. We also recommend the Bordatella vaccination. The Bordatella vaccination must be given at least 10 days prior to training. Dogs for residency programs are required to have DHLP, Parvo, Rabies and Bordatella. It is the owner's responsibility to provide current vaccination records. Dogs that are without vaccination records or overdue on vaccinations will not be accepted for training.