Classes

Basic Behavior & Obedience (Ages 5 months and up) This is a six (6) week class held one (1) day per week for an hour and a half. This is an excellent class for those who are trying to overcome minor behavior issues or learn and understand basic behavior and obedience, including manners. Your family will learn how to better understand your dog and to communicate more clearly with them through better handling and using commands that your dog will learn to understand. Some of the commands learned can be found in our word list.

Beyond Basics (Must have Completed Our Basic Behavior and Obedience Class.) Take the next step in furthering your dogs' education and enroll in our Beyond Basics class. We will continue from where you left off in Basic Behavior and Obedience. You will receive the best instruction possible, further your skills by working towards off leash commands, and your dog will have the opportunity to show their full potential. This is a six (6) week class held one (1) day per week for an hour.

Puppy Head Start (For puppies under 16 weeks) This class is designed to provide proper socialization and beginning obedience commands. Fun and relaxed atmosphere. Puppy development and typical problem behaviors are discussed. This class is designed to stop problems before they start.

Puppy Fundamentals (For puppies 12-20 weeks) Puppy Fundamentals is an actual obedience class geared to the developing puppy. Both the owners and their puppies will enjoy the socialization and playtime during each class. Basic obedience commands are taught as well as household manners. If you are not sure if your dog will be suitable for a class due to aggression or any other issue, please consider scheduling a free evaluation with our behaviorist.

Competition Obedience Workshop  This class will refine some of the skills you have learned in Basic Behavior and Obedience. We will also introduce some new skills that will not only be used in Competition Obedience but will make your dog a better companion.  The main objective of competition obedience is to showcase dogs that have been trained to behave in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs, in a manner that will reflect positively on the dog and handler.  Even if you don’t have aspirations of gaining titles (which are available in several different venues to both pure-bred dogs and mixes) this class is a great way to continue to build your relationship with your canine team mate. Emphasis will be placed on building the team using positive reinforcement. Prerequisite for this class is successful completion of Basic Behavior and Obedience or instructor approval.

Competition Rally Workshop Rally was designed as an entry point into the world of Competition Obedience and Agility. It offers both the dog and handler an experience that is fun and energizing. The canine team moves at their own pace through a course designed by the judge, very similar to Rally Style auto racing. Rally was designed with the traditional pet owner in mind, but can still be very challenging for those who enjoy higher levels of competition.  Prerequisite for this class is successful completion of the Competition Obedience Workshop or instructor approval.

Tricks Plus:  Many behavior problems result from bored dogs and owners who don’t know how to play with them. In Tricks Plus, you will not only learn positive techniques to teach your dog a variety of fun and useful tricks but we also cover other ways to engage your dog! Some of the tricks covered are: rollover, crawl, fetch, bow, and even putting their toys away.

This is a six (6) week class held one (1) day per week for an hour. Prerequisite for this class is successful completion of Basic Behavior and Obedience. This is a high energy class; instructor permission is required for dogs with people or dog aggression issues. Class size is limited to 10 dogs.

Agility Level - 1: Introduction to Agility (dogs should be 6 months or older to do this class) Emphasis is on building a working relationship between dog and handler in agility, with work on handler/dog focus. Emphasis on positive reinforcement.

· Teach the dog to send to a target

· Plank work in preparation to contact obstacle work

· Introductory tunnel work

· Introduction to table.

· Basic obedience skills useful in agility

Agility - Level 2: Pre-requisite - Successful completion of Level 1 and permission of instructor.  Introduction to all obstacles, with emphasis on safe and correct execution. Introduction to weave poles, hand out of weave pole construction plans and emphasis that weaves must be taught at home.

Agility - Level 3: Pre-requisite - Successful completion of Levels 1 & 2 and permission of instructor. Emphasis on perfecting obstacle performance and introduction to sequencing and handling. Handlers should be working diligently at home on weave pole performance.  Focus in this class is on sequencing, handling, and beginning of course analysis.

Agility Level - 4: Pre-requisite - Permission of instructor. There should be no serious equipment issues at this level. Dogs must be doing independent weave poles. At this level dogs should be either ready to compete or already competing. Focus will be on advanced handling techniques and problem solving. Serious emphasis on handling skills and course analysis.

**NEW** K9 Nose Work - Level 1: This class is for all dogs 6 months to adult (and seniors, too). Classes focus on teaching students how to encourage and develope their dog's natural scenting abilities by using their innate desire to hunt and their love of toys, food, and exercise. A perfect class for dogs to have fun, build  confidence and focus, and burns lots of physical and mental energy. Class size is limited and each dog works individually to focus on specific needs for every dog. This class is taught by Marilyn Berkshire, CNWI.

Canine Good Citizen (CGC)

**Now Offering Canine Good Citizen Tests.

Please call the front office, at (425) 486-9567, to schedule.