Obedience Class Schedule
All Classes must be pre registered

Puppy Kindergarten (8 weeks to 2 6 weeks of age at start of class)

Prerequisite: none

This class will cover: attention; leash management; coming when called; walking through doorways without pulling; sit, down, and stay, with approach and touch by a stranger.  In addition to basic learning skills, we will work on confidence and manageability in the face of new experiences.  The primary emphasis of this class will be to develop a positive relationship between the handler and dog.

PuppySocialization (8 weeks to 1 year of age at start of class)

Prerequisite: none

Puppy Socialization class teaches owners how to set up safe and empowering social and environmental experiences. Life skills topics are acclimation to new environments; cooperative care training for veterinary, grooming, and husbandry handling; baby impulse control; leash manners and polite greetings. In building these life skills, puppies learn the basic exercises of sit, down, recall and leash foundations.

Junior Puppy (19 weeks to 1 year of age at start of class)

Prerequisite: none

This class will cover: attention; leash management; coming when called; walking through doorways without pulling; sit, down, and stay, with approach and touch by a stranger.  In addition to basic learning skills, we will work on confidence and manageability in the face of new experiences.  The primary emphasis of this class will be to develop a positive relationship between the handler and dog.

Senior Puppy( 27 weeks to 12 months of age at start of class)

Prerequisite :none 

This class has a fun approach to teaching basic commands to young dogs. Skills include attention, recall, controlled walking on leash, sit, down, and stay. We build a positive connection between the puppy and the handler..

Performance Dog

Prerequisite :none 

This class is designed for young dogs 10 months and older who will be pursuing a performance career.

Performance Dog II

Prerequisite :successful completion of a previous Performance Dog II class, one leg towards CD, or permission of instructor.

This class is designed for those dogs and handlers who wish to compete in novice and open obedience. Class will be a mixture of novice and open exercises.

Performance Dog III

Prerequisite :At least one leg towards CD.

Emphasis will be on teaching the open and utility exercises.

Beginner Adult Dog (over 12 months ) of age

Prerequisite:Successful completion of Senior puppy or open to any dog greater than 1 year old.

Basic obedience skills will be introduced using lures to guide and position the dog. We will cover leash management;stay in crate or car until called out; sit quietly at handler’s side until released; walk quietly by handler’s side on a loose leash; and come when called. The primary emphasis of this class will be to develop a positive relationship between the handler and dog.

Level II Advanced Pet Obedience

Prerequisite: Dogs must be under control and able to walk beside their handler on a loose leash.

Owner should have good control of dog; dog should not continually pull on leash and should sit 0r down with one command. This class lays a strong foundation for a well behaved family pet. Work on loose leash walking, attention to handler, working around distractions, sits and downs from any position, stays; and come when called.

Attention & Heeling

Prerequisites: Dogs must be under control and able to walk beside their handler on a loose leash.

This class has two goals. One, to teach dogs to pay formal attention to their handlers. Two, to find heel position on their own and to maintain it sitting at heel and while moving. These skills will be taught through various games and activities. We will cover focal point, footwork, body language, shifting responsibility to the dog, and more.

Beginner Novice : An AKC Titling Class

Prerequisite: Dog must be able to demonstrate control on a loose leash for walking and sitting; handler must have attended a Novice Rally class or have a RN title on a dog.

This class will cover rules for qualifying and ring experience.

Novice CD: A preparatory class for those planning to achieve a Companion Dog (CD) title

Prerequisite: The dog should have completed the Attention and Heeling class or the Beginner Novice class; or have 1 CD leg.

Class will introduce the Novice CD exercises: Heel position. Heeling on and off leash. Change of Pace, Sit & Down Stay, the Recall, and Stand for Exam, and Use of Voice & Food as a reward, not as a lure. Class will include discussion of AKC competition rules, ring procedure, preventing handler errors to get the most out of your dog

Graduate Novice:

Prerequisite: Successful completion of the Novice CD class or 1 leg towards a CD Title.

Exercises for this AKC Optional Titling Class will be covered.

Introduction to Open:

Prerequisite: A Novice CD Title or by permission of the instructor.

This class is for handlers who are well versed in the Novice exercises; whose dog is reliable off lead and ready to begin AKC Open exercises

Beginner Open:

Prerequisite: Dog must have successfully completed the Novice CD title or leg, be proficient in the CD exercises; or by permission of the instructor.

This class will focus on Dumbbell training and jumping

Open:

Prerequisite: Dog must have successfully completed the Novice CD title or leg, be proficient in the CD exercises; or by permission of the instructor.

All AKC exercises will be covered. This class is divided into Beginning and Advanced Levels according to proficiency.

Advanced Open:

Prerequisite: Open or by permission of instructor.

This class is for dogs and handlers, who are well versed in Open exercises, are ready for competition and need proofing

Utility:

Prerequisite: Proficiency in Open skills and one Open leg or CDX title, or by permission of instructor.

This class will cover all AKC Utility exercises. Class will be divided into Beginning and Advanced Levels according to proficiency.

Open/Utility: daytime class

Prerequisite: Refer to Open and/or Utility classes

This class offers 8-10 minutes of individual instruction in Open or Utility exercises, with time for practice on your own. Limit of 1 dog per handle

Run-Thru:

This class is open for Novice through Utility levels, and will be tailored to meet your specific needs. Members will be expected to steward for others running their dogs. Critiquing will be offered per request, providing a learning experience for handlers and class members. Ring time and class size will be limited to give all equal working time.

Rally Novice(RN)

Prerequisite: Dog must be able to demonstrate sit & down on first or second command, hold posture for at least 15 seconds, and be able to demonstrate controlled walking for 25 feet. Dogs must have successfully passed a basic obedience class or CGC test, or by permission of instructor.

This class will be for anyone new to Rally and also for those handlers familiar to Rally but with Novice dogs. This class will be for learning the 42 Novice signs. Class will start short sequences, giving handlers experience moving from sign to sign. Handlers will be critiqued during the course.
Getting started in Rally - Click here for further information

Rally Intermediate(RI)

Prerequisite: Handlers need to have completed a Rally Novice class with a current or a previous dog.

This is a new AKC title class. This level uses the same 23 signs as the Rally Advanced level but will be on-leash without a jump. Classes will have short courses and handlers will be critiqued during the course.

Rally Advance (RA)

Prerequisite: Handlers need to have completed a Rally Novice class with a current or a previous dog.

This class will use the same 23 signs as the Rally Intermediate level. Dogs will be off-leash in trials, but can be on-leash in class. Classes will have short courses and handlers will critiqued during the course.

Rally Excellent (RE)

Prerequisite: Handlers need to have completed a Rally Advanced class, or by permission of the instructor.

This class is for anyone who wants to continue to learn the additional 18 Excellent signs. Classes will have short courses and handlers will be critiqued during the course.

Rally Masters (RM)

Prerequisite: Handlers need to have completed at least a Rally Advanced class, or by permission of the instructor.

his class is for handlers who want to learn the 22 signs for this new AKC Rally title. 

Pet Therapy

Prerequisites: Mastery of basic obedience skills (sit, down, brief stay, on-leash come, walk on loose leash, sit to accept petting, polite behavior around other dogs).

Dogs in this class must be at least one year old.  This class will introduce the skills required for various therapy situations and the requirements for a team to become credentialed for therapy work.  Prospective dog/handler teams will be tested and then observed in medical, and possibly other, therapy settings.  Please note the minimum age for handler credentialing is 16 years old..

Rally Novice Run Thru

Prerequisites: Handler & dog must have Rally experience.

This will not be an actual teaching class, but limited critiquing will be available.

Rally (EX/MD) Run Thru

Prerequisites: Handler & dog must have Rally experience.

This will not be an actual teaching class, but limited critiquing will be available.

Rally(RN RI RA ) Run Thru's

Prerequisites: Handler & dog must have Rally experience.

This will not be an actual teaching class, but limited critiquing will be available.

Canine Good Citizen

Prerequisites: Proficiency in Level I skills or by permission of Instructor.

Basic obedience skills required. Emphasis for this class will be on developing the skills necessary to become good citizens of the community. We will follow the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test elements in perfecting these skills.

Performance Puppy for puppies 12 weeks to 6months

Prerequisites: none

Open to experienced handlers (i.e. any individual who has participated in any dog competitive event) We will cover basic dog obedience commands and introduce higher level fun activities, for example, go-outs & directed jumping). The goal of this class is to teach puppies that learning is fun even amid mild distractions.

Reliability and Refinement

We will focus on consistent cues, criteria, timing, attention and fundamental skills as they relate to obedience exercises or behavior of interest to the student.  Gwen will point out elements in your performance than can be improved and share technics to produce a secure and confident dog.

Scent Work Sniffing Games

Prerequisites: Open to dog of all ages. Must have completed a basic obedience class.

A fun alternative to structured obedience class. Fun activity for keeping your dog engaged, working independently finding hidden targets. A great introduction to scent work.

Introduction To Scent Work

Prerequisites: none

Scent Work is a sport that mimics the task of working detection dogs to locate a scent (e.g., explosives or narcotics) and communicate to the handler that the scent has been found. Scent Work is a positive, challenging activity that allows dogs the opportunity to use their strongest natural sense in a way that’s fun and engaging, and that builds and strengthens a foundation of trust between the handler and dog.
The class will cover a variety of topics including: equipment for your dog, do and don’ts in handling odor and techniques for introducing your dog to odor.

Intermediate Scent Work

Prerequisites: Dog understands the game is to actively search for the first target odor, birch, has trialed in AKC Scent Work or is interested in trialing in AKC Scent Work. Instructor approval required.

In this four week course, we will set up practice searches in one AKC SW element per week.   We will play with various handling techniques, strategies to practice at home, adding the second target odor, and more.

Scent Work-Recognizing when Dogs are in Odor

Prerequisites: Dog must be proficient in actively searching for target odor (birch).This class is designed to help handlers to recognize when their dog is
in odor under different conditions.

This class is designed to help handlers to recognize when their dog is in odor under different conditions. Different scenarios will be setup each week. Each team will be videotaped, instructors will provide running comments. Review each teams video tape the following week with comments and suggestions. The videos will also be place on YouTube for student access.

AKC Trick Dog

Prerequisites: none

Trick dog class is a fun, fairly unstructured class open to dogs 6+ months, no experience needed.  We help you learn not just “fun tricks” but tricks that have their roots in obedience, rally, agility, pet therapy and scent work. Your dog will build confidence and have fun training.  During the 6-week class you can be tested on tricks you’ve learned to earn AKC Trick Dog Titles!