(Training page)  TRAINING COURSES  (Course Schedule)

OBEDIENCE

• Puppy Kindergarten (Puppies 8-16 weeks): 
  Give your puppy the best start in life. This class includes socialization; basic manners; and discussions on housebreaking, chewing, nipping and other puppy issues.

• Senior Puppy (Puppies 4-12 months): 
  This class emphasizes basic obedience, including sit, down, stay, come, and walking on a leash, as well as manners and socialization. Class is open to puppies with no prior training and to graduates of Puppy Kindergarten.

• Graduate Puppy (For puppy kindergarten class graduates):
  This class builds upon training concepts introduced in puppy kindergarten class or equivalent. We work on the dog’s ability to perform obedience commands by adding distractions, distance and length of time and assist with problem solving. We continue to work on the foundation of manners and socialization.

• Family Manners for Adult Dogs (for dogs with no formal training, age one year and older):
  Has a new adult dog joined your family, or are you finally getting around to training your older dog? This class is for adult dogs with no prior training. Learn reward-based training methods to teach your dog the basic skills of sit, down, stay, come when called, walk on a leash, leave it, go to your place, and good manners at doorways.

• Canine Good Citizen
  (for dogs that already know the basic skills of sit, down, walk on lead, and come when called):
  This class focuses on the ten elements of the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. Among these skills are walking under control on a loose lead with turns and halts, sit and down stays, and accepting handling from strangers. The CGC is required by many therapy dog programs, and this class will introduce equipment such as a wheelchair and crutches. Distractions are added, and dogs are weaned off of food treats and special training collars. A complimentary CGC test is offered on the final night of class. Prerequisites: Senior Puppy, Family Manners for Adult Dogs, or prior training to perform sit, down, come when called, and walk on lead.

• Focus/Intermediate (Dogs 6 months or older): 
  This class is designed for dogs who have basic obedience skills, but require improved focus and attention on their owner. The class stresses proofing of sit, down, come and heel, as well as working through distractions. With this class, you’ll gain more control of your dog before starting agility or advanced obedience work. 
  Prerequisites:  Family Manners/Canine Good Citizen

• Rally Obedience
  Rally Obedience is a fun, new activity that has become one of the fastest growing dog sports in the country! Dogs and their handlers make their way through a “course” of stations. Each station has a sign that states an obedience skill to perform. Scoring is not as rigorous as in traditional obedience trials. Handlers can talk to their dogs, clap their hands and use other hand signals to help their dogs through the course. Rally Obedience competitions are divided in levels from Novice for beginning dogs up to Excellent for advanced dogs. The Rally class is designed for dogs with a good grasp of basic obedience skills, including heel, stay and come.
  Prerequisites: Focus class and Family Manners/Canine Good Citizen
  
  
• Competition Obedience:
  This class prepares handlers who want to compete in obedience and rally trials. Dogs should have good basic skills and be able to work around minor distractions.
  Prerequisites:  Focus Class and Family Manners/Canine Good Citizen

• Beginning Flyball – Introduction to this fast, fun team sport for dogs. Canines race down a lane of hurdles to a box, retrieve a ball, and race back.
  No prerequisite, but dogs must be at least 6 months of age, in good shape and physically sound, and be good natured around dogs and people.
  Dogs with aggression issues are not permitted in flyball class.

AGILITY

• Introduction to Agility (Dog 6 months old with basic obedience skills):
  This class introduces dogs to all obstacles and the basics of this exciting sport in which dogs run an obstacle course. Most work is done on-leash so off-lead  control is not required at this stage.

• Level 2 Agility (Prerequisite - Intro to Agility):
  In this class, dogs begin much more challenging sequences and work on mastering six weave poles and the teeter, and they are introduced to crosses and other handling maneuvers. To participate in this class, dogs must be comfortable on all the equipment, including full-height A-frame and dog walk.

• Level 3 Agility (Prerequisite - Level 2 Agility): 
  Dogs are introduced to more advanced handling techniques, and begin running novice-level courses in preparation for competition.  Dogs participating in the Level 3 Agility class must have mastered six-weave poles and the teeter.

• Competition Agility (Prerequisite - Level 3 Agility): 
  This class is designed for dogs that are ready to compete or are competing. Participants work on handling difficult courses, solving problems and improving handling techniques. To participate in this class, dogs must excel in off-lead control.

CONFORMATION

• Junior Showmanship: This class is designed for children and youth ages 8-18 who want to show dogs in the American Kennel Club junior showmanship program. Children learn to handle dogs in conformation competition, as well as the rules and proper etiquette for the sport.

• Conformation: This class offers instructions to all ages on the presentation of purebred dogs in conformation competition. Show ring conditions are set up, and tips are offered on making the most of your dog. This on-going class requires no prior registration.