Embarking on the journey of dog training is a rewarding experience, fostering a deeper bond between you and your canine companion. Whether you’re raising a playful puppy or seeking to refine the skills of an older dog, a structured training program can make all the difference. This guide outlines a variety of classes designed to cater to different needs and experience levels, ensuring your dog develops into a well-behaved and confident individual. From mastering basic obedience and crate manners to achieving advanced titles, there’s a class for every aspiring dog owner.
Puppy and Beginner Training
For young puppies, early socialization and foundational training are crucial. The Beginner Plus class is ideal for puppies who have completed Puppy Level I and II, or for beginner dogs aged nine months and older. This class focuses on perfect crate manners, building strong recall skills, enhancing self-control, and boosting body awareness and confidence. The curriculum incorporates “Crate Games” for the first four weeks, requiring handlers to bring a suitable wire or airline crate. The latter half of the course introduces rear-end awareness, backing up, tug games, and spins, all designed to engage your puppy’s mind positively.
For those looking to certify their dog’s good behavior, the Beginner Pet Tricks/Canine Good Citizen & Advanced Pet Tricks class is the next step. This program prepares dog-handler teams for the AKC skills requirements for the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, including loose-leash walking and accepting strangers. It also covers requirements for the AKC Novice Pet Tricks title, with the goal of achieving both by the end of the session. The advanced level builds on these foundations, teaching tricks using props and enhancing your dog’s ability to follow directions and stay on task.
Intermediate and Advanced Training
As your dog progresses, intermediate and advanced classes offer opportunities to hone specific skills and prepare for competition. The Advanced Canine Good Citizen/AKC Fit Dog & Urban Canine Good Citizen/Fit Dog II classes are designed for dogs with a CGC title and prior experience in fitness training. These courses focus on responsible dog ownership, canine conditioning, and preparing for the Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGCA) and AKC Fit Dog titles. The Urban CGC/Fit Dog II class integrates advanced fitness exercises with urban-specific skills. Dogs entering these programs should already possess basic obedience and not exhibit reactivity.
For those interested in the world of competitive obedience and rally, the FUNdamentals for Obedience & Rally class serves as an excellent introduction. This class uses fun training games to prepare you and your dog for more advanced coursework. Following this, the V1 Foundations class is geared towards handlers intending to compete in obedience and rally. It covers essential foundation exercises for obedience competition, including various types of recalls, heeling techniques, and jump introductions, preparing teams for beginner novice and novice classes.
Specialized Training and Drop-In Options
Rally classes are structured for dogs who have completed their CGC and basic obedience. The Intro to Rally class introduces rally signs and sequences, while Intermediate and Coursework classes focus on developing teamwork through more complex course sequences and sign practice.
For experienced handlers and dogs ready for higher levels of competition, Open Plus builds upon the V1 Foundations program, refining Open class exercises and introducing Utility Class elements like scent articles and directed retrieves. The UDX (Open & Prep for Title) class specifically targets utility exercises for dogs already competing at the Open level or possessing a CDX title.
The Therapy Dog Class prepares dogs and handlers for animal-assisted therapy, focusing on a dog’s ability to offer comfort and joy. This class meets requirements for licensed, insured therapy teams.
For flexible training, Drop-In Classes are available. These include Scent Work Drop-in for all levels, Rally Master Choice Drop-in Run Through for those working at the Excellent level or higher, and Prep to Show Drop-In Obedience Through for all obedience levels, offering timed runs with a simulated judge. These drop-in sessions provide valuable practice opportunities without the commitment of a full course.
