Here is a description of each class and the “core” exercises that will be taught, practiced, and evaluated at the end of each session. Evaluations may be conducted individually, in small groups, or in large group as determined by the Instructor.

Puppy Socialization: This class is designed for puppies age 6 weeks and older to learn basic good puppy skills, gain exposure to numerous new experiences, socialize with other puppies and people, and to provide support for their humans in preventing and/or dealing with puppy behaviors and early training. Puppies learn that school and learning is fun! Next stop … Graduate Puppy class.

Graduate Puppy Obedience: This class is designed to be a positive, relaxed class to teach puppies and young dogs that their human is the leader and learning is fun! The class is geared to puppies 4 to 8-10 months of age and teaches the basic commands of heel, sit, down, stay, and come, along with other commands to make life more pleasant around the house, in the yard, and on walks. Information about dealing with the adolescent canine is shared weekly. Then, it’s on to Beginners, Pre-Novice or CGC!

Beginners Obedience: This class is structured for the dog having little or minimal training. This class teaches the basic commands of heel, sit, down, stand, stay (for 30 seconds), recall (come), front, and sit quietly for petting next to their person. Then it’s time to move on to CGC or Pre-Novice Obedience!

Canine Good Citizen (CGC): Dogs entering this class should be at least 5 months of age. They need to already know how to walk on a loose leash, sit, down, stay, and come when called. This class is fun and useful. At the end of the session, dogs are individually evaluated on the 10 AKC CGC exercises and must pass all of them to earn their CGC award: accept a friendly stranger, sit politely for petting, good grooming manners, walk on a loose leash, walk through a crowd, sit and down/stay on command, come when called, behave politely around another dog, react appropriately to distractions, and separate from their handler for 3 minutes.

Pre-Novice Obedience: Dogs entering this class need prior training in Graduate Puppy or Beginners Obedience (or the equivalent skills). All exercises are practiced on leash … heel, sit, down, stand, long stays (1 minute sit, 3 minute down), recall with finish, stand for examination, and figure 8. Dog and handler are really starting to look like a team by this time. Next stop … CGC, Novice Obedience or Rally Novice!

Rally Obedience: Rally is a relatively new obedience sport that promotes fun and enjoyment for teams at all levels. It is less formal and encourages dog-handler communication and interaction during the individual performance of self-paced exercises set out in course of numbered stations. Rally Novice is performed on-leash, while Rally Advanced and Rally Excellent require off-leash control.

Novice Obedience: Dogs entering this class need prior training in Pre-Novice (or the equivalent skills). They will learn to work off-leash in this class. The on-leash exercises are heel and the figure 8. The off-leash exercises include heel, recall with finish, stand for examination, and the long stays (1 minute sit, 3 minute down). Teams passing the Novice class evaluation will have learned all the exercises necessary to compete for their Companion Dog (CD) title. Now it’s time to move into Open!

Open Obedience: Dogs entering this class need prior training in Novice (or the equivalent skills). All exercises are worked off-leash. Teams will learn the drop on recall, long sits and downs out of sight, retrieve on the flat and over the high jump, and perform the broad jump. Teams passing the Open class evaluation will have learned all the exercises necessary to compete for their Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title. Now, on to Utility!

Utility Obedience: The pinnacle of obedience training!

Ring Ready Classes: Designed for dog/handler teams actively competing for titles at that level.

Questions? Contact Faith!!

                                                                                                                                        Updated 5-12-07