OrientationTraining FeesSession 3

PuppyGrad PuppyBeginnersAdvancedRing ReadyCGCRally

A well-trained dog . . .

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Is a pet to be proud of
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Is a better companion
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Is a good canine citizen
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Is welcome almost everywhere
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Is a valuable member of the family
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Is allowed more freedom because
it listens & obeys you
PKC offers various levels of obedience training - from Puppy Socialization and Training to Utility Dog Classes (click tabs above to see more class info), PKC has the right class that can train you to train your dog.  If you have any questions, regarding the classes described below, please do not hesitate to contact Faith, our Director of Obedience Training.  Click the above link for the current class schedule. 

Orientation
 

Orientation dates for 2008 are:

  
 Session 3 (Orientation is June 3th) - $120
 Session 4 (Orientation is August 12th) - $105
 Session 5 (Orientation is October 21rd) - $90

Orientation is for new trainees to sign up for the next training session. Here is a description of each class and the “core” exercises that will be taught, practiced, and evaluated at the end of each session.

More information about the classes will be provided at the meeting.  No registration is required to attend. 

Bring shot records and proof that a stool check has been preformed within 30 days of the date of orientation.  The training fee will be collected this night (cash or check).  For everyone’s safety, we do not allow dogs who are aggressive toward people or other dogs in our classes.

Orientation begins at 7pm at the kennel club building.  Dogs can stay home for the night of orientation.  Please email Faith or contact us, if unable to attend an orientation. 

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Training Fees
Training fees for non-members are paid once per calendar year on a sliding scale.  The fee entitles you and your family (including head of household, spouse, and/or children under the age of 18) to train all dogs in your household during any or all five of the training sessions. Children must be 12 years old to train a dog in the classes. 
 Session 3 (Orientation is June 3th) - $120
 Session 4 (Orientation is August 12th) - $105
 Session 5 (Orientation is October 21rd) - $90
*An additional fee is required for agility classes.
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CLASSES

Puppy Socialization and Training (PST)

Though the Puppy class is geared to puppies 5 months of age and younger, many shy older puppies would benefit greatly from socialization, which is such an integral part of this class. In fact, some puppy owners repeat the class after seeing such positive growth in their pup’s personality. Besides, PST is a lot of fun!

PST is an eight-week session.  New puppy owners sign up as trainees of Packerland Kennel Club (PKC).  Any PKC member or trainee canFred participate in PST.  It is required that puppy shots, including Parvo, are current.  A negative stool check, less than 30 days old, from a veterinarian is also required before the puppy can join class.  If a puppy is undergoing treatment for internal parasites, they are still welcome in class.  These records are checked at orientation.

But why Puppy Class?

Here are three reasons, each just as important as the other:

1. EDUCATION: Our first class is Orientation for everyone to attend without puppies. Within each class, time is set aside to discuss any questions and concerns the puppy owners may have.
2. SOCIALIZATION: No, we don’t mean beer and pizza! (Though we do encourage owners to use treats in training.) Socialization may be one of the most important aspects of the Puppy class. By introducing a young pup gradually to new situations and environments, the pup learns how to cope, develop trust in his owner and in people in general.
3. BASIC OBEDIENCE: The individual exercises in PST are only components leading to one goal-the pup becomes aware that his owner makes the decisions in his life, NOT the puppy. The owner is teaching his pup to listen to commands. The exercises include, controlled walking, sit, down, and teaching the pup to come when called.

Puppy Socialization and training is an important and fun way to ensure that your pup gets a good start in becoming a great companion.  If you are interested in joining a puppy class or have a question regarding the class, email Faith or call 468-5580. 

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Graduate Puppy Class

Because puppies have such short attention spans, this class was developed to benefit pups 4 months to 7 months of age. Our goal is to make learning a fun experience with a heavy emphasis on the basics to make a better pet, head off unwanted behavior and future problems, and give the owner the confidence and tools to accomplish this through positive training methods. Our class runs for 8 weeks and includes lessons to teach your pup to heel, sit, down, stay, stand, come when called, and sit quietly for petting, along with fun tricks and some useful daily commands to make life easier. At the end of 8 weeks, you and your pup should have the basic skills and confidence to successfully enter the more formal training classes to continue to build on the commands you have learned.

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 Chewing on Shoe

Beginner Obedience

 

This class is for the older pup coming from Graduate Puppy or for the dog that has had no formal training or minimal obedience training. The formal basics are taught here: heel, sit, down, stand, come, front, and stay. This training is the foundation on which all future training is based.

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Advanced Obedience

Pre-Novice - This class builds on the exercises from the Beginners class and teaches the stand for examination, figure 8, and finish. It improves the dog’s reliability and increases performance expectations.
Novice - The dog learns to work off leash for its handler. At the end of this class, the dog and handler will work and look like a team.

Wow, you have made it this far; look what comes next!!

 

 

 

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 Pre-Open – All the off-leash heel, sit, stay, come, and down training comes into play here. Training is becoming more rigorous. Now the dog begins to learn to drop to a down position in the middle of coming when called, wait until given a command to retrieve a dumbbell thrown across the room, and performs the long sits and downs with the handler out of sight.
Open – All that previous training is put into use here. The dog and handler continue to fine-tune their teamwork and the dog learns to work over jumps. It’s exciting, frustrating, and very rewarding when it comes together.
Utility – This is the top of the line in obedience training. Utility training is done in a less formal setting and is run by the handlers themselves. They help each other train and work through the many challenges involved in teaching these advanced exercises. Dogs learn to retrieve by both scent and handler direction, to go out across the room on command and return to the handler over jumps, and obey hand signals. The Utility level is hard to describe but awesome to watch.

Ring-Ready Classes

Ring-Ready Novice – This class is offered to those competing for the Companion Dog title. It is designed to hone both handler skills and dog performance for competition Novice obedience.

Heeling

Ring-Ready Open – This class is offered to those competing for the Companion Dog Excellent title. It is designed to hone both handler skills and dog performance for competition Open obedience.

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Canine Good Citizen

The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program was developed by the American Kennel Club (AKC) to teach responsible dog ownership and to certify dogs that have the good behavior and training needed to be a reliable, well-behaved member of their families, both in the presence of other dogs and in public places. The CGC program welcomes purebred and mixed breed dogs. At the time of enrollment, dogs should be at least 5 months old and have already mastered the skills taught in Graduate Puppy or Beginners Obedience. The CGC test is non-competitive and offered at the conclusion of the class. Dogs need to pass all 10 exercises of the CGC test in order to become a Canine Good Citizen. Dogs are not required to perform with the same precision required in formal obedience. Successful completion of the CGC test is often required to do therapy work.

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Rally

There are three levels of Rally obedience: Novice, which is worked on leash, and Advanced and Excellent, which are both worked off leash. Rally requires the owner to work the dog through a series of designated exercises (10-20) in a sequentially designed course. The dog/handler team must perform the exercise written on the card at each station before moving on to the next station. The course is completed individually and allows the handler to encourage and talk to the dog.

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Clicker Training

"Clicker training" is an animal training method based on behavioral psychology that relies on marking desirable behavior and rewarding it."

Desirable behavior is usually marked by using a "clicker," a mechanical device that makes a short, distinct "click" sound which tells the animal exactly when they're doing the right thing. This clear form of communication, combined with positive reinforcement, is an effective, safe, and humane way to teach any animal any behavior that it is physically and mentally capable of doing. (description taken from www.clickertraining.com)

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