Pet Classes
AKC STAR Puppy
This class is for puppies under 12 months of age and meets once a week for six weeks. The class is based on the AKC S.T.A.R. Program, and the instructor is an approved AKC CGC Evaluator. Owners and puppies will earn an AKC STAR Certificate with the successful completion of the class. We emphasize activities that encourage the development of a confident, well cared for and well adjusted puppy. The class deals with house-training, crate training, grooming, proper socialization, and beginning obedience.
4-6 Puppy Home Manners
This class is for puppies 4 to 6 months old and meets for 7 weeks. Exercises taught are sit, down, stay, walk on leash, come when called, and home manners. This is a 7-week class which meets one night per week students will be provided with a book and a workbook to provide training help outside of class. The first class is orientation, so do NOT bring your dog the first night of class.
Home Manners
This class is for dogs over 6 months of age. Exercises taught are sit, down, stay, walk on leash, come when called, and home manners. This is a 7-week class which meets one night per week students will be provided with a book and a workbook to provide training help outside of class. The first class is orientation, so do NOT bring your dog the first night of class.
Public Manners
Prerequisite: Home Manners
This class is for those wishing to progress further with their training and gain more control over their dogs. This class helps to prepare dogs to pass the Canine Good Citizen test given the last night of class. The CGC is a certification/title offered by the American Kennel Club. The class also offers more work toward off-leash recalls and stays as well as introducing some fun background exercises for competition training.
Community Canine
Prerequisite: CGC TITLE – A copy of the Evaluator’s form showing the dog passed the CGC OR the AKC Title Certificate must be presented the first day/night of class.
This is a ‘traveling’ class which meets in a variety of pre-determined, local settings. This class provides a review and instruction to help teams practice and improve handler and canine skills necessary for courteous maneuvering through public settings. This is a 5 week class, the last week which ends with an opportunity to test for the CGCA title.
Tricks I: Foundations
Pre-requisite: Home Manners or 4-6 Home Manners
In this 6-week class, participants will build on the basic concepts learned in Home Manners to learn the tricks required to get an AKC Trick Dog Novice Title. Most of the tricks on the AKC Novice Checklist are taught, such as spin, crawl, fetch, find it, paws up, etc. Assessment will be included during the classes with the opportunity to earn the AKC Trick Dog Novice Title. A few intermediate tricks will also be taught as time allows.
Tricks II: Intermediate & Advanced
Pre-requisite: AKC Novice Title
In this 6-week class, participants will be taught both intermediate and advanced tricks, focusing first on learning intermediate tricks with the opportunity to earn their AKC Trick Dog Intermediate Title. They will then continue on with advanced tricks working toward their AKC Trick Dog Advanced Title. Intermediate tricks include balance treat on nose, close door, jump through handler’s arms, ring bell, and more. Advanced tricks include play dead, cover up with blanket, hide head under pillow, and more.
Competition Obedience & Rally Classes
Obedience/Rally Skills
Prerequisite: Public Manners
This is a ‘gateway to competition’ class which provides instruction to help handlers use motivational methods in training the following: stationary attention, moving attention (working toward precision heeling), and moving from ‘luring’ to cause a behavior to ‘signaling’ to reward a behavior. This is a challenging class which requires that the handler/dog team complete homework between classes in order to keep up.
Beginner Novice
Prerequisite: Obedience/Rally Skills
This class builds developmentally on skills learned in the Obedience/Rally Skills class. The skills learned and refined through this class are required in both Rally and Novice obedience completion. The class works to introduce and improve the following skills: heeling change of pace, figure 8s,turns, stays with distractions, and competition recalls. This competition level class may be used to prepare dog/handler teams to compete in the Beginner Novice optional titling class. Successful completion of this class also entitles teams to enroll in Rally or Novice obedience classes.
Beginner Rally
Prerequisite: Obedience / Rally Skills (ORS)
This class builds on skills developed in the Beginner Novice class (heeling attention, handling and footwork) while learning and performing Rally Novice and Intermediate stations. Students are introduced to rules and regulations for rally competition, training the dog the skills required in the stations, and how to walk and handle a dog through a course.
Novice
Prerequisite: Beginner Novice
This class concentrates on teaching the Novice exercises for those with the goal of competing in Obedience Trials. The foundation skills learned in ORS and Beginner Novice are built upon and formed into formal exercises as done in trials. The goal of this class is to prepare the student and dog to compete and earn a Novice title. Drop-ins are allowed in this class.
Open/Utility
This class is for learning Open and Utility exercises as well as practice for students/dogs already doing the exercises. Drop-ins are allowed in this class.
Ring Ready/Open/Utility
Prerequisite: Dog must have earned a CD, or handler has earned a CD and team has instructor approval.
This class starts with 1/2 hour of Ring-Ready heeling (proofing & handling) followed by instruction or practice of Open and Utility exercises as appropriate for individual team. Drop-ins are allowed in this class.
Scent Work Classes
Scent Work Beginning (#1)
Establishing the foundations of Odor Obedience with plenty of high value treats and Birch odor,
ultimately recognizing your dogs “Alert”. Preparing for trialing Novice Containers if the teams
choose to trial. Introductory class
Prerequisite: Dog must be crate trained
The purpose of this class is to encourage dogs to use their nose to locate a specific odor.
This class is for dogs that have never attended a scent work class or seminar.
Scent Work Beginning (#2)
This class is for teams that have completed Scent Work Beginning #1, but have not yet earned their SWN (Scent Work Novice title). This class is designed to prepare teams to trial in Novice Scent Work classes. This includes answering questions regarding how to enter an AKC trial.
Teams will continue to work with birch and learn to recognize when a dog is alerting.
Teams will be exposed to all four elements (containers, interiors, exteriors & buried).
Prerequisite: Scent Work Beginning #1 and dogs must be crate trained and/or instructor approved.
Scent Work Novice / Advanced
This class is for teams who have completed Scent Work beginning #2 and have earned at least 2 Scent Work Novice Element titles. This class is designed to prepare teams to trial in the Advanced Scent Work classes.
Teams will work with Birch and Anise.
Teams will be exposed to all four elements (containers, interiors, exteriors & buried).
Prerequisite: Scent Work Beginning #2 and at least 2 Novice Scent Work titles OR approval from instructor.
Scent Work Advanced / Excellent
This class is for teams who have completed the Novice/Advanced class and have earned at least 2 Scent Work Advanced Element titles. This class is designed to prepare teams to trial in Scent Work Excellent classes.
Teams will work with birch, anise and clove.
Teams will be exposed to all four elements (containers, interiors, exteriors & buried). Instructors may opt to have the class travel to different locations to better prepare teams for trials.
Prerequisite: Scent Work Novice / Advanced class and at least 2 Advanced Titles OR approval from instructor.
Scent Work Excellent/Master
This class is for teams who have completed the Advanced/Excellent class and have earned at least 2 Scent Work Excellent Element Titles. This class is designed to prepare teams to trial in the Scent Work Master level classes.
Teams will work with birch, anise, cypress and clove.
Dogs will participate in all four elements (containers, interiors, exteriors and buried.) Instructors may opt to have the class travel to different locations to better prepare teams for trials.
Prerequisite: Scent Work Advanced / Excellent class and at least 2 Scent Work Excellent Titles OR approval from instructor.
Scent Work Master / Detective
This class is for teams who have completed the Advanced/Excellent class and have earned at least 2 Scent Work Excellent Element Titles. This class is designed to prepare teams to trial in the Scent Work Master level classes.
Teams will work with birch, anise, cypress and clove.
Dogs will participate in all four elements (containers, interiors, exteriors and buried.) Instructors may opt to have the class travel to different locations to better prepare teams for trials.
Prerequisite: Scent Work Advanced / Excellent class and at least 2 Scent Work Excellent Titles OR approval from instructor.
Tracking Classes
Tracking
Wondering if Tracking is for your dog? If he can eat, sniff, and walk – he can track!
See Getting Started in Tracking Events to learn more about tracking titles and rules.
Tracking Beginners (#1)
Dogs are taught to follow human scent and indicate dropped articles in preparation for an AKC tracking test. Open to all dogs.
Tracking Puppies (#2)
For dogs one year old and younger. Same as Tracking Beginners but with a puppies attention and stamina in mind.
Tracking VST (#3)
VST = Variable Surface Tracking. This class will help prepare experienced tracking dogs for an AKC VST test. Dogs enrolled in this class must be working 2.5-3 hours age and have completed a Tracking Beginners class or have prior approval by the Tracking Director.
Tracking TDX (#4)
TDX = Tracking Dog Excellent. This class will help prepare experienced tracking dogs for an AKC TDX test. Dogs enrolled in this class must be working 3 hour age and have completed a Tracking Beginners class, or have prior approval by the Tracking Director.