Group Classes
 *Please note: Group Obedience classes are for quiet, friendly dogs. Dogs that bark excessively or are not friendly toward people or other dogs require private lessons.  If your dog is extremely shy, private lessons that take place in your home are also the best place to start.

• Small Dog Puppy Kindergarten
  Pre-requisite: under 25 pounds, ages 10 wks. -1 yr. Small Dog classes are for all the little guys!. This class will provide socialization for your dogs allowing them to play with each other off leash. In addition to playtime, we will focus on teaching your small dogs basic manners. Teaches basic commands: - Attention   ⋅  Sit    ⋅ Down    ⋅  Sit Stay & Down Stay ⋅ Greeting People Politely    ⋅  Loose Leash Walking - Name Recognition   ⋅ Recall, (coming when called) ⋅ Leave  it   - hand targeting ⋅ Puppy Pushups   - stand

• Puppy Kindergarten
  Studies have shown that between the ages of two months and four months (the socialization period), your puppy should be exposed to as many positive experiences as possible.  We focus on providing opportunities for puppies to develop social skills and manners with both dogs and people.  This class will teach you and your puppy basic commands such as sit, down, stay, come, off, leave-it, take-it, and leash etiquette.  Other common management issues also covered include: housebreaking, jumping, chewing, and mouthing & handling.  We also incorporate some agility equipment, such as a ladder, and tunnel, to help gain confidence.

• Canine Good Citizen
  The American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Program:  What is it? - click here

• Basic Manners
  Pre-requisite: Puppy K or 5 mos.—1yr. Dogs learn to be attentive to their owners with distractions.. Teaches basic commands: Moving Attention    ⋅  Sit    ⋅ Down    ⋅ Greeting People & Dogs Politely    ⋅  Solid Sit Stay & Down Stay    ⋅  Heeling  ⋅ Recall, (coming when called)  ⋅ Leave  it   ⋅ w/time & distractions   -  hand signals

• Obedience
  Group Obedience (Over 6 mos. Of age) 6 Week Session The goal of obedience is to instruct handlers to teach their  dogs commands and skills so they become well-behaved, life- long companions. Emphasis is placed on developing a positive relationship  between dog  and handler, using motivation and praise.  We will focus on attention (the foundation of all training),  heeling, loose leash walking, sit and sit-stay, down and down- stay, come, wait, leave-it, take-it, drop-it.  We will also discuss responsible dog care, how dogs learn, as  well as, common cues and hand signals.

• Rally-O
  Pre-requisite: Basic Obedience Rally is a fun and exciting team sport for dogs and their owners! -The dog and handler teams navigate through a course with numbered signs indicating different exercises to perform such as Sit-Down-Sit, Straight Figure 8, Send Over Jump etc..  Owners are encouraged to talk to their dogs during the performance.
  
  What is AKC Rally? AKC Rally is the new dog sport that is taking the nation by storm, a successful stepping stone from the AKC Canine Good Citizen® program to the world of obedience or agility. Rally offers both the dogs and handlers an experience that is fun and energizing. The canine team moves at their own pace, very similar to rally-style auto racing. Rally was designed with the traditional pet owner in mind, but it can still be very challenging for those who enjoy higher levels of competition. A rally course includes 10 to 20 stations, depending on the level. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience. Communication between handler and dog is encouraged and perfect heel position is not required, but there should be a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler. The main objective of rally is to produce dogs that have been trained to behave in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs, in a manner that will reflect positively on the sport of rally at all times and under all conditions. Learn More! Visit the AKC website at www.akc.org  
  
  What is APDT Rally Obedience?  APDT Rally is a fun and exciting team sport for dogs and their handlers! Dog and Handler teams navigate a course with numbered signs indicating different exercises to perform such as Sit-Down-Sit, Straight Figure 8, Send Over Jump, Recall Over Jump. Teams navigate the course at a brisk, continuous performance without direction from the judge. Handlers are encouraged to talk to their dogs during the performance. All dogs, purebred, mixed breeds and dogs with disabilities are encouraged to participate. Rally trials can be hosted by any organization. Trials typically include Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 courses. A team earns a Rally title after successfully completing three course runs with qualifying scores. Titles can be earned at each Level and teams may also earn Championship titles, National Ranking Awards and a special Award of Excellence. Learn More! Visit the Association of Pet Dog Trainers website at www.apdt.com
  
  

• Agility
  Agility is a sport in which a dog demonstrates its agile nature and versatility by overcoming different obstacles. It is a game of physical skill, control, patience and teamwork between handler and dog. It strengthens the bond between dog and owner.  Agility courses usually consist of tunnels, jumps, tire jump, pause table, weave poles and contact obstacles, which include the a-frame, dog-walk, and see-saw.

  Teamwork and Handling – I -  If you interested in learning the ABC’s of agility, whether it is just for fun or to compete, this is a great class to start with.  Agility is much more than the dog running and jumping. This class focuses on the building block for all agility:  teamwork with your dog and teaching your dog to understand its job in agility.  Fun, communication, and safety are all stressed. We will introduce the clicker and show you how to use this powerful training tool to help your dog understand and think about what you want them to do. 

  Teamwork and Handling – II (Pre-requisite Teamwork and Handling I).  We will build upon the foundation of basic teamwork and handling skills. Strong emphasis is on teaching obstacle skills, and teaching the dog to follow your directions with confidence. We also start to teach simple obstacle sequences.  Speed, confidence, and accuracy are addressed in this class.   We will start some stretching and strengthening exercises.

  Teamwork and Handling – III (Pre-requisite Teamwork and Handling II).  In this class you will begin learning the more advanced handling and obstacles skills that are the hallmark of agility.  You and your dog will learn to reliably run short off-lead sequences, with your dog understanding his/her job.  Please expect more homework for this class.

  Teamwork and Handling – IV (Pre-requisite Teamwork and Handling III).  In this class you will continue to build your teamwork and handling skills with more advanced off-lead exercises, obstacle discrimination skills, and longer sequences. Please expect more homework for this class.

  Course and Handling Skills - This class will focus on specific handling skills that are needed to fill in any gaps in foundation training and improving team communication. The goal is to increase you and your dog’s confidence, speed, and efficiency on the agility course to prepare you for competition level agility. Expect homework with this class!

  Course and Handling Skills II- The emphasis of this class will be on course analysis, encouraging you to think independently and plan strategies that take advantage of their strengths while working to improve any weaknesses. Sequences will provide a variety of challenges that will be a suitable challenge for each individual team. This is not a "one size fits all" class. Dog/handler teams in the class are expected to be at the Novice competition level.