Objectives: The goals of the basic obedience classes will primarily be:
Implement obedience training for puppies and adult dogs.
Educate and guide dog owners in canine training methodology and techniques.
Prepare owners and dogs for evaluation for certification by the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Program (referred to as AKC CGC).
Administer the AKC CGC evaluation to the dogs that completed the training program as well as other interested clients and community members.
General Plan:The classes will last for 7 weeks and will be scheduled with one class per week for 7 consecutive weeks. All participants must be signed up 1 week prior to the first class. This 7 week block type plan will optimize learning for the pets through providing consistency, allowing a set plan for each class and by not allowing too much time to lapse between classes. Each class will last 1 hour. Classes will be held with a minimum attendance of 4 but no more than 10 owners and participants per class.
Age:The AKC CGC has 2 separate but related categories for canine obedience certification based on the age of the dog.The standard AKC CGC is intended for dogs over one year of age and consists of 10 items for evaluation which the dogs must pass to be eligible for certification.The second category is referred to as the AKC S.T.A.R Puppy Program.This category is intended for dogs less than 1 year of age and closely mirrors the standard program with the items for evaluation, but simplified to accommodate the younger dog.Do to the similarity of standards and methodologies needed for behavioral obedience training, these age groups may be taught during the same class at the discretion of the educators.
Mandatory Medical Requirements: With safety in mind, the following precautions must be taken for all participants:
All participants must have had a complete physical examination within 2 weeks of the first class. If that exam was done elsewhere, a certificate of health must be presented before the first class;
Puppies must have received their first distemper virus, parvovirus and hepatitis vaccine (DHPP) at least 10 days prior to participation in the first class. In addition, the puppies must have had a negative fecal result and/or a broad spectrum dewormer within 10 days prior to the first class;
Any dog showing any type or sign of illness, such as diarrhea, vomiting, nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing, skin lesions, fever/lethargy etc. within 10 days of a class, can not participate in that class;
Any dog that has been exposed to other animals with a potentially infectious disease within 1 month can not participate, even if that pet is currently not showing clinical signs of illness.
General Program Outline: The following outline is a guideline for the obedience classes. Educators may, at their discretion change, add, delete or modify the content to meet the needs of the owners and participants. A detailed agenda will be provided on the day of each class outlining the instruction, activities and homework for that session.
Class 1
Introduction to class, introduce people and dogs. Class rules-responsible dog ownership-cleaning up, etc. Talk about philosophy of training. Fitting of training collars. Meet and greet dogs (petting, ears and feet). Demo and practice walk on loose lead; start training Sit.
Class 2
Questions, addressing problems that may have come up during the week. Meet and greet the dogs; touch ears and feet, try a brush or comb. Practice and feedback on walk on a loose lead; practice and feedback on sit. Demo sit/stay and try it. Demo down and try it. Start Coming When Called.
Class 3
Questions, addressing problems or any behavior/training issues from this past week. New person (asst. or a student while I hold their dog) does meet, greet, brief groom. Walk on a loose lead (one at a time with feedback). Walk by distraction dog (can use other students at a farther distance and with necessary precautions). Sit and sit-stay; down and start down-stay. Add time to sit-stay. Coming when called.
Class 4
Greet dogs as clients arrive-touch ears, feet, etc. Problems this week? Walk on a loose lead-closer to other dogs and near other people. Weave in and out of people if students are ready. Students show dogs can sit. Sit-stay: add time and distractions. Down and down-stay with added time and distractions. Start on Supervised Separation. If students bring crates, some can put dogs up and hold dogs of others. Coming when called-can be done on leash or long line.
Class 5
Students have been introduced to all skills. Work on problem areas. Add more difficult distractions, add time to stays, start having the owner move away from the dog on the stays which to this point may have been with the owner simply stepping out in front. Add distance to come. (Use long lines for safety).
Class 6
Continue to work on problem areas, increasing distances, adding distractions, changing locations and formats for the exercises. By now students should be going out the full 20-ft. on the stays, out 10 ft. for come. Dogs should not be jumping on distraction dog and should tolerate the touching of their ears and feet. Review and work on any problems.
Class 7
American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluation and Testing
Cost: A charge of $140.00 for the 7 week block would be due payable on the first day of class. This will cover costs of toys, treats and educational time associated with these classes as well as the fee associated with the AKC CGC evaluation during week 7. If the Participant's do not wish to take the Basic Obedience class but would like to to take the AKC CGC evaluation during week 7, a charge of $25.00 will be assessed and must be made payable prior to the evaluation date and is done so on a pass or fail basis with no obedience instruction from the educational staff.
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