CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

For puppies 12 weeks to 4 1/2 months at beginning of session. Puppies are socialized with people and each other. Puppies are introduced to basic obedience commands and get to play on puppy agility obstacles. Basic behavior issues such as house-training, chewing and barking are addressed.  Puppies must have received their second immunization (parvo and distemper must both be included) two weeks before they can participate in a puppy class. 

Join us for an awesome trick training class that will take your dog's skills from basic to advanced!  In our first session, we'll start with the basics of trick training, focusing on positive reinforcement. We'll kick things off with a structured warm-up involving simple commands like “sit” and “down,” followed by fun activities like “painting” with our dogs using luring. You'll get to learn two cool tricks, “Sit-Pretty” (or “Touch”) and “Shake/Paw,” and we'll share tips to help even the most stubborn learners succeed.

Moving on to the intermediate session, we'll quickly review what we've learned and show off our dogs' new skills. After a warm-up, we’ll introduce more challenging tricks such as “Spin” and “Bow” (or “Paws Up”), with additional guidance for overcoming common challenges. We'll also talk about and fix common mistakes to ensure everyone makes good progress. For this class, it's important to have a basic understanding of sit, stay, and down commands so both you and your trickster are ready to build on these skills.

The advanced session will build on previous lessons with tricks like “Play Dead/Bang” and “Roll Over.” We'll provide tips to help you and your dog master these advanced moves. 

The final session will combine tricks and showcase your dog's abilities. Each team will have the thrilling opportunity to perform and potentially earn the AKC Trick Dog Novice Title. So bring along some high-value treats, a convenient treat pouch, and comfy shoes as we go on this fun and rewarding journey together! 

Introduction to Scentwork Class - For dogs with no prior experience. Seeking behavior is taught, using food, then transitioned to the target odors used in competition. Dogs and handlers gain experience in container searches and an alert behavior on finding behavior. This class is limited to 5 dogs. 

Beginning - For dogs 6 months and older. Dogs are introduced to obedience commands such as Come, Sit, Down, Stay and Heel. The instructor is available to answer specific dog behavior questions and help you deal with problems such as barking, chewing and pulling on the leash.  

Intermediate - For dogs who are promoted from Beginning training. In this class the trainer will polish basic obedience skills, practice hand signals and other advanced exercises, and prepare for off-leash control. 

Novice -  Novice (and for many competitors, Beginning Novice), is the entry class into the sport of Obedience. This class is for handler/dog teams working at the Novice level. Perhaps you are working with your first Novice dog or even your 10th, this skills class will focus on the skills necessary to earn the BN and CD titles. Obedience trainers are people who not only want to improve their dogs’ skills but understand that this improvement starts with our own handling.  If you are new to this level, then your dog must have completed an Intermediate level obedience class or equivalent; and be able to work around other dogs and people without undue barking, lunging, or fearful behavior.   

Open Advanced Skills & Utility Advanced Skills -  Breaking up is hard to do. Using "splitting" to improve Open and Utility Skills 

The Open and Utility classes will use ‘splitting’ to work on polishing and perfecting the exercises. The intent of the classes is to teach handlers how to (1) break exercises into reasonable bite-sized pieces of the goal behavior, (2) decide which piece(s) your dog performs poorly, (3) devise a plan of action to improve the dog’s performance of the ‘broken’ bit(s), (4) practice until the dog performs the piece(s) well, and (5) put the improved component(s) into the exercise chain and evaluate your progress.

‘Splitting’ refers to the process of dividing training tasks into smaller, more manageable, training elements as opposed to ‘lumping’ in which training tasks are taught as a whole unit. An example of splitting would be isolating the components of the Drop on Recall. The DOR consists, roughly, of a setup/stay/recall/drop/recall/front/finish; each of these is a discrete skill (some can be broken down even more) which should be taught and practiced by itself until it is a reliable cued behavior. That is ‘splitting’. When you assemble or ‘lump’ all of those ‘split’ skills into a behavior chain you have an exercise, e.g., the Drop on Recall. For many reasons, obedience exercises are often taught as ‘lumps’, i.e., the dog is taught and practices large chunks of or an entire exercise repeatedly. ‘Lumpy’ obedience training frequently results in dogs performing messy, confused, frustrated, directionless and unreliable exercises. Splitting allows a trainer to work on one specific element at a time, ensuring competence before moving on to another training element. Splitting is always connected to the end goal of ‘lumping’ the pieces of the exercise together; it is important to train with the picture of the perfect ‘whole’ exercise firmly in mind. And that is what we intend to do.

Prerequisites for Advanced Skills (splitting) Classes

• Handlers and dogs should be familiar with (need not be perfect) the Open and Utility exercises. Work will be tailored to the needs of each working team. The instructor will gladly introduce a student to basic advanced skills such as retrieve, jumping and position changes; however, the structure of the class does not ensure systematic progression.   
• Dogs must be in a crate or tethered on a tie-down if they are not on the floor working. 
• All dogs must be able to work calmly around other dogs.
• The instructor reserves the right to direct handlers to more appropriate classes if their dogs’ skills are insufficient for them to progress appropriately.

Once a Month Obedience Run-Throughs - Practice your competition skills at any level of Obedience. Each handler/dog team is assigned a specific time for ring work with instruction.  Registration will open 2 weeks prior to the class and will close on the Tuesday before the class. 

Rally I -  For handler/dog teams working at the Novice through Advanced levels of Rally. You can be brand new to the sport of Rally or can be working on your Advanced title with your third rally dog, or anywhere in between. If you are brand new to rally training and competition, then you and your dog must have completed an Intermediate level obedience class or equivalent. Your dog should also be controlled enough to be able to work around other dogs and people without undue barking, lunging, or fearful behavior. 

This class is designed to teach rally skills and improve your overall obedience skills with your dog. Many obedience competitors enjoy teaching their dogs rally skills to better their obedience and in turn, rally competitors will see their rally teamwork improve by working on their dogs’ obedience skills. And while we may do run-throughs occasionally, please note that this is not designed to be a Rally Run-Through course, but is a skills class.

Rally II -  For handler/dog teams working on their Excellent and Masters levels. This class is designed to teach and practice the more advanced rally skills at these levels as well as to improve your overall handling and obedience skills with your dog. And while we may do run-throughs occasionally, please note that this is not designed to be a Rally Run-Through course, but is a skills class focusing on the variety of higher level rally signs.

Once a Month Rally Run-Throughs - Practice your competition skills at any level of Rally. Each handler/dog team is assigned a specific time for ring work with instruction.  Registration will open 2 weeks prior to the class and will close on the Tuesday before the class 

Dogs 6 months and older, who weigh 20 pounds or less.  Dogs are introduced to obedience commands such as Come, Sit, Down, Stay and Heel. The instructor is available to answer specific dog behavior questions and help you deal with problems such as barking, chewing and pulling on the leash. This class is limited to 10 dogs. 

Ring Ready AKC Obedience  -  Class focus is practicing and polishing skills needed to successfully compete in AKC Obedience. Not all exercises will be covered every class. Students are those preparing for AKC Obedience competition who have signed a waiver with ODTC. Dogs must already have 'pet manner' skills (or higher) and be able to work in a group setting without being aggressive or disrupting other students or dogs. Limit 6 dogs total (1 dog per class per handler), determined by lottery. If the same person has more than one dog enrolled in multiple Ring Ready classes, please keep one dog safely in your car or crate while working your other dog.

Novice - preparation for AKC Novice competition
Open -   preparation for AKC Open competition
Utility -  preparation for AKC Utility competition