Obedience classes...

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DGOTC's class sessions are 6 weeks long unless otherwise stated.

FEES

Non-Members

Obedience - $90.00 for 6 weeks per dog/per class.

Rescue dog from a legitimate rescue organization - $60.00 for first class, subsequent classes $90.00. Documentation is required to qualify for discount.

Conformation - $90.00 for 6 weeks per handler. Each handler may work up to 3 dogs per class.

Members

Classes are offered to current members at half price.

How to Pay

Fees are payable by check at the time of registration.

February 2012, Obedience

Classes will be held at the Carver Center (directions)

Classes at Carver Center start on Monday, February 6, for 6 weeks. We are now accepting registrations.

Click on class title for description.

Click here for a class registration form

Please mail all class applications, updated shot records and fees to:
Liz Moultrie, Field Secretary
39306 Long Hill Lane
Aldie, VA 20105
703-327-7028
dgotcloudoun@gmail.com

Class Descriptions

Note that not all classes are offered in all sessions.

Puppy Basic 1

For puppies between 10 and 16 weeks. This class provides the opportunity for your puppy to socialize and learn with other puppies in a relaxed and playful environment. We will focus on teaching bite inhibition, socialization with other puppies and people, settling and massage, off-leash household manners and obedience. We use positive reinforcement training through praise and treats and encourage the use of food treats and toys as rewards when training.

Puppy Basic 2

For dogs between 16 weeks and 6 months. This class focuses on teaching how to communicate with your puppy during the adolescent stage and to maintain basic skills such as sit, down, come when called, polite manners during greetings, and walking on leash. During the adolescent stage, it’s important that your dog remains socialized and friendly to other dogs and people, and continues confidence building skills. Lessons learned are taught in a group setting and just for fun agility games to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. We use positive reinforcement training through praise and treats and encourage the use of food treats and toys as rewards when training.

Puppy Kindergarten

This class is for puppies younger than 6 months old and will provide you the necessary skills to teach your puppy to be well-behaved and well-adjusted. Practical skills covered are sit, down, come when called, polite greetings and manners, walking on a leash, and people and dog socialization behavior. Also included are confidence building exercises using puppy games and tricks; and just for fun agility games to strengthen the bond between you and your dog!

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy

This class is for puppies younger than 6 months old and will provide you the necessary skills to teach your puppy to be well-behaved and well-adjusted. Practical skills covered are sit, down, come when called, polite greetings and manners, walking on a leash, and people and dog socialization behavior. Also included are confidence building exercises using puppy games and tricks; and just for fun agility games to strengthen the bond between you and your dog! Plus an added bonus to prepare you for the Canine Good Citizen test with the opportunity for your dog to become a S.T.A.R. Puppy! (S.T.A.R. stands for Socialization, Training, Activity, Responsibility - for more information go to http://www.akc.org/starpuppy/.) 

Basic Obedience

For puppies/dogs 6 months or older who have had little or no previous formal training other than a puppy class (puppy class is not a prerequisite.) This class is a great start to building a stronger relationship between dogs and handlers. Exercises taught include walk/heel on a loose lead, come, sit, stand, lie down, and stay. All exercises are performed in a group situation training dogs to work among people and other dogs. Prevention and solutions to common problems will be discussed. Positive reinforcement training methods encouraged. Instructors advise handlers on proper use of various types of collars.

Note that our Basic Obedience for Small Breeds is the same as our Basic Obedience class, but it is only open to small breeds or mixes.

Family Dog

For new dog owners or owners who need help connecting with their dog or solving problems. We will focus on learning to have FUN with your dog in a manner that elicits wanted behaviors as well as helping eliminate common unwanted behaviors.
This class covers:
Obedience commands - Come, Sit, Down, Stay, Walking politely on a leash
Commands for around the House - Go to your place, Off, Leave it
Tricks and Games - Fetch, Shake, Roll Over, Twist & Turn
This class is NOT for dogs that exhibit aggression. Dogs that exhibit aggression will not be permitted to remain in class. Not all behavioral issues will be covered in this class.

Beyond Basic Obedience

This class is for dogs and handlers who have a very good understanding of Basic Obedience and are ready to proof their dog's performance and reliability. Course objectives include on/off-leash heeling, gaining better attention and focus, fast and reliable recalls, and proofing stays under distracting circumstances. Dogs entering this class should not have any major issues with the basics of obedience.

Clicking with Your Dog

This class is open to all dog/handler teams from beginning through advanced and is intended to be a foundation class for all dog sports.  It is a clicker-based class, and use of the clicker is required.  No previous knowledge of clicker training is necessary. 
DO NOT BRING DOGS TO THE FIRST CLASS. 
Skills covered will be:

• Introduction to the clicker
• Shaping, luring and capturing
• Touch and Target
• Improving loose leash walking or competition heeling
• Recalls and attention
• Stays
• Tricks, tricks and more tricks!

Each class builds heavily on the skills taught the previous week.  Class attendance and completed homework are extremely important!

Introduction to Conformation Handling

The class is geared toward new handlers just getting into the show environment. Handlers will learn the basics on how to show their dog in a formal show environment. Techniques such as proper ring etiquette, standing the dog, and preparing for a show will be addressed. Other topics covered will be AKC Point Calculations & Divisions, judges' patterns, and various other important conformation tools. There will be a "mock show" graduation at the conclusion of the 6 weeks. Handlers should be able to control their dogs/puppies and they must be leash broken before attending class.

Conformation Handling

Conformation handling is the art of making your purebred look its best in the breed ring.  Topics covered include ring procedure, hand stacking, free stacking, gaiting, how to present YOUR dog to its best advantage, and tools for conformation.

Members Only Obedience Class

Open ring time headed up by Shanthi for members to practice at their own level in a group setting.  No specific instruction is offered. 

Advanced Basic Obedience with CGC

This class will be geared to getting your dog ready for the Canine Good Citizen test. It will focus on the following exercises: walking on a loose lead, heeling footwork, recalls, stays, manners while being petted/ groomed, and reaction to both human and canine distractions. The Canine Good Citizen test will be offered at the conclusion on the session. This class is recommended for dogs that have previously taken basic obedience, or have been approved by the instructor.
Class size is limited to 8 dog/handler teams. There is a $10 charge for the CGC test performed by our certified CGC evaluator.

Canine Good Citizen Class

The AKC Canine Good Citizen program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs.   This class will focus on and provide practice with the ten skill areas included in the test which include: 1) accepting a friendly stranger, 2) sitting politely for petting, 3) appearance and grooming, 4) out on a walk, 5) walking through a crowd, 6) sit and down on command/staying in place, 7) coming when called, 8) reaction to another dog, 9) reaction to distractions, and 10) supervised separation. The CGC test will be administered on the final night of class and all dogs that pass the 10-step CGC test are eligible to receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. To learn more about the American Kennel Club AKC Canine Good Citizen Program visit http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/program.cfm
Please note:  There is a $10 charge for the CGC test performed by our certified CGC evaluators.  This class is recommended for dogs that have previously taken basic obedience, or have been approved by the instructor. The class is limited to eight dog-and-handler teams. 

Competitive Novice/Open Proofing with Fun and Games

This class is for the competitive dog/handler teams who would like to improve their reliability and precision. We will be proofing by working around many visual and auditory distractions. The K9 games will facilitate much of this while keeping it fun and exciting.

Obedience for Rally

Prerequisite: Advanced Basic/CGC or Instructor approval
Description: Class will focus on improving dog's attention to handler and handler cues, introduction to clicker training concepts, targeting, basics of heeling, fronts and finishes, stays with increased duration and distraction. Class will incorporate Rally signs to give students a taste of Rally and will provide students with the skills they need to succeed in a beginner Rally class.
Class size is limited to 6 dog and handler teams.

APDT Level 1 Rally Obedience-Part 1 (Introduction)

APDT Rally was the first Rally Obedience competition and was introduced by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers in 2001. It's a fun sport in which each dog and handler team navigates a course that consists of numbered signs which indicate different exercises. The dog (on leash) and handler navigate this course without instruction from the judge. Students must have completed the Obedience for Rally Class or have the instructor's permission to sign up for this class. This class is also appropriate for those wishing to compete in AKC and UKC Rally as exercises are similar. Class size is limited to 6 dog and handler teams. More information regarding APDT Rally.

AKC Rally - Novice Level

AKC Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler complete a course that has been designed by the rally judge. The dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations. Rally provides an excellent introduction to AKC Companion Events for new dogs and handlers and can provide a challenging opportunity for competitors in other events to strengthen their skills. Students must have completed the Obedience for Rally Class or have the instructor's permission to sign up for this class. Class size is limited to 6 dog and handler teams. More information on AKC Rally is available here.

APDT Level 2 Rally

This particular class is designed for teams who plan to compete in APDT Level 2 Rally. Students must have completed or titled in an APDT Level 1 Rally class, AKC/Novice, UKC/RO1 class, or have the instructor's permission. Dogs must be able to perform the APDT Level 1 or equivalent exercises. This class is also appropriate for those wishing to compete in AKC and UKC Rally as signs are very similar. (AKC and UKC Rally are basically subsets of APDT.) More information regarding APDT Rally.
Class size is limited to 6 dog and handler teams.

Level 3 APDT Rally Obedience

This class will cover all Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) Level 3 Rally exercises including the 3 Bonus exercises. Students must have successfully completed or titled in an APDT Level 2 Rally class, an AKC/Advanced Rally or UKC/RO2 Rally Class or higher. This class is not limited to people who plan to compete. It is an advanced level class for teams who love to learn new things and handlers who are committed to practice! Class size is limited to 6 dog and handler teams. More information regarding APDT Rally.

APDT Level 3 Rally O Workshop/Seminar

APDT Level 3 workshop/seminar to help clarify the Level 3 exercises and share some training tips. Open to members who have successfully completed my APDT Level 2 class, earned the APDT Level 2 title, or have earned an AKC Advanced/Excellent or UKC R02 title. Limit of 6 participants. More information regarding APDT Rally.

UKC Rally Obedience 1

Let's get ready for DGOTC's UKC Obedience trial that is set for the end of July. This class will be for beginning/ level I competitors. The UKC concept of Rally Obedience is that all handlers, regardless of physical abilities, and all dogs, regardless of physical structure, should have the opportunity to participate and experience success in Rally Obedience. All dogs need to have basic obedience training and if they can follow their handlers' commands, they should be able to qualify for Rally Obedience Titles. The dog and handler team is allowed unlimited communication, praise and encouragement by the handler without penalty and are judged on the overall execution and completion of each exercise (station). www.ukcdogs.com
*This class will be limited to 6 teams. **PREREQUISITE-Your dog should understand basic commands and know how to walk in heel position.

Loudoun Class Registration Details...

Pre-register by downloading form from the web and sending to
Liz Moultrie, Field Secretary
39306 Long Hill Lane
Aldie, VA 20105
703-327-7028
dgotcloudoun@gmail.com

Classes will be limited to 10 and will be filled on a first-come basis. Classes fill quickly! Pre-registration is recommended!

YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED IF THE CLASS IS FULL

Please note that handlers must be a minimum of 13 years old to attend our classes.

Any person pre-registering after the class is already full will be contacted prior to the start of class. Please arrive promptly at the training site prior to your class start time.

All pre-registration forms, current shot records, and a check for $60 must be received five days prior to the first class. After that date you can sign up for any unfilled classes the first night of class. Please arrive one half hour before the class to register for any spots that may be available.