BASIC OBEDIENCE CLASSES
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 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 8 weeks and will be scheduled with one class per week for 8 consecutive weeks. All participants must be signed up 1 week prior to the first class. This 8 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 5 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.    

 Week 1:

  • Introduction Class – Owners only class, no dogs
  • Cover class rules and discuss responsible dog ownership.
  • Review trainer’s philosophy of is positive reinforcement style of dog training which.
  • Discuss use of food or lures as a training device. 
  • Discuss the use of training collars with how to use and fit the collars properly and what the best leads to use (no flex leads, please bring 4 to 6 foot leash only).

Week 2:

  • Review any questions, any behavior or training problems that have come up
  • Meet and greet people and their dogs (petting, ears and feet). 
  • Demonstrate and practice the “watch me” command. 
  • Demonstrate and practice the “walk on loose lead”
  • Start training for “Sit” 

Week 3:

  • Address any questions, problems with the dogs from the past week
  • Meet and greet the dogs; touch ears and feet, try a brush or comb.
  • Practice and feedback for “walk on a loose lead”;
  • Practice and feedback for “sit”
  • Demonstrate and practice “sit and stay”.
  • Demonstrate and practice “down”
  • Start training for “coming when called”.

Week 4:

  • Review any questions, any behavior or training problems that have come up
  • Meet and greet new dog switch handlers and dogs (petting, ears and feet). New person “walk on loose lead”.
  • Dogs back to owners and “walk by distraction dog” (farther distance and with necessary precautions). 
  • More practice for “sit” and “sit and stay”;
  • Demonstrate and practice “down and start down and stay”. 
  • Start adding time to “sit and stay” 
  • Practice “coming when called”

Week 5:

  • Address any questions, problems with the dogs from the past week
  • Practice “Walk on a loose lead” done closer to other dogs and near other people, weave in and out of people if students are ready. 
  • Students show demonstrate dogs can “sit” and “sit and stay”
  • Begin extending time and adding distractions to “sit and stay”
  • Practice “down and down and stay” with added time and distractions. 
  • Start training on “supervised separation.” 
  • Starting training for “coming when called” will be performed on leash or long line.

Week 6:

  • Review any questions, any behavior or training problems that have come up
  • Continue to work on specific problem areas.
  • Increase distance on “sit and stay” and “down and stay”
  • Practice “walking on loose lead” with added distractions on all commands.
  • Add distance to “come”.   

Week 7:

  • Evaluate student’s ability to maintain 20 feet distance on the “stay” command and 10 feet for “come” commands. 
  • At this point dogs should not be jumping on distractions and should tolerate the touching of theirs ears and feet. 
  • Review and work on any specific problem areas. 
  • Discuss AKC CGC test and go over the 10 step testing with students and their dogs. 

Week 8:

  • American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluation and Testing

Cost: A charge of $119.00 for the 8 week block would be due payable by the first day of class, a $50.00 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of registration in order to hold your dog’s place in class and the balance is due 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 8.  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 8, a charge of $20.00 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.

For more information please send an email to obediencetraining@telfordvet.com

We look forward to serving you soon.