Competition Puppy Class (aka Intro to Competitive Obedience): An ideal start for puppies 8 weeks to 5 months of age who are destined for competition obedience. Puppies will be introduced to exercises from all levels of obedience training, including the basics of sit, down, and walking, as well as heeling on leash, retrieving, and go outs.
Attention and Handling: This class is the foundation for the competition obedience program at Paw & Hand (and Top Dog.) All students planning to show their dogs for obedience titles must start here. An eight-week course on attention will be presented along with distance attention and attention games. Part of the class each night will be spent without the dog, working on handling and footwork (so please bring a crate or plan to leave your dog in the car for the last 15 minutes of class each week). Note: Attention is often customized into/as part of other classes because it is so important.
Novice: This class is for graduates of Attention and Handling and Competition Puppy classes. Emphasis is placed on heeling with attention, including the introduction to turns and figure eights. Distance and distractions are increased for recalls and stays in preparation for off-leash work. Hand signals, the stand, and fronts and finishes are taught. For advanced Novice Students, all aspects of Novice obedience will be proofed and polished. When ready, dogs will begin working off-leash for recalls, stays, and some heeling.
Students will normally take this class multiple times while preparing for the ring. Attention and Novice skills are the foundation of your more advanced Open and Utility exercises. Don’t rush it!!
AKC & UKC obedience trials & rules will be discussed when students are preparing for the competition ring. Strategies for using match shows and preparing for obedience trials will be discussed.
Open: For dogs with reliable Novice skills. Dogs are introduced to retrieving, jumping, drop on recall and out-of-sight sit and down stays. As dogs progress, we will work on proofing and polishing the Open exercises, as well as sequencing exercises for the ring and developing strategies for match shows and obedience trials.
Heeling: Heeling class is an intensive half-hour class to proof and polish heeling. The class is geared toward dogs in the Open and Utility classes.
Open and Utility: These are advanced classes in competition obedience. They cover such exercises as the retrieve on flat, retrieve over the high jump, the drop on recall, and the broad jump, as well as signals, scent discriminations, the directed retrieve, moving stand, and directed jumping.
Competitive Exercises: All interested/competitive students can participate in this class. Heeling and attention are covered every class. Fronts, finishes, recalls and stays are included. Utility students can work on go outs, glove and/or scent discrimination, while novice and open students work on figure 8s, stands for exam, drops on recall/recalls & dumbbell retrieves. If interested, Novice and Open students can be introduced to gloves, go outs, signals and articles.
With Me / Come! / Stay: Prerequisite: One of: Beginners, Competitive Puppy, or Attention. For both pet and competition students. This class will focus on teaching the dog to perform these exercises reliably, consistently, even off leash. If you would like your dog not to leave your side when commanded, to have faster and more reliable recalls, or more steady stays, this class is for you.
* Class customized to registrants; attention, heeling, signals, waits, recalls, drops, retrieves, fronts, pivots, finishes, stays and stands for exams/moving stands will be covered. This class will definitely have the last couple of classes inside. Max. of 5 dogs accepted. Dogs will work at their own level. Retrieves include dumbbells, scent articles and gloves, depending on dog's level.
Training & Schedules
Private In-Home Training
* I will come to you and work with you and your dog right where most or all of your daily problems with your dog are actually taking place.
* Cost: $40/Hour plus mileage if you are over 20 mi. distance one-way
* Pre-paid packages available to save money
Private Lessons
* Private and Semi-Private lessons also available for both pet and competition training. Please call for more information, pricing, or to schedule.
Class Schedules
* Class start dates and schedules are listed below
* Click on the class name for a class description
* Schedule is subject to change based on registrations
* Class sizes are limited and registration is on a first-come basis.
Complete the Class Registration Form and mail it ASAP.
* Please bring your dog's vaccination records with you to orientation
or otherwise get them to us before the first night of classes. Vaccination records must be presented BEFORE your dog enters the training area(s) for the first time.
* For more information contact Lana Kline @ lana@pawandhand.com or call 570-772-1414
September - October 2010 Class Schedule
ORIENTATION: Tuesday, August 31st at 7pm
Orientation is required for all students entering Puppy K, Beginners, Competitive Puppy,
and/or if it is your first time training with us.
Orientation is FREE and not considered to be one of the weekly classes.
All family members, friends, current students, & the public are welcome to attend Orientation.
Please do NOT bring your dog(s) to orientation!!!
Tuesday Classes begin September 7th, 2010
For More Information Contact Lana at:
570-772-1414 or lana@pawandhand.com
PET TRAINING:
Puppy Kindergarden**: For puppies eight weeks to five months of age. Don't believe the old cliche which advises waiting until your dog is six months or a year old before starting to train him! Doing so will only lead to a young adult dog with unstructured behavior and many problems which could have been avoided. By starting your puppy early, you will establish proper behavior right from the start. In this class, puppies are taught to walk on a leash, sit, come, down, stand, and stay. They will also learn to socialize with one another, an important but often neglected part of proper canine development. This class makes the puppy's first introduction to obedience training non-stressful and fun. Housebreaking and problem behaviors also will be addressed.
Beginners**: For dogs 6 months old or older with no previous formal training. The same exercises as Puppy Kindergarden are taught with slight modifications.
Puppy K/Beginners**: All efforts will be made to keep Puppy K and Beginners in separate classes. However, at times the classes may be combined. Dogs over 5 months of age will be evaluated prior to entering the class, and will not be allowed in the class if there is any chance they could be intimidating or harmful to younger/smaller puppies.
Advanced Beginners: For graduates of the Beginners class. This class will further enhance the relationship between dog and owner. The dog's response to commands will become more consistent and reliable, and the training will build up to off-leash recalls and stays. Dog and owner will learn the necessary skills to pass the AKC's Canine Good Citizen test. Arrangements will be made to have a tester come to the last class if no other testing opportunities are available in the area at graduation.
** Class Fee includes a 4 ft training leash in a width suitable for your dog.
Beginners**/Advanced Beginners: Because classes at Paw & Hand are typically small (usually 7 dogs is the maximum per class), occasionally, Beginners and Advanced Beginners might be combined. If there are 5 or more students in a combined class there will be an assistant instructor. Advanced continues with more advanced steps for the exercises learned in Beginners. Students in a combined class will be working at their own level of the same exercises. This format is used in every competitive class quite successfully. Advanced students learn how to train for the CGC exam.
With Me / Come! / Stay: Prerequisite: One of: Beginners, Competitive Puppy, or Attention. For both pet and competition students. This class will focus on teaching the dog to perform these exercises reliably, consistently, even off leash. If you would like your dog not to leave your side when commanded, to have faster and more reliable recalls, or more steady stays, this class is for you.
Discount offered for registering multiple dogs or same dog in multiple classes. Please contact me.
Competition Training
Tuesdays Time # wks CostInstructors
# wks CostInstructors Betsy Thompson, Assisting
Attention & Handling 7pm - 8pm 8 weeks $105 Lana Kline with
OR Betsy Thompson, Assisting
click on class title to view a description of the class
