Beginner and Advanced Classes
Beginner Training Classes are eight week sessions for 1 hour (7 p.m. - 8 p.m.)
every Tuesday night. Cost of the eight week session is $85.00 payable at the start of the class.
Listed below is our calendar of start dates for the beginner classes for the 2008 calendar year.
Graduation ceremonies are held on the seventh week. The eighth week is the new graduate's
opportunity to participate in the advanced class free of charge. It's easy to get bitten by the
"dog training bug"!
Dogs should be at least six months of age prior to starting class. Younger dogs
are occasionally admitted into the beginner classes, but please keep in mind that
the majority of class dogs are adolescents aged 6 to 12 months, and a younger
dog might be overwhelmed in such company. There is no upper age limit; some of
our class dogs have been as old as 8 or 9 years on opening night!
If you obtained your dog as a rescue, please give yourselves at least a month to
get acquainted before enrolling in class. It is very important that your dog feel
safe and comfortable with you before you expose him or her to new challenges.
Please bring proof of vaccinations with you to class on the first night.
Canine particpants must have received at least the core vaccines as defined by the 2006 AAHA Vaccination Guidelines-Revised, which are the vaccines for rabies, canine distemper, canine parvovirus, and canine hepatitis virus or adenovirus-2.
|
| Class Schedule for 2008 |
|
January 22, 2008
|
March 11, 2008
|
April 29, 2008
|
June 17, 2008
|
August 5, 2008
|
September 23, 2008
|
November 11, 2008
|
To sign up for the next beginner class session,
please print and fill out our Beginner Class Signup Sheet.
(http://www.pocksha.org/Doc files/Pocksha Canine Club Beg Class sign up.pdf)
If you experience difficulty downloading the form, you can email us at pocksha@gmail.com,
and we will email it to you, or you can obtain and fill one out on the first day of class.
Our trainer for both the Beginner Classes and the Advanced Classes
On the First Day of Class!
Please be sure to arrive between 6:30 - 6:45 pm!
Take the opportunity to let your dog walk around outside the facility for a little bit,
to let him settle in and relieve himself. Don't forget to pick up after him,
we provide the tools, you provide the labor!
Bring proof of current vaccinations.
Have the below items with you, or they can be purchased from us for a nominal fee.
6 foot lead: $6.00
Training (Slip) Collar: $8.00
Be Prepared to Have Fun, To Learn and To Bond with your dog!
Companion Dog Skills
During the seven week beginner class, our trainer will help you teach your dog the following
skills so that he or she can develop into a well-behaved, happy companion. The obedience exercises
you and your dog learn here can easily be incorporated into your daily life, or even start you
on the path to AKC obedience and rally competition! Please come prepared to learn, participate
in the exercises, and have fun. Your dog can't do it without you!
Control Position - your dog sits, stands, or downs quietly at your left side on a loose lead. This is a necessary building block for every exercise!
Heel - your dog walks by your left side on a loose lead without pulling.
Sit - your dog sits, and remains in a sit, on command, either at your side or in front of you, or automatically during a heeling exercise.
Down - your dog lies down, and remains in a down position, on command, either at your side or in front of you.
Stand - your dog stands quietly, and remains standing quietly, on command, at your side.
Stay - your dog remains in the sit or down position, according to your last instruction, until you give him either another command or release him.
Come - your dog comes quickly and eagerly when you call him and sits in front of you, within reach of your hand!
Release - your dog's favorite command! This exercise is over, can we do another?
|
Advanced Training Classes
Advanced Training Classes are held every Tuesday right after the beginner classes,
for one hour, starting shortly after 8:00 pm. Classes are on a drop in basis, and the cost
per class is $5.00 for members and $7.00 for non-members.
($1.00 and $2.00 if you are under 18, but you must be accompanied by an adult.)
In the advanced training class, you will be reinforcing the exercises you have already learned, and
you'll have the opportunity to learn new ones. The dogs and handlers in this class are at various levels,
from recent beginner class graduates to teams already engaged in AKC obedience competition.
Our main objective is to keep the class interesting, informative and fun for both dogs and handlers.
Rally Obedience
Several of our members are involved in AKC rally obedience, and they are happy to be able to
share this sport with you, with interactive demonstrations and supervised run throughs!
All costs are incorporated in your Advanced Class drop in fees.
($1.00 and $2.00 if you are under 18, but you must be accompanied by an adult.)
Our trainer and at least one of our club members are Certified AKC Evaluators, and we
do occasionally offer AKC Canine Good Citizen Tests. If you are interested in your dog's
becoming an AKC Canine Good Citizen, you can read all about the test here.
Please contact us at pocksha@gmail.com to obtain test dates. Please note there are limited
slots available for each test date. Test fees are $5.00 for club members and
$10.00 for non-Club members.