Competitive Obedience Classes

Once you have the basics under your belt, now is the time to start polishing your skills for the competition ring.

WHAT IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND?

Dogs must be at least 1 year old.

Dogs must have 2 sets of the DHLPP vaccine ("puppy vaccine") prior to starting class. 

Rabies vaccination is required.  A titer is sufficient for vaccination status.

We also recommend (but don't require) a Bordetella vaccine.

**Prerequisite for all Competitive Obedience classes:  Dogs must have passed the Basic Obedience II class or have passed the CGC test. Handlers must have control of their dogs at all times. Any dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior will be dismissed from class. Dogs may be required to be crated for a brief period while other dogs are training.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?



1. Lots of small, soft food treats as rewards.
2. Collar - flat buckle collar or martingale recommended, no shock or e-collars.
3. Leash - 4 foot nylon or leather. Please NO retractable (Flexi) leashes.
4. All vaccination records (listed above). Without these, you will not be allowed in the class.
5. Completed registration form or member registration form along with the class fee - we accept CASH, CHECKS or CREDIT (small fee).
6. On the first night of class, please plan to arrive 10 minutes early for registration.
7. It helps to have pants with pockets or bring something that attaches to your waist to hold your dog’s treats. 
8. YOU MUST have closed-toe comfortable shoes.

Obedience - Fundamentals

This class is for those that want to transition from our basic classes to our Competition Obedience and/or Rally classes.

This class will provide training in the heeling required for showing in obedience and rally competitions. 

Sits, Downs and Stands are an important part of both Rally and Obedience and this class will show the student how to teach the dog to respond in a distracting trial environment. The students will work on increasing the duration and distance that their dogs will respond to their cues.

Positive motivation techniques will be used to accelerate the teaching process. Clicker training is recommended but is not required. The focus will be on making sure the handler has a good understanding on how to train and motivate their dog.

Beginner Novice / Novice Obedience

This class is an introduction to competitive obedience and will prepare the handler and the dog to show in the ring.  Exercises will primarily be completed on lead.

Excercises will include but not be limited to:

Heel on Leash
Figure Eight
Sit for Exam
Sit – Stay
Recall
Group Sit and Down Stay.

NOTE:  All dogs must have a solid recall and must be able to sit quietly in a crate for short periods of time while other students work the ring.

Obedience - Novice

Dogs in this class should understand the basic commands and just need to polish their skills for their first journeys into the competition ring.

At the completion of this class the dog should be able to properly heel on leash in patterns like a figure 8, stand for exam, heel off-leash, stay and recall to the handler, stay in a seated or down position for a minute or more with all the distractions of a trial environment.

Obedience - Open

This class is for those that are proficient at Novice Obedience and want to advance to Open Obedience or are already at the Open level and want to improve their skills. In order to attend this class, dogs must have at least one qualifying score at the Novice Obedience level.

The Open Obedience class works on the skills required to be successful in trials at the Open Obedience level. You will work on Heel Free and Figure Eight, Drop-On-Recall, Retrieve on the Flat, Retrieve Over High Jump, Broad Jump, and Sit, Down, and Stand from a distance.

Obedience - Utility

This class is for those that are proficient trialing at the Open Obedience level and want to advance to Utility Obedience, or are already at the Utility level and want to improve their skills. In order to attend this class, dogs must have at least one qualifying score at the Open Obedience level.

The Utility class works on the skills required to be successful in trials at the Utility Obedience level. You will work on scent discrimination, directed retrieves, jumping and silent signal exercises.

This class may be run as a "drop-in" format with no set program for the training session. This allows people to work on whatever they feel their dog needs. You should bring your own scent articles.

Alternatively, this class may be run with a workshop format where specific skills are targeted at each session and people can attend the sessions that address their current needs.

The different level classes may be combined depending on participation.