So what will your dog learn?
Beginner Classes
This class usually consists of puppies from the age of twelve weeks and maybe an older dog who has never attended classes before. The owners are introduced to the training techniques of a reward-based training method. They will be taught how to mark the correct behaviour and how to reward properly when teaching the following exercises:
- Walk to heel on a lead
- Recall to the handler
- How to stand to be groomed
- How to stand to be examined
- Sit and stay
- Down and stay
- Retrieve an object to hand
- Touch targeting
- How to greet strangers
- How to behave in the company of other dogs
- How to teach good toileting habits
- How to stop play biting
Throughout the training the emphasis is always on promoting good socialisation with people, dogs and novel situations.
Intermediate Classes
After about six weeks the owner and dog can progress to an intermediate class. The school has listed status with the Kennel Club and is therefore entitled to run the Good Citizen Scheme. There are three awards to work through and when each dog is proficient in all the exercises the owner will be invited to attend a test night where an outside examiner will come and test the dogs. Below is a description of each the exercises in each award.
Bronze Award
- Cleanliness and identification
- Correct fitting of collar and lead
- Examination of the dog
- Control through a door or gate
- Lead walking
- Recall to the handler
- Stay for one minute
- Controlled walk with distractions
- Calm behaviour whilst being groomed
- Responsibility and Care Questions
Silver Award
- Playing with the dog
- Road walking
- Recall to handler
- Stay for two minutes
- Vehicle Control
- Come away from distractions
- Controlled greeting
- Food manners
- Examination of the dog
- Responsibility and care questions
Gold Award
- Advanced road walking
- Recall to handler’s side
- Free walking by handler
- Stay down out of sight
- Send the dog to bed
- Emergency stop the dog
- Relaxed isolation
- Advanced food manners
- Responsibility care questions
Advanced Class
These dogs have proved themselves to be extremely well trained companions so now new challenges are set. Handlers are introduced to more advanced training skills and dogs can be taught scenting exercises, targeting exercises and foundation work for competition exercises. The work is very varied and great fun.