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Group classes provide a valuable
opportunity to work with your dog in an environment with mild distractions by
other dogs. Group classes also provide you with the opportunity to learn from
other students, create friendships, and share training accomplishments as well
as challenges. For your dog's success in a group class you need to consider
the following guidelines:
IMPORTANT: A group class may not
be suitable for all dogs:
If your dog is dog aggressive, you should not register for a group class.
Aggression issues are serious and need to be dealt with in a more controlled
environment both for the safety of your dog and others. Please call
to discuss options.
If your dog becomes agitated by fast movement of other dogs , you should not
register for Agility or Flyball Classes. Continue with obedience classes
until a comfortable level of control is attained.
We try to insure a safe and positive
experience for all dogs and people in our classes. Dogs which exhibit
inappropriate and/or aggressive behavior in a class may be expelled.
If you have any questions about which
class your dog will benefit from most, please call our office to discuss
further. Our classes are described below:
Agility is a fun sport for both the dog and handler. You learn team work and
communication with your dog through performing particular obstacles. For many
dogs it is a forum for developing self confidence, learning to perform the
agility obstacles confidently and successfully. These obstacles include tunnels,
different types of jumps, a variety of ramps, and weave poles.
We offer many agility classes, ranging from Puppy Agility through Advanced
Competition classes. We also offer the opportunity to further fine tune skills
by providing workshops which focus on particular aspects of training.
Our program is designed for dog/handler teams to train at the appropriate
level and not feel rushed to move up too quickly. It is very important to have
solid foundation skills before increasing difficulty of coursework - both for
the handler and dog. To provide a quality training experience, our classes
will focus on different handling issues and skills so that a team can continue
to learn new skills and fine-tune their performance while continuing at their
appropriate level. This also allows classes to move at a comfortable yet
challenging pace for all enrolled.
Agility 1
This class will introduce your dog to the foundations of agility. Dogs in this
class must be at least 5 months old. Completion of a basic obedience class is
encouraged and the dog should have a reliable recall. Obstacles are introduced
at low heights and in a safe manner. Most work will be on leash.
Agility 2
The class continues the foundation skills learned in Agility 1. Obstacles are
performed at low heights with an emphasis on continuing to build a good
foundation and gaining confidence on the agility obstacles. Dogs must have
successfully completed Agility 1.
Agility 3
This class follows successful completion of Agility 2. Dogs must be confident on
the agility equipment at low heights. Dogs will be introduced to short obstacle
sequences and handlers will begin to learn specific handling skills.
Agility 4
This class follows successful completion of Agility 3. Dogs must be confident on
all obstacles at 3/4 height. Emphasis is on more specific handling skills and
learning to perform more intricate obstacle sequences.
Agility 5
Successful completion of Agility 4 and instructor approval is required. This
class focuses on advanced handling techniques. Teams must be able to work
confidently on all obstacles at full height.
Preparing your dog for a little human addition to
the household. This class covers
the practicalities of introducing a new baby to your dog. We will work on basic
commands that your dog should know, how to incorporate all of your new gear and
how to make sure the dog doesn't get lost in the excitement and commotion
surrounding the homecoming. Each week we will discuss what is working well for
your dog and what issues you still have questions about. We offer this class
once a trimester, but encourage you to take it as early into your pregnancy as
possible. It is assumed that your dog has basic obedience skills.
The class runs for 3 weeks and cost is
$50.
Obedience classes aren't just for people interested in competitive obedience!
There are classes for all ages, breeds, and levels of experience. For
those with a new puppy in the house, a puppy socialization class is vital to
help teach your puppy how to relate to you, the world around them, and to other
puppies. Basic obedience classes provide a positive environment for your
adult dog to learn proper manners and to become a well behaved member of the
family. For those who enjoy the challenge of advanced training and
competition we can help you be successful in the trial ring.
Obedience training should be a fun activity that brings you and
your dog closer together. We offer the following classes:
Puppy 1
For puppies from 8 to 18 weeks at the start of class. Emphasis will be on
proper socialization with people and other puppies during this vital period in
your puppy’s life. We will also introduce basic obedience including leash
walking, come, sit, and down and address common puppy problems such as biting,
housetraining, and jumping up.
Puppy 2
For puppies that have completed Puppy 1 at Mad City Dog Training. This class
is a continuation of our Puppy 1 class. We build on behaviors learned in that
class adding degrees of difficulty and distractions. It is an opportunity to
keep working with the adolescent dog in a group of similar aged dogs.
Basic 1
Obedience
For adult and adolescent dogs over 5 months of age that do not qualify for Puppy
2. Understanding positive motivation & learning how to train your dog.
Obedience behaviors include sit, down, come, stay, walking on a loose leash, and
meeting strangers. Dogs that may be uncomfortable in a group class environment
must be evaluated by our staff prior to admission to class.
Basic 2
Obedience - Canine Good Citizen
Prerequisite: Dogs should have a solid understanding of basic obedience skills
(walking on leash, sit, down, come, stay). Improving walking on a loose leash,
coming when called, stay, greeting strangers and other dogs. Applying these
behaviors to real life situations with distractions, and having fun doing
it. Most graduates of this class take and pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test
at the end of the session.
Rally Obedience
Newly recognized by AKC as a titling event, Rally is an obedience sport in which
the dog and handler complete a course of designated stations. Each of these
stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to
be performed. Communication between the dog and handler is encouraged with
talking, clapping and praise allowed in competition. Less rigorous than
traditional obedience, Rally provides a link from the Canine Good Citizen® (CGC)
program to formal obedience or agility competition, both for dogs and handlers.
In addition, rally promotes fun and enjoyment for dogs at all levels of
competition. Prerequisite: successful completion of Basic 2 Obedience.
Shape-Pup Shaping is a training technique used to teach your dog new behaviors. To
understand how shaping works, think of the children's game "Hot & Cold". In this
game you decide on something you want another person to do, and that person then
randomly experiments, trying out various behaviors, until you give them some
feedback to let them know if they are getting closer or farther from the goal
you have in mind. If you say they are "getting hot" they know they are on the
right track, so they keep trying slightly different, but related behaviors. Step
by step, using the feedback you are giving them, they progress gradually towards
the goal behavior you have in mind. Dogs can learn to figure out which behaviors
we want them to perform using essentially this same process. With dogs, to tell
them they are "getting hotter", we use a clicker, followed by reinforcement such
as food or play. This process helps us fine tune our observational, decision
making, and timing skills which improves our skills as trainers and it gives our
dogs a clearer way to figure out what we want from them. Requirements for this
class are dog and handler have a clear understanding of the clicker and the dog
must be able to work off leash in an active environment.
Introduction to Competitive Obedience
Structured for those interested in earning formal obedience
titles in AKC and/or UKC obedience trials. Students will learn skills
necessary for novice, open and utility levels of obedience. Exercises including
heelwork, fronts, finishes, recalls, stand for exam, stay, jumping and
retrieving. Dogs must already walk well on a
 leash and have a reliable stay.
Instructor approval required.
Open
Obedience
Teaching the AKC required exercises for earning the Companion Dog Excellent
(CDX) title. Exercises include: drop on recall, retrieve on the flat, retrieve
over the high jump and the broad jump. Must have Successfully completed Advanced
Obedience.
Utility Obedience
Teaching the AKC required exercises for earning the Utility Dog (UD) Title.
Exercises include hand signals, directed retrieve, scent discrimination, and
directed jumping. Must have successfully completed Advanced Obedience.
Private instruction is available in
obedience, agility and flyball with one of our qualified instructors.
This is a good option if:
Group classes just don't fit into
your schedule.
You feel you learn better in a
one-to-one setting.
You want to focus on specific
skills or challenges.
You'd like to fine-tune your
pre-trial performance
and many more.
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