Obedience Training

Are you ready to take that first step to improving your relationship with your dog? Having a dog with manners is a joy and it is welcomed in the community. Dogs do not come with the knowledge of what is acceptable in the human world; it is up to us to educate ourselves and the dog. With using positive reinforcements and basic commands you can obtain the tools necessary to have that well behaved dog you desire. We teach you, so you can teach your dog.

Classes will run approximately one hour, please bring training collars and appropriate leash (leather or nylon – No retractable leashes please) as well as plenty of small treats. Class size is limited to provide individual attention; the fee for the 6 week program is $100, confirmation of your reservation is only guaranteed by receipt of your payment.

CALL TODAY Classes have started for 2010 Intermediate Obedience classes!

Intermediate Obedience Classes* will be a continuation of the work learned in basic obedience classes and working towards off leash handling. *Dog must have successfully completed a basic obedience class.

We encourage family involvement in all classes but require children to be at least 12 years of age to handle a dog in class. We encourage our younger family members to participate in class (under the direction of the trainer) to assist with certain exercises. We will also empower them with their own skills to learn and teach the dog. We feel it is critical that children and dogs have a good relationship and respect for one another.

We accept all breeds but do reserve the right to refuse the registration of any dog with aggression or other behavioral issues that may need to be evaluated by the trainer before attending class. If we do encounter this situation we will likely suggest a private lesson outside of normal class time.

All dogs must be up-to-date on shots and proof of vaccinations must be presented upon enrollment.

Our program is based off of the American Kennel Club’s® Canine Good Citizen evaluation.®

Class dates for 2010 are listed on our Newspage

Basic Obedience Program Schedule

Our program schedule includes but is not limited to the following:

• Week 1 - Orientation (No Dogs) On the first day of class, we take the opportunity to go over what will be covered in the next 5 weeks and give owners the opportunity to speak about any special challenges they are hoping to overcome.
• Week 2 - Heel Command Successfully training your dog to heel requires getting and holding your dog's attention.  This week we will introduce the heel command, the 'look here' command, the 'off' command, and appropriately greeting strangers.
• Week 3 - Sit & Stay Command Sit might be the easiest command but stay might be the hardest when you are asking your young dog to practice patience.  The stay command requires lots of practice at home.  In addition, this week we will also introduce loose leash walking, turns and doorway issues.
• Week 4 - Come Command Once you've mastered the stay command, come becomes so much fun as you release your dog and praise them for a job well done.  This week we will work on come, stay with distractions, walking through a crowd and sitting politely for petting.
• Week 5 - Down Command In the final week the 'down' command is introduced, accepting a friendly stranger and further work on distractions with known commands.
• Week 6 - Evaluation/Test All commands will be reviewed.  Discussion of further training and completion of the skills and Canine Good Citizen test.  Participants will also receive a certificate of completion for the class.

Testimonials

My dogs and I as well as the new owners of my pups love taking their pets to your facility, especially when the weather is too cold or wet outside to play. I breed dogs and have checked out a lot of dog daycare facilities and obedience trainers throughout my sixteen years of breeding dogs and highly recommend Fur the Love of Dogs for daycare, grooming and obedience training. Thanks for the attention you show the dogs and customers.
- Char Smith (Thornbush Terriers)

Our Trainer

Nancy Doherty is a 2004 graduate of the Graduated Animal Behavior College of Balboa, CA and has over 10 years of training and grooming experience with dogs. Through her obedience training she has successfully worked with many different breeds of dogs from Dashounds to Newfoundlands. She is certified as an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, a Therapy Dogs International Evaluator, and a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals.

In addition to the group classes we offer, private lessons can be conducted here at our facility or in your home.