AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy

• Age: 3-6 months
• Learn to communicate with your puppy and teach them some basic skills for happy living in your home and community. S.T.A.R. Stands for Socialization, Training, and Responsibility. At the end of the class your puppy will be given the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy examination. For puppies 3-12 months of age. Handlers of all ages with instructors approval.
• Some of the behaviors to be tested include:
• Allows (in any position) petting by a person other than the owner.
• Allows owner handling and brief exam of ears and feet.
• Walks on leash. Follows owner lead in a straight line (15 steps).
• Walks on a leash past other people five feet away.
• Sits on command.
• Downs on command.
• Comes to owner from five feet when name is called.
• Walking with handler through a crowd with distractions.
• Equipment Needed:
• Soft, small size treats.
• Six foot leash.
• Buckle, martingale, or slip collar; prong collar with instructor approval.
• Water Bowl
• Visit the AKC page for more details
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Canine Good Citizen (CGC)

• Age: 6 months and older
• Prerequisite: Beginning Obedience or Evaluation by Trainer.
• This class is designed to help you teach your dog basic good manners, in both the home and community. After passing the CGC test at graduation, your dog will receive a Canine Good Citizen certificate from the AMerican Kennel Club. For dogs 6 months and older. Handlers should be 15 years and older.
• Exercises to include:
• Dog to accept petting and grooming by evaluator.
• Walking with handler through a crowd with distractions.
• Proper dog behavior upon meeting people and dogs.
• Accepting being left with a stranger while handler goes out of site.
• Equipment Needed:
• Six foot leash (leather or fabric, comfortable in your hand).
• An appropriate collar for training purposes.
• If using treats, a pocket with small, soft treats.
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Community Canine Good Citizen (CGCA)

• Age: 6 months and older
• Prerequisite: CGC certification.
• This class is the advance level of AKC’s Canine Good Citizen program. Your dog will use CGC skills and beyond in a natural/real life setting. After passing the 10-step Community Canine test at graduation, your dog will receive a Community Canine Certification from the American Kennel Club. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC. For dogs 6 months and older and handlers 15 years and older.
• Exercises to include:
• Walking past distractions without pulling on the leash.
• Walks by food and follows “leave it” command.
• Sit-stay in a small group of people and dogs.
• Down or sit-stay at 20ft distance
• Equipment Needed:
• Six foot leash.
• An appropriate collar for training purposes.
• If using treats, a pocket with small, soft treats.
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Urban Canine Good Citizen (UCGC)

• Age: 6 months and older
• Prerequisite: CGC certification.
• This class is designed to help you teach your dog how to behave in an urban setting. Your dog will use CGC skills and beyond in a setting that includes traffic, crowds, noises, smells and other distractions that are present in any city or town. After passing the 10-step Urban CGC test at graduation, your dog will receive an Urban Canine Good Citizen certifcation from the American Kennel Club. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC. For dogs 6 months and older and handlers 15 years and older.
• Exercises to include:
• Walking in crowds.
• Crossing streets
• Riding in a elevator.
• Proper dog behavior upon meeting people and dogs.
• Equipment needed:
• Six foot leash.
• An appropriate collar for training purposes.
• If using treats, a pocket with small, soft treats.
• More information found here
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Companion Family Dog

• Age: 6 months and older
• Prerequisite: Dog should be able to work in a class setting with other dogs. Dog should know basic heeling with loose leash, recall, sit and down stays for 1 minute each. Dog should be ready to start off leash work. Handlers should be prepared for training homework in public settings as well as at home between classes.
• This class is designed to help your dog develop reliable heaviors on and off leash that will contribute to being a family dog and companion at home and in public. Classes will include distractions to strengthen and proof behaviors.
• Exercises to be taught include:
• Wait to be released before going in/out doors and entering/exiting car.
• Move up and down stairs at handler’s pace.
• Walk on loose leash with distractions.
• Respond to commands on and especially off leash.
• Recall with distractions.
• Pick up and hold / bring object handler
• Equipment Needed:
• Six foot leash.
• An appropriate collar for training purposes.
• If using treats, a pocket with small, soft treats.
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Beginning Obedience

• Age: 6 months and older
• Prerequisite: None
• Designed to teach you and your dog basic skills for a family dog, and to prepare both of you for further classes. Classes are structured to provide an opportunity to work with your dog around other dogs and distractions, and to receive guidance from instructors for learning both training exercises and addressing problems living with your dog. Dogs should be six months or older, able to participate in a class situation safely around dogs and people. Handlers should be 15 years or older, exceptions can be made with instructor approval.
• Equipment Needed:
• Six foot leash.
• An appropriate collar for training purposes.
• If using treats, a pocket with small, soft treats.
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Intermediate Obedience

• Age: 6 months and older
• Prerequisite: Completed Beginning Obedience or equivalent class and are not ready for competition level classes.
• Designed to improve basic skills and begin off leash work. Novice/Intermediate Rally signs and/or Open Obedience work may be introduced during the class.
• Exercises to be taught include:
• Focus
• Walking on a loose leash with automatic sit beside handler.
• Sit for exam (instructor touching dog’s head).
• Recall (dog comes and sits in front of handler).
• Finish (dog returns to heel position).
• Sit and down stay
• Equipment Needed:
• Six foot leash.
• An appropriate collar for training purposes.
• If using treats, a pocket with small, soft treats.
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Novice Obedience

• Age: 6 months and older
• Prerequisite: Beginning Obedience or Evaluation by trainer.
• Designed for students wanting to improve their skills and their dog’s performance. The Novice class is the foundation for future levels of training and participation in Novice Obedience trial competition. Dogs work on heeling, with and without a leash, coming when called, standing for a simple physical examination and staying in both a sit and a down positions while in a group setting. Time and distance of exercises increases, with recalls and group sits and downs (1 and 3 minutes) about 40 feet away. For dogs 6 months and older and handlers 15 years and older, exceptions with instructor’s approval.
• Exercises to be taught include:
• Figure 8 heeling.
• Stand for exam.
• Heeling off lead.
• Recall and finish off lead.
• Sit and down stay with handlers across the room.
• Equipment Needed:
• Six foot leash.
• An appropriate collar for training purposes.
• If using treats, a pocket with small, soft treats.
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Open Obedience

• Age: 6 months and older
• Prerequisite: Completed a Novice Obedience class with that instructor’s recommendation; or be able to demonstrate the dog’s ability to perform the Novice Excercises and be able to work off leash in a class situation.
• This is a competition obedience class, appropriate for handlers wanting to show in the Open Obedience class, or for owners wanting to work on more advanced skills with your dog.
• Exercises to be taught include:
• On and off leash heeling skills including figure 8.
• Retrieve a dumbbell on the Flat and Over the High Jump.
• Broad Jump
• Recall and Drop on Recall
• Command Discrimination
• Stand Stay while handler retrieves leash from outside the ring.
• Equipment Needed:
• Six foot leash.
• An appropriate collar for training purposes.
• If using treats, a pocket with small, soft treats.
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Utility and Competition Obedience

• Age: 6 months and older
• Prerequisite: Must have successfully completed the Intermediate Obedience and/or have the instructor’s recommendation prior to enrollment. Handlers must be 16 years or older.
• Exercises are more challenging. The Utility class, which includes scent discrimination, directed retrieves, jumping and silent signal exercises, is the most challenging class. In the Utility class, dogs earn a Utility Dog (UD) title after receiving three qualifying scores under two different judges. After receiving qualifying scores at the Utility level in 3 AKC licensed events, a dog earns a Utility Dog (UD). From UD, a dog can also earn the additional titles Utility Dog Excellent (UDX), Obedience Master (OM), Grand Master (OGM), Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH). See AKC.org for title requirements.
• Exercises to be taught include:
• Signal Exercise
• Scent Discrimination
• Directed Retrieves
• Moving stand and exam
• Directed Jumping
• Equipment Needed:
• Six foot leash.
• An appropriate collar for training purposes.
• If using treats, a pocket with small, soft treats. Toys are also acceptable.
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Rally

• Age: 6 months and older
• AKC Rally®: You move your dog through a course of numbered signs performing different exercises. Each sign gives instructions which include sit, down, stay, move forward quickly, move slowly, and more complicated maneuvers. BEGINNING RALLY enhance basic obedience skills while you learn the basics of Rally exercises. Beginning Rally is followed by INTERMEDIATE and ADVANCED RALLY.
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Rally FrEe

• Age: 6 months and older
• Rally-FrEe is a unique sport combining trick behaviors with the format of Rally-Obedience. It emphasizes the precise execution of fundamental freestyle and obedience skills. The signs are like Rally-Obedience, but have trick moves such as weaves, spins, front crosses, and bows. The dog also works on both sides of you. Rally FrEe teaches the foundation steps to Freestyle Musical.
• Topics Include:
• Learn the signs used in Rally FrEe
• Practice course navigation
• Learn rules for competition
• Equipment Needed:
• Six foot leash
• An appropriate collar for training purposes.
• A pocket with small, soft treats. Toys are also acceptable.
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Agility

• Age: 15 months and older
• Prerequisite: Dogs must have basic obedience skills and be able to work in a class setting with other dogs in close proximity. Dogs should be able to have recall, a sit and stay, and be under control. An evaluation of the dog will be held first day of class.
• Prerequisite for Intermediate Agility: Dogs must have completed Basic Agility.
• Beginning Agility introduces you and your dog to agility obstacles. It give you the opportunity to see if your dog likes agility and if you want to pursue agility further into Intermediate Agility.
• Topics Include:
• Tunnel
• Teeter-totter
• Weave Poles
• Contacts and hoops
• Equipment Needed:
• A collar with a removable leash
• High value treats
• A tug-type toy
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Intro to Scent Work

• Age: 9 months and older
• Prerequisite: none
• Scent Work is patterned after the techniques used to train working detection dogs. You and your companion will work as a team to search for a specific scent. It is an activity that builds a bond between you and your dog and builds confidence in many dogs. In addition to the class fee, there is a $15.00 material cost.
• Topics to Include:
• Discussion of Equipment
• Games to play to encourage and motivate
• Recognizing and Alerting on odor
• Leash Handling
• Obedience to odor
• Container, exterior, interior, and vehicle searches
• Rules and regulations to compete in Scent Work trials
• Equipment Needed:
• Responsible shoes, no flip flops
• HIGH value treats and plenty of them, but no raw meat
• If your dog is toy motivated, bring two of the same toy
• No females in season
• Bring a hungry dog
• Your dog should be energized, not tired
• Six foot leash and flat collar
• Please do not wear highly scented perfumes or colognes
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Advanced Scent Work

• This class will be modeled after AKC and UKC scent work trials. There will be occasional field tips. This class is not an introduction to scents. Previous experience in a scentwork is required.
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Tricks

• Age: 6 months and older
• Prerequisite: Dogs must have basic obedience skills and be able to work in a class setting with other dogs in close proximity. Dogs in season will not be allowed in class.
• Handlers will learn positive training methods to teach their dogs a variety of behaviors and tricks. Handlers will be given the opportunity to learn many of the tricks required for the AKC Trick Dog titles. The Novice Trick Dog test will be offered during the last week of class. For all dogs 6 months and older. Note: Dogs in season will not be allowed in class.
• Tricks to be taught may include:
• Walk on a six foot long balance beam or board a few inches off the floor
• Fetch it and give
• High five
• Jump through a low hoop or over a low bar
• Kennel up
• Shake Hands
• Spin in a circle
• Tunnel
• Equipment Needed:
• Six foot leash.
• An appropriate collar for training purposes.
• If using treats, a pocket with small, soft treats. Toys are also acceptable.
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AKC Confirmation Handling

• Age: 6 months and older
• The purpose of this class is to improve the handler’s skills in the AKC Conformation Ring. To give the dog experience of being examined by a “judge” and exposure to many different things associated with AKC Dog Shows. This class is structured for all levels of handling skills, from beginner to very experienced.
• Classes to include but not limited to:
• Ring procedures
• Setting the collar
• Showing the bite
• Correct gaiting speed
• Hand Stacking
• Free stacking
• When to bait

• Equipment Needed:
• Show collar (usually a snake chain or small link chain) and lead; or Resco, Martingale-styl lead that is collar and lead in one
• Bait; either food or small toy
• Comfortable shoes to walk fast or trot (depending on speed of dog)
• Video demonstration
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AKC Fetch – Novice and Intermediate

• Requirements and Prequisites for Dogs:
• Dogs must be at least 6 months of age by the first class
• Dogs must be physically able to retrieve and return an object
• Dogs must be non-aggressive toward people and other dogs
• Dogs must be current on age-appropriate vaccinations (per CDADF policy)
• Handler & equipment requirements:
• Flat buckle collar or well-fitted martingale collar
• Six foot leash (no retractable leashes)
• A variety of toys or fetch items your dog enjoys
• High-value treats for training and reinforcement
• treat pouch or easy access to rewards
• This 8-week class is designed for dog and handler teams working at the Novice and Intermediate levels of AKC Fetch, with a strong emphasis on beginner and foundation skills. AKC Fetch is an entry-level AKC titling sport that highlights a dog’s natural retrieving ability while strengthening teamwork and communication between dog and handler. Instruction will focus on building a motivated retrieve, clean return and delivery to hand, understanding the handler station (start/finish area), and developing reliability at Novice and Intermediate distances. Handlers will learn the rules and field setup for these levels and how skills progress toward higher titles, with ample time devoted to individual coaching and confidence-building. Class size is limited to 6 dog/handler teams to ensure individualized instruction and sufficient working time for each team.
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