About Our Classes
The Club's aim is to train the handlers, not the dogs.
Training of dogs is a STEADY PROCESS (no matter how intelligent you think yours is) and will require PATIENCE, PERSEVERANCE and DEDICATION over a period of time. Recommended trainig periods are 10-15 minutes two times per day (but once per day is the minimum).
Our contact time with you and your dog on Sundays is to assist, guide and correct any errors. Our goal is to assist you in having a positive and enjoyable relationship with your furry pal.
All members must progress from Intro through each class to reach Class 4. This ensures consistency amongst the handlers and ensures a better understanding of each skill level. Each handler must pass the testing phase of each class before they can proceed to the next level.
Your time in each class depends on these three factors:
-
The regularity of your daiy training
-
Your ability as a handler to teach your dog
-
Your dog's response to training. It is normal for puppies or excitable dogs to progress slowly, but this is unimportant - it is the end result that matters!
INTRO
Introductory Class
9:00am - 9:30am
This half hour class is for first timers to get settled in and experience their first week of learning the basics.
Beginners Class
9:00am - 9:30am
Half hour class learning basics of heelwork, sit exercise with guidance and command, the right about turn. Handlers and dogs will be assessed for eligibility to progress to Class 1
BEGINNERS
9:30 - 10:30am
-
Heel on lead with guidance & encouragement
-
Sit at heel with guidance
-
Right about 180° turn
-
Left and right 90° turns
-
Basic stand exercise with guidance
-
Sit for examination – human socialisation
-
Basic sit stay on lead – handler close in front and stepping side to side. Approximately 1 minute
-
Drop exercise from sit – treats allowed initially to encourage do
-
Start of recall – on lead
-
Dog Socialisation
All returns are back to dog’s side
CLASS 1
CLASS 2
9:30 - 10:30am
Class 1 exercises, with dog responding more readily to heelwork and commands
-
Left about turn
-
Slow pace heelwork
-
Stand/Stay to end of lead
-
Down from sit with command & hand signal
-
Sit Stay on lead | 3-5m for 1 minute
-
Down Stay on lead | 3-5m for 1 minute
-
Stand for examination to end of lead – minor movement allowed
-
Recall on 3m lead from sit stay
-
Sit at heel with less guidance
-
Drop from Heel
All returns are back to dog’s side
CLASS 3
9:30 - 10:30am
-
Dog to heel with less correction and guidance. Lead held left hand over right. More consistency with Class 2 exercises
-
Sit at heel on one command when handler stops.
-
Sit and down stay to 5m off lead for 1 minute
-
Recall on and off lead to 5m
-
Dog to take up sit position in front of handler (Off lead is Optional)
-
Stand stay to end of lead for 1 minute
-
Fast and slow pace heelwork.
-
Stand for examination to end of lead – no movement allowed
-
Finish to heel exercise – done separate to recall exercise. Quick response, minimal guidance.
-
Figure of eight heeling exercise
All returns by handlers are behind dog to the heel position
9:30 - 10:30am
All heelwork on loose lead held in left hand. Heel command allowed only when starting an exercise or after a stop. No heel commands when executing turns.
-
Automatic sit
-
Offlead work (optional)
-
Sit and down stay 3 minutes with distractions
-
Stand stay to 6m for 1 minute
-
Stand for examination at 6m
-
Sit stay out of sight for 1 minute
-
Down stay out of sight for 3 minutes
-
Drop, sit and stand hand signals at 6m
-
Recall from 30m
-
Recall from free walking off lead (optional)
-
Drop at random
-
All returns by handlers are behind dog to the heel position
CLASS 4
CLASS 5
9:30 - 10:30am
Off lead work under supervision
Dogs and handlers will be recommended to join this class as a step up from Class 4 but this is not a required step up.