Beginning Novice

The Beginner Novice class is new Optional Class. This class is designed to teach the dog and handler the skills needed to qualify for the AKC Beginning Novice (BN) title.

Dogs at or over 6 months of age work will work on the skills of heeling on leash, figure 8 on leash, Sit for Exam, Sit Stay and Recall.

BN is a bridge between those who have done only Rally and want to take some of those skills to another level of competition. It can also be a starting point for those who may want to continue to traditional obedience.

Note: Maximum number of participants eight (8) per class. Classes are six (6) weeks

Instructors permission required

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Novice Competition

The Novice competition class is designed to teach the dog and handler the skills needed to qualify for the AKC Companion Dog (CD) title.

Dogs at or over 6 months of age work on the skills of recall, heel on a loose leash and heeling off leash, stand for examination, sit and down stays.

The EDOC Novice class emphasizes teaching the dog focused attention and to work with joy and enthusiasm with the use of positive motivation (verbal praise, food, and toys). We consider the Novice Class the foundation for Open and Utility work.

This class is on going with dogs at various skill levels. Permission of the instructor is required to join this class.

Image on the Left: Taff, an Australian Shepherd is competing for her Novice Title

Note: Maximum number of participants eight (8) per class. Classes are six (6) weeks $95.00

Instructors permission required

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Open Competition

The Open competition class continues the dog and handlers education toward qualifying for the AKC Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title.

In addition to the skills needed for the Novice Class, the down on recall, retrieve on the flat and over the high jump and sits and downs with the handler out of sight plus broad jump, are taught.

This class is on going with dogs at various skill levels. Permission of the instructor is required to join this class.

Image on the Left: Parker, new CDX

Note: Maximum number of participants eight (8) per class. Classes are six (6) weeks

Instructors permission required

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Utility Competition

The Utility competition class continues the dog and handlers education toward qualifying for the AKC Utility Dog (UD) title.

New skills added include signals, go-outs, directed jumping, directed retrieve and Scent Discrimination.

This class is on going with dogs at various skill levels. Permission of the instructor is required to join this class.

Note: Maximum number of participants eight (8) per class. Classes are six (6) weeks

Instructors permission required

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Rally Advanced

The Rally class prepares the dog and handler to compete in AKC Rally. There are three levels of titling, Rally Novice, Rally Advanced and Rally Excellent. Rally involves a course of designated stations. Each station has a sign providing instructions regarding the skill that is to be performed. The skills are heeling, sits, downs, brief stays, assorted variations of left, right, and about turns.

Scoring in Rally is not as rigorous as Obedience. The competition does stress teamwork between the dog and handler. Unlike Obedience, the handler may assist the dog with unlimited communication.

It is recommended dogs enrolling in this class have training in obedience skills; willingly responds to being asked to sit, down, stay and will walk with you on a loose leash.

Conformation

EDOC's conformation class is open on a drop in basis on the day and time listed in the current class schedule.

This class is for handlers wanting to brush up on handling skills for the conformation show ring.

Conformation Handling Class

A drop-in class that helps those handlers who want to learn how to handle their dog in Conformation competition.

Class Date and Time: Ongoing - Tuesdays from 10:00am to 11:00am
Instructor: Jan Bradfelt

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K9 NOSE WORK - The newest dog sport engages dogs’ amazing sense of smell, their curiosity, and their natural desire to hunt.  K9 Nose Work encourages your dog's natural scenting ability by using their desire to hunt, initially for their favorite food or toys, and later for the scent of one of the three essential oils, birch, anise or clove.  It is an excellent confidence builder using a dog's most natural ability – his nose, in a correction free environment.

Each dog and handler team will work individually in the class. This affords each team the optimum training opportunity with minimal distractions and allows those dogs who don't do well in the typical multi‐dog class environment to participate in class.

Dogs can be any breed, age, size or experience.  These classes are great for both companion and performance dogs.  Those who want to compete will have that opportunity and those want to watch their dogs develop their natural skills will enjoy seeing their dogs burn both physical and mental energy, gain confidence and most of all, have fun.

You can learn more about this newest dog sport and about competing at the following websites:

WWW.K9NOSEWORK.COM
WWW.NACSW.NET

If you have any questions about these classes please feel free to call or email the Training Director.

Introduction to Nose Work Class (Intro to Nose Work)

This is the first in the series of K9 Nose Work classes.  This class will introduce the teams to the basic foundation skills of K9 Nose Work. The game of Nose Work starts with giving the dog the freedom to work alone to discover its treat in boxes and self-reward.  From there, we build the dog’s desire to hunt and their ability to solve problems in order to find their reward.  The dogs will be exposed to a variety of search environments and situations, building their strength in searching. 

Teams will participate in 2 to 3 sessions of Intro to Nose Work before moving on to Intro to Odor.  Each session will build on the foundation steps, and add varied search environments.  There are no prerequisites for an Intro to Nose Work class – just sign up and prepare to have fun!

Maximum number of participants – eight (8) per class.  Each session is six (6) weeks.

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Nose Work Containers Class

This class will concentrate on all types of containers and distractors.  We will build on your foundation and help you prepare for the Containers Element at the NW2 and NW3 level.

Prerequisite:  NW1 title.  Dogs must be on birch, anise and clove.  Open only to dog/handler teams that have not previously attended an EDOC Nose Work Containers class.

Maximum number of participants – eight (8) per class.  Each session is four (4) weeks.
Cost: $65.00

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Introduction to Odor Class (Intro to Odor)

This is the second in the K9 Nose Work series.  In this class, the dogs will transition from hunting for food or toys to hunting for the odor of birch.  Handlers will learn to recognize the changes in the dog’s behavior when catching the odor and upon finding the strongest source of the odor.  We will also build on the handler’s skills needed to support the dogs’ searches.  The teams will learn the parameters and some of the skills needed to pass an Odor Recognition test, which is a prerequisite to competition, and will be introduced to the four search elements involved in a Nose Work trial. 

Teams will participate in 2 to 3 sessions of Intro to Odor before moving on to Expansion of Odor Obedience. 

Prerequisite:  2 sessions of Intro to Nose Work or instructor approval.

Maximum number of participants – eight (8) per class.  Each session is six (6) weeks.

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Expansion of Odor Obedience (Odor Obed)

This is the third in the K9 Nose Work series taught at EDOC.  In these classes, the teams will continue to develop the skills required to successfully search larger and more difficult areas.  The dogs will build on the ability to find the odor and to communicate that to the handlers, while the handlers will build on their ability to recognize what the dogs are doing.  These classes will also include introduction of the anise and clove odors. 

The classes will cover preparation for competition, including the Odor Recognition Test (ORT), as well as the four search elements involved in a Nose Work 1 trial, i.e., container, interior, exterior and vehicle searches.  Teams will also learn about Nose Work Element Trials. 

Teams are encouraged to participate in 3 to 4 sessions of Odor Obed.  After that, teams who wish to compete are encouraged to seek additional training beyond EDOC (see below). Priority will be given to dogs that have not yet had 3 sessions of Odor Obed, and, secondly, to dogs that do not have their NW1 title.  Teams who do not wish to compete can continue to enroll in Odor Obed in order to provide their dogs with the fun of Nose Work in a class setting, if there is an available spot.

Prerequisite:  2 sessions of Intro to Odor or instructor approval.
Maximum number of participants – eight (8) per class.  Each session is six (6) weeks.

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Advanced Nose Work Class (Adv. NW)

Adv. NW is the fourth in the K9 Nose Work series, focused on the development of competition skills.  The dogs will be asked to solve new and more challenging search problems under the guidance of the instructor, including container distractors and inaccessible hides.  Handlers will work on improving their leash handling, supporting their dog when needed (and learning when it is needed), and developing a greater understanding of the factors that affect how scent moves.

Generally, EDOC does not offer Adv. NW classes.  This level of competition training generally necessitates an exposure in a variety of environments beyond the EDOC building.  However, there may be Specialty Classes offered for teams who have their NW1 title. 

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Specialty Class

Instructors may occasionally offer 4 to 6 week classes in Nose Work designed to work on either a specific Nose Work element or on a particular skill.  Watch the schedule for a description of a specialty class – it will contain the description of the class as well as any prerequisites and maximum participation.

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The Importance of Positive Training in Canine Performance Sports

Ever wondered why some trainers seem to get their dogs to learn performance sports (agility, rally, etch) at a magically fast rate,  while you have tried and had limited success?    

This four week class will help novice trainers learn the basic process of operant conditioning/training – including ways to get comfortable with the process,  simple strategies for starting the training process with your dog, how to determine when to "capture" and when to "shape" behaviors, and how to get help when you and your dog get stuck in the training process.

Four Week Class and a Prerequisite for "Foundations for Canine Performance Sports Class" 

 Cost: $65.00

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Foundations for Canine Performance Sports

Getting involved in Canine Sports (Obedience, Rally, Agility, Field) can be a life-long hobby and rewarding activity for you AND your dog; but without foundation skills, the training process can become tedious, frustrating, and sometimes stop your careers before they even get started.   

This session will focus on the basic skills that can make involvement in your sport of choice move along much more quickly!

Six Week Class.   (Must have attended "The Importance of Positive Training in Canine Performance Sports"

Cost: $95.00

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