Competition Beginning Novice

The Pre-Novice Competition class is designed to teach the dog and handler the skills needed to qualify for the AKC Beginning Novice Dog (BN) title. Dogs at or over 6 months of age work on the basic heel on a leash, sit for examination, sit stay-walk around the ring, basic short recall. This class emphasizes teaching the dog focused attention using positive and traditional training methods.

Prerequisite: Must have completed Basic 1 obedience or can demonstrate to instructor knowledge of basic skills.

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

Competition Novice Obedience

This class is for handler and dog teams that are looking to further their foundation skills and learn the needed exercises to compete at the novice obedience level in AKC.

The class will teach the complicated, but fun skills needed to have beautiful heeling by breaking the pattern down into the static components and the moving components. The class will teach teams how to create fast straight recalls, fronts and finishes. The class will work on the stationary exercises – stand for exam and sit / down stays.

The emphasis in teaching all the above skills will be trained by using positive reinforcement to capture the wanted dog behaviors through shaping or luring. Handler and dog teams will learn how to use toy and food rewards to mark the wanted behaviors, work on impulse control, and have fun with their dog. This is a 6 week class, but the above concepts do take many months to learn.

This is a competition class. As such, it is expected that the dogs can work calmly in the proximity of other dogs and handlers and wait quietly in crates when necessary. It is not appropriate for reactive, fearful or overly vocal  or distracted dogs.

Prerequisites: Handler and dog teams must have good mat or crate behaviors, i.e.. your dog can quietly wait for it's turn in the building or if your dog is vocal – crating in the car between turns may be more appropriate.

Image on the Left: Taff, an Australian Shepherd

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

Open Obedience

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 command discrimination plus broad jump, are taught.

Dogs will be at various levels in the training of each exercise so instruction is tailored accordingly.

This class will be taught using traditional methods.

Image on the Left: Parker, new CDX

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

Instructors permission required

Utility

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.

Dogs will be at various levels in the training of each exercise so instruction is tailored accordingly. Permission of the instructor is required to join this class.

This class will be taught using traditional methods.

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

Instructors permission required

Competition Open/Utility Class

This class is for dog and handler teams that are working towards an Open and/or Utility Title. The dog and handler should have earned a Novice title in any venue or be actively competing at the Novice level. The class will teach the exercises necessary for Open and Utility titles. Participation in this class is at the instructors discretion. Please email the instructor at harvestbeardies@msn.com to discuss the class.

Rally Foundations Class

Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler move together through a course of 10-20 stations.  Each station has a sign indicating the obedience skill to be performed.  This class uses positive, reward-bases training and will teach you how to train your dog in new skills for this fun sport, building confidence and teamwork between you and your dog.  We will focus on attention building games as well as specific foundation skills needed for successful rally competition.

Note: This class is not course-based, but rather focuses on the foundation skills needed to execute signs.  It is ideal for teams just starting out in Rally, or for teams who haven't been as successful as they would like and for handlers who need a better understanding of foundation skills.

Prerequisites: Dogs should willingly respond to being asked to sit, down, stay and will walk with you on a loose leash. Your dog needs to be comfortable around other dogs and people.

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

Image: French Bulldog, Reggie competing in Rally

Rally Advanced

The Rally class prepares the dog and handler to compete in AKC Rally. There are levels of titling, Rally Novice, Rally Intermediate, Rally Advanced, Rally Excellent and Rally Master. 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.

Rally 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.

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

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, only the handler will be allowed to accompany the dog.

Conformation Handling Class

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.

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

image to the left: Booker, a Boxer - owned by Charlene George

Training Foundations

A dog that likes training is easier to train. There are a lot ways to train a dog and this class will cover various motivational methods. We will use Clicker/Marker training to teach shaping,luring and capturing. We will learn how to apply clicker training to teach leash skills and how to incorporate play into our training to further motivate our dog to engage with us, giving us more rewards to choose from. The more tools in your toolbox the more options you will have to teach your dog the skills they need to live with us. Build the foundation for engagement in your dog!

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

Crate to Gate

This class will help students come up with a warm-up routine to best prepare their dogs to perform in the show ring.  We will focus on Attention exercises, working through distractions and a predictable warm up pattern that can help the dog get ready to show. This class is appropriate for dogs who are getting ready to show in Rally or Obedience, or for dogs who are already competing.  It is assumed that the dogs in this class can work comfortably around other dogs and can wait calmly in a crate during discussions while waiting to work.

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

Reducing Reinforcement!

This fun, but challenging class is for teams getting ready to compete in Obedience or Rally. Handlers will learn a systematic, fair method of reducing primary reinforcement in preparation for Obedience or Rally competition. Dogs will learn that working to criteria is the key to earning reinforcement. Handlers and dogs will gain confidence in their training which will carry over to their ring performance.

We will also work on attention, working through distractions and waiting quietly. Be ready to work hard and tax your brain during this session!

It is assumed that dogs in this class can work comfortably in the presence of other dogs/handlers and be quiet in their crates while waiting their turn. Teams do not have to be ring ready, but to fully maximize your experience in this class, dogs should have a number of behaviors they can perform confidently in multiple locations.

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

Distractions And Other Important Pieces for Obedience Competition Dogs

In this class we will strengthen behaviors needed for competition. Hopefully dog shows are just around the corner and we have a few months to get everything tuned up for a successful show season.   This will include distraction training, what to do when things don't go well, how to improve the overall quality of your training, Join us for this trainer's Bootcamp! You and your dog will be challenged while having a lot of fun.

Dogs in this class MUST be able to work around other dogs and wait quietly for their turn.  If you have questions please email Kathy Sugitani at agilk9@gmail.com

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

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" 

Note: Maximum number of participants eight (8) per class. Classes are four (4) weeks

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!

Note: Maximum number of participants eight (8) per class. Classes are six (6) weeks
(Must have attended "The Importance of Positive Training in Canine Performance Sports"

Training Foundations

A dog that likes training is easier to train. There are a lot ways to train a dog and this class will cover various motivational methods. We will use Clicker/Marker training to teach shaping, luring and capturing. We will learn how to apply clicker training to teach leash skills and how to incorporate play into our training to further motivate our dog to engage with us, giving us more rewards to choose from. The more tools in your toolbox the more options you will have to teach your dog the skills they need to live with us. Build the foundation for engagement in your dog!

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

Distractions for Competitive Obedience

This session we will work on performing exercises with varying degrees of distractions and the development of you and your dog as a competition team. We will also address issues around ring nerves and using the fix-it option effectively.
Dogs must comfortable working around other dogs and able to be quiet while waiting their turn. Email me at agilk9@gmail.com if you have questions about the suitability of this class for your dog.

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