PET TRAINING CLASSES OFFERED AT TOP DOG:
Puppy Kindergarten: For puppies eight weeks to five months of age. Don't believe the old cliche which advises waiting until your dog is six months or a year old before starting to train him! Doing so will only lead to a young adult dog with unstructured behavior and many problems which could have been avoided. By starting your puppy early, you will establish proper behavior right from the start. In this class, puppies are taught to walk on a leash, sit, come, down, stand, and stay. They will also learn to socialize with one another, an important but often neglected part of proper canine development. This class makes the puppy's first introduction to obedience training non-stressful and fun. Housebreaking and problem behaviors also will be addressed.
Beginners: For dogs over five months of age with no formal training. This class will cover controlled walking and the sit, down, stay, and come commands, as well as dealing with common problem behaviors.
Advanced Beginners: For graduates of the Beginners class. This class will further enhance the relationship between dog and owner. The dog's response to commands will become more consistent and reliable, and the training will build up to off-leash recalls and stays. Dog and owner will learn the necessary skills to pass the AKC's Canine Good Citizen test, which is offered periodically at Top Dog.
Off-Leash Obedience: For graduates of the Advanced Beginners class. This class focuses on obtaining off-leash control of the dog using the controlled walking, recall, and stay skills which are taught in the Beginners and Advanced Beginners classes.
Rally: For graduates of the Advanced Beginners or Off-Leash Obedience class. This class will begin to train dogs and handlers for the American Kennel Club's Rally competitions. This is also a fun class to continue your dog's education even if you don't have any plans to compete!
Pet Tricks: This class is a fun addition to your dog's training. It teaches a variety of tricks using motivational methods including clicker training and shaping. It provides an entertaining break for competition obedience dogs, as well as for pet dogs. Give paw, speak, roll over, play dead, beg, crawl, wave, and twist are just some of the tricks covered. This class is typically offered every-other class session.
Dog Training for Kids: For children nine years of age and up and their dogs!
Therapy Dog Training: For graduates of the Advanced Beginners class. This class will focus on training dogs and handlers for pet therapy. Graduates of Beginners may take this course with the approval of their instructor.
Nose Work: K9 Nose Work is the new exciting, detection-style sport created and sanctioned by the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW). It is designed for the person who wants to help their dog explore the environment in a new and exciting way. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and a natural desire to hunt. Nose Work classes will focus on teaching you how to encourage and develop your dogs natural abilities by using their desire to hunt and their love of toys, food and exercise. Find out just how good their nose really is by utilizing the most prominent sense: the sense of smell. We will teach you to read and follow your dogs’ mannerisms as they use their nose and hunt drive to locate a targeted odor. Dogs love this sport as sniffing is something they were born to do.
* Introduction to Nose Work: K9 Nose Work classes introduce the concept of the game, build handler observation skills and timing, and get the dogs focused. The classes are started with just toys or food rather than odor in order to build the hunting drive first and to sharpen the handlers’ skills. The classes are designed to develop a foundation for Nose Work and get your dog using his natural scenting abilities.
* Introduction to Odor: This class introduces the first target odor (Birch) used in K9 Nose Work. Pairing with food/toy is initiated with boxes or containers. Searches gradually expand in difficulty and location. Interior and exterior facilities may be utilized.
For more information about the Nose Work class please click here to contact Karin Damon
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