One of the purposes of the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program is to certify dogs that possess the training and well-mannered behaviors to be reliable and well received members of their family and the community in which they live.  This 6 week class is designed for dogs, whether purebred or mixed breed, which have received some obedience training and wish to brush up on their obedience skills and manners in order to take the Canine Good Citizen Test.  All ten items in the test will be reviewed and practiced in the first 5 weeks.  The dogs will be tested on the last night of class.  Upon successful completion of the test, the owner will receive paperwork which can be submitted to the American Kennel Club for their CGC Certificate. 

Pre-requisite:  Vaccinated dogs with some prior obedience training.

Time Frame:  This is a 6 week class.  On the 6th week of class, administration of the CGC test will take place. 

Cost:  $110.00  

• The winter session of CGC will start on January 10th, 2012 at 8:15pm, with a test date of February 21st, 2012.

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PUPPY EDUCATION CLASSES

Puppy Kindergarten is an "Open Enrollment" class, which is held every Monday.  The class is comprised of learning units which rotate every six weeks.  Simply pick the Monday you wish to start class on and come for 6 consecutive weeks. 

This class is designed to provide socialization for your puppy and lay the foundation for learning basic skills using the positive reinforcement technique known as "clicker training".  The class is taught by an American Kennel Club approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.  This program stresses responsible ownership and the social and behavioral skills that your puppy needs to thrive.  We will teach you how to train your puppy to focus on you, come when called, sit, calmly accept handling and walk politely on a leash.  Several supervised puppy play-breaks are interspersed throughout each class session, so puppies have plenty of opportunities to interact with each other.  Common behavior problems such as jumping, barking, chewing, nipping and housebreaking will be addressed in each class.  When you attend your 6th class unit, you and your puppy will take the 20 part AKC S.T.A.R. (stands for Socialization, Training, Activity and Responsible Ownership) Puppy Test.  If successful, your puppy will be designated as a S.T.A.R. Puppy by the AKC.  This program is open to all puppies, whither of purebred or mixed breed heritage.   Get your puppy started "on the right paw" so that he will be a welcomed addition to your family. 

Pre-requisite: Vaccinated puppies who are between the ages of 8 weeks though 20 weeks old by the first night of class. 
Be prepared to meet at 6:45 with your instructor on your selected first night of clsas for a short introduction to the use of the "clicker" before class starts at 7:00pm.  Bring your puppy, a bag of tiny, yummy soft treats, a buckle collar or harness and a 6 foot lead.

Time Frame: This class is composed of 6 rotating units- simply pick your start date and attend for 6 consecutive weeks.  If you miss a week, don't worry, you can come make up any missed classes 6 weeks later when the missed unit is repeated.    

Cost: $130.00 

Puppy Kindergarten classes are held on Monday nights and will begin on January 10th, 2011. Classes will NOT be held on the following Mondays due to Holidays:

• Monday May 28th, 2012
• Monday September 3rd, 2012
• Monday December 24th, 2012

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ADOLESCENT PUPPY MANNERS

This class is designed to build on the skills you and your puppy learned in Puppy Kindergarten.  We will work on strengthening their newly learned obedience behaviors, and add new skills such as stay, down, polite greeting and leave it, while still providing puppy play-breaks in order to provide a release for all of their energy.  The adolescent phase of a puppy's life can be quite challenging for your family.  Let us give you the tools to successfully mold your puppy into an adult that you can be proud of. 

Pre-requisite: Vaccinated puppies who have completed Puppy Kindergarten Class at Doggie Depot and be between the ages of 18 weeks and 8 months of age at the start of the first class.  Puppies that have completed a positive reinforcement training class (with socialization) at other facilities, or have been socialized by their owners,  are also welcome to participate.

Time Frame: This 8 week class includes training manual, weekly homework hand-outs, and certificate of completion.

Cost $145.00

Adolescent Puppy Manners  classes are held Tuesday nights at 7:00pm and 8:15pm and begin approximately every 8 weeks.   The next Adolescent Puppy Manners class is scheduled to begin:

Tuesday January 10th, 2012 at 7:00pm
Tuesday March 6th, 2012 at 7:00pm
Tuesday May 1st, 2012 at 7:00pm 
Tuesday June 26th, 2012 at 7:00pm
Tuesday August 28th, 2012 at 7:00pm
Tuesday October 23rd, 2012 at 7:00pm

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FAMILY DOG OBEDIENCE CLASSES

This class focuses on teaching basic obedience skills and good manners using the positive reinforcement technique known as "clicker training".  You will learn how to teach your dog basic skills, such as come, sit, down, walking on a loose leash, and stay.  Discussions of common behavior problems such as jumping up, barking, pulling, and chewing are included in each week's lesson.  Emphasis is also placed on understanding behaviors from a dog's perspective, so that solutions to on-going problems can be addressed.

Pre-requisite: Vaccinated and socialized older adolescent or adult dogs with or without previous formal training.

Time Frame: This 8 week class includes a training manual, weekly homework handouts, clicker, and a certificate of completion.  Please Note: Come to the first night of class WITHOUT your dog, so that we can begin training YOU to train your dog. 

Cost $170.00.   Save $50 when you also purchase enrollment in Family Dog 2.

Family Dog Obedience - Level One classes are held Thursday nights and will begin:

• Thursday January 5th, 2012 at 7:00pm
• Thursday March 1st, 2012 at 7:00pm
• Thursday April 26th, 2012 at 7:00pm 
• Thursday June 21st, 2012 at 7:00pm
• Thursday August 30th, 2012 at 7:00pm
• Thursday October 25th, 2012 at 7:00pm

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FAMILY DOG OBEDIENCE - LEVEL TWO

This class continues to build on the skills learned in Level One, while adding additional skills such as targeting, walking in heel position, stays with distraction, leave it with distraction, polite greeting and handling by a stranger, and recalls.  The beginnings of off lead work are introduced.  Dogs that complete Level Two training have a wonderful foundation of skills for everyday life situations and are ready to go on to more specialized training, if the owner wishes to train for a competitive canine career or therapy dog work.

Pre-requisite: Vaccinated dogs who have completed Family Dog Obedience - Level One at Doggie Depot.

Time Frame: This 8 week class includes weekly homework hand-outs and a certificate of completion.  Come to the first night of class WITH your dog, ready to begin working! 

Cost: $150.00

Family Dog Obedience - Level Two classes are held Thursday nights and will begin:

• Thursday January 5th, 2012 at 8:15pm
• Thursday March 1st, 2012 at 8:15pm
• Thursday April 26th, 2012 at 8:15pm 
• Thursday June 21st, 2012 at 8:15pm
• Thursday August 30th, 2012 at 8:15pm
• Thursday October 25th, 2012 at 8:15pm

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RALLY OBEDIENCE

This class covers rules and regulations for the NEW UKC, AKC and APDT Rally Obedience. Level One/Novice work is all done on leash - Each week a new course is presented and select exercises are demonstrated.  Students then practice those exercises with their dogs and get the opportunity to run the entire course.  Some Level Two/Advanced exercises are introduced toward the end of the class session.  

Pre-requisite: Basic obedience skills done on leash.

Time Frame: 8 weeks of Rally Obedience Training on a variety of skills.

Cost: $130.00

Beginning Rally Obedience classes are held Wednesday nights and will begin:

• Wednesday January 4th, 2012 at 6:45pm
• Wednesday February 29th, 2012 at 6:45pm
• Wednesday April 25th, 2012 at 6:45pm
• Wednesday June 20th, 2012 at 6:45pm
• Wednesday August 29th, 2012 at 6:45pm
• Wednesday October 24th, 2012 at 6:45pm

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INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED RALLY OBEDIENCE

This class covers Level Two/Advanced and Level Three/Excellent exercises which are executed off leash.  Most exercises can be performed on lead for those handler/dog teams that are moving up from Beginning Rally, until they feel ready to run the entire course off leash.  Plenty of opportunities are provided to practice the more difficult jump and food bowl exercises.  Participants will run an entire course in each week's class.

Pre-requisite: Beginning Rally Obedience Class and ability to start working off leash.

Time Frame: 8 weeks of Advanced Rally Obedience Training on a variety of skills. 

Cost: $130.00

Intermediate/Advanced Rally Obedience classes are held Wednesday nights and will begin:

Wednesday January 4th, 2012 at 8:00pm
Wednesday February 29th, 2012 at 8:00pm
Wednesday April 25th, 2012 at 8:00pm
Wednesday June 20th, 2012 at 8:00pm
Wednesday August 29th, 2012 at 8:00pm
Wednesday October 24th, 2012 at 8:00pm

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INTRO TO K9 NOSEWORK

This eight week course is a beginner course which introduces the fundamentals of scent to the dog and handler.  When this behavior is established, the searches gradually become more difficult as the dog gains more confidence. Over time, the dog's search is shifted to hunting for a particular odor while still receiving a reward for its efforts.  Searches include box searches, indoor room searches, outdoor and exterior vehicle searches.  This course can be a fun way to learn how dogs perceive the world through their nose and to work with them as they use skills which come naturally.  The rules of competition are discussed for those who may wish to go on and compete.  For more information, pictures, and videos, please see our Nosework Site (http://www.noseworkdogs.com/index.html).  Other websites include North American Canine Scent Work (http://www.nacsw.net/) and K9 Nosework (http://www.k9nosework.com/.

Time Frame: 8 weeks of Nosework class. 

Cost: $130.00

The beginner Intro to Nosework classes will be held on Tuesday nights at 7:00pm.  Sessions start on:

• Tuesday March 6th, 2012 at 7:00pm
• Tuesday July 3rd, 2012 at 7:00pm
• Tuesday October 30th, 2012 at 7:00pm

ADVANCED INTRO to K9 NOSEWORK 

The advanced into to K9 Nosework class builds on the skills you develop in the beginning class.  Interior and exterior searches are run regularly, and may include an introduction to vehicle searches.  Container searches made more intricate and demanding to build the dog's perserverance and stamina in searching. If not worked previously, multiple hides will be run in a single search.  The class includes 4 weeks of handouts and homework.  Students will learn more about NACSW Nosework trials and odor recognitions tests. 

Pre-requisite: Completion of a beginner Into to Nosework course.

Time Frame: 8 weeks of Nosework class.

Cost: $130

The advanced Intro to Nosework classes will be held on Tuesday nights at 7:00pm. Sessions start on:

• Tuesday January 10th, 2012 at 7:00pm
• Tuesday May 1st, 2012 at 7:00pm
• Tuesday August 28th, 2012 at 7:00pm

INTRODUCTION TO ODOR

This class returns to the basics of seaching, but adds in Sweet Birch cented hides so that the dogs learn to connect this scent with the game, the fun and the reward. (Birch is used in Nose Work Trials, Level 1)  By the end of this session, most dogs are prepared to participate in an NACSW Odor Recognition Test. Toward that end, one or more "Mock ORT's" will be run as a part of this class.  The class includes a small "scent work kit" for working at home, and 4 weeks of handouts or homework. 

Time Frame: 8 weeks of nosework class 

COST: $130

The Introduction to Odor class will be held on Monday nights at 6:45. Sessions start on:

• Monday, March 5th, 2012 at 6:45pm
• Monday, April 30th, 2012 at 6:45pm
• Monday, July 2nd, 2012 at 6:45pm
• Monday, August 27th, 2012 at 6:45pm
• Monday, October 29th, 2012 at 6:45pm

CONTINUING NOSEWORK

Continuing Nosework combines odor and increasing intricacy of hides.  More blind hides are introduced, and unpaired hides will increase.  Weather permitting, exterior and vehicle hides will be run some weeks.

Time Frame: 8 weeks of nosework class

Cost: $130

Continuing nosework class will be held on Mondays at 8:15pm. Sessions start on :

• Monday, January 9th, 2012 at 8:15pm
• Monday, March 5th, 2012 at 8:15pm
• Monday, April 30th, 2012 at 8:15pm
• Monday, July 2nd, 2012 at 8:15pm
• Monday, August 27th, 2012 at 8:15pm
• Monday, October 29th, 2012 at 8:15pm