Basic Dog Obedience

Have a Dog With Great Manners in Just a Few Short Weeks

Diamonds in the Woof

This 7- week group class is for dogs over 18 weeks of age with no previous formal training. The series is a great lead into the Canine Good Citizen class/AKC CGC certification. Learn and build on life skills including:

Confidence Building & Positive Veterinary Visits
Basic Manners: sit, down, stay, come when called, handler focus, loose leash walking, go to place, leave it, feet on the floor, wait at the door, handling techniques, and pre-CGC test items

Prerequisites: Dogs must be comfortable in a group class setting and not reactive with dogs and people. Private options are available for fearful or reactive pups.

Beyond the Basics

This 6-week class is for graduates of the STAR puppy class or Diamonds in the Woof. This class is a great lead into the Canine Good Citizen class/AKC CGC certification. Beyond the Basics is a bridge to keep your dog learning & growing as they deal with more of life’s challenges. Learn and build on life skills including:

Confidence Building & Positive Veterinary Visits
Building on Basic Manners: holding sit, holding down, longer stay, more reliable recall, loose leash walking with distractions, more levels of ‘leave it’, and pre-CGC test tasks

Prerequisites: AKC STAR Puppy, Diamonds in the Woof, Consult and/or Trainer Approval

AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC)

This 7-week class is designed to prepare your dog to take the AKC CGC test, which is offered on the last night of class. This class also improves Life Skills (listed below), even if you are not interested in the AKC CGC Test.

Accepting a friendly stranger
Sitting politely for petting
Appearance and grooming
Walking on a loose leash
Walking through a crowd
Sit and down
Stay
Come when called
Reaction to another dog
Reaction to a distraction
Supervised separation

Prerequisites: Beyond the Basics, Consult and/or Trainer Approval

Into to Rally

This 6-week class will introduce you and your dog to the competition sport of Rally. The two of you will learn all 42 Novice signs and working together to build leash and communication skills. Whether you want to compete or are just looking for a challenge, you will work on:

On leash skills
Stay while human walks around the dog
Teamwork
Relaxing around other dogs
Prepare for AKC Rally trials

Prerequisites: AKC STAR Puppy, Diamonds in the Woof, Consult and/or Trainer Approval

Cooperative Care "Life Skills"

Canine Confidence

Does your dog run & hide when you turn on the vacuum, move the trash can, or when a loud vehicle goes by? Does your dog move away, drop their ears/tail or bark when a person or dog walks by? This 4-week module is for dogs that are a bit nervous with new people, dogs, or our complicated world but can still take food and work together with their human, if provided with enough distance from the scary “things”. Not feeling safe is tricky for dogs and people! This class will focus on confidence building games and team building for the dog and handler. This is not a manners class, but instead uses a combination or exercises including tricks, basic fitness equipment, games, and puzzles to help the dog see that the work is not so scary. Dogs who are very fearful generally benefit from private lessons first.

The Willing Participant

How wonderful it can be for your dog to participate willingly and allow you to trim their nails, treat their ears, wipe their eyes, towel feet, brush their teeth, and relax at station just to name a few possibilities! This 4-week module is to help you and your dog move from a “do it TO your dog” to a “do it WITH your dog” perspective.

Happy Veterinary Visits

The focus of this 4-week module is to help lessen the fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) associated with veterinary visits for both you and your dog by preparing your dog at home for what is to come (car ride, lobby, exam room, veterinary exam, etc) and then practicing those skills here at The Ranch.

Happy Grooming

Some dogs need more grooming than others; however, all of our dogs need grooming specific skills (stand relaxed on a table, step into a bathing tub/space, trim hair on feet/ears, brush fur, wiping feet, etc). In this 4-week module, the goal is to have these tasks be pleasant for both the dog and handler.

Cooperative Care Sampler

Not sure which cooperative care class to start with? Dealing with multiple issues and need a high-level introduction? This 6-week sampler (Canine Confidence, The Willing Participant, Happy Veterinary Visits, and Grooming) is for both puppies and dogs plus their owners who want to help prepare them for the big life ahead. In this class, you and your canine will be able to sample each of the four categories above. Week 1 is an orientation for humans only, and we pull it all together in week 6, compiling and practicing the learned skills. Please complete the online questionnaire at least 24 hours prior to the first class.