Capital Dog Training Club

Classes - Obedience, description of classes

Beginning Obedience Classes, 8-weeks in length

Capital's beginning obedience classes include the following classes, in order of progression:

• Puppy Kindergarten
• Good Manners (not a requirement in the progression)
• Basic Obedience
• Advanced Basic

Capital's beginning obedience classes meet for 8 weeks and cost $80
($70 for a "rescue" dog's first class at Capital; $145 for two dogs from the same household, i.e., with two handlers).


To receive a certificate of having completed the class, you must attend at least 6 classes.

Puppy Kindergarten (PK)
Synopsis	PK offers new puppy owners an opportunity to socialize their puppies to "friendly strangers" (instructors, other owners, and other puppies) and to build the puppy's confidence in various situations. PK will instruct students how to begin teaching the basic commands of dog obedience to their puppies in a safe, structured environment.
Topics Covered	Name recognition Sit Down Loose lead walking Handling & grooming exercises Fun recalls Confidence building exercises
Prerequisites	Puppies 10-20 weeks old at beginning of class (the younger, the better!) Do not have to have all vaccines (consult with your Vet)
Next logical class	Basic class
Good Manners Class
Synopsis	Good Manners Class is geared to beginning dogs and/or beginning trainers, or trainers just wanting to do some continuing education. Students will learn how to "speak dog" and teach their dog some basics, several useful skills for the real world and even a few tricks. Class emphasizes responsible dog ownership, best ways to handle unwanted behaviors, and the importance of play, exercise & enrichment in a dog's life. Good Manners, while not a pre-requisite to Capital's "Basic" class, is an option for those new to training and/or owners seeking to know more about how to live compatibly with their canine companion.
Topics Covered	Name recognition Sit & down Loose lead walking Station training ("go to your place") Grooming & handling Play & exercise is important in your dog's routine Responsible dog ownership A bit of trick training
Prerequisites	Dogs at least 5 months old
Next logical class	Basic class
Basic Class
Synopsis	Basic Class exposes new and experienced dog owners to the training that dogs need for good manners at home and in public, and perhaps for eventual obedience competition. This class also provides students the opportunity to teach their dogs appropriate behavior in the presence of other people and dogs. All training is done on leash.
Topics Covered	Name recognition & paying attention Leash handling Sit Down Stays Loose lead walking Recalls Heel position Beginning stand Help with common behavior problems
Prerequisites	Dogs at least 6 months old, or 5 months if graduate of PK
Next logical class	Advanced Basic (or Subnovice on the recommendation of Basic instructor & approval of Subnovice instructor)
Advanced Basic Class
Synopsis	Advanced Basic students will learn to get behaviors on cue more consistently, to teach their dogs to perform for longer periods, to do stays at greater distances, and to work with their dogs around greater distractions (the 3 Ds of training — duration, distance, distraction!)
Topics Covered	Walking on a loose leash Heeling Sits & downs without physical or food prompts & at various distances Formal & fun recalls Stand "Finish" (return to heel position) Exposure to exercises from the AKC's Canine Good Citizen Test
Prerequisites	Dogs must be a graduate of a Basic Class, or Graduate of a PK (with recommendations of PK instructor), or Approval of Advanced Basic instructor
Next logical class	Subnovice class, on recommendation of Advanced Basic instructor; Rally class

Upper Level Obedience Classes, run on a continuous basis

Capital's upper level obedience classes include the following classes, in order of progression:

• Subnovice
• Novice
• Open
• Utility

Capital's upper level obedience classes run on a continuous basis and are billed quarterly at the rate of $120 for 12 weeks (prorated, when necessary).
Advancement from the Subnovice Class to the Novice Class requires passing the Proficiency Test. Advancement to the next level class from Novice and Open occurs after earning two legs towards a title or upon completion of a title.

Subnovice
Synopsis	In Subnovice students polish skills learned in earlier classes. The handler and dog acquire skills necessary to become a "team" and develop the foundation for the exercises in the Novice level of obedience competition.
Topics Covered	Attention Heeling with attention Automatic sits and turns while heeling Stand for examination Off-leash recalls Off-leash stays (1 minute sit, 3 minute down)
Prerequisites	Graduate of an Advanced Basic Class, or Graduate of a Basic Class (with recommendation of Basic Class instructor), or recommendation after evaluation by the Subnovice Instructor or Training Director
Novice
Synopsis	Novice instruction offers students an opportunity to work with instructors who will help prepare them for showing at the Novice level of obedience competition.
Topics Covered	Attention Heeling with attention, automatic sits and turns, and figure eights Off-lead heeling Off-lead recalls Off-lead group stays (with distractions) Ring etiquette and procedures
Prerequisites	Dog must be able to pass CDTC Proficiency Test, or by approval of the Novice Class instructor, if handler has previously trained.
Open
Synopsis	Open instruction offers students who have completed, or who are completing, a Companion Dog title the opportunity to learn the exercises required in the Open level of obedience competition.
Topics Covered	Off-lead heeling and Figure Eight Drop on Recall Retrieve on Flat Retrieve over High Jump Broad Jump Out of sight Sit Stay Out of sight Down Stay
Prerequisites	Two legs toward Companion Dog obedience title or by approval by the Instructor.
Utility
Synopsis	Utility instruction offers students who have completed, or who are completing, a Companion Dog Excellent title the opportunity to learn the exercises required in the Utility level of obedience competition.
Topics Covered	Off-lead Heeling Hand signals for Heel, Stand, Stay, Sit, Down, Recall, and Finish Directed Retrieve Scent Discrimination Moving Stand and Examination Directed Jumping
Prerequisite	Two legs toward Companion Dog Excellent obedience title or by approval by the Instructor.