Capital Dog Training Club

Classes - Obedience, schedule of classes

Obedience Classes
Puppy, Good Manners, Basic and Advanced Basic classes run for eight weeks -- once a week, at the same time, on the same day. Each class runs for 50 minutes. The dates listed below are the starting dates for each 8-week class. You will receive detailed instructions for the class, directions, etc. about a week before the class begins.
Class	Schedule
Puppy Kindergarten - Puppies must be less than 20 weeks old at class start! Contact the Training Secretary to join a class.	Saturday, June 7, 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 19, 5:00 p.m. This instructor will take pups under 4 months of age, unless they are toy breeds which she'll accept up to about 8 months old.
Good Manners	None currently scheduled. Check back.
Basic Contact the Training Secretary to join a class.	Thursday, May 1, 7:00 p.m. [now full] Saturday, May 10, 5:00 p.m. [now full] Tuesday, May 27, 7:00 p.m. (if the class fills by then, otherwise will start a week or so later) Saturday, June 7, 10:00 a.m. [now full] Saturday, June 28, 9:00 a.m. [now full]
Advanced Basic Contact the Training Secretary to join a class.	Saturday, May 10, 10:00 a.m. [now full]
We usually have a CGC prep course twice a year, a few weeks before our CGC test.
CGC Prep Class	The Spring 2008 class is finished. Check back in July or August for the Fall class.
Competition Obedience (Subnovice, Novice, Open, Utility) Contact the Training Secretary for schedule and availability.	Competition Obedience classes run on a continuous basis throughout the year. You may start anytime there is space in the class. Competition classes are billed on a quarterly basis.
Clicker Class Contact the Training Secretary to register for the class.	Saturday, June 7, 1:00 p.m.; 4-week class In this class, students will learn the basic principles of operant conditioning and how to shape behavior. The first class will focus on conditioning a secondary reinforcer (in this case a clicker) to mark desirable behavior and training the dog to touch a target. In subsequent classes the students will use targeting and free shaping to create behaviors and place them on cue ("command"). The purpose of the class is to teach the technique. Students will be able to select the behaviors they want to shape. Using this technique any dog that loves food or toys can become an enthusiastic learner. Each handler will need a clicker (Capital has some clickers for sale), a target stick, and lots of small, high-value treats (if dog is ball- or toy-driven, a ball or toy). Recommended reading: When Pigs Fly!: Training Success with Impossible Dogs by Jane Killion