Online registration and payment is required a minimum of ONE WEEK before the class start date. No registration on the first night of class is allowed. If you have any questions about upcoming classes, class content and/or seminars, please contact SOTC Obedience Training Director June Plank at [email protected].
*Please note that there is a $25 charge for canceling your class registration. When we hold a spot for you in class, we incur the cost of teaching the class as well as administrative costs. Thank you for understanding.
Beginners Level 1
Class Fee $110*
For dogs 5 months or older
Classes are 50-60 minutes long and meet once a week for 6 weeks
Also known as “companion” dog obedience, in this class handlers will learn to train their dogs using basic cues in a group situation. Dogs are trained using a buckle collar, martingale collar or properly fitted head halter and a four-six foot lead. This class uses only positive training methods and positive reinforcement (no correction or punishment) and will include many training tips. You will attend WITH your dog all 6 class sessions. Basic behaviors taught include attention, sit, down, come, heel position, wait, sit for petting, loose leash walking, stand, take it, leave it, stay, distraction work and more.
Tuesday, October 1 to November 19, 1:30 PM (Skip 10/22, 10/29), Leah Kahn
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND PAY ONLINE
Wednesday, October 16 to December 4, 5:45 PM, Christina Apostolakos
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND PAY ONLINE
Wednesday, January 8 to February 12, 4:30 PM, Christina Apostolakos
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Beginners Level 2 Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Class Register Now!
Class Fee $110*
Classes are 50-60 minutes long and meet once a week for 6 weeks
This fun class will expand upon Level 1 class behaviors, introduce additional new behaviors with more distractions and include a lot more practice as a group to better proof your dog on its basic obedience skills. The Level 2 class also includes the Canine Good Citizen skills of Accepting a Friendly Stranger, Sitting Politely for Petting, Appearance and Grooming, Walking on a Loose Leash, Walking Through a Crowd, Sit & Down, Staying in Place, Coming When Called, Reaction to Another Dog, Reaction to Distractions and Supervised Separation. The AKC Canine Good Citizen test will be offered at the end of the class. (Test is not mandatory.) Dogs are allowed to be trained using martingale collars, flat buckle collars or head halters. Harnesses to be allowed at discretion of the instructor.
*If your dog has had previous obedience training, your dog is ready for an SOTC Beginner 2 class if he can heel with a loose leash, sit-stay, down-stay and can focus on you with other dogs around.
Tuesday, October 1 to November 19 (Skip 10/22, 10/29), 2:30 PM, Leah Kahn
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND PAY ONLINE
Wednesday, October 16 to December 4, 4:30 PM, Christina Apostolakos
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Wednesday, January 8 to February 12, 5:45 PM, Christina Apostolakos
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Beginners Level 3 Class
Class Fee $110*
Classes are 50-60 minutes long and meet once a week for 6 weeks.
This class will focus on proofing behaviors that were introduced throughout previous puppy and obedience classes. There will be high levels of distractions, while building a solid “place” and/or “stay” command. Additionally, off-leash heeling skills and distance commands will be taught. This class is geared toward creating a bond between handler and dog for a “perfect“ pet dog for outings and social events. Obedience 1 and 2 are prerequisites and a CGC certification is preferred. The dog must be at least 12 months old. Instructor evaluation is available to determine eligibility of this advanced obedience class.
Thursday, October 31 to December 12 (Skip 11/28), 9 AM, Leah Kahn
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Competition Obedience “Fundamentals”
Class Fee $110*
Classes are 55 minutes long and meet once a week for 6 weeks
This new and exciting class will teach you and your dog to engage as a team working together while creating a strong bond. You’ll learn how to engage your dog’s full attention through training that is fun! A few techniques that you will learn include marker training, conditional reinforcement training, luring, engagement and motivation. Dogs should be at least one year old, with previous basic training. Maximum class size is 6 students.
Friday, January 10, 2025, 10:30 AM, Mary Lou Meuser
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND PAY ONLINE
Novice/Open Competition Class
Class Fee $110*
Classes are 55 minutes long and meet once a week for 6 weeks
If you’re getting ready for competition, this is the class for you! AKC Rules and regulations will be emphasized for the new competitor. Novice (CD) exercises will fine-tuned. Open exercises will be introduced – please bring a dumbbell. Students will need to have a plastic/wood dumbbell for class. Teams should have at least one novice (CD) leg and dogs should be holding/retrieving dumbbell. Maximum class size is 6 students. Minimum class size is 4.
If you have any questions regarding prerequisites for this class, please email Jean Smith at [email protected].
Monday, October 21 to November 25, 7 PM, Jean Smith
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND PAY ONLINE
Monday, 8 PM, Jean Smith
START DATE TBD
Novice Competition Class
Class Fee $110*
Classes are 1 hour long and meet once a week for 6 weeks
If you’re getting ready for competition, this is the class for you! AKC Rules and regulations will be emphasized for the new competitor. Novice (CD) exercises will be taught and fine-tuned. Teams should have their beginner novice (BN) title. Maximum class size is 6 students. Minimum class size is 4 students.
Tuesday, November 12 to December 17 (Skip 11/26), 9 AM, Jean Stack
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND PAY ONLINE
Reliable Recall Class
Class Fee $110*
Classes are 1 hour long and meet once a week for 6 weeks
Are you worried every time your dog gets out of the house that he/she may run away? Does your dog ignore you when you call them? This is the class for you! Learn how to teach your dog to consistently come to you on command.
START DATE TBD
Intro-Utility Class
Class Fee $110*
Classes are 1 hour long and meet once a week for 6 weeks
Welcome to Intro-Utility. Prerequisite: knowledge of all open exercises, CDX title not required. This class will teach directed retrieve, directed jumping, signals, go out, moving stand and scent discrimination. Learn how to use and fade away training tools. Stationing mats will be used to teach these exercises. Circle pole will be introduced for training go outs to prevent stopping short and/or slowing down.
TBD
Intro-Utility Class II
Class Fee $110*
Classes are 1 hour long and meet once a week for 6 weeks
Welcome to Intro-Utility 2. Prerequisites: Intro-Utility 1, knowledge of all open exercises, CDX title not required. This class
will continue to build the skills needed for directed retrieve, directed jumping, signals, go out, moving stand and scent discrimination. Also,
teams will continue to learn the process of how to use and fade away the stationing mats, circle pole and other props. Handling skills for moving from one exercise to the next will be introduced.
TBD
AKC Fetch Novice Title Class
Class Fee $110*
Classes are 1 hour long and meet once a week for 6 weeks
Basic skills taught will include fetch, retrieve and hold. Advanced level topics including direction signal to hidden article, fast accurate retrieves thru distractions, and duration stays will be introduced. Prerequisite: Beginner 1 skills
Fetch activities will strengthen skills for attention and focus, recall, stay with distractions, AKC open retrieve on the flat and over the high-jump and the AKC utility directed retrieve.
START DATE TBD