First week:
Trainer Orientation

WHO

WHAT

WHERE



WHEN:

Please note the date and time
stated on your confirmation email.
If you aren't sure, email !


Because our classes are limited to 8-10 students per class, classes frequently fill weeks in advance. Last minute cancellations and transfers can wreak havoc with the balance of the class registrations. Please check your calendar carefully and plan to attend the class you sign up for. If for any reason you are unable to attend, please contact us ASAP - there may be someone on a waiting list happy to fill your spot.

The First Class:

Please bring:
1. Your completed Student Profile/Registration Form & Veterinary Permission slip and cash or check if there wasn't time to mail it prior to class. If you were unable to download the forms, we will have hard copies at the first class.
2. A notepad and pen for taking notes.
3. All interested family members who will take part in the dog's training. See "kid rules"
4. 1st week beginning class orientation - unless your dog has been invited to be a demo dog, please leave your pup at home - the orientation class is training for the human end of the leash!

Puppy Pre-School, Kindergarten or Headstart:
THE FIRST WEEK ORIENTATION CLASS IS FOR OWNERS ONLY!

"Properly trained, a man CAN be a dog's best friend."
We train the human end of the leash week one. We'll introduce exercises you can practice at home so your dog will be ready to join us for the second week. If your dog is shy and would benefit from an extra class exposure, or your dog would be comfortable working with the instructor and has "demo potential" please contact us about bringing your dog week one.

Would your dog make a good demo dog? Click here.

(Dogs stay home week one in the entry level classes. If you are registered for an intermediate or advanced class, dogs DO attend week one.)

Who to bring:
Family consistency is extremely important. We encourage interested family members to attend. Older, well-behaved children are welcome - those who will take an active part in the dog's class training. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Please, no bare feet, flip-flops, or high-heels - for comfort's sake, wear low-heeled walking shoes. You're welcome to bring a blanket or small mat for your dog's use in class. In wet or snowy weather, bring a towel for drying your dog's feet and fur. In warm weather, bring an unbreakable bowl so your dog can have a drink.

Week two:

Bring your dog hungry and well exercised.
Remember that we will be using food rewards in class - if he's just polished off a big meal, he'll be less enthused about working to earn rewards. Bring high value, enticing rewards to class as you will be competing for his attention in a rich and novel environment! If your dog isn't motivated to work for food, these two articles may help: Work to Earn and Motivation.

Equipment:
You will need a snug-fitting flat buckle collar or Premier type collar or harness; a 4-6 foot leash: leather is best, nylon is fine. - no chain leashes, metal collars or retractable Flexi leads, please. Absolutely no shock collars allowed on the premises. Your instructor may recommend an alternative training collar or additional equipment during your class. We will help you select the most appropriate equipment for your particular dog. Collars, leads, training rewards and other pet supplies are available onsite. All sales are a fundraiser for SpokAnimal.

Motivators & Rewards:
Experiment at home with different types of foods to find good motivators for your dog - bring a variety and generous amount of small, soft, moist, smelly, extra wonderful food treats with you to class each week.

High value! Dry treats like the ones at right or dog food kibble can be fine when training at home for easy-to-motivate dogs. However, in the distracting class environment or when working in the real world, you will find that real cubed chicken, low-fat cheese, soft-moist treats and healthy cubed meat rolls like Natural Balance or Happy Howie dog food rolls will work much better in the face of distraction. Cut down (or eliminate) your dog's dinner on class night!

 


Proper reward size:
Small enough to swallow quickly without needing to stop and chew. The higher the value, the smaller each reward can be. This eliminates satiation and weight gain. Whatever you add during training should be subtracted from his bowl at meal time.


Here is a nice video on how to cut your food rolls into appropriate sized training rewards.


 

 

Clean-up!
Bring a baggie (or two!) for clean-up. Please be fastidious in picking up after your dog. A potty area and disposal bucket is provided on the south side of the building. Do not allow your dog to use buildings or shrubbery as pee posts and thank you for keeping your pups off our neighbor's lawns. Our thanks for respecting our neighboring businesses and their customers.

TRANSFERS, CANCELLATIONS AND MAKE-UPS

Because our classes are limited to 8-10 students per class, our classes frequently fill weeks in advance. Last minute cancellations and transfers can wreak havoc with the balance of the class registrations. Please check your calendar carefully and plan to attend the class you sign up for. Should an emergency or illness occur, please notify us by email as early as possible to make arrangements for transfer to a future class.

Tuition is not refundable. Make-ups are available. Transfers must be taken within 60 days.


IF YOU MUST MISS A CLASS OR HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR INSTRUCTOR (as stated on the online class schedule) by phone or email - see below - or call 328-6959.

Instructor contact list:


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