Week one orientation - Preschool, Kindergarten and Headstart
The first week of the beginning classes is "people training" - pups stay home.

Why? Because the one doing most of the learning isn't really the dog, it's the trainer!
Week one is training for YOU!

The first week orientation will outline our training philosophy - how we teach, how dogs learn, and will include live demonstrations of your homework assignments for the week. You will take these lessons home and practice daily so your pup will be prepared for class week two.

Without dogs to manage, the humans can relax and focus without the distraction of keeping their dog busy and can take notes that they will be able to read later. Fewer dogs means a quieter classroom, making it easier for the student to hear the instructor.

We do like to have two or three dogs there first week for the live demonstrations so you can see the learning process, rather than show you an already trained dog executing an already learned behavior. Please email if you think your dog would be a good candidate. (See below.)

The instructor will demonstrate how to help the dog find the desired positions, how to mark the behaviors so the dog understands exactly what he did to earn a reward, and how to teach hand signals.

This is positive reinforcement training. Demo dogs will be treated gently and with respect. There will be no forcing into position or correcting.


Would your dog make a good demo dog?


A good demo dog should be:

  • friendly, outgoing, comfortable with new people
  • food motivated, hungry and willing to take food from someone new
  • able to wait reasonably quietly during discussion or other dogs' demo time

A good demo dog need not be:

  • perfectly behaved - if your wild child jumps up, we can show how to teach him to keep four on the floor!
  • trained - the goal is to have dogs who don't know much, so the audience can see them learn
  

Week one - don't forget!
If you haven't already mailed them, please remember to fill out and bring your:

  • Student profile (the online registration
    form is not the student profile)

  • Veterinary permission slip (if you didn't
    get it signed in time, since your dog doesn't attend week 1, you have until week 2 to bring it.)

  • Class tuition - cash or check only will be accepted at the training studio. If you wish to pay via credit card, please do so here.


If you would like to bring your dog to be the demo dog for the first week orientation,
please REPLY TO YOUR CONFIRMATION EMAIL to ask if we are in need of a dog.


*If your dog is selected to be a demo dog for week one, please:

  • bring your dog on a well-fitted flat buckle collar or harness and nylon or leather leash. (No retractable (flexi) leashes, chain leashes or metal collars. Absolutely no shock collars allowed on the premises.)
  • bring your dog very hungry - skip or skimp on dinner (or breakfast if it's an earlier class)
  • make sure he is well-exercised and well-emptied
  • bring a non-squeaky pacifier toy to occupy him during lecture times
  • bring a rug or a mat for him to lie on if you think that would help your dog settle at your feet
  • bring high value, small, soft, smelly, tasty food rewards that your dog is "to die for" so you can reward him during class.
*All of the above applies to everyone on week two when all the dogs join us!


Safety first!
Please keep your dog and children close to you. Avoid letting your dog or child wander uninvited into another dog or human's space or party when other dogs are trying to pay attention to their owners. Please respect the personal space of all the dogs, including the instructor's dogs.

You are your dog's advocate. Do not force him to endure another dog or person's unwanted advances if it makes him uncomfortable.

 

Next, please review:
Who & What to Bring to Class
Kids in the classroom
Make-ups


For more information, visit our Behavior FAQ articles to help you between now and when class begins.