YAPPY HOUR!
$20 per dog, held once per month.

Yappy Hour is not a free-for-all playing class.

Good manners, self-control and appropriate
dog-dog play interactions with reliable
call-aways is the goal.

We will use play in different ways for different reasons: it's fun, it expends excess energy, it gets the dogs excited so we can work on settling techniques. We will use play as a reward for good work, as distraction for other dogs while they work. The dogs will learn to come away from play, and then use it again as a reward. We will use play for socialization, and as a reward for owners: the feeling you get watching your own dog playing well with others!

Prerequisites for this class are:

• Handler must have an understanding and application of clicker training.
• Must have completed a Prep level class.
• Dogs must have good social skills and a history of appropriate play with other dogs and people.

Yappy Hour is open to current DITR students only. With instructor approval/pre-screening. We will match partners by play styles. Shy/soft and younger dogs are invited to join the smaller dogs in the "Little Yips" class. Larger, more confident dogs will enroll in the "Bigger Yaps" session. "Old Yellers" is for mature dogs who are beyond the foolishness of youth who prefer a slower paced howdy-do. Experienced, appropriate role models may attend either of the other classes! Only dogs who can meet-greet call-away get to be off-leash. Each session will begin with carefully controlled introductions and self-control exercises. If your dog lacks in these skills, enroll in our Paw & Order class!

Play time is earned.
Tarzans will play with Tarzans in the "Bigger Yaps" class ONLY if they can demonstrate a downstay and wait for permission - arousal gets timed out.

Not all dogs may be suitable for off-leash play. Amount of time off lead romping will be at the instructor's discretion. For the safety of the group, the instructor may opt to have some dogs sit out or have only brief interactions on leash until they are ready for more freedom. Muzzles may be used occasionally for safety.

Before you attend Yappy Hour, you should attend our body language class:
What is My Dog Saying?