Obedience Class for All Life Stages and Breeds

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Posted Oct 11, 2024

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No matter what age or breed your furry friend is, obedience class is a great way to strengthen your bond and improve their behavior. Puppies as young as eight weeks can start taking obedience classes, which helps them develop good habits and a strong foundation for future training.

Obedience classes are designed to meet the unique needs of different life stages and breeds. For example, older dogs may require a more gentle and low-impact approach to avoid exacerbating any existing health issues.

You can find obedience classes that cater specifically to puppies, adult dogs, and even seniors. This variety ensures that every dog, regardless of age or breed, can participate and benefit from the training.

Puppy Care and Training

Puppy socialization is crucial between 7 weeks to 5 months of age, shaping their future personality and reactions to their environment.

Puppies need to be gently exposed to various people, places, and situations during this period to become acclimated to sights, sounds, and smells in a positive way. This can be achieved through puppy socialization classes.

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Puppy socialization classes, like those offered by Muddy Creek, provide a great opportunity for puppies to learn and interact with other puppies and people in a controlled environment.

Muddy Creek's Puppy Kindergarten Class, for example, is a 6-week group class that focuses on socialization and obedience training for puppies between 8-19 weeks old.

Here are the details of Muddy Creek's Puppy Kindergarten Class:

Puppies must be vaccinated and have an annual negative fecal test to participate in Muddy Creek's training programs.

Muddy Creek's Puppy Kindergarten Class covers essential topics such as house training, chew training, and preventing behavior problems, while also introducing basic obedience commands.

Puppies that participate in socialization classes will be better prepared to move on to Basic Obedience Classes and will have a stronger bond with their owners.

Muddy Creek's Puppy Kindergarten Class is a great way to establish a foundation for good manners and maximize your puppy's socialization during critical periods of early development.

Recall and Leash Training

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Recall and Leash Training are essential skills for any dog owner to master. You can enroll your dog in a Recall Class, which is specifically designed to help them learn to come when called. This class is perfect for dogs who need a bit more practice and motivation.

The Recall Class costs $100 for 4 weeks and requires your dog to be food motivated and ready to learn. Instructor Olivia will guide you through motivating games to practice recall and teach you tips on how to proof your recall.

If your dog is struggling with loose leash walking, you can enroll them in a Loose Leash Heeling Class. This 4-week class is ideal for dogs and owners who want to perfect their loose leash walking skills. The class costs $120 for 4 weeks and requires dogs with past prong collar training from Paws.

It's worth noting that loose leash walking requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. Practicing with distractions, proper reward, and timing is key to achieving this skill.

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Here's a comparison of the Recall Class and Loose Leash Heeling Class:

Both classes are designed to be an enjoyable experience for you and your dog, strengthening your bond and helping you achieve your training goals.

Dog Training Basics

Dog training is an essential part of building a strong bond with your furry friend. Basics 101 is a 7-week course that covers obedience tools to improve your dog's quality of life, teaching commands like look, sit, down, stay, walking, place, leave-it, recall, waiting at doorways, meet and greets, and tricks.

To enroll in a dog training program, you'll need to submit a completed form, payment, proof of up-to-date vaccinations, and an annual negative fecal test. This ensures the health and safety of both your dog and the trainer.

Basic Training is the start of a well-trained dog, using the mark and reward style training method to teach commands like "sit", "come", and "down." This class is suitable for dogs 12 weeks and older, with a prerequisite of none and a fee of $145.00.

For your interest: Dog Obedience Commands

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Puppy socialization is crucial between 7 weeks to 5 months of age, shaping your puppy's future personality and behavior. Puppy Kindergarten Class is a 6-week group class for puppies between 8-19 weeks old, establishing a foundation for good manners and maximizing socialization.

Here's a brief overview of the classes mentioned:

  • Basics 101: 7-week course for dogs older than 6 months
  • Puppy Kindergarten Class: 6-week group class for puppies between 8-19 weeks old
  • Basic Training: 6 classes for dogs 12 weeks and older
  • AKC Canine Good Citizen Prep and Test: 4-week group class for dogs over 6 months, must be a graduate of Basic Obedience Class

Training Levels and Pricing

Our obedience classes are structured into three levels, each building on the previous one to ensure a solid foundation for your dog's training.

You can start with Basic Obedience Class, which is a 6 week group class for all pups or dogs over 20 weeks old at the time of class start, and costs $280.

This class teaches the fundamentals of training and builds a cooperative relationship between you and your dog. Weekly homework is assigned, and time must be spent practicing techniques outside of class for your dog to be successful.

To move on to Advanced Obedience Class, you must be a graduate of Intermediate Obedience Class, which is also a 6 week group class, and costs the same $280.

The Advanced Obedience Class builds on the foundation learned in Intermediate Obedience Class and increases your dog's speed of response to commands in different environments.

A different take: Basic Dog Obedience Classes

Advanced Training and Certification

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If you're looking to take your dog's training to the next level, the AKC Canine Good Citizen Prep and Test is a great option. This 4-week group class is designed for dogs over 6 months and requires a prior completion of Basic Obedience Class.

The program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. The AKC Canine Good Citizen certification is widely recognized and prepares you and your dog for therapy dog training.

The Prep and Test program prepares you and your dog for the 10-step CGC test, which is given throughout the country by approved evaluators. Dogs who pass the test will obtain a certificate from the American Kennel Club.

The class is held on Thursdays from 5:45 PM-6:45 PM, with a specific schedule of December 5th-January 2nd, except for December 26th when there is no class.

Training Methods and Equipment

In an obedience class, positive reinforcement training methods are often used to encourage good behavior in dogs. This approach focuses on rewarding desired actions with treats, praise, and affection.

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A common piece of equipment used in obedience training is the clicker, which helps dogs associate a specific sound with a reward. The clicker is a small device that makes a distinct sound when pressed.

To effectively use a clicker, it's essential to establish a clear reward system, where the dog receives a treat or praise immediately after the desired behavior. This helps the dog understand the connection between the action and the reward.

Choose a Method

Positive reinforcement is the way to go when it comes to dog obedience training. Dogs respond best to praise or treats, and it's a method that's widely agreed upon by trainers.

Clicker training is a variation that uses conditioned reinforcers, but it's just one of many techniques out there. You can find plenty of information about training methods in dog training books and websites.

Socialization is a crucial part of training, so don't forget about it when planning your methods.

Equipment

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To train your dog effectively, you'll need a few basic supplies. Choose a dog collar or harness that is suitable and comfortable for your dog.

A retractable leash is not the best choice for dog training. Instead, opt for a traditional leash that will give you more control over your dog's movements.

You'll also need dog training treats that your dog enjoys. These treats should be easy to eat quickly so the reward is more immediate.

There are many great treats available at pet stores, or you can make your own at home. Small pieces of plain cooked chicken or turkey work well as homemade treats.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the meaning of obedience classes?

Obedience classes refer to training sessions where animals, typically dogs, learn to follow specific commands and behave in a well-mannered way. This type of training helps strengthen the bond between animal and owner, promoting a more harmonious and respectful relationship.

What is the best age for obedience training?

Best age for obedience training: 8-16 weeks. Start training early to shape your puppy's habits and ensure a strong foundation for lifelong learning

What does obedience training consist of?

Obedience training covers essential commands like "heel", "sit", and "stay", as well as proper care and problem-solving techniques for your dog's well-being. Learn how to effectively train your dog with our expert instructors.

Sources

  1. Group Obedience Classes (pawspetresort.com)
  2. Rowley Dog Training | Puppy & Dog Obedience Classes (muddycreekanimalcare.com)
  3. See class times (mindbodyonline.com)
  4. send us a message (wufoo.com)
  5. Obedience training (akc.org)
  6. Obedience Classes (tcotc.com)

Jenny Koss

Writer

Jenny Koss is a seasoned writer with a passion for storytelling and a knack for uncovering unique tales. Her writing career has taken her from the rolling hills of the countryside to the bustling streets of the city, where she's covered a wide range of topics with curiosity and enthusiasm. With a keen eye for detail and a love of adventure, Jenny has tackled subjects as varied as truffle hunting, where she immersed herself in the ancient art of foraging for the world's most prized fungi.

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