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Dog training is an interactive experience which cannot be successfully accomplished without your full and sincere participation. The goal of our Basic Training Course is to transform your dog into a well-trained, mannerly and valued member of your family. To achieve this goal you must understand the essence of a dog training classes. You do not come to a dog training class because someone else is going to train your dog for you. You and your dog are both students. The trainer may work with your dog during class, but only to show you how to do the exercise. A good dog training class teaches you how to train your dog.
If you do not learn how to train your dog, your dog may behave well in class but will not behave well at home. The trainer will be teaching you techniques which you must practice and apply on an everyday basis. If you diligently apply these techniques, you and your dog will become a happy "working team".
There are enormous personality differences among dogs, not only from breed to breed, but within a breed. In addition, a dog’s background, history and experience must be carefully considered. Therefore we do not rely upon any single training technique but, rather, attempt to gear the training method to your dog’s individual needs. For example, an exuberant puppy or a dog who has a dominant personality may require firm handling to command his attention and respect. The same type of firm handling might overwhelm a shy, abused or recently adopted dog.
Over the past 25 years we have found that an individualized approach produces the best results and allows each dog to reach his or her full potential. We have found some value in many dog training methods, but obviously, if there was some "magic formula", everyone would be using it. Our approach is best described as eclectic. It is impossible to learn, by reading a book or watching a video, what our trainer has learned in more than 35 years of working with animals.
For training to be successful, you and your dog must develop a mutually respectful relationship, trust, communication and an understanding of what each is expecting from the other. Your responsibilities to safely and successfully attain this goal are as follows:
1: Make sure that your dog is in good health and has all current vaccinations.
2. Make sure that your dog is wearing an ID tag on a leather or nylon collar when traveling to and from class. He should also be wearing a choke collar and the leash should be attached to the choke collar when you enter the classroom. No tags should be attached to the choke collar.
3: If you are worried about bringing you dog into the class for the first time, speak to the trainer during the orientation session (which is the first class and is without dogs). She will make appropriate recommendations to help prepare your dog for a smooth entry into the classroom.
4: Attend all classes
5: Acquire the proper required equipment for your class.
6: Make sure that your dog is wearing a properly fitted chain choke collar and leash at all times during the class. Make sure your dog’s leash is always clipped to his choke collar BEFORE you enter the classroom.
7: Wear appropriate clothing to class so that you may safely work with your dog. Shorts, high-heeled shoes, sandals and dangling jewelry are difficult to work in. Dog training is an athletic activity. Please wear low-heeled shoes with crepe or rubber soles and casual pants and shirts which are comfortable to work in and which won’t be damaged by "doggy" paw prints. Make sure jewelry is minimal and close-fitting to avoid damage.
8: Work diligently to learn the exercises taught by the trainer. If you don’t understand an exercise or technique, ask the trainer to explain or demonstrate before you leave the class.
9: Certainly one of your most important obligations is to keep your dog on a short leash and under control and respectful distance from other dogs.
10: Equally important is that you practice the lessons you learn in class for at least 15 minutes twice every day between classes in the manner
specified by the trainer.
11: If you must miss a class, inform the trainer so that you may be shown the exercises which will be taught at that class. It is important that you don’t fall behind in class. As you know, learning is a "building block" process. The exercises that you learn in each class build upon what you have learned in the previous class.
12: If you are having a particularly difficult time with an exercise, talk to the trainer. She may be able to suggest an alternative method for teaching the exercise.
13: Don’t become discouraged. Each dog learns at his own pace. Each owner and each member of the owner’s family will accomplish the exercises at their own pace. All dogs can accomplish the basic obedience work. There will be times that your dog may balk at a particular exercise. If that happens, your job is to persist. You will find success in repetition. Many times the dogs which most strenuously resist training develop into the most obedient pets in the long run. Just have faith and persevere. You will get there!
14: Remember that your dog has a unique and individual personality. Some dogs are slow and deliberate workers. They may never be "whirlwind" performers but they will be extremely reliable, steady and dependable in their work. Others work very fast and enthusiastically but are often not asconsistent or accurate as the more deliberate workers. Try to appreciate you dog for his individual abilities and don’t expect him to be what he is not.
15: Establishment Dog Training, Ltd, reserves the right to eliminate from any class or class session, at the sole discretion of the trainer in charge of the class, any student or dog exhibiting behavior which puts other dogs and other students at risk.
If you do not learn how to train your dog, your dog may behave well in class but will not behave well at home. The trainer will be teaching you techniques which you must practice and apply on an everyday basis. If you diligently apply these techniques, you and your dog will become a happy "working team".
There are enormous personality differences among dogs, not only from breed to breed, but within a breed. In addition, a dog’s background, history and experience must be carefully considered. Therefore we do not rely upon any single training technique but, rather, attempt to gear the training method to your dog’s individual needs. For example, an exuberant puppy or a dog who has a dominant personality may require firm handling to command his attention and respect. The same type of firm handling might overwhelm a shy, abused or recently adopted dog.
Over the past 25 years we have found that an individualized approach produces the best results and allows each dog to reach his or her full potential. We have found some value in many dog training methods, but obviously, if there was some "magic formula", everyone would be using it. Our approach is best described as eclectic. It is impossible to learn, by reading a book or watching a video, what our trainer has learned in more than 35 years of working with animals.
For training to be successful, you and your dog must develop a mutually respectful relationship, trust, communication and an understanding of what each is expecting from the other. Your responsibilities to safely and successfully attain this goal are as follows:
1: Make sure that your dog is in good health and has all current vaccinations.
2. Make sure that your dog is wearing an ID tag on a leather or nylon collar when traveling to and from class. He should also be wearing a choke collar and the leash should be attached to the choke collar when you enter the classroom. No tags should be attached to the choke collar.
3: If you are worried about bringing you dog into the class for the first time, speak to the trainer during the orientation session (which is the first class and is without dogs). She will make appropriate recommendations to help prepare your dog for a smooth entry into the classroom.
4: Attend all classes
5: Acquire the proper required equipment for your class.
6: Make sure that your dog is wearing a properly fitted chain choke collar and leash at all times during the class. Make sure your dog’s leash is always clipped to his choke collar BEFORE you enter the classroom.
7: Wear appropriate clothing to class so that you may safely work with your dog. Shorts, high-heeled shoes, sandals and dangling jewelry are difficult to work in. Dog training is an athletic activity. Please wear low-heeled shoes with crepe or rubber soles and casual pants and shirts which are comfortable to work in and which won’t be damaged by "doggy" paw prints. Make sure jewelry is minimal and close-fitting to avoid damage.
8: Work diligently to learn the exercises taught by the trainer. If you don’t understand an exercise or technique, ask the trainer to explain or demonstrate before you leave the class.
9: Certainly one of your most important obligations is to keep your dog on a short leash and under control and respectful distance from other dogs.
10: Equally important is that you practice the lessons you learn in class for at least 15 minutes twice every day between classes in the manner
specified by the trainer.
11: If you must miss a class, inform the trainer so that you may be shown the exercises which will be taught at that class. It is important that you don’t fall behind in class. As you know, learning is a "building block" process. The exercises that you learn in each class build upon what you have learned in the previous class.
12: If you are having a particularly difficult time with an exercise, talk to the trainer. She may be able to suggest an alternative method for teaching the exercise.
13: Don’t become discouraged. Each dog learns at his own pace. Each owner and each member of the owner’s family will accomplish the exercises at their own pace. All dogs can accomplish the basic obedience work. There will be times that your dog may balk at a particular exercise. If that happens, your job is to persist. You will find success in repetition. Many times the dogs which most strenuously resist training develop into the most obedient pets in the long run. Just have faith and persevere. You will get there!
14: Remember that your dog has a unique and individual personality. Some dogs are slow and deliberate workers. They may never be "whirlwind" performers but they will be extremely reliable, steady and dependable in their work. Others work very fast and enthusiastically but are often not asconsistent or accurate as the more deliberate workers. Try to appreciate you dog for his individual abilities and don’t expect him to be what he is not.
15: Establishment Dog Training, Ltd, reserves the right to eliminate from any class or class session, at the sole discretion of the trainer in charge of the class, any student or dog exhibiting behavior which puts other dogs and other students at risk.
A Note About Graduations
Basic Obedience Training Graduations
Basic Obedience is our most challenging course because it is the one in which you will be building a sound foundation of basic control over your dog. Approximately 75% of the dogs that participate in our Basic Obedience classes graduate in 8 weeks. Dogs are a lot like people in that they learn "at their own pace". Some dogs are more challenging to train due to their history, temperament and a myriad of other factors. Dogs who don’t graduate are welcome to continue on in the next session (subject to the restrictions and limitations stated in our Guarantee) until they have mastered the Basic Obedience skills. Don’t be discouraged if your dog does not graduate from his first Basic Obedience class. Many of the most accomplished dogs in our upper level classes required additional weeks in Basic Obedience before they were ready to move on to the advanced levels.
Ribbons, Trophies and Medals
Ribbons, trophies or medals are awarded in our graduation ceremonies in the interest of creating a "fun conclusion" to the class session. Dog and owner teams compete in a "Fun" version of a regulation obedience trial and are scored on their performance of each exercise. Special Medallions are awarded for the four highest scores and for the dog that has made the most improvement throughout the 8 weeks of training.
These awards are a measure of the dog’s performance ON THAT DAY and are not a reflection of his overall abilities. It is not unusual for a dog who performed on an "average" level during the 8 weeks of class to perform particularly well on Graduation Day. It is equally common that a truly excellent working dog performs poorly during graduation. Please remember that graduations are not a test of your dog's abilities. The fact that your dog is participating in the graduation indicates that the trainer feels that your dog has successfully mastered the required skills and is qualified to move on to the next level of training.
The graduation competition is "Just For Fun". All dogs who "graduate" will receive a qualifying medallion. The medallion is the proof of his achievement and an indication of the trainer’s confidence in his ability to do well in the advanced training levels. Please try to remember that these awards are simply meant to make the experience interesting. In our advanced classes the top–scoring dogs alternate from session to session even though the same dogs are competing. Your dog may be "in the ribbons" in one class and not in the next. His performance will vary from day to day, just like your own. If he is having a good day, lean back and enjoy it. If he is having a bad day, don’t worry, he’ll be better tomorrow.
Special Considerations For Advanced Level Students
If you are participating in the Intermediate level classes or PiSquare classes, understand that your dog is unlikely to be perfect; at every exercise. No dog is perfect at everything. Some dogs will never be enthusiastic retrievers. Some dogs may not like to perform certain tricks. It is not the end of the world if your dog doesn’t like to take a bow or roll-over or if he isn’t enthusiastic about the teeter-totter obstacle. Judge your dog by his overall performance and progress rather than fretting over an individual exercise. Keep in mind that when your dog graduates from Basic Obedience he is already more accomplished than 95% of all of the dogs you are ever likely to encounter. Those that participate in the Intermediate and Pi Square classes are working on a "Master’s" and "Ph.D." level of proficiency. Because these exercises are more challenging, they may require more time to master.
This is normal. A good sense of humor and a little perseverance will get you over the hump and on to greater achievements. If you encounter an exercise that you just can’t seem to master, just mark it up to experience. Even the best and smartest dogs will have problems with a few exercises. Remember that dog training should be fun. You should relax and enjoy the many challenges and successes rather than dwelling on minor problems.
This is normal. A good sense of humor and a little perseverance will get you over the hump and on to greater achievements. If you encounter an exercise that you just can’t seem to master, just mark it up to experience. Even the best and smartest dogs will have problems with a few exercises. Remember that dog training should be fun. You should relax and enjoy the many challenges and successes rather than dwelling on minor problems.