Basic Manners I - 6 weeks

Instructors: Michelle Mange (Right Start MD) or Jeni Grant (Train Your Best Friend)
Fee: $150

Your dog wants to spend time with you. You want a well-mannered pet. In this class, you both win! Over the course of seven weeks, you will be building skills, improving overall behavior, and bonding with your pet as a team. You will teach your dog sit, down, loose leash walking (There’s a human at the other end of the leash?), stay, wait, come when called, targeting, and, most important, how to pay attention. We will show you what motivates your dog and how to communicate with him. By the last class, you may even be able to speak "Doglish" as a second language.

Puppy Kindergarten - 6 weeks
(Up to 20 weeks old when class starts)

Instructor - Jeni Grant (Train Your Best Friend) or Michelle Mange (Right Start MD)

Fee: $150

Get an early start on socialization and training. This class includes training in name recognition, sit, down, wait, come-when-called, and leash walking. You will learn how to teach your puppy to greet without jumping up, accept being handled, and reduce the "bite" in the dreaded (but normal) puppy play biting. A period of supervised "puppy playtime" will build your pup’s confidence around other dogs and people. Every week, a topic of importance to puppy owners will be discussed and questions answered.

Confidence Building for Puppies & Dogs - 4 weeks

Instructor: Michelle Mange (Right Start MD)
Fee: $125

Pre-Agility work with tunnels, ladders, flat boards and other Agility equipment will build your dog’s confidence, whether or not you intend to go on to Agility classes. Puppies will do only what's safe for their developing bodies, and small dogs will work on the lower levels of our adjustable equipment. Your dog will learn to trust you as you teach “over”, “under” and “through” strange objects, and he’ll learn that new and unusual situations can be fun. Your dog may even enhance his athletic ability as he gains a greater sense of how his body works. Pre-requisite: Puppy or basic training.

Agility Games - 5 weeks
Instructor: Michelle Mange (Right Start MD)
Fee: $140

This class is designed to teach your dog control and balance and to teach you to be exciting and fun. Whether or not you go on to Agility, you and your dog will develop teamwork as you practice running recalls, contact work on flat boards, targeting, ladder exercises, balance exercises, tunnel work, weaves, and low jumps.

Play & Games for Small Dogs - 4 weeks
Instructor: Jeni Grant (Train Your Best Friend)
Since there will be a lot of movement, dogs in this class must be good with other dogs.
Fee: $125

Here‘s an opportunity for small dogs to play with other small dogs and with their doggie parents. Your pups will be able to run obstacle courses, go through tunnels and hoops, and use other appropriately sized equipment – without the bigger dogs looming over them. Fun games will include Hide & Seek and Go Find.

CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Plus Extras - 6 weeks
Instructor: Alfhild Winder (Come When Called Dog Training)
Fee: $170

The AKC canine good citizen program was developed to test a dog's disposition as well as a dog's skills. Preparing for the CGC is valuable for many different reasons - manners for dogs that are training to become therapy dogs, control for dogs getting ready to compete in dog sports, a goal for all pet dogs to achieve. Although we will practice the ten exercises required for the test, we will also teach other skills your dog will need to be a canine good citizen. Dogs that enroll should be friendly toward other dogs and people. Pre-requisite: Basic Manners training or equivalent.

CGC Plus Extras will generally be followed by a CGC test, open to students and others, following the end of class. To learn more about the Canine Good Citizen Certificate, please visit the AKC website at http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/program.cfm.

Control & Focus - 8 weeks
Instructor: Alfhild Winder (Come When Called Dog Training)
Fee: $185

Is your dog a genius in your kitchen but so exuberant in class that you can't hold his focus? Everything and anything draws his attention away from you and prevents him from learning. The goal of this class is to help your dog control his normal doggy impulses and pay more attention to you, even in a stimulating environment. You'll learn to work as a team, so that your training can be more successful and your dog sports, walks and public outings can be more fun. This is a group class, but dogs will work individually and together with another dog or dogs as they progress. Dogs whose arousal level goes over the top may work in crates part of the time to get appropriate behavior started. We'll use only non-aversive, positive training techniques. Prerequisite: Positive puppy or basic class or equivalent training. PLEASE TALK TO THE INSTRUCTOR BEFORE ENROLLING TO MAKE SURE THE CLASS IS A GOOD FIT FOR YOUR DOG. Call or e-mail Alfhild Winder at 202-383-2374 or alfhild_winder@aviationweek.com.

Trick Training - 8 weeks
Instructor: Ann Melchior
Fee: $165

Learning tricks challenges your dog‘s brain and body, improves behavior and enhances the dog/owner bond. Students will teach their dogs important foundation skills for training tricks and build on these skills to teach them several tricks. Pre-requisite: Successful graduate of a basic training class or equivalent private instruction. Dogs must be able to be in group class without overly distracting other dogs.

TTouch Class for You & Your Dog
Instructor: Pam Wanveer, certified (level 3) TTouch practitioner
Fee: $165 for one 3hr session

TTouch is a method using body work, wraps and confidence exercises to reduce stress and anxiety and increase confidence in dogs. Come learn and practice TTouch techniques with your dog in this hands-on class. Each class will focus on specific topics. However, with permission, you can register for this class for a different issue. These are the classes currently scheduled:

• Dogs sensitive to thunder, fireworks and other sounds (June,2010)
• Timid, stressed or anxious dogs – This is not for dogs with reactive / aggressive behavior.
  (Oct, 2010)
• Aging dogs or dogs with mobility issues (Nov, 2010)
• Canine athletes – Improve your dog‘s body awareness, foot placement, balance and overall efficiency of movement to help your canine companion in activities & sports. (Jan, 2011)

Dog Training for Kids (8 – 12 yrs old) - 6 weeks
Instructor: Hedda Garland (School of Dogs)
Fee: $150; $135 for 2nd child with 1 dog
Beginner & Intermediate classes
(Intermediate is for children who have already attended a dog training class or our dog training camp.)

Your child and your dog will both have fun while training and playing games. Your child will also learn: dog body language, clicker basics and safety rules. Dog must be friendly around people and other dogs.

Dog Training CAMP for Kids
Instructor: Hedda Garland (School of Dogs)
Fee: $270 for one child, $250 for second child with 1 dog

Ages: First session: 8 - 11 yrs old

         Second session: 12 - 15 yrs old

Here‘s a chance for your son or daughter and your dog to go to camp together! During the week, they will both have fun while training and playing games. Your child will also learn: dog body language, clicker basics and safety rules. Dog must be friendly around people and other dogs.

Dog Sports

Dog sports challenge your dog physically and mentally. Whether for fun or competition, these challenging activities will enhance the teamwork and trust between you and your dog.

Basic Agility I - 6 weeks
Instructor: Michelle Mange (Right Start MD)
Fee: $160

Building on what you’ve learned in Agility Games, you and your dog will continue to have fun working as a team on both familiar and unfamiliar Agility equipment. Your dog will learn to maneuver through a variety of jumps, tunnels and weaves and to safely use contact equipment, such as a dog walk, teeter and A-frame. This class is the first of an ongoing series of Agility classes. Pre-requisite: Agility Games

The Sport: Dog Agility is an activity in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs generally run off-leash with no food or toys as incentives.

Rally O is an obedience "sport" which plays like a board game with you and your dog the pieces. You go from sign to sign with each one detailing a behavior for your dog to perform. You are allowed to talk to your dog, praise your dog (even beg your dog) to do specific behaviors, like "turn left", "halt/sit" or "fast pace". In this class, you will begin to learn each sign and the behavior required to do each sign properly. Because you are being unpredictable, your dog will learn to pay more attention to you, particularly on walks. The class will also enhance your dog‘s skills and serve as a bridge from basic manners classes to off-leash sports. Pre-requisite: Your dog must be familiar with sit, down, stay, and heel.

The Sport: Dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations (10 - 20, depending on the level). Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions for the next skill that is to be performed. Rally O is based on obedience; but unlike in Competitive Obedience, you can talk to your dog and give hand signals.

This is an advanced class for students preparing to enter competitive obedience. It’s the first of a series of classes that will teach you the fundamental skills to help you achieve that goal. The skills taught will draw from elementary versions of the exercises of all three levels of competitive obedience – Novice, Open and Utility -- plus Rally-Obedience. The goal of this class is to make learning fun for the dog and handler while adhering to the principles of positive reinforcement training, using a clicker and food.

The Sport: Competitive Obedience tests a dog‘s ability to perform a prescribed set of exercises, which are scored. For example, walking on a leash at the owner‘s side, standing to be touched by a stranger, sitting and lying down with distractions, and coming when called. Advanced skills prove the handler‘s ability to train the dog to do a variety of ‘tricks‘: fetching a dumbbell, jumping different obstacles, obeying commands in an instant whether given by hand signal or voice, and finding items touched by the handler. The goal is to create a working team, a partnership with both human and canine working in sync. Please note: An AKC Companion Dog (CD) certificate, awarded after 3 passing scores at obedience competitions, entitles Rockville City residents to an off-leash license.

K-9 Nose Work - 6 weeks

Instructor: Jacy Kelley

Fee: $160

Canine Nose Work is a new sport (see below) that is basically detection work that‘s fun for the dog and handler. Your dog will get to use his natural instincts to sniff and chase while being physically and mentally challenged. Since the dogs work one at a time, while the other dogs are crated or behind a pod, this class is good even for shy or reactive dogs. Part I is Intro to Search; Part II is Intro to Odor.

The Sport: This new, exciting, detection-style sport develops a dog‘s natural scenting abilities by using the dog‘s curiosity, desire to hunt, and love of toys, food, and exercise. Eventually, there will be Odor Recognition Trials and Titles, but you can already do fun nose work at home using minimal supplies.

Instructor: Carolynn Williams

Basic Fee: $145
Intermediate Fee: $155

Basic: In this class, you will start learning how to teach your dog simple trick work, such as back-ups, leg weaves and spins, and then move on to create a short choreographed routine by linking these tricks. The goal of the class is for you to develop the skills to eventually choreograph your own routine to music, whether you plan to compete or just for fun.
Pre-requisite: Good handling skills after taking basic or intermediate obedience class/training.

Intermediate: Building on the skills and methods learned in the basic class, the intermediate class will further prepare students for competition, if desired, or for more advanced routines.
Pre-requisite: Basic Canine Musical Freestyle or instructor's permission.

Carolynn Williams has taught Canine Musical Freestyle for three years, and has also titled and taken highest honors in competition.

Instructor: Peter Williams

Fee: $160 (includes a competition disc)

If your dog loves retrieving, why not take it to the next level? You will learn different methods and styles for effectively throwing a flying disc, and you and your dog will learn various tricks with the disc. Disc Dog can be done for fun or competition. Pre-requisites: Since all class work will be off-leash, your dog must have a reliable recall. There also must be no indication that your dog will have any unprovoked aggression toward other dogs. Your dog should actively retrieve, although homework will help you improve this skill. Finally, it is highly recommended that you have an appropriate practice location outside of class where you can practice with your dog between classes. Peter Williams is a 4-time Disc Dog World Finalist and a 2-time Disc Dog Regional Champion.

The Sport: Disc Dog is another name for what is sometimes called Frisbee Dog. The term "Disc" is preferred because "Frisbee" is a trademarked term for a brand of flying disc. In Disc Dog competitions, one disc-throwing handler and one dog form a working team. Formats are usually "toss and fetch" or "freestyle" events. In toss and fetch events, the human throws a disc for the dog to catch at varying distances. In freestyle events, a team will perform a short routine, from about 90 seconds to two minutes, choreographed to music, with multiple discs in play.

Weekday Mini-Series

Let‘s Play - 4 weeks

Instructor: Heather Morris (Spot On DC Training)

Fee: $125

Playing with your dog can be a wonderful bonding experience and provide needed stimulation to your dog. However, often we don’t know how to play with our dogs and are unsure of our dog‘s play behavior around other dogs. The Let‘s Play series focuses on: dogs‘ play styles and compatibility, what play is appropriate and what‘s not, dog body language, safely breaking up a dog fight, mental stimulation & games, physical exercise options. The first session will be an orientation WITHOUT dogs, Pre-requisite: Social, dog-friendly dogs that enjoy playing with other dogs and the company of humans.

Fido Come - 4 weeks

Instructor: Heather Morris (Spot On DC Training)

Fee: $125

A consistent recall is one of the most important skills you can teach your dog. One day, it might even save your dog’s life! Our Fido Come series focuses on: why dogs don‘t come when we call them, establishing a recall cue, games to practice recall skills, what to do if your dog doesn‘t respond, and establishing an emergency recall. The first session will serve as an orientation and will be WITHOUT dogs.

Who‘s Walking Who? - 4 weeks

Instructor: Heather Morris (Spot On DC Training)

Fee: $125

Having a dog that pulls you down the street and lunges after squirrels (and everything else that moves) can be embarrassing and absolutely exhausting. The Who‘s Walking Who series will focus on: walking management tools, attention skills (the key to loose-leash walking success), reinforcing polite walking behavior, what to do if your dog forges ahead of you, and teaching a wait cue that is helpful when approaching curbs or stopping to pick up after your dog. The first session is an orientation WITHOUT dogs.

Sunday Mini-Series - 4 weeks

Urban Canine

Instructor: Heather Morris (Spot On DC Training)

Fee: $125

Location: Capitol Hill Neighborhood

Urban dogs must learn to tolerate and be comfortable with streets that are a buzz with pedestrians, cyclists, other dogs, and traffic. Our Urban Canine series focuses on: socialization to the sights, sounds, and noises of the city, on-leash greeting behavior, navigating tight sidewalks, passing a dog that doesn’t want to say hello, and city leash manners. This series will take place around Capitol Hill with field trips to different locations, including Lincoln Park, Capitol Hill pet-friendly stores, the Eastern Market, and more. The first session will be an orientation at Lincoln Park WITHOUT dogs. Since this class is held outdoors, if class is cancelled due to rain, a rain date will be scheduled to ensure all 4 sessions are completed Pre-requisite: Outside distractions make this an advanced class. To receive maximum benefit, prior training is strongly recommended.