K9 MANNERS & MORE INTRODUCTION TO DOG TRAINING STUDENT HANDOUT OVERVIEW General Information for Group Classes Classes Puppy Kindergarten COEDS (Courteous Obedient Educated Dogs) Model Citizens Equipment About Rolling Enrollment Learning Theory: How Dogs Learn Meeting My Dog’s Needs Physical exercise requirements Mental exercise requirements Everyday Training Say Please Take Treats Gently – and Wait for It Name Game Recap How to get started What to bring to class Schedule of classes GENERAL INFORMATION FOR BASIC GROUP CLASSES 1. Our basic group classes are ongoing. When you have completed the requirements or pre-requisites, you may begin any time that class is offered. Rolling enrollment means that when you are on your 1st week of class, others will be midway, or graduating. 2. Written proof of vaccinations is required. Titer test results are acceptable. 3. Dog must have been in your home 2 weeks before attending a group class. 4. Children must be at least 9 years old to work their dog in class. Younger children are welcome to attend, and there are ways they can participate! We do ask that they be supervised, and for their safety, do not interact with other dogs in class. 5. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. 6. We don’t have any breed exclusions, but no wolf, wolfdog or wolf hybrid will be accepted into classes. 7. If your dog has bitten a person (you, a visitor in your home, stranger in public, vet, tech, groomer, etc.) he is not allowed to begin in a group class. Please see Private Training on our website. 8. Missed classes: • If the training center is closed for an event or a holiday, this is not counted as an absence. Closures are noted on K9 Manners & More of OK facebook page, in our monthly e-newsletter, and on our answering service greeting. We generally close for inclement weather if the Broken Arrow public schools are closed, but not always! When in doubt – call us. • If you miss a class due to you or your dog being ill, you can make that up. Continuity is important to your dog’s training, so we encourage you to come to class consistently. You are allowed to make up 2 missed classes. • In the event of an extended absence due to injury/illness (you or your dog) please discuss with your instructor, so that we can put your remaining classes on hold. CLASSES THE PUPPY KINDERGARTEN CLASS Skills and socialization for puppies Puppy K is your puppy’s head start on learning the social and obedience skills he will need as an adult. In this class, your puppy will learn basic skills like sit, down, wait and stay, walking on leash, leave-it, and coming when called. As a puppy owner, you want to learn about house training, proper chew training, and mouthing and biting that puppies do – and we will teach you! There is also off-leash play time to meet other puppies and people, and learn about social graces. Requirements: • Puppy age between 10 & 20 weeks when they start class • Puppy has been in your home for 2 weeks before you start class • Puppy has had 2 of the puppy vaccinations for distemper & parvovirus (bordetella vaccine is recommended but not required) • 6 week course; 1 hour class/week, course fee is $100 COEDS (Courteous, Obedient, Educated Dogs) Beginner obedience course In this 8 week course, you can achieve amazing results as your dog learns some real life skills he will need to be a well-rounded family companion. Solve common behavior problems such as jumping up, and pulling on leash. Learn loose leash walking, coming when called, wait and stay, leave-it, sit politely for petting, settle on your mat, proper dog greetings and more! Requirements: • Any dog over 20 weeks of age, or • Previously completed Puppy Kindergarten class • Dog has been in your home for 2 weeks before you start class • Dog is current on Rabies, Distemper & Parvovirus vaccines (bordetella vaccine is recommended but not required) • 8 week course; 1 hour class/week, course fee is $120 MODEL CITIZENS Advanced Beginner obedience course In this 8 week course, your dog will be learning how to behave as a canine good citizen. Loose leash walking will improve as you learn about turns and stops, walking fast and slow, and walking through a crowd with distractions. He will learn to stay in place politely, while other dogs are present. He will even learn to come when called when there are interesting distractions! The Model Citizens course will prepare you and your dog for the AKC® Canine Good Citizen (CGC®) and CGC Advanced (Community Canine) tests. This is a great course for anyone thinking about doing therapy dog work! Requirements: • Graduation from K9 Manners COEDS class Completion of a beginner obedience class taken elsewhere (at least 6 weeks in duration) • Dog has been in your home for 2 weeks before you start class • Dog is current on Rabies, Distemper & Parvovirus vaccines (bordetella vaccine is recommended but not required) • 8 week course; 1 hour class/week, course fee is $120 EQUIPMENT : Leashes, collars, harnesses There are lots of options of collars, harnesses and leashes available. We have a few recommendations. In our retail shop (at K9 Manners) we sell only what we personally have used. We sell products made in the USA which meet our standards of humane and effective. If you are beginning in Puppy Kindergarten, or bringing a COEDS dog that isn’t already pulling on the leash, you should begin with your dog’s “every day” collar. This type of adjustable, easy to clip is our choice for an everyday collar. Our best-selling collar has an awesome return policy – guaranteed even if it gets chewed up! Many sizes, patterns and colors are available. We would like for you to have a 4 to 6 foot leash, which can be made of webbing, leather, or another fabric – but not chain. Our most popular leashes also carry the return if chewed policy. The handles are comfortably padded and the clip is quite sturdy. Please note that we do not allow retractable leashes in class. Many of our beginner students use the front-clip harness. We have seen great success with the anti-pulling front clip harnesses. They are very easy to use, and put no pressure on the dog’s throat. It works with guidance and communication, not force or leverage. Our best seller is available in blue, black and red. Staff is available to help you get the right size & adjustment for your dog. We do not allow any type of shock collars (e-collars) to be used. We discourage the use of metal collars (pinch/prong collars and choke chains) because there are so many better options available. For more information about this topic, please visit the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (www.avsabonline.org) for their position statement on the use of punishment. You may also wish to have some type of treat holder. Here is our favorite, which is easy to get into and has a magnetic closure so you don’t have to fumble with a drawstring. It’s perfectly OK if you don’t know what will work best for your dog. Come to class with what you have, and if your instructor thinks an equipment change is needed, we will try something else. You will also need a mat or a rug; something washable. It should not be your favorite cuddler-type bed, and it doesn’t need to be as large as your dog when he stretches out! We generally have mats for sale that are just right. ABOUT ROLLING ENROLLMENT Our basic classes (Puppy Kindergarten, COEDS, and Model Citizens) are based on Modules. Each week is a different module, which includes the skills needed in a real-life scenario. It’s a fun way to learn all the basics without just going around and around the ring! It may be a practice visit to the vet, or having coffee with friends. On your first day, the Module for that week may not be #1. That’s OK! The skills are for the most part, concurrent from module to module. When you are new to the class, and learning the skill for the first time, you may be “luring” your dog with a treat to get the behavior, and see that others are not luring with a treat, but are giving the treat for the execution of the behavior. They are rewarding! That’s where you will soon be. Training aids, scaffolds, are removed as the teams become proficient with the skills. There is always help available. Most classes have 2 instructors, and sometimes split into two groups. Don’t leave class with unanswered questions! We’re here to help. When you come into the classroom, you will find a seat and set down your mat and your belongings. You can begin rewarding (treating) your dog for settling on his mat as other dogs enter the training room. This is working on impulse control! LEARNING THEORY A basic understanding of learning theory will help you better understand how to communicate with your dog. THE TWO WAYS DOGS LEARN 1. Dogs learn by association (by emotional response). Human example: We humans learn by association, too. When you meet someone for the first time you come away with an association—positive, negative, or neutral. If you really enjoyed the interaction, you are likely to be happy to see that person again. If you found the person difficult or argumentative, you might get that little pit of dread in your belly when you see him or her again—you have formed a negative association with that person.