Group Classes for Puppies and Adult Dogs

All group classes are eight weeks in length and meet for one hour per week. Classes are limited to 6 dogs per group, allowing for more personalized attention to both dog and owner. Family participation is strongly encouraged, as the dog should know to display obedient behavior for each individual in the household.

Obedience / Behavior classes

Level I Dog Obedience Class

This class is the point of departure in training. In this level, owners learn how to create clear and consistent communication and boundaries in a manner which is very positive and empowering for the dog. It is in this level that the basic foundation behaviors are taught. These foundation behaviors include:

• Building your dog's eager and trusting attention to you;
• Signals and guidance;
• Your dog's ability to self-calm and self-control despite distractions and exciting encounters.

You will also learn to teach your dog both hand and voice signals to sit, down, stand, stay, come and heel (loose-leash walking), as well as give immediate attention to his or her name when called.

This class will also focus on helping you to prevent or correct problematic behaviors:

• House soiling (potty training techniques)
• Chewing
• Barking
• Jumping
• Digging
• Hyperactivity - excitable, can't calm down to be petted, etc.

Obedience learned in this class also will help with teaching appropriate house manners and socialization skills.

Level II Dog Obedience Class

This intermediate class takes your learned skills from Level I and brings them to a new height of attention, ability and obedience, given greater distraction and physical distance from your dog. New behaviors are taught, and we promote the application and abilities learned in previous lessons: hand and voice signals, loose leash heeling, come when called, etc.

Because our dogs can only be as good as our ability to communicate with and direct them, this class places great emphasis on assisting the dog owner in developing advanced teaching abilities while working on timing, consistency and positive reinforcement methods. (?)

Level III Dog Obedience Class

This advanced class adds the finishing touch to your acquired teaching strengths from Levels I & II, and we work on your dog’s ability to stay calm, focused and obedient through increasing degrees of distraction, social interaction and changing environments. This class not only prepares your puppy or adult dog for a happy and social life in real life situations, but also prepares you both for Canine Good Citizens (CGC) testing and certification with the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Level IV: Out on the Town - Teaching Dog Obedience Outdoors*

This class is offered to dogs and owners who have successfully completed a Level II or Level III class. This class meets in outdoor settings like local parks, walking/biking paths, city streets, etc. The focus of this class is to assist you in generalizing your existing lessons (learned in a class environment) to real life situations that you will actually encounter while living life out and about with your dog.

*This class is only scheduled in the warmer months - spring through fall - as all sessions are taught out of doors.

Fun and Games Classes

Tricks & Games: Mental Stimulation through Learning Tricks

This class offers both you and your dog many wonderful benefits. Dogs need both physical and mental stimulation in order to be emotionally and mentally happy and healthy. Many dogs develop behavior problems because their mental energy is not being focused in a positive direction, even if they’re being physically challenged every day.

Teaching tricks such as retrieving items for you (toys, keys, lost objects, etc.), rolling over, sitting pretty, shaking head "yes" and "no", speaking, riding a skateboard, or doing the wave allows you to give your dog a purpose and expend his/her mental energy in a positive and productive manner. This class is also an excellent class for helping you, the teacher, in developing a higher level of teaching and communication skills with your canine. You will learn how to use teaching tools such as free-shaping and targeting, which professional animal trainers use when teaching. This is a fun and empowering class for both you and your dog.

Introduction to Dog Agility: A physical outlet for active dogs*

Agility is a fast-growing sport that offers both fun and excitement for dogs and their owners. This class is an introduction to dog agility in which you’ll learn how to teach your dog to properly negotiate jumps, open tunnels and collapsible tunnels, and weave around poles and other miscellaneous obstacles. Teaching agility behaviors is a great way to build a stronger bond with your dog as you increase his/her attention to you, all while having fun in a game-type fashion. (Does this not also help build dogs’ (and owners’ ?) confidence?

This class is geared toward dog owners who are looking to increase their dog’s education in a fun and active manner. Exercises are taught for home use with inexpensive equipment.

*This class is not for persons hoping to compete in sanctioned trials with their dogs.

Canine Freestyle: Dancing with your dog*

You’ve seen it on TV or maybe at a local dog show - those talented dogs dancing with their owners. You’ve been awed by the teamwork, the level of attention, and the synchronicity. Now you and your dog can learn to Canine Freestyle. This sport is a choreographed performance with music, demonstrating the close bond between dog and handler. Graceful and intricate maneuvers are performed with precision and artistry and are achieved through the subtle use of verbal cues and body language.

This class is not only fun but is also an excellent way to develop better attention and bonding between dog and owner. This class is geared toward dog owners wishing to expand on their dog’s abilities and knowledge - as well as their own.

*This class is not a preparation for competition.

Bullmastiff

Viszla

German Shepherd Dog

Australian Cattle Dog / Lab Mix

Springer Spaniel Puppy

Group Class Schedule
Summer 2008

New class start dates

LEVEL I – Obedience & Behavior
July 8th @ 7:00 pm
July 9th @ 7:00 pm (Full)
July 28th @ 7:00 pm
August 13th @ 8:00 pm.
September 2nd @ 7:00 pm
September 3rd @ 7:00 pm

LEVEL II - Obedience & Behavior
July 17th @ 7:00 pm
August 18th @ 8:00 pm
September 18th @ 7:00 pm

LEVEL III – Obedience & Behavior
CANINE GOOD CITIZEN CLASS
July 17th @ 8:00 pm
September 18th @ 8:00 pm

(Dogs completing this class will be eligible for testing and certification)

TRICK DOGS
June 24th @ 8:00 pm (Full)
August 19th @ 8:00 pm

All classes are taught at the
Heritage Animal Hospital,
12624 Bass Lake Road,
Maple Grove, 55369

located just off 494, or about 3 minutes off 169.

Classes are:

• eight weeks in length, meeting for one hour per week

• limited to only six dogs per group to ensure personalized attention

• $125.00 per dog, per eight week course

Class start dates are subject to change. To enroll in one of these classes please complete an application and return it to me by mail. The mailing address is printed on the application. Once I receive it, you will receive a confirmation of your enrollment and given all information needed for the class. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that you might have.I look forward to assisting you and your dog in your educational needs!