Your pup can class as early as 11 weeks with verification of 2 puppy combination vaccines (vet's invoice). Early imprinting, socialization, handling and training your puppy. Start attending as soon as your pup is pre-registered online, prepaid and after they have met the requirements. -- Requirements are: Bring to your first class your veterinarian's invoice or label from vaccine bottle to verify 2 combination Distemper/Parvo/etc. (DHPP, DA2P or DHLPP) vaccines. Optional: Bordatella. Rabies vacine is not Required for puppies under 16 weeks old. Three sections in each class: 1) Training & manners, 2) Handling 3) Q & A. -- Puppies may attend any (Wed and/or Sun) Preschool class until they are 20 weeks (140 days) old. Each class is one hour. -- Number of classes you can attend is dependant on the age of the pup when you start attending. If your pup starts at 12 weeks you may attend up to 16 classes if you attend twice a week. -- Because of today's better vaccines, pups can start socialization class earlier than 4 months old, which is important for early socialization. -- It is ok to bring family members, children must be at least 6 years old and quiet during class so the instructor can be heard. $95 early/online registration, $100 if you pay at the door.
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Beginning dog training. (Canine Elementary School) This beginning class teaches basic reward based family dog obedience and manners training in a supportive, fun, group class. Follow Puppy Preschool or start an adult dog on the basics. You and your dog will learn how to train focused attention around distractions, new people and dogs, come!, sit, down, stay, loose leash walking, wait, go to your bed, leave it, tricks and more. 1 hr/wk for 6 weeks of sequenced classes.
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(Canine High School) This is one of our favorite classes! This is a real world training class that uses behavior shaping in a new location each week to increase your dog's rapid responses on or off leash around other dogs. Using real world distractions, new locations, recall, call-off, heeling and stay exercises with increasing distances and distractions you and your dog will gain skills for better quality of life or to be better prepared for dog sports (Agility, Dock Diving, Town & Trail, Herding Ball or Lure Coursing) classes. As a part of the class we meet at a dog friendly restaurant to continue the socialization process - both canine and human. Prerequisite: Living with Dogs Family Dog 2 or evaluation. There will be no class on 8/27/10.
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A ten-week advanced-level class for graduates of FD3, offered quarterly. We continue distance work, both outside in new locations, and work for both speed and reliability. Some off-leash work, especially on recalls. More games. This class meets with the Family Dog 3 class and will meet at a restaurant after class.
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AGILITY! is a fun outlet for your dog's energy, a great way to build confidence and develop your bond with your dog. Using reward based methods, your dog will learn the foundations to play agility: targeting, rewarding with tug play, foot placement, body awareness, balance, tipping board, surfaces, perch work, crate games, lining up, bomb proof stays, off-leash circle work and much more. Humans will learn consistent handling, signaling, & motivating play techniques. Pre-agility equipment is used in the first 6 weeks of class. Dogs must have good basic attention and basic obedience skills (minimum Family Dog 2 or equivalent) for this class. Classes continue with Fun Foundations 2. This class is also a great way to prepare for flyball, dock diving, lure coursing and the CGC test. Required text: "Flatwork for Agility" 77 pages see our Reading List online for details. The first class is a 2 hour required orientation with agility video, no dogs please - location of first class to be emailed to registrants once payment is received.
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Our new Treiball (Herding Ball) Handbook available now. 50 pages with photographs and diagrams. Order online only. The handbook will be sent via email as a pdf file. Sorry, at this time we cannot answer your email questions individually.
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We haven't been this excited about a new dog sport in a long time. Dogs learn to herd large balls (surrogate sheep) into a pen, handlers learn distance work, directing the dog to go out around the "flock", wait for direction, go left or right and drive the ball into the pen. Foundation exercises are all about impulse control, being able to send and direct your dog. Once we have the foundations we bring in small balls and then increase the size. Ball Herding is for all types of dogs, especially herding dogs and ball crazy dogs. Much like sheep herding, ball herding or "treibball" is for the dog that needs a job. Dogs must have good basic skills (Family Dog 1 min.) to particpate. Dogs can be as young as 5 months, assuming they are reliable their basic behaviors. Dogs may be working off leash together in class, so they must be dog friendly. Class fee includes our Herding Ball Handbook. VIDEO to see a dog in treibball action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBJ9DVp9dyM
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The CGC certification shows that your dog can demonstrate reasonable basic skills in public. For the responsible dog owner, a CGC is an important line on your dog's resume. Some hotels and restaurants will allow CGC-certified dogs into their establishments. CGC certification is also a prerequisite for therapy dog certification. The test is open to mixed breed and purebred dogs of all ages. Puppies must be of an age where they have received all of their appropriate immunizations, such as rabies vaccines. The test costs $25 and covers ten items: 1) Accepting a friendly stranger 2) Sitting politely for petting 3) Appearance and grooming 4) Walking on a loose lead 5) Walking through a crowd 6) Sit and down command – staying in place 7) Coming when called 8) Reaction to another dog 9) Reaction to distraction 10) Supervised separation Upon successful completion of the 10 items on the test, your dog is awarded a CGC certificate from the AKC. This certificate has the potential to literally open doors for your dog. CGC Skills are taught in Family Dog 2 class.
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Dogs love to run! This is a sport for dogs who love to run and to chase. Very little training is required for most dogs. Lure coursing involves chasing a lure around a field at high speed. A typical lure course is up to 1,000 yards long. This course is unfenced. Dogs should be in good physical condition. Pre-register and our monthly schedule will be sent to you on an ongoing basis. Pre-pay OR pay at the door for the same price. Sundays, monthly, spring through late fall. Soquel: 8AM to 10:30AM. As a courtesy to others waiting in line, we suggest that your dog have a reasonably good recall. If you are concerned about this, we can run your dog toward the end of the day. The $20 entry fee gives you 5 tickets or you can buy 1 ticket for $5 at the event. Please register in advance so we can keep you updated. Each lap around the field is worth one ticket. If you do not use all of your tickets you can use them at our next lure coursing event. Lure coursing is run in the morning cooler hours for the dogs.
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FREE to LWD students. 8/22/10 Loch Lomond. About a 3 mile trail along the lake to Huckle berry Cove ending with a slight climb to the picnic grounds. This is an excellent way to explore some of the most beautiful areas locally and take your LWD Family Dog skills out in the real world. Hikes are about 2.5 hours long. Trail manners & safety, CGC skills, passing dogs and people politely are practiced in an informal walk. Pre-registration is required to receive location information. Sign up and we will send you notifications each month. We also post these hikes on Facebook. Schedule subject to change depending on weather conditions and registrations, please call 476-9065. Check email for updates. Prerequisite: 6' leashes, no leg-tangling retractable leashes please. Minimum Family Dog 1 skills: dogs must be able to sit or stand politely and quietly around other dogs and passers by. Handlers must be respectful of other dogs space.
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This class is for dogs who LOVE water and LOVE to retrieve but whose handlers need the tools and techniques to make their dogs into dock divers. You'll learn how to: - Build power and drive with chase/retreive games - Build up your dog's strength, coordination, jumping abilities and agility - Introduce the dock - Control your dog while in line and on the dock - Learn toy throwing and restrained start techniques. Make sure to give an email address when you register.
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We appreciate Email and phone messages as we try to spend most of our time helping our clients (seldom sitting at a desk) and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We are able to answer Email in the late evening hours after our classes end at 8:30PM. We offer classes most weekday nights and weekends so let us know when we can reach you best. In the meanwhile we strive to have most of your questions answered on our website and hope you will take a look around our site. Talk to you soon!
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Coming when called is the most important command to teach your dog – it could save his life someday. In this course, we will focus on teaching your dog to come when called, even when faced with distractions. You will also learn how to get – and keep – your dog’s attention and build a recall training plan. We'll discuss techniques and recall games, and do some serious training. Requirements: Dogs must be current on their vaccines, and have no aggression issues.
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Tips on dog training topics like gardening for dogs, getting started in agility, hiking with dogs, separation anxiety, noise sesitivity, thoughts from a trainer and more. Newsletter delivered by email.
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Pre-Puppy or New Puppy Counseling. Thinking about getting a puppy? Which of the hundreds of breeds of dogs would fit best into your household? A dog is a 12-15 year family member. Thoughtful consideration should be given to your choice. How do you go about finding a healthy, happy puppy? Individual or group class sessions will provide you with information to make an informed decision. Choosing the right pup, puppy proofing, setting up a proactive puppy habitat, what you need to buy, crate training, socialization, community resources, training (when to start and what to train first), exercise requirements, mental stimulation for your pup, how to structure your puppy's day, grooming & care and more. One hour and a half, one time.
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Our trainers are available for public speaking engagements, workshops and seminars. These can be adapted to children, adults or families. Topics include: Dog Safety for Children Teaching children techniques for safety around dogs. This fun and interactive presentation also teaches children how to approach a dog, handle a dog and when to leave a dog alone, simplified dog body language. Reading Dogs' Body Langugage Responsible Dog Ownership Canine Good Citizenship
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Classes will NOT be held on these dates. Please note them on your calendar.
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There is no charge to be put on our waiting list. An email notification will be sent to you when a new class is scheduled. PLEASE NOTE your best times and days in the notes section on the registration form.
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There is no charge to be put on our waiting list. An email notification will be sent to you when a new class is scheduled. PLEASE NOTE your best times and days in the notes section on the registration form.
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We haven't been this excited about a new dog sport in a long time. Dogs learn to herd large balls (surrogate sheep) into a pen, handlers learn distance work, directing the dog to go out around the "flock", wait for direction, go left or right and drive the ball into the pen. Ball Herding is for all types of dogs, especially herding dogs and ball crazy dogs. Much like sheep herding, ball herding or "treibball" is for the dog that needs a job. Dogs must have good basic skills (Family Dog 1 min.) to particpate. Dogs can be as young as 5 months, assuming they are reliable their basic behaviors. Dogs may be working off leash together in class, so they must be dog friendly. This class will not meet on Sun Jan 31. VIDEO to see a dog in treibball action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBJ9DVp9dyM
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Fun Foundations for Dog Sports (Agility) Dog sports are a great way to build confidence in your dog as well as being an outlet for your dog's energy. You and your dog will learn the basics including fun obstacles like ladders, boxes and tippy boards, body awareness and balance, games and motivation with toy play, teamwork, communication, ground work, obstacle recognition, safe performance, and motivation for a fun, fast agility performance. 1 hr/week for 6 weeks. We provide a wonderful experience for you and your dog, including: Safe, competition grade agility equipment; a fully fenced, lanscaped grass training field; hour and a half class for 6 weeks; small class sizes for more individual attention; continuous classes renewing every 6 weeks.
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Rally is a fun and exciting team sport for dogs and their handlers! Dog and Handler teams navigate a course with numbered signs indicating different exercises to perform such as Sit-Down-Sit, Straight Figure 8, Send Over Jump, Recall Over Jump. Teams navigate the course at a brisk, continuous performance. Handlers are encouraged to talk to their dogs during the performance. All dogs, purebred, mixed breeds and dogs with disabilities are encouraged to participate.
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Sign up on our waiting list for CGC test notifications. CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.
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There is no charge to be put on our waiting list. An email notification will be sent to you when a new class is scheduled. PLEASE NOTE your best times and days in the notes section on the registration form.
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This class is for dogs who LOVE water and LOVE to retrieve but whose handlers need the tools and techniques to make their dogs into a dock diver. You'll learn how to: - Build drive with games for the chase/retreive object - Build up your dog's strength - Introduce the dock - Control your dog while on the dock - Learn retreive and object throwing techniques.
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Learn basic fundamentals of canine freestyle. Dancing with Dogs is a wonderful way to burn off extra calories, build up strength, increase muscle tone, and enhance mental agility. Your dog(and you) will appear and feel years younger with a well structured dance program.
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There is no charge to be put on our waiting list. An email notification will be sent to you when a new class is scheduled. PLEASE NOTE your best times and days in the notes section on the registration form.
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One of the dogs that attended our early spring class was recently seen at the well attended (over 400 dogs!) Spring Dog Festival relaxed and enjoying himself. This is a slow yoga-paced class with the goal of getting dogs to be calm in the presence of other dogs. If you have a dog that is "over threshold", won't focus or won't eat in the presence of other dogs but is not dog aggressive. This is the class for your dog. We cover relaxation techniques, massage, desensitizaion, basic obedience and leash handling for the pulling dog. Sign up for this waiting list and we will notify you about our next Excitable Dog class.
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Interested in Fly Ball for your dog? Sign up for this waiting list for FREE. An email notification will be sent to you when a new class is scheduled. PLEASE NOTE your best times and days in the notes section on the registration form.
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Waiting list for Difficult Dog Class. Call us for more information. There is no charge to be put on our waiting list. An email notification will be sent to you when a new class is scheduled. PLEASE NOTE your best times and days in the notes section on the registration form.
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