Basic Obedience
The basic obedience class is for dogs 4 months and older who have had little or no basic obedience training. This class is especially suitable for adolescent dogs (6 – 18 months) who are very excitable and respond to commands unreliably. Dogs must be up-to-date on all vaccinations (proof of vaccination is required at the first class) and friendly towards other dogs and people. This is NOT a class for dogs that bark or lunge at other dogs aggressively on leash (please contact us if this describes your dog).
WHAT DO WE LEARN?
The very first thing you learn is how to settle your dog down when he is excited, and how to get his attention when he is focused on something else. This is 90% of the battle in getting out-of-control dogs to behave so it is something we tackle in the very first class. Once we have their attention, they learn:
- Positions (sit, down, stand)
- To come when called
- To walk nicely on a loose leash
- To stay in the presence of distractions
- To leave a forbidden item
- To give up or drop an item when asked
- To allow you to handle and groom them all over
- Two tricks!
We also cover common behavior problems – jumping on guests, pulling on leash, getting into the trash, barking, etc. – and how to eliminate them.
HOW LONG IS CLASS AND HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Basic obedience is 6 weeks long and costs $150. It meets once a week for one hour each week. If you sign up for Advanced Obedience at the same time (also a $150 class) you can get both for $225 (a $75 discount) – you can take up to a three month break between classes so you can work them into your schedule.
WHEN CAN I START AND HOW DO I REGISTER?
New classes start every month, so you shouldn’t have long to wait. To reserve your spot in class, download and fill out a registration form and liability waiver or call or e-mail to have one sent to you. E-mail, fax (512-686-3050) or mail it in to us, before class starts, so we keep a spot open for you. Class sizes are limited, so early registration is recommended.
