Heavenly Heeling 1, 2 and 3

Prerequisites: HH1 requires Dog Sports FUNdamentals and Your Training Toolbox. HH2 requires HH1. HH3 requires HH1 and HH2.

Using a clicker and positive reinforcement, shape and build attention and basic heeling skills needed for rally obedience, obedience, and freestyle. Relationship and teamwork, as well as handling are emphasized. Also good for more experienced dogs to brush up on basic skills and improve motivation, confidence and attitude.

T.E.A.M. Classes

Prerequisites: HH1 - Dog Sports FUNdamentals and Your Training Toolbox

Based on the Fenzi TEAM program, these classes focus on the foundation work needed for a variety of dog sports: rally, obedience, freestyle, tricks, agility, treibball and more. Exercises are taught only with positive reinforcement and use primarily targets and props for building skills.

TEAM exercises include: engagement/focus, heeling, recalls, fronts and finishes, distance work, targeting, jumping, scent work, impulse control, rear end awareness, stays and retrieves. All the skills are broken down into manageable pieces.

There's no reason to hold back on distance work or jumping exercises while teaching your dog to heel!

Rally Obedience

Rally is ideal for those looking to do something fun with your dog. Teams are asked to perform on and off leash exercises that combine heeling, sits, downs, pivots and turns, figure 8's and spirals, recalls and jumps. Teams navigate the course with numbered signs indicating the different exercises. 

Intro to Rally-O

Prerequisites: Dog Sports FUNdamentals, Your Training Toolbox, Heavenly Heeling 1, 2 and 3.

Introduction to the novice level exercises (AKC and Cynosport). Class will cover the basic stationary exercises, heeling turns & pace changes, call fronts and finishes, heeling around cones: spirals, figure 8's & serpentines; basic course concepts-knowing the signs.

Rally-O Novice

Prerequisite: Intro to Rally-O

Build on and improve performance and reliability of skills learned in the Rally intro class. Begin to sequence exercises in short courses. Introduction of new exercises turns vs pivots, walk around, sit or not, More on handling and how to handle mistakes.

Rally-O Intermediate

Prerequisite: Teams proficient with Rally-O novice exercises.

Class will introduce new exercises including jumps, pivots, and the moving positions, improving heeling and transitions to off leash, ring entrances and set ups. Polish skills and tips to help avoid common point deductions.

Rally-O Advanced

Prerequisite: Teams proficient with Rally-O Intermediate exercises.

Exercises get more challenging! You will encounter the moving stand, drop on recall, backing up, directed jumping, retrieve, signals, as well as creative heeling turns, moves, and pivots. Individual help with handling or problem areas.

Canine Freestyle

Is simply put, trick behaviors to music. It is a fun sport for the handlers and dog teams, as well as the audience. Freestyle is based on basic obedience training and it adds other dimensions such as tricks, music, timing, costuming, routine development and showmanship. Handlers will learn to develop simple routines and put them together with music.

Intro to Freestyle

Prerequisite: DSFUNdamentals, Your Training Toolbox and Heavenly Heeling 1, 2 and 3.

For those new to Freestyle. Learn basic positions and moves used to dance with your dog; learn how to keep time and use music to move around the ring. Sharpens your dog's attention and focus for any obedience work in a fun, playful way. You should be comfortable working with your dog off leash. Dogs must be dog and people friendly.

Beyond Beginner Freestyle

Prerequisite: Intro to Freestyle and Novice/Rally level heeling skills; dog is comfortable and able to work off-leash with other dogs.

Here is where we begin to put it together. Class will work on getting behaviors on verbal cue, getting rid of lures, making sure that your dog partner knows his positions (for example, can your dog find heel position no matter where your body goes?). You'll keep working on putting sequences together and working them into music.

Freestyle Competition

Prerequisite: Intro to freestyle or its equivalent before taking this class.

This class will concentrate on building foundation skills by working on many great engagement games, learning about food delay, backchaining behaviors, and improving transitions between moves. In addition, we'll work on teaching you how to choreograph your routines. We will also work on attention and enthusiasm around distractions.

Class Schedule

Competition Obedience

Competition Obedience can be likened to dressage. The handler directs the dog through a series of highly stylized behaviors that demonstrate control, accuracy, and precision from both handler and dog. The overall objective is to execute each exercise within a class with precision and accuracy, dog and handler working as a complete team.

Competition Obedience - Novice

Prerequisite: DSFundamentals, Heavenly Heeling 1, 2 & 3

This is an advanced training course designed to prepare you and your dog for competition. Fine tuning of problem areas, and ring preparedness. CDSP and AKC venues are covered.

Competition Obedience - Open

High and broad jumps, retrieving, drop on recall, group stays, handler out of sight.

Competition Obedience - Utility

Scent discrimination, hand signals, moving stand, directed jumping and retrieves.

Class Schedule