Puppy and Dog Basic Beginners Course

Training Tips:

• Do attend an AKC or ASCA sanctioned Obedience Trial in your area so you know what your finished product should look like. Pay close attention to the exercise the dog does after it sits in front of the handler. This is called The Finish and is hard to picture from reading the text that describes it. Contact the AKC at for upcoming events in your area.

• Do not feed the your dog before training at home or at class. Feed it several hours earlier or wait until training is over.

• Do not try to practice during the hottest part of the day. Wait until it is cool. Early morning or evening are best.

• Do not work with your dog for long periods of time. Keep each session short and make it a fun experience for the dog. Always end on a happy note and play with the dog for a time after training.

• Do not attempt working with your dog, if you are upset or angry or not feeling well. (This does not mean you have an excuse to miss training at home more than one day a week.)

• Do not attempt to let your dog run off-leash until your dog is 100% reliable on the Recall. That is, will come to you every time you call him.

• Do be very patient in your dog training. Loosing control of your temper will loose you ground in training. And it could cause permanent psychological damage to your dog!

• Do come early to class to give your dog time to "settle down" and to relieve itself before training. Remember - clean up after your dog!

• Do become aware of your voice tones and your body movements. Learn to control these in order to give your dog clear commands.

• Do require obedient responses to your commands and persist until you get it.

• Do make use of a command word for "freedom" so your dog can relax while on leash (such as "OK" or "free"), so the dog may know at all times what you want... if you are doing obedience; require total obedience... if you are not doing obedience and are just relaxing, let the dog know it.

• Do praise your dog and often. Be enthusiastic in your praise and the dog will respond with enthusiastic work.

Responsibilities of the Handler (Owner)

1. Read and know your course guide. Read through the entire Course Guide before you start any training. Class rules need to be enforced.

2. Proper feeding and exercising (before class) of dog.

3. Promptness and regular attendance.

4. A positive attitude and patience make for successful and rewarding dog training. A negative attitude and/or disruptive behavior leads to chaos. (refer to rule # 11)

5. Home training. Do your homework!

6. Females in season and dogs who have had recent surgery (including neutering and spaying). (refer to rule # 4)

7. >Physical limitations must be discussed with the trainer at the time of payment so we can determine how to better work with you.

Training Class Rules - All Levels:

1. Visitors and guests are welcome to attend. Family and friends may attend class with you. However, all visitors must remain quietly on the sidelines, out of the way of training. All children are to be under the control and supervision of a parent or guardian not handling the dog to be trained.

2. All dogs on the training grounds will be on-leash unless otherwise directed by the training instructors. Puppy/Beginners will maintain their dogs on-leash at all times, with one handler per session per dog. Hold on to those leashes!

3. All dogs are to be quiet, under control, and kept close to the owner. Let us avoid dog fights, accidents and injuries. Watch your dog!

4. Do not bring a dog to training class that is ill or that has had an operation by your vet. If your dog is ill, leave it at home, but come yourself and observe the training. Do not practice with your dog at home until it feels better. If you have just had your dog spayed or neutered or any other type of surgery, give your dog a chance to recover. Do not bring it to class or practice at home for at least two weeks!

5. Do not bring female dogs "in season" to training class.

6. Dog owners are responsible for clean up of all accidents by their dog. Always have plastic bags available.

7. Email training help with this course guide and all questions should be posted at the Dog Forum. Anyone can read and use this Course Guide free of charge. A donation of posted comments from everyone reading this course guide helps keep free obedience training on this web site available. Just participate in our Dog Forums and learn more about dog care.

8. All dog/puppies must have current DHLPP and rabies shots.

9. Clothing should be comfortable and shoes, low, flat, and rubber-soled. Any trainee going barefoot does so at his/her own risk. Sandals must have a heel strap.

10. Overly aggressive, unmanageable dogs will be dropped from class. Group sessions must work with the safety of all those in attendance in mind. Therefore, such dogs will be dropped from class and the owner encouraged to consult a canine behavior specialist. IF YOU'RE NOT SURE IF THIS IS NECESSARY FOR A PARTICULAR DOG; EMAIL US IMMEDIATELY!

11. The "class" reserves the right to refuse training instruction to any person who does not abide by the class rules or for any other reason they feel interferes with their ability to train.

12. No smoking in class or near the training area.

13. A trainee who misses two or more classes in a row, will be assumed to have lost interest in class and should be dropped from training.

14. Chatting with fellow classmates during training will detract from the handler's concentration. Leave talking for the time before and after class.

15. Trainees without an approved training collar and/or leash by the second week should be dismissed.

16. Junior handlers (children) are encouraged to train their dogs. However, they must be old enough, big enough, and strong enough to both handle and control their dogs. They also need to be closely supervised by an adult at all times.

17. Dog owners... adult handlers only are to be in control of puppies/dogs at all times while on the training grounds. Small children are not to be given any leashed dog to control, play or run with. This is for the child's safety.

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Contents � 1999-2004 by S. M. Brown, Edited by Chazhound
All Breed Dog Training

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