Family Dog & CGC
Family Dog Basics
This class provides the first steps in helping your dog to become a successful member of your family! This class builds upon Puppy Experience, but can also be an introductory course for adolescent and adult dogs with their handlers. Through the use of training games and context learning you will work to build impulse control, focus, handler attention and basic skills. During this class we will teach your dog how to make good choices while introducing basic manners such as:
sit
down
stay
leave it
polite greetings
mat work
loose leash walking
recalls
Intermediate Family Dog
This class places an emphasis on refining basic skills and is also a great refresher for any handler and dog to improve their connection. Class exercises are designed to challenge your dog’s skills, teaching them to work through a variety of distractions. Upon completing this class, teams may join the CGC (Canine Good Citizen) prep class.
CGC (Canine Good Citizen)
This class will prepare your dog for the ten specific skills that are included on the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. The 10-step CGC test is a non-competitive test for all dogs, including purebreds and mixed breeds. The CGC award is a prerequisite for many therapy dog groups. Testing is not required at course completion but will be offered to interested handlers.
Advanced Family Dog
(Community & Urban CGC)
In this class, you will learn to apply the foundation skills your dog has acquired in the classroom to real world situations. Each week class will meet at a designated location, including: local parks, shopping plazas, stores and urban centers. Class exercises will focus on engagement between handler and dog, turning distracting environments into opportunities for reinforcement.
The curriculum of this class is based on the advanced levels of the AKC Canine Good Citizen program: Community Canine (CGCA) and Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGCU). Testing is not required at course completion but will be an option for interested handlers.
