Obedience is basic household manners. Your dog doesn't jump on visitors. Your dog comes when you call him. Your dog walks nicely on a loose lead, without pulling you down the street. Your dog pays attention to you.
Competition obedience is based on basic household manners. Your dog walks nicely at your side; sits, downs, stands, and stays on your command; comes when you call him; allows a stranger to touch him. Competition obedience can also include retrieving an object, such as a dumbbell, or identifying your scent and picking up a metal or leather item.
OBEDIENCE CLASSES
ABTCA offers Puppy Class (for dogs 10 - 16 weeks of age), Beginners (for dogs older then 16 weeks of age), Intermediate Obedience (for dogs who have completed a basic obedience course and are "fine tuning" their handling and their dogs' response), and Canine Good Citizen (based on the American Kennel Club test, for dogs who have learned basic manners).
Our Puppy, Beginners, and CGC classes are 6 weeks long and are usually scheduled on Thursday evenings. The cost is $75. There is no refund of class deposits and/or fees.
Our Intermediate class is an on-going session, held Friday evenings at 6:30. The cost is $10 per session.
What you need to bring: Your dog; you dog's proof of vaccination or health certificate from your veterinarian (on your initial visit to ABTCA, and when updates occur); soft training treats (such as string cheese or microwaved turkey hot dogs); an appropriate collar-and-lead (such as a chain collar and lead, or prong collar - no flexi-leads or chain leads); and your praise.
If your bitch (female dog) comes in season, do not bring her to class. You are welcome to come, watch what's being taught that lesson, and pick up your handout, so you can practice with her at home.
OBEDIENCE RUN-THROUGHS
An obedience run-through is like a 'mock' obedience test. An experienced club member acts as the 'judge', and puts you and your dog through your paces, much like at a show. In heel position, you and your dog do changes of direction, figure eights, slow and fast speeds, and stop. You may also perform retrieve, recall, go over jumps, or other exercises. The run-through is geared to the level of your dog, and is good practice for shows, or just to see how well you and your dog are working together.
ABTCA's Obedience Run-Throughs are normally held on the second, fourth, and any fifth Monday of each month, starting at 6:00 pm. The schedule for August through December 2008 is:
August 11, 2008; August 25, 2008
September 8, 2008; September 22, 2008; September 29, 2008
October 13, 2008; October 27, 2008
November 10, 2008; November 24, 2008
December 8, 2008
We do Novice, Open and Utility levels. The cost is $5 for the first run-through, $3 for each additional run-through of the same dog. Any fifth Monday is a 'do-your-own-thing' training time; formal run-throughs are not done, other than the group exercises. The cost on the fifth Monday is $5 per dog.
RALLY RUN-THROUGHS
Rally run-throughs are normally held on the third Monday of each month, starting at 6:30 pm. The schedule for August through December 2008 is:
August 18, 2008
September 15, 2008
October 20, 2008
November 17, 2008
December 15, 2008
The cost is $5 per dog (unlimited runs).
CANINE GOOD CITIZEN CLASS
Call now to enroll - class beginning August 14, 2008, 6:15 p.m.
CGC testing September 21, 2008
See the class flyer:
Microsoft Word document (25Kb)
Adobe Acrobat PDF file (19Kb)
See the testing flyer:
Microsoft Word document (52Kb)
Adobe Acrobat PDF file (55Kb)
For responsible dog ownership
An American Kennel Club program based on the behaviors needed for our canine friends to be reliable and well-behaved members of their families and communities.
The $75.00 fee for this class also includes the opportunity to test for the CGC award as sponsored by the ABTCA at the Stow PawFest on September 21, 2008. Call 330-630-0418 for more information or to register for class. Purebred and mixed breeds welcome.
Please see our home page for location and contact information.
