PET CLASSES

These classes use positive reinforcement and emphasize basic obedience skills and learning to focus in the presence of other people and dogs. They are designed for family pets, but handlers who compete in dog sports are also welcome.

Puppy Class

Puppy classes are designed to familiarize your puppy to the world around him. Focus is on understanding your puppy, beginner obedience exercises, and socialization. Puppies must have had all age appropriate vaccinations by the first class. Bring vaccination documentation to the first class.

WED 11:15 - 11:45 am Instructor: Cathi Fry Assistant: Charlie Williams Limit 5 This class is for puppies approximately 5-8 months old.

STAR Puppy

This class is for puppies 12 weeks to 10 months old at the start of the class. STAR Puppy is designed to get dog owners and their puppies off to a good start. It is an excellent first training class for puppies and provides a lead-in to the AKC Canine Good Citizen program. In classes aimed at earning the AKC STAR Puppy distinction you’ll be able to get info on your puppy-raising questions. Handlers must attend all 6 class sessions in order to take the test and obtain the certificate.

MON 5:30 - 6:00 pm Instructor: Jennie Weisenberger Limit 6 This class is for puppies 3-10 months of age at the start of class.

WED 6:00-6:30 pm Instructor: Peggy Cushard Limit 6 This class is for puppies 12 weeks to 6 months of age at the start of class.

Household Obedience

For handlers who want to build a bond with their dog, learn basic obedience, impulse control, and have a dog that is a happy, well-adjusted member of the family.  Positive reinforcement is used to teach: sit, down, stay, leave it, come, and loose leash walking. Dogs will be exposed to other people and dogs. Dog must be on a 6’ leash. Bring lots of small, soft, high-value treats.  Dogs should be at least 6 months of age or have completed a puppy class.

WED 5:30 - 6:15 pm Instructor: Jan McLean Limit 6

WED 6:30 - 7:15 pm Instructor: Jan McLean Limit 6

Family Dog

This class will focus on impulse control and manners for the family dog. Before your dog can walk politely down the street, they need to learn to ignore all those tempting distractions that cause them to drag you down the sidewalk! We will focus on exercises and games that will help your dog learn to keep their attention on you! Dogs should wear a buckle or martingale collar or a harness and must be able to be around other dogs without barking.  Bring lots of small, soft, high-value treats. Dogs should be at least 6 months of age or have completed a puppy class.

TUE 7:00 - 7:30 pm Instructor: Roxann Wilkinson Limit 6

Family Dog 2

Family Dog 2 focuses on loose leash walking and coming when called along with some advanced impulse control (lots of distractions!). Dogs must have completed Family Dog 1. 

TUE 7:45 - 8:30 pm Instructor: Roxann Wilkinson Limit 6

Reactive Dog

Are you unable to calm your dog down when she sees other dogs or people? Is walking your dog a big struggle?  Does your dog bark, lunge, growl, or snap when he sees another dog or person?

Using proven methods, we will work through these issues. We will discuss management techniques and strategies for keeping your dog under threshold to minimize the rehearsal of unwanted behaviors. You will learn how to stop and even prevent these behaviors from occurring. We will give your dog the skills and tools to be calm and engaged in the presence of triggers. Through positive reinforcement, you will be able to enjoy time with your pooch again!

This class is for dogs who are reactive. Reactive does not mean aggressive, necessarily. Generally, reactive dogs should not be enrolled in group classes. Dogs should wear a fitted martingale collar and 4-6 foot leather or biothane leash. Bring lots of soft, small treats! There will be weekly homework, as well as checking throughout the week to help you on your journey. This class is not eligible for the Platinum Pass. Fee: $150

WED 7:30 - 8:15 pm Instructor: Renee Baenen, Assistant: Jamie Kiefer Limit 4

CGC Preparation and Skills

Pre-requisites: Dogs must be under control, understand basic obedience commands, and be able to walk on leash. Dogs should be at least 6 months old. Ideally they should have taken a beginning obedience class. The CGC (Canine Good Citizen) is a ten-skill training program that focuses on basic good manners and obedience, instilling the values of responsible ownership, and strengthening the bond between you and your dog at home and in the community. THis class prepares you to take the CGC test offered by OTCGL several times a year and testing will be offered by the instructor at the completion of the class.

THUR 7:30 - 8:15 pm Instructor: Celeste Gerlach Limit 8

Therapy Dog 1: Introduction

Prerequisite:  Must be at least 1 year old and have successfully completed an obedience class within the last 4-6 months.   This class provides basic information, education, and skills needed for therapy dogs.  It will cover skills needed to make a good therapy dog and make a good therapy dog handler.  If you have thought about doing therapy work with your dog or you have already done dog therapy but starting with a new dog, this class is for you.  This class along with CGC completion is a prerequisite for Therapy Dog 2 Evaluation Practice which will be offered next term.  

THUR 6:45 - 7:30 pm Instructor: Celeste Gerlach Limit 8

COMPETITIVE OBEDIENCE

These classes are designed for those who compete in AKC or UKC Obedience. However, you don’t have to compete to take these classes! Everyone is welcome. In competitive obedience, skills are built upon at each level. Therefore, students should begin with “Beginner Novice” or “Novice.” A dog must be able to safely work off leash in order to take a Novice class. Novice skills are required before taking an “Open” class and the Open skills are required before progressing to the “Utility” level. Many handlers enjoy learning the skills and exercises, and some decide to compete later. In general, taking a family pet class should precede taking a competitive obedience class.

Beginner Novice for New Competitors

For handlers who have not competed in competitive obedience. Dogs must be at least 6 months old and able to sit, down, come when called, have a short stay, walk on leash and taken a beginner obedience class. We'll start with focus, beginning heeling, and using positive reinforcement and marker training will build the skills needed to learn the Beginner Novice exercises: heel on leash, figure 8, sit/stay/walk around the ring, sit for exam, and recall. Bring lots of small, soft, high treats.

THUR 5:30-6:15 pm Instructor: Mary Ann Schropp Limit 6

Beginner Novice

Pre-requisite: Dogs must be at least 6 months old and able to sit, down, come when called, have a short stay, walk on a loose leash and should have taken a beginner obedience class. This class uses positive reinforcement to teach the skills to compete in Beginner Novice: heel on leash, figure 8, sit/down/stay, recall with fronts, and sit for exam. Focus is on competitive obedience, but non-competitive handlers who want to improve their skills are welcome. Focus on building engagement through rewards and praise. Bring LOTS of high-value soft treats.

MON 5:30 - 6:00 pm Instructor: Vicki Bowerman Limit 6

FRI 10:00 - 10:45 am Instructor: Margo Maidlow Limit 10

Heeling Foundations with Props

Prerequisite: basic obedience class, you will also need to make/obtain platform(s) proper size for your dog to sit and stand (instructor will advise on this). This class will introduce heeling basics/heeling games via different approaches so you can find what works for your dog. We will sometimes use props to teach our dog value for heeling position along with how to move their body to maintain heel position. 

THUR 7:15 - 7:45 pm Instructor: Linda Alkema Limit 6

Competitive: Novice: Competing for the First Time?

Learn now to heel correctly and perfect those figure 8's with an emphasis on keeping your dog focused while in the ring. Lets make make it fun for both you and your dog and hopefully avoid costly mistakes. Your dog should know the basic commands, heel, sit, down stay etc.

MON 11:00 - 11:45 am Instructor: Patty Crick Limit 6 

Novice

Pre-requisite: Dogs should be at least 6 months old should be able to sit, down, have a short stay, come when called, walk on a loose leash, and have taken a beginner obedience class. Beginner Novice is NOT a pre-requisite to take this class. This positive reinforcement class focuses on the Novice exercises (heel on leash, figure 8, heel free, stand for exam, recall with finish, sit/stay get your leash, and group sits & downs). Focus is on competitive obedience, but non-competitive handlers who want to improve their skills are welcome.

MON 6:15 - 6:45 pm Instructor: Cindy Jones Limit 6

TUE 6:30 - 7:15 pm Instructor: Dick Hemmer Limit 8

FRI 11:00 - 11:45 am Instructor: Margo Maidlow Limit 10

Intro to Open Skills

This class will introduce skills you and your dog need to learn in order to compete in AKC Open Obedience trials.  Each open exercise will be discussed and demonstrated with good and not so good performances (instructor's dogs).   We'll discuss each aspect of the exercise, and give examples of how to train for better performance.  The only requirement is that your dog needs to be able to work off leash with other dogs in the ring (you must have off leash control).  You do not need to be proficient at AKC novice exercises.  You should have a dumbbell for the retrieving exercises.      

MON 7:00 - 7:30 pm Instructor: Pete Ostlund Limit 5

MON 7:45 - 8:15 pm Instructor: Pete Ostlund Limit 5

Intro to Go Outs and Jumps

Prerequisite: Competition novice skills and ability to be off leash around other dogs. In this class you will be introduced to the basics of teaching your dog the “go out” and also work on jumping skills from the utility obedience. 

THUR 7:45 - 8:15 pm Instructor: Linda Alkema Limit 6

Open

Pre-requisite: Must have taken Intro to Open class. This positive reinforcement class focuses on training and proofing Open Obedience exercises: heeling, command discrimination, drop on recall, retrieving dumb bell, jumps, angle jumping, fronts and finishes. Week 6: Open run-throughs.

MON 10:00 - 10:45 am Instructor: Marty Siegrist Limit 4

MON 6:55 - 7:25 pm Instructor: Cindy Jones Limit 4

TUE 6:30 - 7:15 pm Instructor: Cindy Rice Limit 4

TUE 7:30 - 8:15 pm Instructor: CIndy Rice Limit 4

WED 12:45 - 1:30 pm Instructor: Cindy Jones Limit 4

Open and Utility Practice

This class is for those training at the AKC Open or Utility level and wish to practice the Open and Utility exercises.

THUR 6:15 - 7:00 pm Instructor: Marilyn DeRoover Limit 5

Competitive Proofing: Getting Ring Ready

Pre-requisites: Dogs should be able to heel on leash, come when called, and stay. Proofing is testing the dog’s ability to correctly perform learned behaviors under varying conditions to test their readiness for trials. Handlers will polish and proof skills used in all levels of competition, such as fronts, finishes, position changes, heeling, jumping, retrieving, and stays. Individual exercises can be tailored to all levels, from beginner novice to utility.

TUES 5:45 - 6:15 pm Instructor: Marty Siegrist Limit 8

Advanced Competitive Proofing

This class will focus on ring proofing exercises designed to build confidence in handlers and dogs getting ready to trial at the Open or Utility level. Dogs must be able to heel off leash, stay, retrieve, and jump.

MON 8:15 - 9:00 pm Instructor: Kim Cassida Limit 6

AKC Utility

Pre-requisite: Must have taken Open or Intro to Utility class and be able to perform Open exercises. This class focuses on training and proofing the Utility Obedience exercises: signals, scent discrimination, directed jumping, directed retrieve, and moving stand.

MON 11:00 - 11:45 am Instructor: Marty Siegrist Limit 4

WED 1:40 - 2:15 pm Instructor: Cindy Jones Limit 4

UKC Utility

This class will introduce the Utility exercises for UKC, including the Marked and Signal Retrieves, Consecutive Recalls, plus the more familiar Signal Exercise (Signals and Heeling), and Directed Jumping. Dog needs to be a reliable off leash heeler and able to do retrieving. Owners must have three gloves and at least one of the following: 6 metal or leather or wood articles.

TUE 10:30 - 11:30 am Instructor: Terri Korthals Limit 3

OTHER DOG SPORTS

These classes provide training in a variety of sports such as Agility, Conformation, Flyball, Rally, and Scent Work. Not all classes are offered every term. The classes below are limited enrollment, but our drop in classes offer additional dog sport classes.

Introduction to Rally

This class will cover Novice Rally signs, how to read and execute them properly. Dogs should know basic commands and be able to walk on a loose leash.

FRI 1:00 - 1:45 Instructor: Pat Mann Limit 6

Rally: Intermediate and Advanced

This class is for those who are training and/or competing in Rally at the Intermediate or Advanced level. Dogs should be able to walk on leash, sit, and down on command.  AKC signs will be taught. 

WED 6:45 - 7:30 pm Instructor: Shirley Robertson Limit 6

Scentwork Practice

For dogs who have already had an odor introduction. This class will focus on preparing for competition. We will practice AKC elements, including containers, buried, and interiors. If weather permits we will also do vehicle searches.

WED 5:00 - 5:45 pm Instructor: Shelly Barton Limit 8

Don’t forget our drop in classes!

The May/June drop in classes begin Mon, May 5

Conformation: Mon 6:15 - 7:00 pm - Deb Hughes

Competitive: Novice 7:30 - 8:15 pm - Dick Hemmer

Conformation: Wed 12:00 - 12:45 pm - Lora Richards

Rally: Master & Excellent: Wed, 3:00 - 4:00 pm - Sharon Atkins

Rally: Novice & Advanced: Thur, 2:00 - 2:45 pm - Diane Ahti/Brenda Royer

Table Dog Conformation: Fri 4:00 - 4:45 pm - Kim Bling & Grace Holton

UKC Rally: all levels: Fri 12:00 - 1:00 pm - Shirley Robertson

Conformation: Fri 5:00 - 5:45 pm - Denise Hawkins

Flyball: TIME CHANGE: Fri 6:30 - 9:00 pm - Terri Korthals