Class Information - Obedience

BEGINNERS

OB001: Puppy Manners (Dogs under 6 months)

Cost: $40

Class Time: Monday 8 - 8.45pm

Location:  Main arena

Pre-requisites: None

The Puppy Manners class works on building relationship and communication between dogs and handlers. Positive reinforcement techniques are used to develop basic obedience and begin clicker training.  The class aims to teach the correct timing for rewarding positive behaviours. These can include some basic skills such as focus, being calm, coming when called, sit, drop and stay. Handlers work at making themselves much more exciting than any distractions to maintain their dogs attention and focus. Training games are changed regularly to avoid boredom and emphasis is made on taking breaks to ensure skills are learnt in short and fun sessions. Learning the importance of release commands and rewarding the dogs when they listen and respond to these is also covered along with the introduction to impulse control games using “Zen treat”/”Zen Bowl” etc.

 

OB002: Beginner Manners (Dogs over 6 months)

Cost: $40

Class Time: Monday 7 - 7.45pm and 8 - 8.45pm

Location:  Main arena

Pre-requisites: None

The Beginners classes work on building relationship and communication between dogs and handlers. Positive reinforcement techniques are used to develop basic obedience and begin clicker training.  The class aims to teach the correct timing for rewarding positive behaviours. These can include some basic skills such as focus, being calm, coming when called, sit, drop and stay. Handlers work at making themselves much more exciting than any distractions to maintain their dogs attention and focus. Training games are changed regularly to avoid boredom and emphasis is made on taking breaks to ensure skills are learnt in short and fun sessions. Learning the importance of release commands and rewarding the dogs when they listen and respond to these is also covered along with the introduction to impulse control games using “Zen treat”/”Zen Bowl” etc.

 

LEVEL 1

OB101: Skills Level 1

Cost: $40

Class Time: Monday 7 - 7.45pm, Monday 8 - 8.45pm or Thursday 6.30 - 7.15pm

Location:  Main arena

Pre-requisites: Graduation from Puppy or Beginner Manners

Skills Level 1 emphasises the correct timing of rewards (food and toys) as well as luring, shaping and reinforcing behaviours. Social skills and manners are developed including calm greeting of people and dogs. Other techniques that are worked on include recall, loose lead walking, wait, position changes, send to mat, switching from working to calming and foundation skills for obedience and agility training. Commands/tricks such as sit, drop, stand, roll and spin to name a few are also worked on as well as chaining groups of tasks together for the positions changes.

 

LEVEL 2

OB201: Skills Level 2

Cost: $40

Class Time: Monday  7- 7.45pm

Location:  Lower Oval

Pre-requisites:  Graduation from Skills Level 1

This class builds on the skills learnt previously as well as focusing on more definition from both handler and dog. Platform work is introduced to give the dog more body awareness. Movement on the perch is introduced as a starting point to teach heel position. More duration and distance is developed for each of the skills taught. Dog and handler teams are encouraged to begin working off lead.

 

LEVEL 3

OB301: Skills Level 3 

Cost: $40

Class Time: Monday 7 - 7.45pm

Location:  Lower Oval

Pre-requisites:  Graduation from Skills Level 2

This class builds on the skills that are taught in Skills 2 and refines them. Teams learn how to execute movements with precision. They build on on their platform work and develop greater distance and independence from the dog when working on skills. Off lead work is developed further as well.

 

LEVEL 4

OB401: Advanced Skills

Cost: $40

Class Time: Monday 8 - 8.45pm

Location:  Main arena

Pre-requisites: Graduation from Skills Level 3

This class incorporates skills relevant to competitive obedience and rally, with some tricks included as well.

Dogs will start to work off-lead and learn to focus and perform using remote rewards (ie. no food on handler’s person). Handlers are introduced to ringcraft including start button behaviours, ring entries and behaviour chains. There is an emphasis on heelwork, aiming for precision and enthusiasm from both dogs and handlers.

This class is highly recommended for anyone enrolled in the Rally O class on Thursdays.

 

OB402: Rally-O

Cost: $40

Class Time: Thursday 7 - 8.45pm

Location:  Main arena

Pre-requisites: Graduation from Skills Level 3

The Rally-O class is a fun obedience activity where dogs and handlers, walk through a series of stations (numbered cards) that describe different activities that you need to complete. Handlers are allowed to communicate with their dogs and encourage them all the way whilst correctly completing the stations in order. The class works at helping each other with all aspects of completing the stations according to the rule books from all levels together with associated ring craft and trialling rules.

 

OB403: Term 1 2026 Trick Dog and Ring Confidence

Cost: $40

Class Time: Monday 8 - 8.45pm

Location:  Main arena

Pre-requisites: Graduation of Skills 1, preferably with an interest in future competing in ANKC Trick Dog Test.

Teaching tricks allows us to improve communication and bonding with our dogs. The objective in Trick Dog Test competitions is for the dog and handler to perform a selection of tricks, presented with obvious cooperation between a dog who is willing and working well and a supportive handler.

This class incorporates many of the skills required to successfully perform tricks at Starter and Novice level.

As many teams initially struggle with maintaining focus and motivation inside the competition ring – this class will also focus on building confidence in the ring, coping with distractions and utilising remote rewards.

 

LEVEL 5

OB501: Skills For Trialling All Levels

Cost: $40

Class Time: Monday 7 - 7.45pm

Location:  Main arena

Pre-requisites: Graduation from Advanced Skills and at least 18 months of age

This class works on developing all skills required for trialling in obedience regardless of the level of the dog and handler teams. It further develops attention, retrieve, stays, send to hoop, mat etc. The dogs and handlers also work on their ring entry, proofing and recalls. All of this is done through plenty of fun ‘games’ which make up the whole concept of getting ready for competition and/or continuing their competition experience.

 

LEVEL 6

OB601: Seniors Obedience - Competition Heelwork Class

Cost: $40

Class Time:  Monday or Thursday 7 - 7.45pm 

Location:  Main arena

Pre-requisites: Graduation from Skills 3. 

Tools: Handlers must bring a perch to the class. These can be purchased online, handmade or repurposed (I use an overturned ceramic dish). Food and toys are also required. For food, I recommend chunks of light coloured prime that has been cut into cubes. 

This term we are offering a stylised heeling class. The class will concentrate on the foundation skills that are needed to teach competition style heelwork. This will cover concepts such as rear end awareness, perch work, luring and building value for heel position. 
 

 

OTHER CLASSES

OB901: Scentwork 

Cost: $40

Class Time: Monday or  Thursday depending on class

Location:  Lower Oval Club Rooms

Pre-requisites: Graduation from Skills 3