Puppies (to 6 months)

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FOR TEEN / ADULT DOGS (6 months and up)

• Levels Obedience Program

• Small Dog Obedience Basics

• Sport Classes

• Behavior Classes

• Private Training and Consultations

Levels Obedience Program (for dogs 6 months and up, big and small)

Our new Levels Obedience Program is self-paced, flexible, motivating, and fun! The Levels program integrates our foundation, basic, intermediate, and advanced obedience into one cohesive program with four levels of skill and training. As soon as you and your dog have mastered one level you’ll be graduated to the next. You and your dog can participate in the Levels program at your own pace and in a way that works with your own schedule.

Learn more about our Levels Obedience Program here.

Small Dog Obedience Basics (for dogs under 25 pounds who are 6 months and older)

Small dogs are welcomed in our Levels Obedience Program, but some owners prefer keeping their diminutive dogs in a class tailored just for the smaller set. Our Small Dog Obedience Basics class is an 8-week course (meets weekly) that covers:

• Your small dog paying attention to you, even when there are distractions
• “Canine calisthenics”  sit, down, and stand
• Walk nicely on a leash
• Coming when called - quickly and reliably
• Wait and stay
• Ways to address existing behavior problems (such as jumping up) and prevent new ones from developing
• Positive socialization with other dogs and people
• Games that make learning fun
• Training challenges that are unique to smaller dogs

Time: Once a week for 8 weeks. The first session, known as our “Training Toolkit Seminar”, is an orientation to canine behavior and training (this session lasts approximately 2½ hours and dogs stay home). Sessions 2-8 include the dogs, of course; these sessions last approximately one hour.

Cost: $175, includes 30-minute private equipment session, deluxe treat bag, clicker and wrist band, 30’ long line, access to online training materials, grad photos, certificate.

Dates/Registration: See Class Schedule and Registration

Sport Classes

	Dr. Sarah integrates tricks into a freestyle routine with Lenny.

Freestyle
This fun-filled class will introduce you to some of the moves and maneuvers of Canine Freestyle, a wonderful new dog sport that mixes dogs, dancing, teamwork, tricks, and music in a thoroughly fun and rewarding way. Dogs and people of all ages, sizes, and abilities can enjoy this activity. Click here for a wonderful demonstration of the best of Canine Freestyle. (Sarah recently attended a workshop with this woman; it was fabulous!) Besides being great fun, this class will help your dog become a better learner and you become a better trainer!

Note: Freestyle will be best enjoyed if your dog is relatively calm around other dogs, does not pull on a leash when walking, and has achieved at least an intermediate level of obedience.

Time: Once a week for 6 weeks.

Cost: $130; includes class DVD and training manual by Judy Gamet, founder of “Dogs Can Dance”

Dates/Registration: See Class Schedule and Registration

Tricks and Clicks
This light-hearted class will focus on a variety of tricks that will provide loads of training fun for you and your dog (and will impress your friends and family too!). Some of these “tricks” will be just plain cute and some are useful too. Besides being great fun, this class will help your dog become a better learner and you become a better trainer. And, for those interested in Freestyle (a fabulous activity that integrates creative heeling with tricks and music), this class can help prepare for this sport (we’ll even include a little choreography of the tricks to music to get you started on your way!) Note: Use of a clicker or verbal reward marker (e.g. yes!) is essential for this class.

Time: Once a week for 6 weeks.

Cost: $100; includes copy of book The Only Dog Tricks Book You’ll Ever Need

Dates/Registration: See Class Schedule and Registration 

Rally O
Rally O is a fun dog sport that every dog and person can enjoy. Dogs and handlers navigate course with stations indicating which obedience exercise to perform. (I think of it sort of like a fitness par course with stations for various exercises, but Rally O exercises are much more fun than sit-ups and pull-ups). Examples of exercises are: sit-down-sit, sit-walk around, straight figure 8, and recall over jump. For those who are competitive, this class can help you prepare for APDT or AKC sponsored competitions (we’ll use the APDT format in class). For those who simply want to have fun, Rally O provides a great way to tune up your training and improve your teamwork with your dog!

Note: Rally O will be best enjoyed if your dog is relatively calm around other dogs, does not pull on a leash when walking, and has achieved an advanced level of obedience.

Time: Once a week for 6 weeks.

Cost: $90

Dates/Registration: See Class Schedule and Registration

Behavior Classes

Feisty Fidos
This is a small group class that is designed specifically for dogs that lunge and bark when they are on a leash and see other dogs. Using behavior approaches including desensitizing, counter conditioning, and alternate behaviors, the class will focus on teaching dogs to be calm around other dogs and attentive to you instead of outer-focused on other dogs. Enrollment in this class is open ONLY to current clients of The Canine Connection who are currently in private training and ready to take their dogs to the next level.

Time: Once a week for 6 weeks.

Cost: $130, includes the book Feisty Fido by Pat McConnell

Dates/Registration: See Class Schedule and Registration

Fearful Fidos
This is a small group class that is designed specifically for dogs that are timid around other dogs and people. Using behavior approaches including desensitizing and counter conditioning, this class will provide a safe and positive program for dogs to become more confident and outgoing. Enrollment in this class is open ONLY to current clients of The Canine Connection who are currently in private training and ready to take their dogs to the next level.

Time: Once a week for 6 weeks.

Cost: $130, includes the book The Cautious Canine by Pat McConnell

Dates/Registration: See Class Schedule and Registration

Private Training and Consultations 

With private training you receive personalized attention and coaching to improve your dog’s behavior. Private training is recommended when:

• You need help with behavior problems such as fear, anxiety, aggression, house soiling, or destruction.
• Your schedule or situation prevents participation in our group classes.
• You have specific training goals, such as service dog tasks, that go beyond our group class curriculum.
• You have very small children who you would like to be involved in the training process.
• You want to build a foundation with private training before coming into to a group class.
• Your dog is too young (i.e. under 14 weeks) for group class.
• You want assistance in selecting the ideal dog to be your new best friend.

Depending on your training needs, we may encourage you to begin your program with us by attending our monthly Training Toolkit Seminar. This seminar provides a wealth of information that will allow you to optimize your dog’s training.

Training center rate: Initial consultation: $135 (approx. 1½ hour). Subsequent sessions: $90 (approx. 1 hour)*.

In-home rate: Chico area – Initial consultation: $150 (approx. 1½ hour). Subsequent sessions: $100 (approx. 1 hour)*.

Note: Clients who begin with the monthly Training Toolkit Seminar will have a 1-hour first lesson (instead of 1½ hour first lesson).

* Additional rates to may apply to Durham, Paradise, Magalia, Hamilton City, and other areas.