Virtual AKC Novice Trick Training and Testing
With Rachel Lachow

Tricks are a great way to build a relationship and have fun with your dog, and why not earn an AKC title while doing it? Rachel Lachow will be presenting a 5 week virtual AKC Novice Trick Training and Testing Class.  You will teach your dogs all they need to know to earn the AKC Trick Dog Novice title (TKN). The classes will be held on Zoom with support in a private Facebook group. Testing will be through video or Zoom. All classes will be taped and available for one week after the session. This is a reward-based class and will be teaching the use of clickers. There is a minimum of 4 to hold the class. This class is for dogs 4 months and older.

Class Limit: 10
Start Date: Jan 11
Day/Time: Mondays 2 to 3pm
Fee: Non-Members – $60, Members – $45, Contributing Members – $37.5

Click here to register: [OB106]  AKC Novice Trick Training and Testing – Live Online

More virtual classes starting this Winter are listed below. Auditing is also available.

[AG055] Foundations for Dog Sports: Clicker FUNdamentals. – Live Online. Instructors: Rose Kane, Kat Edrington, Ashley Musser. 6 weeks. This will be an online virtual learning interactive course with live lessons offered Thursday evenings.  This class is for dogs aged 3 months & up. Handlers will be introduced to clicker training and fundamentals of shaping behaviors. Dogs will be introduced to the basic relationship building and foundation skills needed to be competitive in timed, physically active dog sports such as agility, flyball, rally, and disc dog.  Foundation training includes target training; building coordination and precision; canine fitness training; impulse control games; drive games with recalls and sends; emphasizing tugging as a reward; and rear-end awareness. Dogs can and should be entered in this class at a young age (although it is reasonable to expect very young dogs to rotate through it twice to expose them to each foundation exercise twice during their “puppy brain” stage). This class is primarily taught using a clicker to shape behaviors. If you do not own a clicker, it is requested that you purchase one prior to the first class. Graduation criteria: (1) trainer ability to build small incremental criteria in order to train a more complex behavior (2) dog exhibits ability to learn by shaping (3) dog exhibits body control coordination through demonstration of class exercises (4) dog stays focused and engaged with handler (5) student exhibits sound coordination and timing for effective clicker training.  Students planning to move ahead to Foundations of Dog Training: Skills for Success have the additional criteria of (1) actively engaging with a toy and (2) dog assumes and maintains a 2 on 2 off position using a target plate and travel board.  Note: You can still have a working sport if you are unable to “attend” the live lessons on Thursday. Via Zoom Lives and a Private Facebook Group “Working Spot” Students are invited to submit 1-3 weekly videos and receive feedback to work through roadblocks, progress to complex versions of behavior, and improve timing and marking. If you don’t have a Facebook account, all you need is an email address to create one at facebook.com.

[AG056] Foundations for Dog Sports: Skills for Success – Live Online. Instructors: Rose Kane,  Kat Edrington, Ashley Musser. 6 weeks.  This will be an online virtual learning interactive course with live lessons offered Thursday evenings.  Dogs and handler teams will be introduced to the relationship building and foundation skills needed to be competitive in timed, physically active dog sports such as agility, flyball, rally, and disc dog.  Foundation training includes travel board & nose target training; fitness training; impulse control games; drive games with recalls and sends; emphasizing tugging as a reward; rear-end awareness and body coordination exercises. Dogs can and should be entered in this class at a young age (although it is reasonable to expect very young dogs to rotate through it twice to expose them to each foundation exercise twice during their “puppy brain” stage). This class is primarily taught using a clicker to shape behaviors. Students will be exposed to a variety of “proofing” techniques to improve their dog’s performance. Prerequisite: This class is for dogs aged 6 months & up who have graduated from Foundations: Fundamentals or completed a clicker based Basic Obedience or Puppy Kindergarten class. This class presumes a handler has sound understanding of shaping principles and good clicker coordination and timing. If you do not meet this criteria, AG053 is for you! Graduation criteria: (1) ability to hold a “stay” position with handler at least 10′ away; (2) dog exhibits body control coordination through demonstration of class exercises (3) dog can stay focused on handler while working (4) dog sends around an object from at least 5′ away (5) student exhibits understanding of training principles. Students planning to move ahead to Agility 1 have the additional criteria of (1) actively engaging with a toy and (2) dog assumes and maintains a 2 on 2 off position using a target plate and travel board.  Note:  You can still have a working sport if you are unable to “attend” the live lessons on Thursday. Via Zoom Lives and a Private Facebook Group “Working Spot” Students are invited to submit 1-3 weekly videos and receive feedback to work through roadblocks, progress to complex versions of behavior, and improve timing and marking. If you don’t have a facebook account, all you need is an email address to create one at  facebook.com.