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Call Sherry at (919) 642-0185 for more information, to sign up for a class or to inquire about pricing. Puppy Kindergarten, Beginner Classes and Canine Good Citizen Classes in Pittsboro, NC Please arrange directly with Sherry Dodson 919-642-0185 Canine Good Citizen Classes: Canine Good Citizen Classes are held in Cary on Saturday mornings. Please arrange directly with Sherry Dodson 919-642-0185. Therapy Dog Classes: Therapy Dog Classes are held in Cary on Saturday mornings. Please arrange directly with Sherry Dodson 919-642-0185. Advanced Classes: Please arrange with Sherry Dodson 919-642-0185. |
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Classes Offered: Want to know more about the classes we offer? Click on the links below to find out more information. |
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Puppy Kindergarten Class: Getting a Puppy Started Right (1 hour/week for 8 weeks $100) This class is offered for pups from 10 weeks of age to about 4 months depending on maturity level. Topics discussed in the classes and covered in the Start Them Right, Inc. manual are the following plus more: • Housetraining, crate training, house manners and the management of chewing • Puppy socialization, information about animal behavior and how dogs learn • Proper training techniques for walking, sit, stay, down, jumping up, come and more • Body handling, grooming and massage • Rules that will help children and pets live together well TOP |
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Beginner Obedience Class: Getting the Older Dog to Understand What We Want (1 hour/week for 8 weeks $100) This class is offered for dogs from about 5 months of age and up or for pups that have taken the Puppy Kindergarten Class. The topics discussed in the classes are the following plus more: • Information about socialization, how dogs learn and animal behavior • Review of any problems with housetraining, crate training, house manners and the management of chewing • Proper training techniques for walking, sit, down, stay, jumping, dog, people greeting and more • Body handling and massage TOP |
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Advanced: 1 hour/week for 8 weeks $100 This class is the natural progression from the Beginner Class but it is not designed to prepare for obedience competition. Since our dogs are already doing well with most commands, let’s challenge them a little more by teaching the basics of more structured obedience work by learning to heel, to do finishes, longer stays and comes and start work on hand signals and have a great time doing it. We will also branch out into some tricks. Each owner and dog team will work on a new trick that they can perform for the group at the last class. TOP |
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Canine Good Citizen Class: 1 hour/week for 7 weeks $100 The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. The class last a minimum of 7 weeks with the last week being the test. You receive your certificate after your information is turned in to the AKC. Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday situation. The evaluator walks up to the dog and handler and greets the handler in a friendly manner, ignoring the dog. The evaluator and handler shake hands and exchange pleasantries. The dog must show no sign of resentment or shyness, and must not break position or try to go to the evaluator. Test 2: Sitting politely for petting This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to touch it while it is out with its handler. With the dog sitting at the handler's side, to begin the exercise, the evaluator pets the dog on the head and body. The handler may talk to his or her dog throughout the exercise. The dog may stand in place as it is petted. The dog must not show shyness or resentment. Test 3: Appearance and grooming This practical test demonstrates that the dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit someone, such as a veterinarian, groomer or friend of the owner, to do so. It also demonstrates the owner's care, concern and sense of responsibility. The evaluator inspects the dog to determine if it is clean and groomed. The dog must appear to be in healthy condition (i.e., proper weight, clean, healthy and alert). The handler should supply the comb or brush commonly used on the dog. The evaluator then softly combs or brushes the dog, and in a natural manner, lightly examines the ears and gently picks up each front foot. It is not necessary for the dog to hold a specific position during the examination, and the handler may talk to the dog, praise it and give encouragement throughout. Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead) This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the dog. The dog may be on either side of the handler. The dog's position should leave no doubt that the dog is attentive to the handler and is responding to the handler's movements and changes of direction. The dog need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and need not sit when the handler stops. The evaluator may use a pre-plotted course or may direct the handler/dog team by issuing instructions or commands. In either case, there should be a right turn, left turn, and an about turn with at least one stop in between and another at the end. The handler may talk to the dog along the way, praise the dog, or give commands in a normal tone of voice. The handler may sit the dog at the halts if desired. Test 5: Walking through a crowd This test demonstrates that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places. The dog and handler walk around and pass close to several people (at least three). The dog may show some interest in the strangers but should continue to walk with the handler, without evidence of over-exuberance, shyness or resentment. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise the dog throughout the test. The dog should not jump on people in the crowd or strain on the leash. Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to the handler's commands to sit and down and will remain in the place commanded by the handler (sit or down position, whichever the handler prefers). The dog must do sit AND down on command, then the owner chooses the position for leaving the dog in the stay. Prior to this test, the dog's leash is replaced with a line 20 feet long. The handler may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one command to get the dog to sit and then down. The evaluator must determine if the dog has responded to the handler's commands. The handler may not force the dog into position but may touch the dog to offer gentle guidance. When instructed by the evaluator, the handler tells the dog to stay and walks forward the length of the line, turns and returns to the dog at a natural pace. The dog must remain in the place in which it was left (it may change position) until the evaluator instructs the handler to release the dog. The dog may be released from the front or the side. Test 7: Coming when called This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the handler. The handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and call the dog. The handler may use encouragement to get the dog to come. Handlers may choose to tell dogs to "stay" or "wait" or they may simply walk away, giving no instructions to the dog. Test 8: Reaction to another dog This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet. The dogs should show no more than casual interest in each other. Neither dog should go to the other dog or its handler. Test 9: Reaction to distraction This test demonstrates that the dog is confident at all times when faced with common distracting situations. The evaluator will select and present two distractions. Examples of distractions include dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog, having a jogger run in front of the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane. The dog may express natural interest and curiosity and/or may appear slightly startled but should not panic, try to run away, show aggressiveness, or bark. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise it through the exercise. Test 10: Supervised separation This test demonstrates that a dog can be left with a trusted person, if necessary, and will maintain training and good manners. Evaluators are encouraged to say something like, "Would you like me to watch your dog?" and then take hold of the dog's leash. The owner will go out of sight for three minutes. The dog does not have to stay in position but should not continually bark, whine, or pace unnecessarily, or show anything stronger than mild agitation or nervousness. Evaluators may talk to the dog but should not engage in excessive talking, petting, or management attempts (e.g., "there, there, it's alright"). Rules: Leash: All the tests for the CGC are performed on lead. The leash should be 4-6 feet long. Be sure the leash is a good width for you so it is comfortable in your hands and that you can work well with it. We prefer leather, but you can choose any type you desire EXCEPT the Flexi-lead. These will not be permitted in our class. Your leash must be comfortable for you as you will be working a lot with it. The snap that attaches the leash to the collar should be easy to operate. Collars: According to the AKC “Dogs should wear well-fitting buckle or slip collars made of leather, fabric, or chain (training collar). Special training collars such as pinch collars, head halters (Gentle Leader), etc. are not permitted in the CGC test.” If you need help with a collar, please ask us. We will be glad to help with a proper fit of a training collar. This type must not be too big or too small. We recognize that special training collars may be very useful tools for beginning dog trainers; however, we feel that dogs are ready to take the CGC test at the point at which they are transitioned to regular collars. Corrections: We want you to have fun with your dogs. At Start them Right, we do not permit the use of harsh corrections. We have always encouraged explaining to the dog what we want of them. They must be kindly and patiently taught the exercise before we can expect it of the. According to the AKC, “Harsh corrections are not permitted in the course of the test and are ground for dismissal.” Elimination: Please take your dog to the same area to eliminate when you get to class or preferably have the dog eliminate just before you get to class. If the dog must eliminate at class, always take it to the same spot and this should be away from the parking lot. They must not get used to eliminating at class. According to the AKC, “Any dog that eliminates during testing should NOT pass the test. The only exception to this rule is that elimination is allowed in Test 10 when the CGC test is held outdoors.” The dog must not eliminate at any other time during the test, so we might as well get them used to not eliminating at the class. Food: Food may not be used during the CGC test. However, food is a good training tool and we can use it a positive reinforcer during class to emphasize the response we want. According to the AKC, “…the purpose of the CGC test is to determine if the dog’s behavior can be controlled by the handler if no special incentives are provided.” Therefore, if you are using food to reinforce a response, you need to gradually eliminate the need for the food treat as training for the specific exercise progresses. You should substitute kin praise and petting for the food treat. Please ask if you have any question or if you are not getting the response that you want. Dismissal: From the CGC manual, “Any dog that growls, snaps, bites, attacks, or attempts to attack a person or another dog is not a good citizen and must be dismissed from the test.” TOP |
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Therapy Dog Class 1 hour/week for 6 weeks $120 Requirement: All dogs must have passed the CGC test. Start Them Right has joined with Cope Eldercare in an exciting cooperative effort by teaching Therapy Dog classes. Upon completion of these classes, testing for Therapy Dog Inc and Delta Society Pet Partners will be arranged. When all certifications are complete the therapy dog teams will be matched with facilities and individuals based on suitability, need and interest. TOP |
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Private Lessons and Private Behavior Consultation call for pricing information TOP |
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Children
are welcome in class as long as they do not distract other class members.
Puppies especially need to be around children of all ages so as long
as children can behave, we will welcome them. Children should be accompanied
by a parent. Everyone in the family needs to be aware of consistent
handling for the dogs so it is critical that parents be at class. Owners
need to contact Sherry if there are any dogs that have problems being
around other dogs or other people so we can make special arrangements
for the dogs in class. It might mean that we need to have a special
class for those dogs.
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