Classes
Puppy
Prerequisite: None
This introductory six-week class is designed for puppies aged 8 to 16 weeks when they start class. This 50 minute weekly class introduces the handler to COKC’s “positive, not permissive” training philosophy which builds a confident and trusting puppy. Using engaging games and through positive interaction, puppies will learn to focus on their handlers while still having fun. This class includes all aspects of socialization: to people, places, things, sights, sounds, and touch with no puppy to puppy play. Important skills such as house training, bite inhibition and resource guarding are also covered in this class.
Manners 1
Prerequisite: None
This introductory six-week class is designed for dogs over 16 weeks of age. This 60 minute weekly class introduces the handler to COKC’s “positive, not permissive” training philosophy. Handlers first work on handler focus, or getting their dogs to pay attention to them. This is done by playing games such as “Attention Game”, “Gimme Dat Collar” and “It’s Yer Choice”. This class includes a major focus on having handlers play with their dogs, to build a better relationship and increase the dog’s handler focus. Handlers teach their dogs to sit and down, and the lifelong importance of the recall (teaching dogs to come on the first call) is emphasized in this class. Another major focus of this class is socialization exposing dogs to as many different people, sights, and sounds as possible, as well as teaching dogs to accept all types touch and handling from their owners and others. No dog to dog play will occur in this class. The foundation for “loose leash walking” is laid in this class. House training, bite inhibition and resource guarding are also covered, and dogs learn to “love their crate” as an important part of crate training. The team (owner and dog) must attend 4 out of the 6 classes to be able to register for the next level of classes.
Manners 2
Prerequisite: Manners 1
This 60-minute weekly class building on the skills learned in Manners 1 plus new exercises. Handlers teach their dogs to stand, and gradually increase the amount of time dogs are expected to hold all of the static exercises such as sit, down and stand. Shaping with a clicker is taught in this class, and this shaping principle is applied to new skills such as hand targeting. The retrieve is taught in this class, and handlers spend lots of time working on two very important skills introduced in the prerequisite class: recall and loose leash walking. Socialization to all kinds of people and things continues in this six week class. The team (owner and dog) must attend 4 out of the 6 classes to be able to register for the next level of classes.