What will my dog learn to do in Obedience Class.
      We teach basic good manners obedience... skills all dogs should know to be good companion animals. We don't train your dog for you, we teach you to train your dog and work with you during the training process to help you achieve success. Exercises learned include walking beside you on a loose leash regardless of changes in direction or speed, sitting on command, laying down on command, standing on command, and staying in all those positions. We also work on coming when called. This are basics upon which all further advanced training is built upon whether you do obedience competition, have a field hunter, a police dog, a search dog, a guide dog, or a therapy dog. They are exercises that all good canine companions should know, even if they do not go on to more advanced training.
    Puppy class is less structured than the adult dog class with more emphasis on socialization and building the owner/canine bond. We help you prepare the puppy for learning and we introduce many of the basic exercises mentioned above. Puppies have a short attention span and the class is oriented with that in mind. We also have discussion periods in which common behavior issues are covered, such as house training, chewing, barking, biting, etc.
     The adult class is more structured, with emphasis on the actual obedience exercises. Dogs ages 6 months and older are more focused and can handle greater training challenges.
     Regardless of which class you are in, it is vital to understand you will need to work with your dog everyday to achieve success. In class we will help you learn how to perform and teach specific exercises... it is up to you to work with the dog daily in understanding and perfecting these exercises. If you do not work with the dog, it will not learn.

My dog is five years old. Is he too old to come to class?
     No! Dogs of all ages benefit from obedience class. We have had dogs as old as 10 years in our classes and the senior dogs have a great time. Just because they are older, it doesn't mean you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

My husband and I both want to work the dog. Can we take turns bringing the dog to class?
    We require only one person to be the primary trainer during the classes. People have different styles of praise and corrections, different tones of voice and way of moving. It is hard enough for a dog to learn obedience exercises one way without having to learn them differently with different people. Dogs require consistency during the learning process and can accomplish that best with one initial trainer. After the dog has learned, then certainly the rest of the family can work the dog with obedience, provided that person understands how to give the commands and praise properly. We encourage members of the family who will be working with the dog to attend classes, bring a lawn chair, and watch the training process.

Can my child work the dog in class?
    We find that children under the age of 15 or 16 generally have difficulty with the consistency and timing necessary to impart information to the dog. They are also less likely to be able to control a problem dog properly and administer corrections if needed. We find that adults or older teenagers are best to begin initial training.

Have more questions? Contact us about the AOTC obedience classes. Be a responsible dog owner, and learn how your dog can become a better canine companion!