Last updated Feb 26, 2007

Our Ruffians are always welcome to come observe any other classes during the week, any level, and I highly encourage you to do so. There is a complete class schedule on the website (http://www.diamondsintheruff.com) The more you saturate yourself with what we teach and how we teach it the more comfortable you will become and the easier it will be to know "what comes next" so you can read your instructor's mind and direct students to the next level of classes that would be most appropriate for them and their particular dog. Most of all, the more you will be in sync with our philosophy of training.

Payment for classes:
Assistant reimbursement is $6.25 per dog,
Full-charge Instructors who assist will be paid $8.75 per dog.
Instructor reimbursement is $25 per dog registered and paid.

We generally pay after week 3 when everything settles and we know how many are actually going to settle in each class. Instructors and assistants may attend as a student with their own dog in any class for a reduced rate of $35.

Student Profiles/Release-waiver forms and Roll Sheets shall remain on the clipboard.
Please staple release forms to the attendance sheet.

A separate copy of the roll sheet will be provided for you to take home for your records and reference. The SIGNED REGISTRATION / RELEASE FORM is a legal document and for obvious legal reasons must stay in the possession of Diamonds in the Ruff.

Every student in every class must have a *SIGNED* STUDENT REGISTRATION / RELEASE FORM attached to the current class roster regardless of whether they've been in previous classes.

Instructor AND assistant duties:

GENERAL CHECKLIST

PLEASE ARRIVE AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE CLASS IS DUE TO BEGIN, especially on the first class of a new session when they often aren't sure they are at the right place. Having unattended students milling out is to be avoided at all costs. We should not impact our neighboring businesses and most importantly, it is our responsibility to guard against unsupervised incidents between early arriving students' dogs. Please make sure that either the instructor or assistant will be there to unlock and direct early students prior to class start time.

On arrival, please check the following:

Turn on lights.
Straighten store.
Check hand-outs, supplies.
Put out poop bucket.
Rinse and fill dog water bowl.
Cut treats as needed.
Check bathroom supplies. paper towels.
Greet students, monitor seating.
Fit collar changes as needed.

Before you leave the Ruff House or satellite sites, be sure to double check the following:

General straightening,
Sweep/vacuum after every class, especially during shedding season.
Wipe chairs if needed.
Dishes done, counters wiped,
Refill sugar, creamer, hot chocolate, tea, etc.
Empty/rinse coffee maker if used
Take out garbage if full (or smelly), put in dumpster in back alley.
Plastic garbage bags are under sink.
Straighten store area, restock as needed.
Bring in poop bucket.
Lock front and back doors - re-check to be sure!

ASSISTANT DUTIES
Instructor's duty to oversee and remind the Assistant as needed!
(See General Checklist)

Assistant/instructor should meet before class to discuss duties for the day.
Take notes during class and debrief after class regarding students/plans for next week.
Be ready to demonstrate as needed - go over with instructor if, what and how they would like demos done, what they'd like narrated, how they want it explained.

Assist! Be available to answer questions/give personal assistance during breaks, before/after class time, etc.

Week one - Greet students at the door, distribute folders/handbooks and collect student profile/release forms, take roll, enter profile scores on the class roll sheet.

Collect checks from any unpaid students. You will not be paid for unpaid students!
There's a space provided to the left of the Student's name on the class attendance sheet (under the P) to indicate whether the student has paid or not. There will simply be a check if they have or blank if they haven't. If you need to make a notation of how they paid, when they paid, if they were pre-paid, or if they intend to pay, please use a post-it note with the checks as well as on the sheet.

Take roll each week, note make-ups on appropriate class sheet! We are keeping track of attrition rates, numbers of students who go on to future classes, etc. Note specific concerns/information on the roll sheet. These will also be added to the data base for future instructor reference.

Hand outs - listen and be ready with any additional handouts (shy dog, small dog, dominant dog, gentle leader, prong, etc.) as needed. Most of the "usual" behavior handouts are now included in the handbook. I will continue to keep copies stocked in the file for all those special hand-outs. Let me know if we get low.

Pet Supply Sales are booming. Thanks to SpokAnimal we have supplies for our students. If there's anything we are out of or should be carrying, let me know. Prices marked include tax. Checks made out to SpokAnimal. If you loan equipment for trial for the week, be sure to note it on the class roster and collect $ or equipment the following week.

The Ruff House Library - there is a notebook on the bookshelf, write the person's name, phone number and class and the book/tape they are borrowing in the notepad and cross it off when the book/tape is returned. Stress that a one-week check-out is desired. If they cannot return the book during class time, they can slip books that will fit through the mail slot.

Noise Level - Redirect class observers, students, and extra family members who want to talk during class time. They should be paying attention to the instructor! Be ready to help students redirect noisy dogs in the house and outside (barking dogs outside should also be discouraged so as not to drive the neighbors nuts.)

Back-to-Back Class Traffic Patterns - Ask arriving students to stand clear of the doorway as previous students leave, or as needed, excuse the earlier class out the back door and admit the arriving class in the front door to avoid cross/traffic problems. Please remind the excused students to respect the space of the arriving dogs/handlers as they leave the Ruff House and go to their cars. Assistants may need to go outside to monitor this transition, especially if there are dogs with social issues leaving or arriving.

On the last night of class:
Take care of registering those students who wish to go on. Give them the green reminder sheet with the date/time they are registered for (point out to them that this is their confirmation, they will not receive anything by mail.) Please note on the class registration sheet which class (day & time) the student is signing up for, if they paid or plan to mail their check - or if they will bring the check to the first week of class.

If any of the above info is outdated or incorrect
or you have additions to make, please email me at
ditr_training@hotmail.com !