ENTRY
LEVEL - no prior class experience:
My dog is a puppy under
4 1/2 months old.
The
optimal class is Puppy Preschool.
You may also choose Puppy Kindergarten or the Small Dog class if the
Preschool date/time doesn't fit your schedule.
My dog is an older
puppy under 6 months old.
The
optimal class is Puppy Kindergarten.
You may also
choose Headstart or Small Dog class if the Preschool date/time doesn't fit
your schedule.
Large/giant breeds who are pushing 6 months of age may be more appropriate
in Headstart.
Shy/sensitive dogs who are pushing 6 months of age may be more appropriate
with younger puppies.
My dog is an adolescent
or adult dog over 6 months of age.
The
optimal class is Headstart.
You may choose the Small Dog class if your dog is 25lbs or under.
Small dogs may also attend the "regular" Headstart class.
Puppies whose owner's schedules don't work for puppy class, may also attend
Headstart.
I
want to learn everything I can about dogs so I can be the best dog owner I
can be!
The
optimal choice is the "Complete Understanding
& Training Your Dog" package.
Maybe
it's your first time owning a dog or raising a puppy.
Maybe you are just a complete dog lover and want to learn all there is to
know about dogs
and how they think and learn and view the world so you can understand and
relate to them better.
This value package includes a 4 week class session (any level) plus three
essential
Behavior 101 lectures: Leadership, What is My Dog Saying, and Positive Solutions
for Problem Behaviors.
A thirty dollar savings!
SECOND LEVEL - some class
experience.
I and my dog have attended
a previous beginning level class.
The optimal class is Prep.
If you and your
dog have completed a beginning or puppy class at DITR or reward based class
at
another training school, the second level class is Prep. This is a class for
all ages and sizes.
We also offer a Prep class specifically for small dogs if you prefer a class
with smaller breeds.
My dog attended a class
with his previous owner, but I have not been to class.
The optimal class is Headstart.
We
call them "dog training classes" but they are really "trainer
training classes" - YOU are the one
who needs the lessons so you can learn to communicate with and teach your
dog.
I have attended classes
with previous dogs using reward-based methods
and have started my new dog's training at home.
You may begin at the Prep
level.
If
your dog has good social skills and a basic understanding of "sit, down,
stand, come, leave-it"
you may skip the entry level class and start at the second level, Prep class.
If you would like to
purchase the entry level handbook and homework materials, you may for $10
extra.
My dog and I have completed
an intermediate or
advanced level classes at another school.
If you have used clicker training, you may
move on to one of our many Skill Building Levels
classes.
If you and your dog do not have an understanding of clicker training, Prep
will be the optimal class.
Advanced
Skill Building classes rely heavily on the clicker as a training tool.
My dog is extremely
shy and shuts down in new environments.
Email
us for suggestions. We may have you sit in on additional classes for more
exposure
or invite you to visit the Ruff House when there are no classes going on so
your dog can
experience the environment when it is quiet. We also encourage shy dogs to
attend the
first week orientation with their owners for an extra week when it is less
active and just people.
Occasionally shy large breed dogs attend the small breed class for less intimidating
exposure.
Extremely shy/traumatized dogs may be candidates for the Social Skills class.
My dog has poor social
skills and tends to be reactive with other dogs/people.
If
your dog is extremely uncomfortable, shuts down or acts out toward people/animals
and
needs carefully choreographed exposure and you need to learn applied behavior
modification and
handling skills around other dogs and people, Social
Skills would be the optimal class.
My
dog is highly frustrated and has poor self-control around other dogs/people.
If
your first class experience was difficult because your dog couldn't take its
mind off the other
dogs, if your dog tends to bark at other dogs/people out of frustration or
is
"snippy" when other dogs get "too close" Remedial
Rovers is the optimal class.
My
dog has serious issues and I need help.
If
your dog has serious issues, has bitten, or has been deemed a dangerous/potentially
dangerous dog by the court system, we offer private
consultations.
