HeRo Canine Consulting LLC offers the following "Pet Manners" group classes for all dog breeds and breed mixes:

•  AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy℠ for puppies between 8 and 18 weeks old

•  C.L.A.S.S.™ B. A. for Dogs™ (beginners) for dogs over 4 1/2 months old

•  C.L.A.S.S.™ M. A. for Dogs™ (intermediate) for dogs over 4 1/2 months old

•  C.L.A.S.S.™ Ph. D for Dogs™/ AKC Canine Good Citizen® (advanced) for dogs over 4 1/2 months old

     Each course consists of six weekly sessions; each class lasts approx. 60 minutes. Class size is limited to six dog/handler teams. 

    All classes are held at Wagging Tail Doggie Day Care, 95 E 10th Street in Bloomsburg; location is subject to change.

Course Fees:

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy℠: $130.00 for the 6-week course (includes evaluation in session 6)

C.L.A.S.S.™ B.A. for Dogs™,  M.A. for Dogs™, Ph. D. for Dogs™: $130.00 for each 6 week course. An additional testing fee of $15.00 per module applies; evaluations will be scheduled for the following week after the courses end.

AKC Canine Good Citizen® test: $10.00, if scheduled at the same time as the Ph. D. for Dogs™ test: $15.00 if CGC test is requested only.

$15.00 discount for shelter/rescue dogs (must inform HeRo at the time of enrollment).  No discounts will be applied after registration.

Download the newest Group Class Registration for Winter-Spring 2012 PDF File or Word Document

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy℠

     This course puts an emphasis on canine socialization with novel stimuli, other dogs and people. Puppy handler teams that have attended all training sessions are eligible to take the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy℠ test in week six. Question and answer sessions will address daily challenges in living with your puppy. A professional training manual is included in the class fee. You can download the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy℠ brochure here: http://akc.org/pdfs/starpuppy/brochure.pdf

 Content:

•   How to use positive reinforcement training techniques effectively

•  How to integrate training in your daily life

•  Management of your puppy (crate-training, introducing it to various areas of the house)

•  Mouthing and biting

•  Potty training

•  Focus and attention

•  Basic obedience commands (sit, down, come, etc.)

•  Introduction to loose-leash walking

•  Targeting (e. g. “touch” to the hand)

•  Exposing your dog safely to new environments, situations, and controlling interactions with different people and animals ("socialization")

•  Off-leash play sessions with the other puppies

•  Getting dogs to accept handling and restraint

•  Owner education (e. g. basic canine needs, canine body language and behavior)

•  Use of appropriate equipment, toys and treats

20 STEPS to Success: The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy℠ Test

S ocilalization

T raining

A ctivity

R esponsibility

OWNER BEHAVIORS:

1. Maintains puppy's health (vaccines, exams, appears healthy)

2. Owner receives Responsible Dog Owner's Pledge

3. Owner describes adequate daily play and exercise plan

4. Owner and puppy attend at least 6 classes by an AKC Approved CGC Evaluator

PUPPY BEHAVIORS:

1. Free of aggression toward people during at least 6 weeks of class

2. Free of aggression toward other puppies in class

3. Tolerates collar or body harness of owner's choice

4. Owner can hug or hold puppy (depending on size)

5. Puppy allows owner to take away a treat or toy

PRE-CANINE GOOD CITIZEN® TEST BEHAVIORS:

1. Allows (in any position) petting by a person other than the owner

2. Grooming-Allows owners handling and brief exam (ears, feet)

3. Walks on a Leash-Follows owner on a lead in a straight line (15 steps)

4. Walks by other People-Walks on leash past other people 5-ft. away

5. Sits on command-Owner may use a food lure

6. Down on command-Owner may use a food lure

7. Comes to owner from 5-ft when name is called

8. Reaction to Distractions-distractions are presented 15ft away

9. Stay on leash with another person (owner walks 10 steps and returns)

C.L.A.S.S.™-Canine Life and Social Skills

C.L.A.S.S.™ stands for and encompasses Canine Life and Social Skills. The mission of C.L.A.S.S.™ is to promote positive relationships through positive reinforcement training methods. C.L.A.S.S. ™ is a three-level evaluation for students to demonstrate the real-life skills of their dogs, as well as a knowledge assessment of the students’ understanding of basic dog handling and care.

 Developed in 2010 by members of a task force from the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), the C.L.A.S.S.™ program is designed to benefit students (i.e. dog owners) and their canine companions, dog trainers and others who work with dogs, animal shelters and rescues, and the community overall. C.L.A.S.S.™ is just one of many programs offered by the APDT to promote caring relationships between dogs and students through using reward-based training methods. 

 Check out www.mydoghasclass.com for more information.  You can download the student handbook here: http://mydoghasclass.com/docs/student/student_handbook.pdf.

 In addition to the exercises required for each “degree”, we will address how to use a variety of training techniques and equipment effectively, how to integrate training in your daily life, focus and attention, targeting, canine life stages and “problem” behaviors (e. g. chewing, digging, barking) as needed.

Silke became a certified C.L.A.S.S.™ evaluator in August 2011 – for more information read the press release here as a PDF file or Word Document

There are three C.L.A.S.S.™ assessment levels.  All students begin in the B.A. Level, and progress to higher levels as they pass each level. Successfully completing each C.L.A.S.S.™ level is like earning an academic degree in real-life skills with your dog. 

 Please note that you can attend these courses without signing up for the C. L. A. S. S.™ program, but in order to receive your canine “degrees” you will have to register with www.mydoghasclass.com ($5.00 per dog per level – discounts are given for registering more than one dog from the same household at the same time), successfully complete the Student Knowledge Assessment, submit a Veterinarian Certificate (B. A. level only) and pass the evaluation for each level.  If you do not wish to enroll, you will receive a separate certificate of completion from HeRo Canine Consulting LLC at the end of each course.

B. A. for Dogs™ (beginner)

The Bachelor’s (B.A.) Level assesses the core life skills of a student/dog team, and includes a knowledge assessment of the student’s understanding of basic dog handling and care. Please download the test description and real-life relevance here: http://mydoghasclass.com/docs/general/ba_test_desc.pdf.  A professional training manual is included in the class fee (B. A. level only).  This short video http://www.mydoghasclass.com/about/exams/ba/ provides an example of what you can expect on the B.A. evaluation.

1. Wait at the door

2. Come and Leashing-Up Manners

3. Loose Leash Walking and Attention

4. Meet and Greet

5. Bonus 1: Trick (rollover, spin, fetch, speak or paw)

6. Leave it

7. Wait for the Food Bowl

8. Stay

9. Settle

10. Give and Take

11. Bonus 2: Trick of Students Choice

M. A. for Dogs™ (intermediate)

The Master’s (M.A.) Level assesses the life skills of a student/dog team with distractions. Please download the test description and real-life relevance here: http://mydoghasclass.com/docs/general/ma_test_desc.pdf.  This short video http://www.mydoghasclass.com/about/exams/ma/  provides an example of what you can expect on the M.A. evaluation.

1. Wait in the Car

2. Pass by Other Dogs

3. Wait at the Door

4. Come and Leashing-up Manners

5. Sit, Down, and Stand

6. Handling

7. Loose leash Walking and Leave it

8. Stay

9. Bonus 1: Targeting

10. Bonus 2: Trick of Students Choice

Ph. D. for Dogs™/AKC Canine Good Citizen® (advanced)

The Doctorate (Ph.D.) Level is the highest level, designed to assess the performance reliability of a dog/student team’s life skills. Please download the test description and real-life relevance here: http://mydoghasclass.com/docs/general/phd_test_desc.pdf.  This short video http://www.mydoghasclass.com/about/exams/phd/ provides an example of what you can expect on the Ph.D. evaluation.

1. Loose Leash Walking

2. Back Up

3. Stay

4. Come and Leashing-Up Manners

5. Meet and Greet

6. Attention

7. Table Manners

8. Do You Really Know Sit?

9. Bonus 1: Do You really Know Sit?

10. Bonus 2: Targeting with an Unfamiliar Person

If desired, we can also do an AKC Canine Good Citizen® evaluation at the same time as or in lieu of the PhD for Dogs™ test. 

Started in 1989, the CGC Program is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. 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.  You can download the CGC brochure here: http://www.akc.org/pdfs/cgc/GK9GC1.pdf

1. Accepting a friendly stranger
2. Sitting politely for petting
3. Appearance and Grooming
4. Out for a walk (loose-leash walking)
5. Sit and down on command/Staying in place
6. Coming when called
7. Reaction to another dog
8. Reaction to distractions
9. Supervised separation

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email Silke Wittig @ 574-612-8170 (cell) or 570-458-5749 (home) or contact@herocanineconsulting.com. I look forward to working with you and your dog!

Site was last updated on 26-Jan-2012