| Frequently Asked Questions |
General
1. What kinds of training methods are used?
2. Which class is right for my dog?
3. What is a typical course progression for a puppy?
4. Why is there an age minimum for some classes?
5. I just got my adult dog. Should I enroll in a class now?
6. Is there a maximum age for any of the classes?
7. Why do I have to show proof of vaccinations for my dog?
8. Are puppies allowed in class before they receive a rabies vaccination?
9. What if the breeder vaccinated my puppy?
10. Are antibody titers acceptable for classes?
11. What if my female dog comes into heat while we're enrolled in class?
12. What if my dog gets sick?
13. Can the other family members come to class?
14. Can I enroll two dogs in the same class?
1. What kinds of training methods are used?
Excellent question! As a dog owner, you should be concerned about the training methods that are used in any class. We are kind and want our dogs to use their brains. We train mainly with reward-based (food) training. But for dogs that are not food motivated (or owners that are not willing to use it), play is another method of reward-based training. We also teach how to wean the dog’s off food training so it is not used forever. However, not every technique works for every dog and handler. There are other methods that can be used. We encourage everyone to let us know if a technique is not working for them.
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2. Which class is right for my dog?
Is your puppy between 10 weeks and 4 months of age? If so, you should sign up for our Puppy Socialization class. Has your dog already taken a puppy class? Then you should consider our Beginner Obedience class. After the Beginner class, then consider the Advanced Obedience class or the Canine Good Citizen class. To take the Therapy Dog class, your dog must have a CGC title.
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3. What is a typical course progression for a puppy?
As long as they have the appropriate vaccines and pups are at least 10 weeks old, they should enroll in the Puppy Kindergarten class. When the Puppy Kindergarten class is over, the natural progression is advancing into the Beginner Obedience class. Then either the Advanced class or the Canine Good Citizen class is appropriate.
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4. Why is there an age minimum for some classes?
The Puppy Kindergarten class is designed for dogs that are still in the formative stages of life. During this stage of development, puppies need lots of socialization and exposure to many different people, places, and things. It is very helpful for them to learn early training and to bond with their owners. These elements are designed into the Puppy Kindergarten class. At 10 weeks, puppies are like a “sponge” and they need to discover that learning is fun and using positive, reward based training is ideal for this.
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5. I just got my adult dog. Should I enroll in a class now?
Congratulations on wanting to start out right with your dog! Yes, please enroll your dog as soon as you can. We do suggest that you give your dog a short time to get to know you but we advise you begin a class as soon as you can. Please contact us if you have any questions. If you know you are getting a dog soon, please go ahead and enroll in a class that is appropriate for the dog’s age so there is only minimal time before you can begin it.
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6. Is there a maximum age for any of the classes?
As long as your dog is in good health, there isn't any reason an older dog can't learn “new tricks”. In fact, many times the older dogs do quite well and enjoy the learning and the mental stimulation. For this reason there is no age maximum for the Beginner Obedience, Advanced, CGC or Therapy classes.
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7. Why do I have to show proof of vaccinations for my dog?
Disease-fighting antibodies are passed to puppies through their mother’s milk. Because it is not known exactly how long these temporary antibodies last, the puppy must be given vaccinations against canine diseases on a schedule, just as infants and children are given vaccines to prevent human diseases. There are several diseases for which all dogs should be protected and these are Rabies, Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus. Parvovirus is an extremely tough, highly contagious viral infection that is especially dangerous to puppies. It can live almost anywhere in the environment. Since there are so many dogs attending our classes, we must make sure that every one of them is protected against the most dangerous, but preventable, canine diseases.
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8. Are puppies allowed in class before they receive a rabies vaccination?
Yes. Each puppy must have at least TWO Distemper combination vaccines and a Bordetella vaccine to attend class. North Carolina law requires that the initial Rabies vaccine be given between 12 and 16 weeks of age, with a second booster vaccine one-year later. After this there should be a booster every three years.
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9. What if the breeder vaccinated my puppy?
It is always wise that a licensed veterinarian give vaccines for they are aware of the proper storage and administration of the vaccines. If a breeder has given the initial puppy vaccines, you will need to discuss this with your veterinarian. If your veterinarian accepts the vaccination and will give us their written acceptance that they feel the dog is protected, we will accept the veterinarians written OK for you to attend classes.
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10. Are antibody titers acceptable for classes?
Antibody titers (the amount of antibody to a particular virus that a dog has in its "immune system memory") can be obtained instead of giving vaccinations at your veterinarian's office. The veterinarian will draw blood and send it to a laboratory for testing. The results will show whether your dog has enough "antibody" (which is what is produced when we vaccinate dogs) to protect against disease. If your veterinarian accepts the titers and is willing to send written confirmation to us that your dog is protected, we will certainly accept that confirmation.
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11. What if my female dog comes into heat while we're enrolled in class?
Unless you are planning on breeding, your female dog should be spayed as soon as your vet will perform the surgery. Females in heat will get the attention of every dog in class - male and female. Generally, all dogs behave very differently around females in heat and will be extremely distracted by her. Moreover, females in heat can leave scents behind that will distract dogs for many days forward. We ask that you leave dogs in heat at home. But, even if your dog can’t come to class we ask that you come without your dog. If this happens at the beginning of the class, other arrangements for attending another class can be made, just talk to us about it.
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12. What if my dog gets sick?
We cannot allow ill dogs in class, both for your dog’s protection and the other dog’s protection. If your dog is ill, please discuss it with your veterinarian. If it is decided that your dog should not come to class, you can come to class without your dog. We ask that you change your clothes, shoes and wash your hands and have no further contact with your dog before coming to class. Even though you won’t get to practice with your dog at class, you can learn the techniques by watching class. Then, you can go home and practice with your dog, once it is better.
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13. Can the other family members come to class?
Yes, by all means! We love for the entire family to come and be a part of the training. Anyone that lives in the household and has contact with your dog is certainly welcome. However, we do ask that the parents of younger children be the “primary” handler in the classes for safety reasons. We want to make sure that the parents have learned the proper techniques before teaching them to the children. We love having children attend classes, especially Puppy Kindergarten, for there are many households where there are no children and dogs need to have proper socialization with children (and children need to know proper behavior around dogs). However, we must emphasize here, that the children must be well-behaved and not distract others taking the class.
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14. Can I enroll two dogs in the same class?
Sure. Each dog must have its own handler. Please talk to us about this.
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CGC (Canine Good Citizens)
1. What are the class objectives?
To prepare your dog to pass the 10 basic tests and become a Canine Good Citizen. The tests are as follows:
1. Accepting a Friendly Stranger
2. Sitting Politely for Petting
3. Appearance and Grooming
4. Out for a Walk (Walking on a Loose Leash)
5. Walking Through a Crowd
6. Sit and Down on Command/ Stay in Place
7. Coming When Called
8. Reaction to Another Dog
9. Reaction to Distractions
10. Supervised Separation
2. If I'm pretty sure my dog will pass the Canine Good Citizen test, do I have to take the CGC class first, or can I just be tested?
You can be tested if you feel you and your dog have had the training and developed the skills to pass the test. Please go to the AKC website to see the requirements and find testing sites and dates.
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Therapy Dog Class
1. What is the minimum age to become a certified therapy dog handler?
2. What is the minimum age for the dog to enroll in a Therapy Dog class
3. Does my dog have to have a Canine Good Citizen title before enrolling in the class
4. How do I know if my dog will be a good Therapy Dog?
1. What is the minimum age to become a certified therapy dog handler?
Handlers must be 16 years of age to be certified through Therapy Dogs, Inc. Any exception to this rule must be approved by the Executive Committee of Therapy Dogs, Inc.
2. What is the minimum age for the dog to enroll in a Therapy Dog class?
Dogs must be one year of age to be certified as a Therapy Dog through Therapy Dogs, Inc. therefore, we ask that the dog be one year of age by the end of the class.
3. Does my dog have to have a Canine Good Citizen title before enrolling in the class?
Yes. To be sure all the dogs in the class have the same basic skills, we require that your dog must have its CGC title to enroll in the Therapy Dog class. The Canine Good Citizen testing gives you (and us) the understanding that you and your dog have the required basic skills and then we will build upon them.
4. How do I know if my dog will be a good Therapy Dog?
It is rare that a dog is completely comfortable in every circumstance and not every dog is suited for every type of therapy situation. There are many different types of therapy environments that we can help you explore. We will focus on preparing you to be certified. Then we will help you determine what your dog's potential strengths and weaknesses are, and help you match your skills as a team to the right type of therapy environment. We have active therapy teams come into class and relate their experiences so you can see the potential environments in which graduates of our classes are working.
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| Contact us today in Cary or Pittsboro, North Carolina, to get in touch with a qualified dog trainer. |
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