Obedience Classes
Hamilton Dog Obedience Club offers you guidance in building a positive relationship with your dog in order to have a well mannered dog that you can take out in public. Three sessions a year are held in Fall, Winter and early Spring. Each session is 7 weeks and the classes are 45 minutes in length. All training classes are held Wednesday evenings between 6:00 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.
Our instructors are all club members, who volunteer their time and expertise to help you with your dog.
Classes offered may be subject to change based on demand and registration numbers. Class time(s) will vary depending upon needs and enrollment. You will be notified of any changes before the date of your first class.
Refund Policy
A refund request may be made up to one week before the date of your first class. Honouring any refund requests made after that date will be at the discretion of the club.
Please note: All refunds are subject to a $10 administration fee.
If you have to miss a class please advise your head instructor.
Puppy 1 and Level 1 are the only classes that you do NOT bring your dog with you for the first evening.
Not all classes listed below are offered every session. Click the link below to see our current offerings.
Please note that classes may be adjusted or the time changed subject to enrollment. Any changes will be communicated to the registrant prior to classes beginning.
VIEW SCHEDULE OF CURRENT OBEDIENCE CLASSES AND REGISTER ONLINE.
| CLASS | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Rally Obedience Novice | The prerequisite for this class is that you have completed the New Novice class and are proficient in all the skills. You will learn new signs and practice the basic obedience skills you have learned. You will be taught signs from Novice to Advanced. Dogs do attend the first night. A crate is absolutely required; you will be walking a course without your dog. Limit – 8 dogs |
| Rally Obedience Intermediate/Advanced | The prerequisite is that you and your dog have your Rally Novice title and your dog can work off lead. Dogs do attend the first night and a crate is required. Limit 8 dogs. |
| Rally Obedience Excellent/Masters | Prerequisite: For dogs that have taken Rally Obedience (Advanced) with HDOC, or where the handler has trialed a previous dog to a Rally Advanced title. Dogs must have had 2 sessions of basic obedience and have the ability to heel off-leash. A crate is required. |
| Puppy Level 1 | This class is for puppies over three months of age and less than 6 months of age at the beginning of the first class. This is a fun introduction for both puppy and handler to learn the skills required for a well behaved dog with good manners and helps you and your pup develop a good relationship. DO NOT bring your dog to class the first week. |
| Level 1 | This class is for dogs over 6 months of age. Pup and handler will learn the skills required for a well behave dog with good manners. This class will also help you and your pup develop a good relationship. DO NOT bring your pup to class the first week. |
| Level 2 | The prerequisite for this level is that you and your dog are ready in all areas of training to move on. Your training in Level 2 will be to perfect your previously developed skills. In addition, you will be introduced to new skills, the level of distractions will be increased, vary distances and different duration of some exercises. Food and/or toys will become your dog’s reward, not a lure. |
| Level 3 | This class is for dogs who are proficient in basic obedience skills, this means no pulling on the lead, can do sits on command and is well behaved around other dogs and people. The dogs in level three should not be using a gentle leader. This level you will be taught the skills that are covered in the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) Canine Good Neighbour (CGN) test. Your dog will learn to sit and accept praise from a stranger, stay in position when greeted by another person with a dog, do a simple walking pattern without pulling, allow you to walk 20 feet away while your dog remains in position, you can be out of sight for 2 minutes while someone holds your dog, walk through a door way under control, your dog will let someone else groom them and can demonstrate a sit and down command. |
| New Novice | The prerequisite for this level is that your dog knows the skills to do a CKC, CGN test. Your dogs will learn the skills of obedience heeling, figure eights, to do fronts and finishes, keep their attention on you and learn basic Rally moves. When this course is finished your dog should be ready to go into Novice Obedience or Novice Rally. |
| Novice | The prerequisite for this level is that your dog is accomplished in the basic skills in New Novice or has his CGN title. This level introduces you to the ring procedures for CKC Novice Obedience Tests. Your dog should have taken the New novice course. This course will teach you the ring procedures for Novice trialling. You can refresh your Novice Obedience skills and introduce you to distractions while working in the ring. |
| Open | In this class you will learn the basics of the Open Class and can review the Open skills. |
| Utility Practice |