Beginner
Classes
These classes are designed for dogs 4 months and older. Be sure to check with your veterinarian to make sure your puppy has had all the inoculations he needs before he comes to school. This is for your pup's safety!
Although all dogs deserve to be trained, not all dogs are candidates for group obedience classes. At Canine Counselors, we do not accept dogs with serious person-aggression or dog-aggression problems into our classes. We reserve the right to refuse class space to any dog or handler that we feel will compromise the enjoyment and/or safety of others in a class environment. Please call me or e-mail me if you have any questions about the suitability of these classes for your dog.
We will show you how to become your dog's leader, and how to establish that wonderful bond with him that makes all successful training possible. Exercises covered will include walking politely on leash, coming when called, sitting, downing, and standing (and staying when left in those positions), attention, how to sit in front of you instead of jumping up on you, how not to bolt out the door, go to your place, leave it, and more. Everything you will teach your dog will have a practical application in your daily routine with him. Beginner classes meet once a week for an hour, and are 7 weeks long.
Novice Classes
These are the next logical step up for your canine companion, and are designed for the dog/handler team that would like to learn more precise teamwork, hand signals, and off-lead work. This class is especially intended for the student who would like to earn an AKC Canine Good Citizen award or an AKC or UKC Companion Dog title on their dog. Many of our Novice class students are also planning on going into therapy dog work or agility. The Novice class is a solid jumping-off point for many different dog "careers."
Therapy Dog Class
Canine Counselors is very happy to sponsor and make available to our students a Therapy Dog Class. This class is taught by Kim Horton, RN and Jennie Dunaway, Delta Certified Pet Partners. Jennie and Kim are active members of Lone Star WAGS (Working Animals Giving Service), a local animal assisted therapy group, and Kim uses her Pet Partners daily in her job as a DeSoto school nurse. In this class you and your dog will learn how to become a therapy dog team, helping patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and rehab centers. Upon completion of the course, you may qualify to take the test to become a Delta Society Pet Partner team. Please call for information on this class.
Canine Good Citizen “Prep Class” and Test
The American
Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen program is a test and award
that may be earned by all dogs, pure-bred and mixed. Canine Counselors
offers a short course to prepare for the test, as well as the test itself,
several times a year. You may learn more about this popular program
by visiting the AKC web site (check out our links page). Call us for
class prices, dates and times.
Canine Counselors recently held an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test in Cedar Hill. All the dogs that were entered passed the test and are now officially Canine Good Citizens! All entry fees and other proceeds from the test were donated to the Cedar Hill TriCity Animal Shelter
Click here for pictures.
One-Day Workshops
Occasionally, Canine Counselors will offer classes that are just a little bit different, and a lot of fun! Although not usually run on a schedule, we try to offer them at least a few times each year. Our “Whistle Class” is very popular, and teaches you to accomplish many of the basic commands by using a whistle instead of your voice. The “Clicker Class” and the “Tricks Class” are also popular with our students. Please call or e-mail to learn more about these special classes.