Competition Classes

Did you know?  Any dog can now participate in AKC competitive sports.  The AKC Canine Partners program allows any dog to register to participate in AKC sports. So if your dog is an all-American breed, rescue, or recognized by an organization other than AKC, you can have fun with your dog in AKC Rally, Obedience and more.  Click here to find out more.

12/2023: The information below is for information only; registration for these classes isn’t currently available.

Off Leash Obedience and Ring Preparation

90 minutes
$125 for 5 consecutive week sessions with a defined start and end date

Class Requirements:

  • Behavior and Training 101
  • Dog is friendly to people and other dogs.
  • A dog/handler team who has earned Super Dog in GSLTC Foundation Manners or permission of the instructor
  • Vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo), Rabies, and Bordetella

Why off leash? It is easier to learn behaviors off-leash and then add a leash into the picture for the novice levels of trials than it is to work on leash and then try to take it off for the higher levels. You will learn heeling, front position, off-leash stays, pivots, ring entrances, and more by breaking down each piece into something your dog can understand. In order to keep the classroom safe for all dogs participating, dogs will need to be crated when not working. Not only does this help provide the dog down time, it can begin to teach the dog what a trial environment is like.

Our classes are taught using clickers and rewards and while we welcome all students, we expect our students to use reward-based training with their dogs.  Leash or other physical corrections for training are not supported in our classes.

This class is a prerequisite for the Advanced Rally and Novice Obedience classes and this class must be completed successfully to attend these other classes.

Bring to class:

  • A crate (crate cover is optional) for your dog.
  • A flat buckle collar or martingale collar on your dog.
  • Desire to have fun learning to communicate more precisely with your dog.

 

Rally Obedience Novice: Intro to Rally

Trial - sit in heel waiting turn

1 hour
$125 for 5 consecutive week sessions with a defined start and end date

Class Requirements:

  • Behavior and Training 101
  • Dog is friendly to people and other dogs.
  • A dog/handler team who has earned Super Dog in GSLTC Foundation Manners or permission of the instructor
  • Handler knowledge about using a marker signal, such as a clicker, to teach new skills.
  • Vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo), Rabies, and Bordetella

Try a new activity with your dog. Take the first step in AKC Rally. Use positive reinforcement to practice the exercises required for AKC Rally Novice competition. Learn the rules needed to get the AKC Rally Novice title. This class is appropriate for people new to Rally and dogs just getting started in Rally and who can remain calm and quiet in class. Our classes are taught using clickers and rewards and while we welcome all students, we expect our students to use reward-based training with their dogs.  Leash or other physical corrections for training are not supported in our classes.

 

Beginner Novice: Intro to Obedience

1 hour
$125 for 5 consecutive week sessions with a defined start and end date

Class Requirements:

  • Behavior and Training 101
  • Dog is friendly to people and other dogs.
  • A dog/handler team who has earned Super Dog in GSLTC Foundation Manners or permission of the instructor
  • Handler knowledge about using a marker signal, such as a clicker, to teach new skills.
  • Vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo), Rabies, and Bordetella

Try a new activity with your dog. Take the first step in AKC Obedience. Use positive reinforcement to practice the exercises required for AKC Beginner Novice competition. Learn the rules needed to get the AKC Beginner Novice title. This class is appropriate for people new to obedience and dogs just getting starting in obedience who can remain calm and quiet in class. Our classes are taught using clickers and rewards and while we welcome all students, we expect our students to use reward-based training with their dogs.  Leash or other physical corrections for training are not supported in our classes.

 

Advanced Rally with Ring Preparation

90 minutes
$125 for 5 consecutive week sessions with a defined start and end date

Class Requirements:

  • Behavior and Training 101
  • Dog is friendly to people and other dogs.
  • Successful completion of Off-Leash Obedience or a Rally Novice title and permission of the instructor.
  • Handler knowledge about using a marker signal, such as a clicker, to teach new skills.
  • Vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo), Rabies, and Bordetella

Move ahead in AKC Rally. Use positive reinforcement to practice the exercises required for the off-leash levels of AKC Rally competition. Learn the rules needed to get advanced AKC Rally titles. Also prepare for competition by practicing entering and exiting the ring, performing with a “judge” nearby, crating while waiting, and other skills. Our classes are taught using clickers and rewards and while we welcome all students, we expect our students to use reward-based training with their dogs.  Leash or other physical corrections for training are not supported in our classes.

Bring to class:

  • A crate (crate cover is optional) for your dog
  • A flat buckle collar or martingale collar on your dog
  • Desire to have fun learning to communicate more precisely with your dog

 

Novice Obedience with Ring Preparation

90 minutes
$125 for 5 consecutive week sessions with a defined start and end date

Class Requirements:

  • Behavior and Training 101
  • Dog is friendly to people and other dogs.
  • Successful completion of Off-Leash Obedience or a Beginner Novice title and permission of the instructor.
  • Handler knowledge about using a marker signal, such as a clicker, to teach new skills.
  • Vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo), Rabies, and Bordetella

Move ahead in AKC Obedience. Use positive reinforcement to practice the exercises required for the off-leash levels of AKC obedience competition. Learn the rules needed to get an AKC Companion Dog title. Also prepare for competition by practicing entering and exiting the ring, performing with a “judge” nearby, crating while waiting, and other skills.

Our classes are taught using clickers and rewards and while we welcome all students, we expect our students to use reward-based training with their dogs.  Leash or other physical corrections for training are not supported in our classes.

Bring to class:

  • A crate (crate cover is optional) for your dog
  • A flat buckle collar or martingale collar on your dog
  • Desire to have fun learning to communicate precisely with your dog

 

Ring Practice

90 minutes
$125 for 5 consecutive week sessions with a defined start and end date

Class Requirements:

  • Successful completion of any of the following GSLTC classes:  ​
    • Beginner Novice
    • Introduction to Rally
    • Advanced Rally
    • Novice Obedience
    • With permission of the instructor, additional students may attend for the purpose of practicing crate training and mock trial conditions.
  • Vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper & Parvo), Rabies, and Bordetella

Rather than a formal class, this is an opportunity to practice as if at an AKC trial. A ring will be set up and a mock trial will happen each week. Prepare for competition by practicing entering and exiting the ring, performing with a “judge” nearby, crating while waiting, and other skills. This class is for dog/handler teams who have completed other GSLTC classes.

Bring to class class:

  • A crate (crate cover is optional) for your dog.
  • A flat buckle collar or martingale collar on your dog.
  • Desire to have fun learning to communicate more precisely with your dog.

 

Canine Good Citizen® CGC patch logo

We regularly offer a preparation class for your dog to success as a Canine Good Citizen® and Advanced Canine Good Citizen.  All dog breeds, including mixed breeds can compete for this title and the advanced level of Community Canine, the CGC-A.  These titles give you the opportunity to show your dog’s good manners at home and in the community.   See our Family Dog classes for more information about our Canine Good Citizen preparation class and testing.


Missed Class Policy: For the consistency of your dog’s training and our ability to monitor our class size, we are not able to accommodate make-up sessions if you have to miss a class. We will deduct 1 training session from your pass if you have to miss.