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Puppy
Kindergarten $115.00
(6 week class)
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This
is the most important start you will make with your new
puppy. This is for puppies ages 8-16 weeks. This class
focuses on the Problem Prevention Program and Fundamentals
of Training and Socialization developed by Elise McMahon
and Anne Marie Forde in the early 90s. In this class we
work on basic obedience commands and focus exercises,
we introduce puppies to new obstacles, substrates, people
and other puppies during this critical period of socialization.
It is a great class for new puppy owners where topics
from housebreaking, chewing, mouthing, and a myriad of
other important topics are covered.
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Companion Dog $115.00
(6 week class)
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A
class for puppies > 16 weeks and dogs who have
had no previous training. In this class we build on the
basics that puppies have learned in PKI, strengthening
the puppies understanding of the commands and introducing
higher levels of performance. Some of the things we work
on in this class include polite greeting behaviour, walking
by highly desirable objects without grabbing for them;
good leash manners, and good stays. This class is limited
to 6 dogs.
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Continuing
Ed I $115.00
(6 week class) |
This
is a class for dogs who have completed some basic obedience
such as a PKI or PKII class. We focus on good manners and companion dog obedience.. This class is limited
to 6 dogs. Pre-requisite: Companion Dog
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Continuing
Ed II $115.00
(6 week class) |
A
class for dogs who have completed beginner level obedience
classes. This is an ideal class for owners who want to
sharpen their training skills and work in a small class
setting. We begin working on off-leash skills as well
as distance commands. This class is limited to 6 dogs.
Pre-requisite: Continuing Ed I
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Continuing
Ed III $115.00
(6 week class) |
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In
This class is for those dogs who have completed previous
levels of obedience classes. We work off-leash in this class
and continue to cover distance work and exercises such as
drop on recall, halt, sit and down from a distance, off
leash healing, and much more. It is a fun and challenging
class.
Because of the small class size and the high level of training
required to get into this level this class is tailored to
the goals of the students. This class is limited to 6 dogs.
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Reliable
Recall I $115.00
(6 week class) |
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This
class is a lot of fun with a little bit of everything. A
great class to use as a break from straight obedience or
to begin working with a young dog. We cover Recalls
are one of every dog owners main concern. 99.9% of clients
come in saying, "she is a great dog but she just does
not come when I call her". Your dog's response to recall
can mean life or death in some circumstances. The problem
is that owners inadvertently either turn their dogs off
to coming when called or they de-value the word "come"
to the point that the dog simply does not pay any attention
to it. Your recall is one of those commands that needs constant
tune ups and constant positive reinforcement. Just because
your 12 week old puppy came bounding to you every time you
said "come", does mean he will be doing it at
5 months. This class works solely on the recall, putting
it back into a positive, consistently reinforced environment
while training people how to avoid the common mistakes that
so often undermine a good recall. This class is limited
to 6 dogs.obedience, tricks,
and agility. This class is limited to 6 dogs. |
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Pre-Agility
$115.00
(6 week class) |
This
course is geared towards skill, attention work, and confidence
building. While you learn how to keep your dog focus on
you, your dog learns how to tackle various obstacles.
For those who might want to go on in agility this course
will prepare you and your dog for an intro agility course.
This is a great class for owners and dogs who have been
working through a string of obedience classes and want
to add some splash and flash to their training! Have fun
while training! This class is limited to 6 dogs.
For
anyone wanting to go on to or straight into Agility classes, Hilltown Hounds and Breeze Thru Agility are highly recommended.
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Click
& Trick $115.00
(6 week class) |
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In
this class students and their dogs will be introduced
to clicker training. We will work on basic commands and
some tricks and build sequence behaviours such as "go
lie down". Each week we do a Clicker Challenge with
a specific assignment for each participant. This is an
ideal class for owners who want to sharpen their training
skills and watch as their dog "turns on" to
training! This class is limited to 5 dogs. |
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Canine
Good Citizen $115.00
(6 week class) |
In
the early 90's a person I was working
with needed his dog walked. I offered happily as I also
needed to stretch my legs and it was a beautiful day.
He had told me so much about this dog I was happy to meet
him. The dog had two titles both in conformation and obedience.
So, off we went for a stroll on the UPENN campus. After
20 minutes of being pulled down every path, being jumped
on and avoiding having passersby being similarly greeted,
I made a mental note to myself that the ability to perform
in a ring does not necessarily translate to good basic
manners about town. The AKC must have realized this as
well because they have developed the Canine Good Citizen
test to certify and award those dogs who have demonstrated
polite dog and human interactive skills. Teach your dog
good manners and the skills it needs to be a Canine Good
Citizen. In this class we cover each of the 10 test exercises
and the AKC CGC test is given during the last class. This
class is limited to 6 dogs.
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Intro to Rally O $115.00
(6 week class) |
This class is a lot of fun for dogs who have already been through the Companion Dog class or any other class beyond Puppy Kindergarten. Handler and dog work through a series of stations. At each station there is an exercise, for example, a call front, a down stay, weave through cones, and many more. This
class is limited to 6 dogs.
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All
Classes are small and tailored to the needs to the owners
and their dogs.
Contact:
Elise McMahon 413 367 0094 or emcmahon@canineheadstart.com
Elise
McMahon is a member of APDT and ABS. She is finishing her
dissertation at the University of Massachusetts in canid
behavioural ecology and has worked with both domestic dogs
and wild canids since 1991. Training methods used in class
and in private consultations are based on animal behaviour
learning theory. Classes are kept small with the goal of
teaching the owners how to successfully teach their dogs. |
