Class Descriptions

Note. The below is a general listing of classes held at CCSC. We constantly review and update our class schedule according to the needs of our students. We do not offer every class in every session. Check the class schedules and rosters for the most current set of classes.

Agility

• Agility Foundations Skills. This class teaches basic skills needed to excel in agility as well as good manners. Targeting, walking on a loose lead, introduction to lowered equipment and weaves, sits and downs are all taught in a fun, fast paced environment.
  Prerequisite: Dogs over 6 months. Class length: 60 minutes

• Agility Foundations Teamwork. Foundations Teamwork is a class focusing on the basics of cueing and signaling, learning how to move as a team around the course. Basic obedience and flatwork skills will be covered. Prerequisite: Dogs over 6 months. Class length: 60 minutes

• Agility: Distance Class. This class will teach you and your dog to be comfortable working at a distance. Skills covered will be lead outs, layering, as well as sending and lateral distance. These tools can help in regular agility classes but are especially useful for games classes that involve distance such as Gamblers and FAST.
  Prerequisite: Agility Foundations Skills, Teamwork, or instructor permission. Class length: 60 minutes

• Agility Obstacles. Help your dog become totally confident on agility obstacles. Sending to obstacles, contact performance, entrances, speed, and distance are all emphasized in this class.
  Prerequisite: Agility Foundations Skills or instructor permission. Class length: 60 minutes

• Agility Jump 1, Getting Ready to Jump. Will cover jumping set point, stride regulator, having the dog go down a a line of obstacles no higher than 8", introduction to different jump types but again, no higher than 8"
  Prerequisites: Targeting, stay or allow holding/release word/recall Must be >4 mo age. Class length: 60 minutes

• Agility Jump 2, Beginning Jumping. Will cover set point to all jump types, stride regulation with some height, introduction to bend work, circle work, slice jumps, extension and collection work; introduction to full height jumping if the dog is ready and is of sufficient age.
  Prerequisite: Jump 1 or instructor permission . Class length: 60 minutes

• Agility Jump 3, Grid/Box work. This can be a drop in class with permission of instructor; emphasis will be on sequences of skills gleaned in Jump 1 and 2 in the contest of grid exercises; also allows dogs with jumping problems to work on "issues" and experienced dogs to work on skills. THis class will incorporate video analysis of the jumping skills.
  Prerequisite: Jump 2 at full height. Class length: 60 minutes

• Agility Weaves. Train weaves for a fast, accurate performance. The Channel method will be used in the class. The instructor will work with each team at their level. Limit 4 students. Class members are REQUIRED to practice on weave poles at least 4 times a week outside of class. That means either having a building membership or having channel weaves (or stick in the ground poles that can be put into a channel) at home.
  Prerequisites: Agility Foundations Skills, practice 4 x week. Class length: 30 minutes

• Agility Sequencing & Handling, Beginning. For the team just starting to learn to string jumps and obstacles together in sequences. Crosses and speed will be emphasized.
  Prerequisites: Agility Foundations, Jump 1, Weaves, Obstacles. Class length: 60 minutes

• Agility Sequencing & Handling, Advanced. Complex sequences, turns, courses, etc. All class participants help each other with creative problem solving ideas so each dog is successful. Learn how to do more than just get through the course, learn the fastest, most efficient way for you and your dog.
  Prerequisites: Beginning Sequencing & Handling or showing at Open level or above. Class length: 60 minutes

• Agility Sequencing & Handling, Distance. Learn distance handling skills for Gamblers, Chances, and FAST. Also useful for slower or differently abled handlers with fast dogs.
  Prerequisites: Advanced Sequencing & Handling, or working at Open level, or above or see instructor. Class length: 60 minutes

• Agility Sequencing & Handling, Obstacle Discrimination. Teach your dog to discriminate between closely placed obstacles (tunnel/dogwalk, etc.) using verbal cues.
  Prerequisites: Advanced Sequencing & Handling, or working at Open level or above, or see instructor. Class length: 60 minutes

Conformation

• Beginning Conformation Handling. Part classroom discussion of rules, standards, and what is expected at a show, part ring work to learn to present your dog to its best advantage, this class is for those new to showing in conformation.
  Prerequisite: None. Class length: 60 minutes

• Advanced Conformation Handling. For those who know the basics but need more ring time with their dogs and improvement of skills, this class concentrates on presenting your dog at proper speed, becoming efficient at setting your dog up, and work on other areas that will improve performance and success in the ring.
  Prerequisite: Beginning Conformation class completed or previous conformation showing experience.
  

Obedience

• Puppy Kindergarten 1. Topics covered include Teaching your puppy to like people; Handling and Gentling, and Guarding valued objects. You will learn to get willing compliance, understand the benefits of teasing and roughhousing and learn the truth about the “alpha rollover.”
  Prerequisites: Puppy 8 to 12 of age at start of class. Class length: 60 minutes (with breaks)

• Puppy Kindergarten 2. This class will teach your puppy more advanced people and dog interaction skills, and will continually reinforce the need for a soft mouth. Prerequisites: Puppy 9 to 18 weeks of age at start of class
  Class length: 60 minutes (with breaks)

• Adolescent Antics. Among other topics, we will address appropriate and inappropriate dog and human interactions, socialization on walks and lifestyle training tips.
  Prerequisites: Puppy 19+ weeks of age at start of class. Class length: 60 minutes (with breaks)

• AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy. Socialization, Training, Activity, Responsibility. The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy is an exciting new program designed to get dog owners and their puppies off to a good start. The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program is an incentive program for loving dog owners who have taken the time to take their puppies through a basic training
  Prerequisites: Puppy 8 weeks to 6 months of age at start of class. Class length: 60 minutes (with breaks)

• Obedience Pet Manners 1. Basic obedience skills for pets and owners to use in everyday life. Heel, sit, stay, down, come, grooming, nail clipping, etc.
  Prerequisite: Dog over 6 months of age. Class length: 60 minutes

• Obedience Pet Manners 2. An extension paired with Pet Manners 1. More advanced learning in heel, sit, stay, down, come, and more.
  Prerequisite: Pet Manners 1. Class length: 60 minutes

• Obedience for Agility. Get a great foundation for agility by learning obedience skills specific to the sport such as fast sits and downs, recalls, startline stays, and beginning ladder work, flatwork, etc.
  Prerequisite: None . Class length: 30 minutes

• Drive Training. Drive training is a motivational obedience training concept to teach the dog that accurately completing obedience commands will earn him a chance to satisfy his desire for food or play. The dog should therefore learn to enjoy training and approach it with an enthusiastic, focused attitude. This concept can also be useful in agility training.
  Prerequisite: Instructor evaluation of dog (done prior to first night of class)
  Class length: 30 minutes

• Obedience Focused Attention. This is "The Foundation" class for ANYTHING you choose to do with your dog! This class lays the foundation for your dog to tune out everything except you. An absolute "must have" for any dog sport. This is an instructional class, not problem solving.
  Prerequisite: None. Class length: 30 minutes

• Obedience Attention with Distractions. This class will utilize many kinds of distractions to help your dog stay focused while working with you in a variety of situations. Weaknesses in the dog's focused attention will be identified and solutions will be offered.
  Prerequisite: Focused Attention or instructor evaluation . Class length: 30 minutes

• Obedience Heeling 1. Beginning class offers the mechanics of heeling for those teams wanting to compete in Obedience. Heel position, rhythm, turns, footwork and putting your dog into motion
  Prerequisite: Focused Attention and Distraction Classes. Class length: 30 minutes

• Obedience Heeling 2. After teaching your dog the basic mechanics of head-up, focused walking with the proper cadence, this class will combine all of the individual parts and polish the performance. The result is a happy, energetic, consistently beautiful heeling dog!
  Prerequisite: Focused Attention, Distraction and Heeling 1 classes. Class length: 30 minutes

• Obedience Competition, Novice. Structured for the team wanting to participate in obedience trials. This class is for Novice (Companion Dog) level competitors. Work on accuracy, attention, attitude, and precision.
  Prerequisite: Focused Attention, Distractions and Heeling 1 & 2 classes
  Class length: 30 minutes

• Intro to Open Obedience. This class teaches the beginning fundamentals of the drop on Recall, retrieve, broad and high jumps and out-of-sight stays.
  Prerequisite: All students must test into this class. Class length: 30 minutes

• Obedience Competition, Open/Utility Problem Solving. For graduates of the Novice Competition Obedience and others working on Open and Utility level obedience skills. New students must test into this class.
  Prerequisite: All students must test into this class. Class length: 60 minutes

Rally Obedience

Come learn the new, fun game that's a cross between agility and obedience—Rally! In Rally, teams complete a course moving from station to station and completing specified obedience tasks such as sit, down, sit, etc. We offer both AKC and APDT Rally Classes.

• AKC Rally Obedience. Learn the basic rules of Rally and begin learning how to properly perform the Rally signs seen in Rally Novice.
  Prerequisite: Ability to heel on a loose leash and sit on command
  Class length: 60 minutes

• APDT Rally Obedience. Learn the APDT Rally rules and signs. APDT Rally is quite different than AKC. Rules review as well as learning signs and performance covered.
  Prerequisite: Ability to walk on left side on loose leash and sit and down on command. Class length: 60 minutes

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Special Interest Classes

• Dog Sport Sampler Class. Designed to introduce some of the many different activities available for people to enjoy with their dogs. Most of these activities are actually competitive sports that you can earn titles in but also have practical uses and benefits. Each session will focus on a different sport. The first five weeks will cover Agility, Obedience/Rally, Draft Work (weight pull, carting, backpacking), Tracking, Breed specific sports (herding, retrieving, lure coursing), and the last week will deal with jobs dogs do for people such as service dogs, search and rescue, police work, and therapy work.  Participants should bring a crate for their dogs as there will be minimal time to actually work with their dogs although an effort will be made to introduce the dogs and handlers to as many of the sports as is safely possible.
  Prerequisites: None. Class limit: Five

• Fitness for Fido. Do you want a dog that is ready to settle down in the house? Do you want to see your dog’s waist? Learn how to work you dog on the treadmill, improve their stamina, develop some muscle and conditioning for a variety of Canine sports including work in the field, herding, agility, obedience, and fly ball (to mention a few!). We will design a work-out schedule that you and you dog can carry out using equipment at CCSC and at home. At the end of each session we will help you review your team’s progress in strength (anaerobic); endurance (Aerobic) and proprioception (balance, knowledge of body parts in space).  This training component will complement your skills training.
  Prerequisite: None. Class length: 60 minutes (held twice a week, 30 minutes each class)

• Self-Control for Canines. Finally learn the ways to make your formerly out-of-control, impulsive canine a more calm and more reasonable companion. Walk nicely while on leash, down on command, stay and the ability to ignore tempting treats/toys will be covered. One person must be designated as the trainer for all classes.
  Prerequisite: None. Class length: 30 minutes

• Rescue Rehab. This specialized class will give you the tools to begin gaining your dog's trust and build confidence in his/her environment. This is NOT an obedience class, but some basic behaviors will be taught. This is a relationship building class and will provide a forum for owners to understand and overcome typical barriers encountered by owners of rescue dogs. Taught by the co-chair/Board Member of a nationally-recognized breed rescue program.
  Prerequisite: None. Class length: 30 minutes

• Draft Work Class. This class is intended to introduce you and your dog to the fun and useful sports of Backpacking, Weight Pulling, and Carting. We will spend 1 week on Backpacking, 2 weeks on Weight Pulling and the last 3 weeks on Carting. All of these activities provide safe opportunities for your dog to expend energy and have fun together. We will discuss the practical health applications as well as the competition forms of these activities.  Dogs should be in good health to participate in this class but do not have to have any prior experience. Equipment will be provided.
  Prerequisite: None. Class length: 60 minutes. Class limit: 5 dogs