FOR THE PUP OR OLDER POOCH NEW TO OUR PROGRAM, for well-behaved happy pets, and a great foundation for show and performance dogs

Mondays and Tuesdays: 6-week series of classes that meet once a week for one hour (same time/same place, Maitland Mondays, DeLand Tuesdays); introduces our positive, effective family-friendly methods and provides lots of opportunities in class to practice. You’ll receive extensive printed outlines, behavior handouts and a clicker at the first session or you may pick them up early once registered.  Gentle Leader (Premier brand) or limited slip all-nylon collar and a leather leash required for most strong dogs for these classes, and recommended for puppies as well. Each dog should wear a fabric or leather buckle or snap collar in addition to the Gentle Leader. Puppies under 18 weeks old may use soft nylon, cotton or leather leashes.

Weekend sessions include a free month of Manners Plus for new students/club members.

Our new weekday/weekday evening program starts with a private or semi-private orientation class then continues for three months beginning and intermediate levels.

PUPPYLOVE: NOW INCLUDING AKC S.T.A.R. PUPPY PROGRAM!
For puppies 8-18 weeks on the first day of class (see birth date requirement for individual classes), includes off-leash work, puppy socialization emphasizing gentle puppy mouths, and training opportunities to show your puppy how to respond to you no matter how exciting the environment.

BASIC MANNERS:
For adult dogs and puppies older than 18 weeks on the first day of class.  Allows for safe introduction and limited interaction with other class or club members and their dogs.

TOPICS:

·        Basic obedience commands: sit, stand, down, stay, walk politely on a loose leash, and come when called

·        Stop or prevent your dog jumping up, stealing your belongings, barking excessively, pulling on leash, digging in the yard, being rough with his mouth

·        Keep your dog safe and your family sane with household management techniques including safe doggie toys, crate training, house training

·        Tap into your dog’s natural work ethic - learn how to use treats appropriately so you don’t have to have them in your hand for your dog to do what you want, and how to incorporate life-rewards to maintain and increase appropriate doggie behavior 

·        Use fun obedience tricks to real-world situations: “get dressed,” wait at the door, greet house guests cordially and politely, “leave it,” “bang”

·        Manage rough play/wrestling/tug-of-war, introducing dogs to children, dealing with fear stages

·        Teach safe food bowl and toy etiquette

·        Help your dog accept gentle and more insistent handling. Great for future experiences with family, house guests, veterinarian, groomer

·        Safely cut your dog’s toenails as you learn the best tools to use; pick up healthy grooming tips

·        Learn fun, useful  tricks that will help keep your pet out of trouble, and that pave the way for advanced classes

$160 for new students in PuppyLove/Basic Manners Maitland and DeLand sessions, and for club base weekend program. Open enrollment start-any-week program for club base Wednesday and Thursday sessions includes beginner and intermediate levels for $25 orientation class and $145 for three months of training. Work study, continuing student and other discounts available.

JUMP START  Free foundation agility concepts for PuppyLove and Basic Manners dogs – a safe introduction to DOGGIE FITNESS equipment that encourages confidence and body awareness in your canine companion to enhance your dog’s quality of life, available only at club base site

FOR YOUR CANINE COMPANION’S CONTINUING EDUCATION

We offer monthly series in advanced manners and competition programs to continue your dog’s good behavior, progress towards the Canine Good Citizen test, and competitive obedience, rally and agility.  Conformation programs and a variety of workshops are also offered.  Unless we’re away at trials or seminars or occasionally on a national holiday, classes are held once a week for one hour at the same time and location each week.

MANNERS PLUS: For PuppyLove & Basic Manners graduates & students who have taken BPF private classes

TOPICS:

·       Teach your dog how to be the settled, friendly, content, life-long canine companion you crave, a joy to your family and friends, in trainng offered in a relaxed, family-friendly learning environment

·        Progress towards off-leash training for adolescent and adult dogs.

·        Calmly send your dog to his bed, and teach him fun tricks with targeting and shaping games that will wow family and friends

·        Use clickers or verbal reward markers so you don't need treats in the hand.

·        Respond to commands from a distance

·        Introduction to retrieving

·        Useful tricks to keep bright canine minds busy

·        Introduction to Rally - challenge yourself and your dog to new heights in precision work
Get ready for the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen evaluation and therapy dog evaluations (accepting a friendly stranger; sitting politely for petting; appearance and grooming; walking on a loose lead; walking through a crowd; sit and down on command and staying in place; coming when called; reaction to another dog; reaction to distraction; supervised separation)

Manners Plus club program in Volusia also includes Doggie Fitness/agility equipment to maintain your dog’s confidence and body awareness to get you ready for a lifetime of agility fun with your dog

For the best-behaved dogs in Central Florida, go on to Manners Plus after completing our puppy or basic programs. If you prefer, especially if unexpected events limited your practice time, you may repeat Basic Manners (or PuppyLove if your dog still meets the age requirement or has instructor approval) for $50 per series in Maitland and DeLand, or free at the club site.

PERFORMANCE: OBEDIENCE/RALLY, AGILITY, CONFORMATION: 
*All levels (novice, open, utility) month-long obedience/rally/agility series for Manners Plus graduates, BPF private class students, experienced handler-dog teams.

*Beginners as well as experienced handlers welcome in conformation programs. 

*Class focus changes weekly. 

*Relaxed friendly atmosphere to focus on great attitude for competitive events and for learning fun new things to enhance your dog’s quality of life. 

*Out-of-sight stays, retrieving, scent discrimination, heeling, jumps, attention work, precision work, recalls, finishes, rally skills, and much more.