Improving Pet/Owner Relationships

Through Personalized Training Programs

Registration for January / February 2012 session

is open

***This class is for advanced trainer who are using the Trkman method to train their young agility dog.  Permission of instructor required.

^† These classes require an evaluation for students who have not completed a prior PBH class and been recommended by a PBH instructor to continue. 

A minimum of 4 students are required for a class to be held.  Full refunds will be given to students enrolled in PBH classes that are cancelled due to insufficient registration.    If a client withdraws from class before attending, the client will be refunded the tuition fee minus a $25 processing fee. Refunds for withdrawal after classes begin will be prorated and subject to the $25 processing fee.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Obedience Classes

Puppy Primer  This class is for puppies 9-16 weeks old at the start of the class.  Cost of class includes “Puppy Primer” by Brenda Scidmore and Dr. Patricia McConnell.  Rescue puppies receive a 10% discount.  Puppies do not attend the first class

Senior Puppy  This class is for puppies 16- 24 weeks old at the start of the class.  Students who take the Senior Puppy in the session directly following their completion of the Puppy Primer  receive a $25 discount on enrollment.  Rescue puppies receive a 10% discount.  Puppies do not attend the first week of this class.  

Puppy Class – This class is for any puppy under 7 months at the start of class.  Puppies do not attend the first class. Rescue puppies receive a 10% discount.  

Pet Obedience  For dogs of any age and puppies 6 months and older.  Dogs do not attend the first class. Dog and puppies rescued within 6 months of enrollment receive a 10% discount.

Advanced Pet Obedience  This is an advanced obedience class where dog learn to walk nicely around other dogs and people, work on longer stays and build more self-control in distractions.  Price includes a free PBH CGC evaluation.  Students who have not graduated from a PBH Sr. Puppy or Pet Obedience class must come to a free evaluation.  See calendar for day/time of evaluation.  Students who wish to ensure a space in this class should send in their registration, waiver and check prior to the test.  Students who take the Adv. Pet Obed  class  in the session directly following their completion of the Sr. Puppy or Pet Obedience class receive a $20 discount on enrollment.

Recall Class:  This class will focus on getting a reliable recall in increasing distractions and using many different methods for rewarding your dog.  Prereq:  PBH Sr. Puppy, Pet Obedience or equivalent group obedience class. 

Control Unleashed:   This class will be based on Leslie McDevitt's book, Control Unleashed (CU).  The CU program is an innovated training system based on positive techniques designed to teach dogs to relax, focus and work confidently off-leash.  If your dog becomes too excited to focus, has the "zoomies", would rather sniff when you are trying to work or becomes stressed and shuts down, then this class is for you.  Through the CU training protocols, we will give you the tools you need to create confidence and focus in your dog while deepening your connection.  Class is NOT for reactive dogs who can not be in a group environment with other dogs and people without lunging and barking.

Tricks: Tricks are a great way to enhance your relationship with your best friend! Become a skillful clicker trainer as you capture and shape a wide variety of tricks that will entertain you, your dog, and your friends. Trick training will help your dog "learn to learn", to be creative, and to build confidence. If you have a competition dog, tricks will provide ringside fun, focus, and stress reduction for dog and handler. The first class will be orientation to clicker techniques without dogs, and you'll receive a training packet and clicker. Prerequisites: Senior Puppy or Pet Obedience class or equivalent; Basic obedience (Sit, Down, Come, attention to handler). .Dogs do not attend the first class.

Sports Classes

***Note: Any new student with prior agility experience must schedule a free evaluation to be placed into an appropriate class.  Contact Valerie to schedule an appointment.****

Flyball 2: This class will cover intermediate flyball exercises including jumping and box turns.  Prereq:  Dogs must have taken Flyball before.

Treibball / Barrel Racing:  Learn all about the new sport of ball herding! Treibball (pronounced
Try-Ball) is the cool new canine sport developed in Germany, initially as a way for high-energy herding dogs to use their skills in an urban environment, but handlers quickly found that any dog of any size or breed could learn and have tons of fun playing it! You will learn to train your dog to push large Pilates-type exercise balls into a goal from a distance with impulse control. Treibball is for all sizes, types and breeds of dogs who like to play and need a cool job. We'll use some of the same skills to have some fun playing doggie barrel racing, as well! Prereq: Dogs should have a solid sit or down, stay, come, and understand heel position (ideally working on both left and right) and be able to work safely on or off lead around other dogs. Handlers should have an understanding of operant conditioning and/or clicker training and be able to hold their dog's attention in a highly stimulating environment.

Jumping Style:  This class will focus on improving your dog's jumping technique and will include single jump work and grids. Practice between classes is required.

Agility Foundations  1: Class will focus on building teamwork between the dog and handler. Exercises cover: attention in distractions; teaching your dog to play with you; finding what your dog loves and using it for training; switching between drive and relaxation; focus in drive; shaping to obstacles;  beginning handling moves; and many more exercises designed to create a great sport dog.  Also great for those who want to achieve better focus in distractions, learn to play with your dog and build your dog’s confidence.  Students who have not graduated from a PBH class must come to a free evaluation.  See calendar for day/time.  Students who wish to ensure a space in this class should enroll prior to the evaluation.  Prerequisite: Dog must know, sit, down, come, watch and attention and handler must know how to use a marker word or clicker. (Formerly Sports Foundations)

Agility Foundations  2: This class introduces small agility equipment and continues to teach handling skills, jumping and weave poles.  Prereq:  Agility Foundations 1 or equivalent. (formerly Beginning Agility 2)

Agility Foundations  3: This class increases height of climbing equipment, introduces, chute, involves longer sequences and develops handling skills in longer sequences.  Prereq:  Agility Foundations 2 or equivalent. (formerly Beginning Agility 3)

Agility Foundations  4: Class transitions dog/handler teams from the small agility equipment to full size contacts in a full-size agility field. Focus is on keeping the dog and handler together in a more distracting environment, increasing handler skills and developing the dog's confidence on full-height obstacles.    Teeter is introduced.  Prereq:  Agility Foundations 3 or equivalent. (formerly Intermediate Agility 1)

Pre-competition Teams: Class will focus on handling in short sequences, obstacle independence without targets and teeter and weave performance will be practiced. Also covers types of turns and obstacle/handler focus introduction. Prereq: Dog must be under control off-leash in the outside training areas, able to do the dogwalk and A-frame at full height on the first attempt (targets okay) and performing jumps and tunnels independently. (Formerly Intermediate Agility 2)

Novice Teams: Class focus shifts from obstacle performance to handling in longer sequences. Many of these dogs may be competing in some venues. Prereq: Dog must perform A-frame and Dogwalk without targets and teeter full-height with targets. (Formerly Intermediate Agility 3)

Open Teams: Teams will work on skills needed for Novice and Open competition on sequences and courses including discriminations. Many of these dogs may be competing successfully at the Novice level and are working towards Open. Prereq: Dogs must perform all contacts independently without targets and should be weaving. Exceptions may be made on an individual basis, but courses will include weave poles. Dogs should have AKC Novice Standard title, CPE level 3 standard title or permission of instructor. (Formerly Advanced Agility 1)

Advanced Teams: For teams with the skills to compete at the Advanced level who want to improve speed, accuracy and obstacle performance on more challenging courses. Prereq: USDAA Novice Standard title, AKC Open Standard title or permission of instructor. (Formerly Advanced Agility 2)

Masters Teams: For teams driving towards the top levels of competition. Courses will be challenging and focus will be on speed, accuracy and independence on tough courses. Prereq: USDAA Advanced Standard title, AKC Excellent A title or permission of instructor. (Formerly Advanced 3)

Advanced Training Group: For Masters/Excellent handlers with young dogs in competition. Many of the skills will be the same as in the Masters Team class, but skills drills will be mixed in with courses to bring the young dogs to their full potential. Prereq: Handlers must have competed in Masters or Excellent with a previous dog. Permission of instructor required to enroll.

Young Teams: For experienced agility handlers with young dogs just starting out. Dogs will be introduced to obstacles and handling. Prereq: Permission of instructor required to enroll. (formerly Young Dogs)

Masters Sequences – In this class students will practice the skills needed for successful competition at the highest levels of the sport.  Students should be trialing at the Excellent B or Masters level or have permission of the instructor to take the class. 

Novice Sequences:  In this class, students learn the basic equipment and handling skills to prepare for competition at the Novice level.  Weaves not required.

How to register

Field Practice Application

Students who have completed at least one session of Intermediate Agility 1 or above and are currently enrolled in PBH classes have the option to purchase a field practice pass as follows:

1. Session passes cost $30 per session for PBH students and $15 per session for active PBH Assistants.  Annual passes are available for $150 dollars or $75 for active PBH Assistants. Active PBH instructors have free use of the field for practice during practice hours.  
2. Practice hours are 8:00AM to dusk when the field is not in use for other PBH activities.  Check the PBH Calendar for field availability.
3. If Val is teaching a private lesson in the arena, you must park at the top of the field (NOT by the barn) and use the large agility field furthest from the arena.
4. If you arrive and someone else is already using the field, they have 30 minutes to finish before turning the field over to you. Sharing the field is done by mutual consent only.  Never enter the field without permission when someone else is using it.
5. If you move equipment during practice, you must put it back how you found it before you leave.  Use extra jump bars to mark the location of jumps or other obstacles so that they can be replaced exactly as you found them when you leave.  Targets should be returned to the basket or under each end of the A-frame and dog walk.  The A-frame should be left at competition height (black marker) and the height of the dog walk should not be changed for practice.  Any equipment that is not in use may be used for practice but should be moved off the field before you leave.    Failure to follow this rule will result in the restriction or elimination of field practice.
6. You must fill out a field pass agreement to be eligible for this privilege.

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Last modified: 02/12/11