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BEST BUDDIES GROUP TRAINING SESSIONS
Our goal is to offer the best possible training foundation for you and your
dog. All classes are limited in size to 6 dogs. There are six classes in each
session. The first class is a special orientation of two hours because you need
to understand how your dog learns and the reasoning behind the training methods
we recommend. All other classes are one hour in length. We are positive
reinforcement trainers and emphasize the correct use of
positive reinforcement in all our classes because it works best.
Currently we offer group classes for behavioral obedience, puppy kindergarten, puppy
hikes, and agility on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings as well as Saturday
mornings.
Growler Classes are two hours in
length and are offered in 8 classes or 4 class per session options.
Growler Classes are also limited in size to 6 dogs.
Best Buddies group classes (except
Growler) are
taught by Fran D. Kramer with
Common Sense Canine at Raspberry Ridge Sheep Farm
PUPPY KINDERGARTEN
We highly recommend our Puppy Kindergarten session for puppies under six months
of age—any healthy puppy from two to six months of age can attend. It is a
great starting point to begin the socialization process so important in
creating a well-grounded puppy - one ready for life’s adventures and
misadventures. Puppy Kindergarten also helps prevent food and dog aggression,
fear issues, and encourages the puppy to pay attention to its family rather
than everything but. Puppy Kindergarten skills cannot be “made up” down the
road, and it is important that the puppy attend a Kindergarten class at the
right age (just like our human children).
Occasionally, we will make an exception to the six-months of age cut off point.
Some smaller breed puppies that haven’t had Kindergarten are best placed into
that class but must first be qualified by the training professional.
For those puppies starting Puppy Kindergarten at an early age we encourage
attending a second Kindergarten session before moving on to Obedience. For
those dogs looking to become Therapy Dogs we especially recommend starting
early and having two Kindergarten sessions (12 classes), then moving on to the
Obedience level.
For the first class (orientation), we have the puppies stay at home. Only the
Puppy Parents attend. Orientation is extremely important. You need to
understand why your puppy is doing what it is doing and the reasoning behind
the training methods we recommend.
Puppy Kindergarten group classes taught by Fran D. Kramer with
Common Sense Canine at Raspberry Ridge Sheep Farm
BEHAVIORAL OBEDIENCE
Obedience Training is more than just obedience commands. It’s a matter of
teaching foundation behaviors before moving on to performing simple behaviors
on command and more complex or difficult behaviors. Our sessions are unique in
teaching both the handler and Phydo to pay attention to each other while
encouraging calm, focused behavior. We also include SIT, DOWN, COME, STAY, and
WALKING NICELY ON LEASH.
Each dog and handler is taught starting at whatever level they need to start
with because each home-dog situation is different. So, it won’t be that
everyone does A this week, B the next and so forth. If you and your dog have
not mastered A, it is senseless to move on to B. And yes, training your dog
takes time and effort. There are no shortcuts.
Many handlers/owners will sign up their dogs for repeat sessions. We just pick
up where you left off, and if you are having a behavior issue, we will address
it then and there, or refer you to someone who can help.
Behavioral obedience group classes taught by Fran D. Kramer with
Common Sense Canine at Raspberry Ridge Sheep Farm
PUPPY HIKES
Our Puppy Hike is a unique opportunity to reinforce owner focus, attention and
socialization in a positive off-leash environment. This limited class is for
puppies six months of age and under, and will help owners/handlers better
reinforce the positive skills necessary in having a well-rounded dog. This
class is an outstanding way to begin a puppy's approach to life in general and
help the owner/handler to better understand the associative skills necessary in
building a solid response foundation.
This is a four-week class course on Sunday mornings for one-half hour each
Sunday. If your schedule does not permit attendance of the full course, an
individual class or classes may be chosen a la carte.
Two age groups, one for puppies under six months and one for over six months are scheduled.
Appropriate footwear, hats and clothing are recommended as you will be working
in a 17 acre fenced field. Older puppy owners should call Fran to discuss their
individual situation as some older puppies may be permitted to participate.
Puppy Hike group classes taught by Fran D. Kramer with
Common Sense Canine at Raspberry Ridge Sheep Farm
BEGINNING AGILITY
Before starting this class we recommend attending the Behavioral Obedience class to
develop the fundamental attention behavior and basic communication signals so
important in this sport. We make it a point to help you teach your dog to feel
comfortable with the Agility Equipment and to hit the “contact zones” and to
follow commands - verbal and nonverbal. Basic equipment includes but is not
limited to the Dog Walk, Tunnel, Teeter Totter, Table, Jumps and Weave Poles.
Some people are happy to have their dogs just master one piece of equipment in
all situations per six week session before moving on to another piece of
equipment.
Beginning agility group classes taught by Fran D. Kramer with
Common Sense Canine at Raspberry Ridge Sheep Farm