Information about OCC's Training Classes

Training Classes will begin January 7, 2013. OCC is offering seven sessions in 2013. Class size is limited to no less than 3 and no more than 6 students. Additional classes will be added, if needed, to accommodate our students. Each session consists of a variety of classes. The cost of obedience classes is $75.00 per student/dog team. Agility Classes are limited to 6 students per class. The fee is $85.00.

What class should I take?

For help deciding what class you and your dog should be in, take a look at our class descriptions and at the diagram of the progression of our training classes.

Discounts

We do offer a $10 discount on consecutive classes taken with the same dog!

Registration Dates

REGISTRATION ONLY (NO DOGS) for the 2012 Classes will be held on the following Sundays from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm:

Shot Records

YOU MUST BRING A COPY OF YOUR DOG'S CURRENT SHOT RECORDS TO ATTACH TO YOUR APPLICATION AT TIME OF REGISTRATION.

Class Descriptions

Picture of OCC's Progression of Classes

Better Beginning Babies
This class is aimed at building a bond between you and your puppy; laying a foundation for a confident and well-mannered dog; socializing your puppy to other people, places and dogs; introducing basic obedience commands; and solving problems.
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy
This class is designed to get new puppy owners and their puppies off to a great start by socializing (S) your puppy with other puppies, by training (T) you how to best communicate with your puppy, by teaching you about the amount of exercise and activity (A) your puppy needs, and by teaching you how to be a responsible (R) puppy owner.
Advanced Puppy Obedience
Pre-requisite AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy. This class is designed to teach leadership, basic obedience (sit, down, come, heel, and stay) and advanced social skills.
Beginner Obedience
This class introduces you and your dog to the basic obedience commands of sit, down, stay, come, leave it, and walking on a loose leash which make living with your dog easier. You will begin to learn leadership and social skills.
Advanced Beginner Obedience
Pre-requisite Beginner Obedience or Advanced Puppy Obedience. In this class the relationship between handler and dog really begins to develop. You and your dog will continue to improve sit, down, come, stay, heeling, etc. Dog-handler teams develop skills needed to progress to the exciting performance classes such as CGC, Rally, Competition Obedience, and Agility.
Competition Obedience: Beginner Novice Obedience
Beginner Novice Obedience is an AKC titling class intended as a transition between Rally Obedience and Novice Obedience. This class will focus on the required exercises: heeling with turns and pace changes, figure 8's, sit for exam, sit stays, and recalls. Pre-requisite classes are one or more of the following: Rally, Advanced Beginner, or Canine Good Citizen.
Competition Obedience
This class is for dog/handler teams that wish to move beyond the Beginner Novice class and prepare for the regular AKC obedience classes.
Beginner Rally Obedience
Pre-requisite Advanced Beginner Obedience. This class introduces the various stations (signs with instructions for a particular exercise), teaches the team how to execute the various stations, encourages unlimited verbal communication, and promotes fun and enjoyment for the dog and handler.
Rally Obedience
Pre-requisite Beginner Rally This class continues to emphasize the enjoyment of teamwork and communication as dog and handler teams learn more signs and practice more courses for fun or competition at all levels and is a link from Canine Good Citizen to obedience or agility.
Canine Good Citizen
Pre-requisite Advanced Beginner Obedience. This class is for those who would like to earn an AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification or title. Dog must be at least six months of age to be CGC tested. This class teaches your dog to sit politely for petting and grooming, walk on a loose leash through a crowd, sit and down and stay on command, come when called, behave politely around a stranger or another dog, and be confident when facing distractions or being left with a trusted person. AKC charges $8 to register after passing the test. OCC charges $10 for non members who are not in the CGC class.
Therapy Dog Class
Pre-requisite Canine Good Citizen This class prepares those dogs at least one year of age to be evaluated for the TDI test. This test requires unflappable manners while standing in line to register for the test, allowing all four feet to be handled and ears and tail examined, remaining calm while handler is out of sight doing paperwork, and visiting with a patient or a group of strangers. Obedience work will include loose leash heeling in unusual situations and a reliable recall(come), sit, down, and stay. Dog must leave it when instructed about something on the floor or in a person's hand. This prospective therapy dog must be comfortable around wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, skateboards, bicycles, vacuum cleaners, loud noises, etc., as well as people running up from behind them and children as close as ten feet running, yelling, and playing. TDI charges $12 for the test and $40 to register after passing the test. OCC charges $10 for non members who are not in the therapy dog class.
Agility I: Fundamentals
Pre-requisite Beginner Obedience. For this class dogs must be at least 5 months old. Fundamental agility puts together the communication, focus, and control needed for you and your dog to work together as a team on an agility course. Motivational games will teach you and your dog the verbal and physical cues necessary to put together your "handling system." The tunnel and hoop will be introduced. Participants will need a collar, an 8-foot leash (no flexi leads please!) and lots of soft treats broken into small pieces. Class is limited to 8 dogs.
Agility II: Fundamentals
Dogs must complete Agility 1 Fundamentals prior to attending this class or be evaluated by instructor to move up. (This is a rare occurrence.) Skills from Agility I Fundamentals will be improved by adding distance from the handler, duration of performance and distractions. Handlers will begin to use their skills in conjunction with navigating some obstacles. Some work will be outside.
Agility III: Beginner Contacts / Teeters & Weaves
Dogs must complete Agility II Fundamentals prior to attending this class or be evaluated by instructor to move up.
Agility IV:Intermediate Contacts / Teeters, Weaves & Jumps
Dogs must complete Agility III Beginner prior to attending this class or be evaluated by instructor to move up. Dogs must be at least 9 months to attend this class. All pieces of agility equipment will be introduced. Dogs will be working off lead. Safety will be emphasized.
Agility V: Novice Courses
Dogs must complete Agility IV Intermediate Agility prior to attending this class or be evaluated by instructor to move up. Novice courses will be created and you and your dog will learn the courses as well as continue fundamental training.
Agility VI: Advanced Courses
Dogs must complete Agility V Novice Courses prior to attending this class or be evaluated by instructor to move up. This class will emphasize contacts and turns on actual courses designed by AKC.
Agility VII: Competition
Dogs must complete Agility VI Advanced Courses prior to attending this class or be evaluated by instructor to move up. This class is designed for teams that are currently competing or wish to compete. You will learn basic competition rules.
Agility VIII: Summer Agility
This is a drop-in agility class designed for individuals who are currently doing trials and need to continue working on courses during the summer, which is an off season for agility. $5 per dog. First time participants must provide copy of rabies vaccination. Each week a different course will be set up. Since this is a drop-in class, periodically the class is cancelled due to heat or other circumstances. Please contact the instructor, Debbie Tuthill, at 423-580-0002 or email Debbie at dltuthill@epbfi.com to make sure the class is offered. Individuals in other classes may attend with the permission of the class instructor.