Click each class description below for details, requirements and upcoming class times.
Classes are 1 hour long unless otherwise specified. All BVTC policies are in effect at all times.
Obedience
Level 1 – AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Class
“S” is for Socialization
“T” is for Training
“A” is for Activity
“R” is for Responsibility
This is a 6-week basic obedience class for ANY and ALL puppies up to 1 year old. In the case of a puppy obtained from a shelter, the age may be estimated. This class is designed to get dog owners and their puppies off to a good start and is taught by an AKC Canine Good Citizen Approved Evaluator.
Exercises to be taught include Sit, Down, Walking on a Leash and Recall. In addition, daily care, exercise and communication will be covered. Safety issues and responsible dog ownership will be discussed.
At the end of the 6-week session, the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy test will be given. In order to receive the S.T.A.R. Puppy Certification, the owner and puppy must attend all six classes. The owner must provide a copy of the puppy’s vaccination record prior to the start of the first class. The owner must also obtain some form of identification for the puppy (collar tag, microchip and/or tattoo) before the conclusion of the program.
See additional information on AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy here.
Upcoming Classes
Wednesdays
Level 2 – Basic Obedience
This class is recommended for dogs age 7 months and older to teach them the basic skills to be good companions. No dog is too old to participate. This class is strongly recommended for dogs that have recently been adopted/rescued to help get them off to a good start in their new homes.
The course will cover the basic exercises of sit, down, stay, come when called and walking on the leash in a controlled manner. The “leave it” and “give” commands will also be taught.
Problems of barking, jumping up, chewing and mouthing will also be addressed as requested by the students.
Upcoming Classes
Mondays
Thursdays
Level 3 – AKC Canine Good Citizen Etiquette
To participate in this class, your dog must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the basic commands taught in the Level 1 or Level 2 classes or with approval from BVTC.
The Canine Good Citizen certification has become a requirement for some homeowners by their insurance companies and for some renters by their landlords. Even if that is not an issue for you, this class can help you to cultivate positive behaviors in your dog that makes them accepted and respected by others.
Among other things, you will learn how to help your dog enter a class or other similar situation in an orderly manner, how to calmly wait their turn in the presence of other dogs, and how to walk with you in public in a way that will make you and your dog positive role models for others!
All basic exercises will be reviewed, and distraction training will be added to ensure a reliable performance in different environments.
All exercises tested in the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program will be taught. This includes meeting other dogs and people, supervised separation, walking through a crowd on a leash, and being touched by a stranger.
As part of this class session, the Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGCA) test will be discussed and the exercises will be reviewed. Most student/dog teams will need additional training to be successful with the more advanced skills.
BVTC offers CGC and CGCA evaluations several times a year. BVTC students receive a discount on AKC CGC testing fees. (Check the calendar for currently scheduled CGC testing dates.)
Upcoming Classes
Thursdays
Improving Manners Class
Dogs must be 9 months or older with previous training, such as STAR Puppy or Basic Obedience 2. This class is a continuation of what the dogs began to learn so that the dog will be very solid on the fundamentals of obedience commands. Continued skills will include the polite way to walk thru doorways with their owner, waiting patiently while a door is answered, the appropriate way to greet people both on and off lead, and waiting patiently for the food bowl, continued practice of walking on a loose lead, staying with a strange and other behaviors.. Students are encouraged to work with the instructor on other challenges that they are experiencing while working with their dog.
Upcoming Classes
Wednesdays
Rally
Level 3 – Rally Foundations
This class is for dog and handler teams that are new to the sport of Rally Obedience.
All skills needed to compete at the first level of competition will be taught. These skills include, but are not limited to, learning heel position, heeling through serpentine and spiral patterns, calling front, changing paces while healing, and remaining in the sit and down positions as required.
The rules for competition will be reviewed and discussed.
To participate, dogs must be able to walk on a leash in a controlled manner, sit, down and stay on command. Most dog/handler teams will need to repeat this session at least once due to the amoung of material that is covered and the number of skills that need to be learned.
Upcoming Classes
Tuesdays
Level 4 – Beginner Rally Obedience
Dog and handler teams will learn to navigate a course with numbered signs indicating different obedience exercises to perform, such as Sit-Down-Sit, Straight Figure 8, Send Over Jump and Recall Over Jump. Rally skills will be taught both on-leash and off-leash to prepare the dog/handler team for competition.
Teams will be taught the skills necessary to navigate the course at a brisk, continuous pace without direction from the judge. Class time will be divided into segments so that all teams will have the opportunity to work on the mechanics of the exercises and to run courses.
Rules for competition will be discussed, and students will be provided information on the different organizations that offer local rally competitions.
To participate in this class, the dog and handler must have successfully completed the Rally Foundations class or be evaluated by a BVTC rally instructor.
Upcoming Classes
Tuesdays
Level 5 – Advanced Rally Obedience
This class is for dog/handler teams that are competing in Rally Obedience Trials in the mid-level and upper-level classes.
Dogs will be working off-leash on full-length rally courses that focus on the exercises used in the advanced competition classes.
Upcoming Classes
Wednesdays
Trick Dog
Tricks Are For Dogs!
This class is designed for handlers and dogs to have fun together and transition from a Basic Obedience or S.T.A.R. Puppy Class toward higher levels of obedience, agility, scentwork, therapy dog or whatever activities you choose to engage with your dog. The level of the tricks introduced helps to build bonding, confidence and trust between you and your dog.
During the first three weeks of the six-week session, 10 AKC Novice Tricks will be taught. Once the handler and dog are able to successfully demonstrate 10 Novice Tricks, they will be eligible to apply for an AKC Novice Trick Dog Title. Instructors for this class are AKC-Approved Trick Dog Evaluators.
Only positive training techniques will be used. These include training treats and/or toys along with verbal and physical praise for your dog.
The last three weeks of the six-week session will be devoted to AKC Intermediate Tricks. Each handler will be given a list of tricks and may choose which ones to work on, with assistance and guidance from the instructors.
Many of the Novice and Intermediate Tricks taught in this class are considered groundwork for obedience, agility, scentwork and other dog activities. A few examples are:
- Balance beam (agility)
- Fetch (obedience)
- Find a hidden treat under an object (scentwork)
- Hand signals (obedience)
- Shell game (scentwork)
- Teeter-totter (agiliity)
- Weave poles (agility)
The primary goal of this class is to have fun with your dog while building communication skills and improving your relationship together as a team.
It is highly recommended that dogs complete a Puppy or Basic Obedience Class prior to registering for the Tricks Class.
Upcoming Classes
Mondays
FOCUS & SCENT WORK
Level 3/4 – FOCUS
Do you envy other dog and handler teams that seem to work together in perfect harmony? Do you struggle to keep your dog’s attention and to keep him or her interested in agility, rally or obedience? Do you have to fight to keep your dog on the course that you want him or her to do?
All of these problems are due to a lack of focus and gaps in your foundation work. The FOCUS (Fun, Obedience, and Consistency lead to Unbelievable Success) program is designed to help you build the foundation for a strong and solid working relationship with your dog and to build focus so that you have a willing and eager canine partner. It’s never too late to build and improve focus.
Suggested reading: In Focus by authors Deborah Jones, PhD, and Judy Keller – $20 (book cost must be pre-paid at time of registration).
A training “clicker” is also required – contact us if you are not sure about what you need!
This specialized class is offered twice each year.
Upcoming Classes
Tuesdays
Scent Work
Scent Work is a sport that mimics the task of working detection dogs to locate a scent and communicate to the handler that the scent has been found. Real-life detection dogs are trained to search for a variety of things–drugs, explosives, human remains, currency, other contraband, living humans (such as for Search and Rescue), and much more. Scent Work takes this amazing working relationship and turns it into a fun game that any dog can play.
Upcoming Classes
Wednesdays
Introduction to Scent Work: This class is for dogs that are new to scent work. No dog is too young or too old to enroll.
Advanced Scent Work: This class is for dogs that have completed the Introduction to Scent Work Class or who have scent work experience and have been approved to enroll by the instructor.
