Butler Area Classes
::::: NEW LOCATION! :::::
Family Dog Obedience is pleased to announce our new
permanent location in Butler: Classes will be held
at Lamberts Feed & Tack store – read on for details!
The new permanent location for Family Dog Obedience classes is the second floor of Lamberts Feed & Tack store, located at 769 Pittsburgh Road, Butler, PA 16002. The new location is heated/air conditioned which will allow us to be open year round, and it will be dedicated entirely to the art of enhancing your relationship with your dog, and the sport of dog training. The training arena is spacious 6000 sq. feet., and footing is a combination of rubber/vinyl mats, plus carpeting to allow for a variety of activities with safety & comfort in mind. The Family Dog Obedience Training Center is a 2nd floor location, so climbing stairs will be necessary in order to attend any activities with your dog.
The exact dates for classes will be listed as soon as they are available. Please inquire if there is something of special interest that you would like to see at this new location. Please see the Current Classes page for information.
While we have moved our training facility from Reichholds Farms Events Barn, you are still welcome and encouraged to visit the Reichholds at their events barn for Pony Parties, Fall on the Farm, and other fun family events. Please check their website for more details! www.reichholdfarms.com
Most class sessions are only 4 weeks long unless otherwise noted, which allows families to schedule dog training around vacations and other activities during the year. You can repeat classes as needed to attain your goals with your dog. Canine Good Citizen classes and testing – as well as classes for Rally Obedience, Flyball, and specialty seminars – will be offered at this location as well. All family members that are interested in training the dog are welcome to attend, but NO babysitting services are available, and children under the age of 16 are NOT allowed to be primary handler for the dog. We do permit and encourage multiple family members to be handlers of the dog in classes!
Descriptions of our classes follow. Please see our Current Events section for class dates, times and prices. You must REGISTER and PREPAY to attend classes. Please download Registration Form and mail – along with payment – to Val Klein, 126 Dinnerbell Road, Butler, PA 16002
Kinder Puppy Class
For puppies ages 3-6 months. The program focuses on teaching good social skills for your puppy, as well as addressing the concerns of a “new puppy parent” such as crate training, biting, chewing etc. Classes will help owners discover what type of temperament their puppy has, and the best methods to use to teach that puppy all the way into adulthood. Topics addressed include: Teaching puppies to pay attention to their owner; basic obedience commands like sit, lie down, and stand; introduction to strange and new articles each week; grooming tips; behavioral & housebreaking discussions; chewing; social skills, etc. Kinder Puppy is 4 weeks long, is only held at the Boyd Community Center location, and the Butler location. The criteria for the AKC Star Puppy Program is followed in this class.
Senior Puppy Class
Senior puppy class is for puppies that have completed the Kinder Puppy class with us, but are not yet ready to move into the Basic Manners class. The goal of the Senior Puppy class is to meet the requirements of the AKC STAR puppy program. Cost of the 4-week class is $65. If AKC STAR PUPPY testing is desired, applicants must have completed the 4-week Kinder Puppy class with us plus at least 2 of the 4 Senior puppy classes.
Basic Manners Class
For dogs ages 5 months and up. The focus in this class is to proof the basic skills that most dog owner’s desire: The dog will already sit and lie down on command, but will learn how to stay in place, how to come when called, and how to walk nicely on leash. Time is spent discussing different tools, such as collars and leashes, that can be useful in training, as well as brief discussions on adolescent behaviors and challenges. Basic Manners also includes a Leave It command, and different ways to prevent a dog from jumping up on you or other people. Different dog sports such as Agility, Rally Obedience, AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate, etc are also discussed. Basic Manners is 4 weeks long.
Versatility Class
Versatility classes are designed for any student who has completed our Basic Manners or Kinder Puppy Classes. These sessions are designed to offer more challenging exercises for both the dog and the handler. Versatility classes help you take your training skills with your dog "to a whole new level" by introducing distance training work, and minimizing hand and/or body signals to achieve a higher level of learning with your dog. Subject material will be offered to help students who wish to move onto the Canine Good Citizen Test, Agility exercises, or who desire to have better verbal control with their dogs. Students from other training locations must have an Evaluation Appointment ($10 fee) in order to participate in the Versatility Class. These appointments are 15 minutes long and are used to determine training level of the student and the dog.
Pre-Agility Class
If you are interested in learning about the sport of dog agility, this is the place to begin! This class is designed to introduce you & your dog to the skills necessary to prepare for agility training. Topics include: stretches and warm-ups, obstacle types, attention exercises, proofing recalls, on- and off-leash control exercises, improving responses to the basic commands, and many scenarios that you can learn and practice at home, with very little extra equipment needed. Dogs must be well-socialized and non-reactive to people or other dogs to participate. Your dog must have attended our Basic Manners class in order to register for this class. This class is 6 weeks long and class size is limited to 6 participants.
Agility Level 1
(Please note: Our Agility classes are aimed at helping train the FAMILY DOG in this recreational activity. While students could move into Competitive aspects of Agility, our focus is for the FAMILY DOG to have fun, get more exercise, and learn improved communication.)
This class will focus on basic maneuvers from agility dog training, such as jumping techniques, weave poles, tunnels, and contact obstacle training. While competition standards will be taught, the focus is on fun, communication, and exercise for your dog. Class size is strictly limited to 6 participants, and all dogs must be friendly and social to people and other dogs. Your dog must have attended our Basic Manners course in order to attend this class, and the Pre-Agility class is HIGHLY recommended. If you wish, for a small fee, you can arrange an evaluation of your dog for placement if you have previously attended dog training classes elsewhere. Agility Level 1 is 6 weeks long.
