Classes

NYOC is a not-for-profit dog training club. It is not necessary for you to be a club member in order to take any of our classes. We offer training classes for all breeds and at various levels of ability.

NYOC instructors are all club members who volunteer their time, experience and expertise to the public.  Their training and competition knowledge range from Conformation to Obedience and Tracking, from Rally-O to Agility.  Many of our instructors have earned titles in various competitions approved by the Canadian Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club, and the United Kennel Club.  All of them have years of experience working with many different breeds of dogs.  As a result, our students get the best possible guidance to ensure that their dogs learn to be well-mannered companions.

Please read the following descriptions carefully so that you register at the appropriate level.

We offer the following classes:

• Puppy Kindergarten
• Beginners I
• Beginners II
• Intermediate
• Rally-O
• Open ‘Companion Dog Excellent’ Training

Puppy Kindergarten

Have a new puppy?  Get things off to a great start with our Puppy Kindergarten class.  Designed for puppies between eight and fifteen weeks of age at the beginning of the class, this class focuses on proper socialization during the most crucial development stage in your dog’s life.  It may start off looking like chaos but in Puppy Kindergarten you will learn to:

1. Get your puppy to focus his/her attention on you
2. Safely accustom your puppy to interacting with other dogs, big and small
3. Build the confidence needed by your puppy in mastering new behaviours
4. Introduce your puppy to new objects and environmental stimuli in a non-frightening manner
5. Make your puppy feel more comfortable when handled by familiar and unfamiliar people

And you’ll get lots of tips on how to take care of your puppy now so that you and your canine companion will have a long and healthy relationship.

Beginners I

The goal is to have a well-mannered and obedient puppy/dog that will be welcome in most situations.

Basic obedience exercises are taught including sit, down, stay, heeling on leash, and coming when called. Minor distractions are used to ensure success. Class discussions include how to use praise effectively, choice of collars, and lots more.

The key behaviours taught in this class are:

1. Paying attention
2. Heeling on lead
3. Introduction to basic recall
4. Sit when asked
5. Down when asked
6. Gently accepting praise, rewards, and treats from handler and family.

Beginners II *

Beginners II introduces new skills and continues to build on the exercises taught at the Beginner I level.  Distractions are introduced to increase the dog’s attention to the handler. This class is designed to establish consistent obedience training for those who would like the family dog to behave better at home and on leash.  In addition, this class helps those who wish to participate in the first level of obedience testing.

Testing is often used as a training assessment tool to evaluate the dog and handler’s attention to detail and timing.  The Pre-Companion Dog (PCD) title is a transition title for handler/dog teams working towards their first level of formal obedience testing.

Precise obedience is taught. Formal hand signals are introduced. Distractions will be used including other dogs, people, food, noise, etc.

The key behaviours taught in this class are:

1. Proper heeling with a loose leash
2. Tight turns left and right while maintaining a proper heel position
3. Sitting while examined by other people
4. Off leash recalls from at least 20 feet
5. Sit with stay for at least 1 minute
6. Down with stay for at least 2 minutes.

* Prerequisite: successful completion of Beginners I

Intermediate *

This class is a continuation of the skills taught at previous levels. Although geared towards formal obedience training, this class will help all handlers extend their training.

Exercises in the class help prepare you and your dog for the Companion Dog (CD) title. This is the first major obedience title for handler/dog teams.

Formal obedience is taught. Formal hand signals are used. Major focus for this level is attention to minor details, timing, and the handler’s body language. Major distractions will be used including other dogs, people, food, noise, etc.

The key behaviours taught in this class are:

1. Proper on and off leash heeling
2. Proper figure eight turns while maintaining a proper heel position
3. Standing while examined by other people
4. Off leash recalls from at least 40 feet with a formal finish
5. Sit with stay for at least 1 minutes
6. Down with stay for at least 3 minutes.

* Prerequisite: successful completion of Beginners II

Rally-O Class *

Our Rally-O Class is an exciting way for you and your dog to learn to work effectively as a team while refining and enhancing what you have learned in previous classes.

In Rally-O, you and your dog negotiate a course consisting of signs that instruct you to do anything from a sit and stay to weaving through pylons, or even performing a figure-eight exercise while your dog has to ignore strategically placed food bowls!  The course is different each time so it is always new and challenging.  You and your dog will have so much fun you might even want to enter our Rally-O trial in June!

Each week, the course lay-out will change. We will review exercises, introduce new ones and give you tips on how to develop your dog handling skills.  Some of the exercises you’ll encounter include:

1. Sit, down, stay, walk around your dog
2. Pivot, figure eight, spiral
3. Come, heel slow, normal, fast, finish left and right
4. Turns of 90, 180, 270 and 360 left and right
5. Pace changes, forwards, backing up
6. Jumps in the advanced and excellent classes

* Prerequisite:  successful completion of Beginners II

Open ‘Companion Dog Excellent’ *

The Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title is the second major obedience title for handler/dog teams. It is required for those working towards the coveted Obedience Trial Champion (OTCh) title.

Formal obedience is taught. Formal hand signals are used. Major focus for this level is attention to minor details, timing, and the handler’s body language.

The key behaviours taught in this class are:

1. Proper off leash heeling with figure eight turns
2. Recalls with down from at least 40 feet
3. Retrieve a dumbbell from about 20 feet over flat terrain
4. Retrieve a dumbbell from about 16 feet with high jump in the middle
5. Broad jump over a series of boards at least 8 feet away
6. Sit with explicit stay for at least 3 minutes
7. Down with explicit stay for at least 3 minutes.

* Prerequisite:  successful completion of Intermediate level or with permission from the Training Director

For information on how to register, look at our class schedule and registration policies.

Please email training@nyoc.ca or call 416-222-4109 for further information.

Remember, a dog is a lifetime commitment.

Enjoy your training with us and enjoy your life with your dog.