"Oh no a class! ... my dog may bark?"
First, barking is way a dog expresses things. It is very common for some dogs to bark in class. Some dogs are more expressive then others and your dog typically is doing this same behavior when in other highly stimulating environment. However, if you have a dog that likes to be expressive in that manner, here are some helpful tips to help. The more you do and practice in other arousing areas, the better and faster your dog will learn to relax and be quiet.
BARKING … it just doesn’t fit into our world at all, does it?
TRICKS
Focus back onto your tricks are the tricks that will be most helpful here. As soon as you get to class, do some spins and twirls in the parking lot. Teach a target trick, nose touch on your hand. For this to work, practice tricks on your walk and other locations where stimulation is high.
SIR SNIFF ALLOT
“Insnifficating walks” can improve a ton of things, but in this case it may calm your dog down prior to coming to class. Place your dog on a long-line and allow your dog to sniff some where that has low amounts of visual and audible stimulation. For example — behind Ingle’s — in a church parking lot — at a car dealership — etc.
ACTIVE ATTENTION
Busy dogs typically do not bark. It is only when we come into a stimulating environment without proper timing and a job for our dogs to do. If you have a dog that gets over stimulated in a vocal way, you need to come prepared. Prepare yourself to keep the dog employed. Asking for what you want before you dog starts to bark. If you ask for behaviors your dog knows, the probability that your dog will find that more reinforcing then barking increases. Or, bring things your dog love to chew on instead. For example — a favorite rubber toy with “stuff” in it that is tasty — a bully stick — a food puzzle — etc.
OFF SWITCHES
Bring a “place matt” from home (something familiar in a unfamiliar environment) or use one of the crates in the room to put your dog into during lecture time and in between games and exercises. Practice this at home first, but typically the crate is a safe place and a calm place. But just to make sure, bring and place a food puzzle in the crate in between working the dog.
D.A.P. PRODUCTS
Pheromones released during lactation give puppies a sense of wellbeing and reassurance, known as appeasing pheromones. ‘Dog Appeasing Pheromone’ can be embedded in a plastic collar or sprayed on a bandana. Typically your vet office has it or find it on line.
CAPTURE CALM
You may have to be really fast. Click and reward calm behavior take a lot of observational skills. A nose that is turning from the stimulus — click and reward. You are catering all those good choices for NOT barking. Clicking calm behaviors before the dog barks will create a thinking dog. Every time a dog walks in the room, get prepared and use incredible timing to click the calm behavior. Then, you may start to say: “shhhhhh” ask the door cracks open, click and move back into your spot and reward. When you start to say words, make sure the dog has been rewarded a lot just for the behavior the word now represents.
BRING TWO PEOPLE
To be able to do everything that is mentioned above AND listen to instruction is hard. Bring another person to help listen and take notes, so you can be focused on the dog. If you want your dog’s focus, you will need to be focusing on your dog.
MULTI-TASKING
If you do not have another person to bring, you will need to become a good multi-tasker and keep your dog busy using the suggestions above as well as listen in class. Or, the benefit of a class are monstrous. Please work on the things that are needed in this class and continue on with the next class after you tackle getting your dog’s focus in a stimulating environment. FOCUS is key. Everything starts with focus. Repeating this class has proven to be the best thing ever for several dogs!!
TOTAL FAILURE
People have put their dog’s back in the car. Returned to class to listen for a few minutes. Regained composure, so-to-speak. And tried it again with the upmost in timing and consistency while clicking calm behavior and asking for easy behaviors that the dog knows as they re-enter the room. Then repeated the exercise … again, and again, and again!
HOME TRAINING
Outside of class, be sure to put your dog in situation where the attention is divided. Sitting on a park bench is awesome. Go to these places knowing your attention is going to be on your dog at all times. Practice techniques above and DO NOT GET FRUSTRATED.
K9 Manners - Level 1
WNC K9 Manners Levels Program starts at level one - Basic Manners. This is the level that our Puppy Program puppies come into after their puppy experience. This class is perfect for the 4-5 month old puppy as well as the dog who may be older but has never been in a class held at AGDL Training Center.
During K9 Manners - Level 1: Schooling begins with focus, attention, and name recogition; without that you do not have much. Then we go on to leash walking, positions (sit and down), come, stay, leave it. We also give solutions for a range of behavioral problems such as jumping up, nipping, chewing, and barking. As I help you teach the behaviors you desire we also talk about how to extinguish the undesireable ones. Your lifestyle with your dog will suddenly make sense and be easier with a handful of guidelines to live by for the life of your dog.
Level 1 is where dog owners priorities are developed. Each K9 team can have different needs. Because of this, I make myself available during these 6 weeks to answer as many questions as possible. If I think a private coaching session would be best, I will mention that option.
NEW Class Schedule with limited capacity and safety protocol in place.
If you are interested and have questions please call or text Gail at 828-712-4245
Class Details: K9 Manners - Level 1 (Basic Manners)
5-Weeks of FUN ... call with questions
Cost: $120
Cash, Venmo, or Check (Payable to: WNC K9)
PayPal (fee added ... $125)
Instructor: Gail Hubbard
New Class Start Date: Wednesday, October 20 ... this class is full
Target End Date: Wednesday, November 17
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
or ...
New DATED Class Start Date: Thursday, October 21 ... this class is full
Target End Date: Thursday, November 18
Time: 6:15pm - 7:15pm
Location: A Good Dog's Life Training Center, 33 Hidden Acres Drive, Asheville, NC 28806
What to Bring:
- 6 foot leash (no retractable)
- proof of rabies
- a favorite toy
- small soft food treats - i.e. turkey hotdogs cooked and string cheese
- enthusiasm and joy! AND plenty of food rewards.
Sign Up Now
K9 Manners — Level 2
After completing Level-1, you are encouraged to move on to K9 Manners Level-2.
With the Schooling Model in mind, as you get better with your training mechanics and your dog gets better listening to you, Level-2 continues seemlessly and is suggested, even before you enter a sport class.
This class builds on the basics you learned in Level-1 while introducing the flirt pole as a method to increase your dog's arousal. K9 Manners Level-2 class lasts 5-weeks and includes meeting out and about when the weather permits. IF it is rainy, we will cancel or go to AGDL Training Center. The evening class will need to be post-poned every time it is rainy. If you have any quesitons, please call me.
During this class, you will be encouraged to purchase a lunge whip for your flirt pole if it is appropriate for you and your dog. You can purchase them anywhere that sells horse supplies. Once you get one, choose a toy you would like to use as your target toy and bring it to class
If you are not sure if this class is for you.
Please call Gail at 828-712-4245.
Class Details: K9 Manners Level-2 (details above)
5-Weeks of FUN
Cost: $135
New Class Every Tuesday Starting: Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Target End Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
The first class will be held at: Ray L. Kisiah Park, 70 W Chapel Rd, Asheville NC 28803
We wil be out side and class locations will be discussed during the first class.
What to Bring:
- your dog
- 6 foot leash (no retractable)
- proof of rabies
- favorite toy
- small soft food treats
- enthusiasm and joy!
K9 Manners — CGC Prep
After successful completion of Level-1, you are encouraged to move on to K9 Manners - Level 2 if you are wanting to move toward therapy dog, service dog training, and/or passing the CGC test.
K9 Manners - CGC Prep introduces new ways to increase your dogs arrousal while working on compliance. Classes are always based on the foundation of how to properly handle and effectively communicate with your dog. The goals are to go deeper into what you personally want and need as your dog's life (24/7/365) is the most important to me.
This class will prep you for the CGC class. It is held on two separate days so that you can emerge yourself in prep'ing for the test.
During this class it will not be unusual for me to give one person more homework in one aspect of their relationship, and another may have a totally different focus. When we come together it is your opportunity to work on your individual relationship with your dog with guidance from me.
K9 Manners - AKC CGC PREP CLASS
- Accepting a friendly stranger
- Sitting politely for petting
- Appearance and grooming
- Walking on a loose leash
- Walking through a crowd
- Sit and down on command and staying in place
- Coming when called
- Reaction to another dog
- Reacting (or not reacting) to a distraction
- Supervised separation.
To pass the CGC test dogs must pass all 10 items of the test.
If you are no sure if this class is for you. Please call Gail at 828-712-4245.
Important Notes: If you have not attended a K9 Manners Level-2 class, a private lesson may be scheduled [$105] to enter into this class.
During each private I evaluate and give essential homework to move forward with your desires.
Class Details: K9 Manners - CGC Prep
2-Week of CGC Prep
Cost: $50
Class Dates:
Thursday, September 16 at 6:00pm and,
Thursday, September 30 at 6:00pm
The CGC Test Date and Time
October 9th at 11:15am
Location: A Good Dog's Life Training Center, 33 Hidden Acres Drive, Asheville, NC 28806
What to Bring: Bring what motivates your dog (toy and small, soft food treats) and your enthusiasm!
Introduction to Dog Sports
Class Details: Introduction to Dog Sports
5-Weeks of FUN to introduce the fun of a dog sport. This class will mentally challenge you and your dog as well as physically.
This 5-week class is highly recommended for folks new to any dog sport scene. We want all our students to get all they can out of their interactions with their dog. Dog sports are FUN and this class is designed to prepare owners for navigating and controlling their dog in any sport class. It also teaches you more fun things to do with your dog at home ... mentally stimulating them with fun games that will keep them fit while showing them how to use their bodies in the spaces provided. This class offer a little bit of physical challenges, so if you have a puppy this Intro to Dog Sports class is awesome! Sport classes are generally more stimulating then average dog training classes and so the types of things you will learn over and above learning new sporty activities are:
- Learn the art of shaping where the dog thinks and is more involved in the games we play
- Learn tricks for foundation skills in treibball, agility, and scent games
- Work on happy crate training techniques so that your dog loves any crate - especially at the vet office
- Learn how being a team player in the class can enhance your experience and learning
- Wellness fitness and conditioning games will show the dog proprioception, etc.
The sports that we review are: Agility - Treibball (Urban Herding) - Scent (The Nose Knows) - K9 Fitness and Conditioning
Cost: $135
Instructors: Gail Hubbard
New Class Start Date: Monday, October 18 ... this class is full
Target End Date: Monday, November 15
Time: 11:30am - 12:30am
Location: A Good Dog's Life Training Center, 33 Hidden Acres Drive, Asheville, NC 28806
What to Bring: Bring what motivates your dog (toy and small, soft food treats) and your enthusiasm!
Interested? Simply click the "Sign Up Now" bottom below.
Agility Foundation - Beginning Basics
Class Details
Since teamwork between dog and human is the cornerstone of agility, this class focuses on the relationship between you and your dog. Using a non-conventional way of training (or shaping) dog owners are challenged to team up with their k9 companion in a way they have perhaps never done. It is fun and the outcome is mind blowing as you get your dog to do things that you never could imagined them doing.
This class is an on-going experience. After this 6-week experience the class continues on with beyond foundation skills which leads to more and more agility.
It is often exciting to watch the process and journey of each and every dog team.
Read a story from a student and her scottie.
To build a successful agility team and have fun in agility, please take a K9 Manners class at A Good Dog's Life Training Center before signing up. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Cost: $135 for 6-weeks of FUN and Learning!
Instructor: Gail Hubbard
New Class Start Date: Wednesday, June 9 ... this class is FULL
Target End Date: Wednesday, July 14
Typically interested agility foundations - beginning basic dog teams move onto Beyond the Basic Foundation and learn more and more skills until they are running a whole course.
Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: A Good Dog's Life Training Center, 33 Hidden Acres Drive, Asheville, NC 28806
What to Bring: Bring what motivates your dog (toy and small, soft food treats) and your enthusiasm!
**This series will continue on through several levels. Typically it takes several months before students are running larger sequences and/or thinking about competing. Locally we have AKC and USDAA shows ... both are fun and both are right here in WNC.