K9 Manners Level 2 — 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, and/or passing the CGC test.
K9 Manners Level 2 - 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 yourdog. 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 for 5-weeks so that you can build upon your obedience foundation.
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 - moving towards your personal goals. It is a class so there will be limitations, but you are always encouraged to ask questions and send weekly updates via email.
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 nosure if this class is for you. Please call Gail at 828-712-4245.
Important Notes: If you have not attended a K9 Manners class your dog may need to step back in order to move forward to accomplish your goals. An option: 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 Level 2 - CGC Prep
5-Week of CGC Prep
Cost: $165
Cash, Venmo, or Check (Payable to: WNC K9)
New Class Date: Tuesday, October 31 at 12:00pm [no class on November 21 - Happy Thanksgiving]
Class Schedule: Tuesday, October 31; November 7, 14, 28; December 5
Time: 12:00pm
The locations: The different class locations will be given during the first class.
The first class location is: 41 Edgewood Road Extension, Asheville NC 28803
This is a residence so play drive slowly. Please also know that there is plenty of parking on the right of the house so please pull all the way up the driveway. There are paw prints on the drive way to help you pull up the correct driveway as well as red posts with the number 41 on it to guide you. Follow the red doggie signs. There are red rockers on the porch and the red garage door. If you have any questions, please call me 828-712-4245.
What to Bring: Bring what motivates your dog (toy and small, soft food treats) and your enthusiasm!
Puppy Class Details
SNOW STORM: Click here to find last minute closings.
Puppies start coming to class around ages 12 - 14 weeks old. After that 2nd boost immunity shot.
Dates and Times:
Go to: K9 Manners - Level 1 to sign up for the class that best suites your schedule.
Please email me if you have any questions, text or call: 828-712-4245
Instructor:
Gail Hubbard [828-712-4245]
Location: 41 Edgewood Road Extension, Asheville NC 28803
This is a residence so play drive slowly. Take the middle paced driveway on your left once you see the orange cones and mailboxes on the left indicating that Edgewood Road Extension does deadend. Please also know that there is plenty of parking on the right of the house so please pull all the way up the driveway. There are paw prints on the drive way to help you pull up the correct driveway as well as red posts with the number 41 on it to guide you. My garage door is a bright red as well. If you have any questions, please call me 828-712-4245.
What to Bring:
- your puppy
- harnesses are recommended / strongly suggested
- 6 foot leash (no retractable)
- shot records
- favorite toy
- small soft food treats (a trail mix of a variety)
- your enthusiasm and joy!
Private Training and Behavior Consultations
Private Coaching Benefits are:
- At home coaching session
- Comfortable environment to optimize learning for your puppy
- Initial evaluation to determine goals and expectations are fulfilled
- Assessment of where the dog is within those goals and expectations
- Developing your initial plan with handouts and homework
- Follow up emails and phone calls
- Scheduling the second session to stay consistent and evaluate your training mechanics
Pricing
1 hour of coaching ... $105
1.5 hours of coaching ... $155
The initial meeting includes an evaluation, handouts and a follow-up phone consultation and typically lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. All follow-up sessions are typically an hour in length.
When working with larger families, children, and multiple dogs, the private coaching can extend even longer in length.
2 hours of coaching ... $195
Package discounts are given.
**Pricing is different for those living outside of a 15-mile radius.
Conditioning and Confidence for a Long Healthy Life
If you want to keep your dog strong and healthy, join this conditioning and body awareness class. The flow yoga-like approach behind each game will teach you how you can properly keep a self-paced, force-free routine workout with your dog’s fitness level in mind. The dogs use their own body weight and movability to condition and build body awareness and strength.
This class will safely improve your dog’s fitness through conditioning and body awareness exercises — ultimately preventing injuries, even if your sport is hiking or running around in the back yard.
Other benefits are:
- increased body awareness
- increased confidence
- improved attitude
- added flexibility and balance
- helps with weight loss
- increases over-all strength
After attending Robert J Porter, CCRP "It’s Possible” Conditioning Workshop, I have gained a better understanding of the benefits of using a force-free approach. This class includes some of the safest and effective ways to strengthen your dogs body for the typical movements the 21st century dog does on a daily basis. I’m soooo excited to say, IT IS POSSIBLE to keep your active dog healthy.
There will be a “Declaration of Pet’s Health” each dogs team will sign after the first class of this 5 class series. This class does not take the place of any recommendations or guidelines established for your dog by a veterinary professional (i.e., veterinarian, rehabilitation practitioner, veterinary chiropractor, etc.) Your pet should be free of internal and external parasites, any communicable diseases, and should have received appropriate vaccinations.
If at any time you feel the class isn't for you and your dog, you can pull out with a prorated refund. But I assure everyone that the exercises we go over will enhance your dogs existence for the better. I think you really will enjoy this approach to a healthy force-free K9 fitness workout for your dog.
Details: 5-Weeks of a Force-Free K9 Fitness Program
Cost: $105
Instructor: Gail Hubbard and Natalie Boone
Class Dates: TBA
Time: TBA
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!
K9 Scent Work - Level One
In an hour private lesson, I introduce you and your dog to the scenting games by using your dog’s choice of motivation — whether it’s high value treats or a high value toy. Your dog is taught to search in easy to learn steps.
Challenges can be quickly added to the game - a multitude of objects and varying heights. This initial private lesson is held indoors and will give you insight to mentally challenge your dog by using his/her nose - developing your dog’s searching skills. Teaming up with other 'scent team' is popular after this your private lesson.
Details: Please contact me if you are interested, or register for a private below.
Private Cost: $165
Instructor: Gail Hubbard | 828-712-4245
What to Bring: Bring what motivates your dog (toy and small, soft food treats) and your enthusiasm!
To Schedule A Private: Click here to register for a private lesson!
WNC K9 Dog Training: Who, How, When and Where's
WNC K9 is owned by Gail Hubbard from A Good Dog's Life which has transitioned into A Good Dog's Life Training Center welcoming other trainers to offer their specialty to the mix of offerings.
The word ‘Mission’ — by definition means a strongly felt aim, ambition or calling. I am called to go out into the world and spread understanding, wisdom and faith.
WNC K9’s MISSION is to help you find your dog training GOALS and achieve results.
My Dog Training Philosophy
Dog training can loosely be grouped into two main categories: reward-based and correction-based. Reward-based can be split even further into lure-reward, marker-system, and free-shaping. A marker-system that includes free-shaping and lure-reward is what I use when teaching behavior. In sport and conditioning classes, I review free-shaping as a primary means of teaching tricks and new behaviors. As a result, the depth of fun, confidence and relationship built is above what the average dog owner can imagine. You should join the fun and see for yourself.
My Promise to You!
In all private coaching sessions, my primary goal at WNC K9 is to give you, the dog’s real trainer, the tools to build communication, respect and trust. All three placed between you and your dog equals a solid relationship, in my opinion. I will show you how to understand your dog, how to teach your dog to understand you and how to fit training into your every day life, period.
The way I train will never harm your dog physically or mentally. The things I show you will only enhance the relationship you have with your dog. You have the right to leave a class or coaching session if you feel any trainer is doing something that will harm your dog in any way and I encourage that … serious!
More Answers to Questions
- When should I start training?
- Is my puppy too old for the Saturday Puppy Program?
- My dog is older. Can older dogs start a sport?
- What is the difference between a class and a private lesson?
Gail Hubbard
828-712-4245 | Schedule a Consult | @wnck9DOGtraining | Instagram
In 1995, Gail Hubbard set out on a mission to better understand how dogs think so she could help owners deepen their relationship with their dog, train needed behaviors, and rehab those those that need a helping hand - separation anxiety / aggression and reactivity / potty habit issues / multiple dog homes and the dynamics multiple dogs create. Training that is fun, humane, and works as well as effective was her goal. While reading and researching dog training, Gail first started a dog walking business, A Dog’s Life, in Cleveland, Ohio. After helping clients with the basics and building more of a love for helping dog owners, in 1996, she out-sourced her advertising work to close colleagues and enrolled at West Virginia Canine College (WVCC).
"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.