Competition Obedience and Rally Classes

Foundation Skills for Rally and Obedience
In this class, we will cover training elements such as the pop-up stand, down in motion, finishes in both directions, backing up in heel position, and more.  You will get to familiarize your dog on all 3 jumps used in rally and competition obedience.  Engagement games and building a working connection with your dog will also be covered.   This class is open to anyone looking to teach these behaviors that are used in both rally and competition obedience. 
Prerequisites: Teams should have completed at least one PDTC beginner obedience class or the equivalent and be prepared to take the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test. The dog should sit and down on command, be able to do a short recall on leash, and be ready to do some loose lead walking.   The dog must be controllable around other dogs and people. This is not a class to work on aggression issues.  ​
Teaching Novice
Teaching Novice is a foundation class that teaches competition heelwork and other behaviors related to AKC Competition Obedience.   Focused Attention (stationary and moving), hind end awareness, stays/impulse control, and engagement games will be covered.  The focus of this class is to teach more advanced skills while at the same time growing the dog’s enthusiasm for the game and building a solid relationship with the handler.  Any dog can benefit from these skills, whether they intend to compete or not.  These skills also have great cross-over to other sports, including agility.  
Dogs signing up for this class should already know the basics: Sit, Down, Stay, and Come. We will continue to build fluency in these basics. 
PLEASE NOTE:  In order to give everyone the best chance of success we cannot accept dogs with reactivity and/or aggression issues in this class.
Prerequisites: Foundation Skills for Rally and Obedience or permission of the instructor or Obedience Director ​
Novice
Novice is a ring prep competition obedience class. This class is for teams that are preparing to compete in Beginner Novice and Novice classes at obedience trials. Rules and ring procedure will be covered. The formal exercises will be perfected and proofed. Run-thrus will be conducted as time permits. 
Prerequisites: Teaching Novice or permission of the instructor or Obedience Director ​
Open
This class teaches the foundation skills for the AKC Open exercises to obtain a Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title. Major focus is teaching the dog the dumbbell skills of take, hold, and carry. Off leash heeling will be covered as well as retrieving, broad jump, and drop on recall. 
Prerequisites: Fluency of the Novice class skills or Permission of instructor or Obedience Director.
Utility
This class teaches the foundation skills for the AKC Utility exercises to obtain a Utility Dog Excellent (UD) title. We will cover hand signals, scent discrimination, and directed jumping. 
Prerequisites: Dogs should know all of the AKC Open exercises. Permission of instructor or Obedience Director.
Rally Novice and Advanced
This class will teach the signs needed for the AKC Rally Novice (RN) and Rally Advanced (RA) title. Rules, regulations, and handling tips will be covered. All novice signs will be introduced and put into short courses to run. 
Prerequisites: Beginner II or permission of the instructor or Obedience Director 
​Rally Excellent and Masters
This class will teach the signs needed for the AKC Excellent (RE) and AKC Master (RM) title. Rules, regulations, and handling tips will be covered. All Excellent and Master signs will be introduced and put into short courses to run.  
Prerequisites: AKC Advanced Title (RA) or Permission of instructor or Obedience Director.