NOTICE: ALL CLASSES REQUIRE ADVANCE REGISTRATION. CLASS SIZES ARE BEING LIMITED.
Our goals are to teach you to train your dog, develop your interest in dog obedience and other exciting dog venues (such as conformation, rally, and agility), increase your enjoyment and love of your dog, and have fun. Whether you are an experienced professional dog handler or an exasperated family pooch owner, we can provide you with top quality training. All types of dogs are welcome – from purebreds to mixed breeds.
Having served the Austin community since 1988, we are pleased that you are interested in joining us for dog training. Please come visit the center, ask questions and observe classes.
What to Expect
- We recommend new students arrive a few minutes early so we can get you checked in. All dogs should be under a veterinarian’s care and following their prescribed vaccination schedule.
- All dogs should come on a 6′ leash (no flexileads please).
- Dogs should be potty walked (aired) prior to class. There is a potty yard at the center. We recommend delaying evening feeding until after class if possible. This helps reduce accidents, and helps ensure your dog will be interested in your reward treats.
We look forward to training you to train your dog!!
Ready to Enroll?
Fill out our enrollment form online.
Optionally you may pay for some classes in advance HERE.
Courses
Puppy Obedience:
Basic obedience for young dogs 12 weeks to 6 months of age. These basic obedience courses are designed to teach very basic training and dog manners, and prepare dogs and owners for AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluation.
You will learn how to:
- sit your dog
- heel your dog
- down your dog
- recall your dog, aka come
- stand your dog for examination
- stay: in a sit or down position
Prerequisites: None
Age Requirement: 12 weeks to 6 months old
Length of Class: 8 week sessions
Class Size: 3-10 puppies per class
Basic Dog Obedience Class:
This is the same class as Puppy Obedience, for puppies and dogs 6 months and older.
Prerequisites: None
Age Requirement: 6 months old or older
Length of Class: 8 week sessions
Class Size: 3-10 dogs per class
Beyond Basic:
- Beyond Basic is a follow on course for those who have taken a puppy or basic obedience class with Julie Bailey and who wish to practice prior basic skills learned. You will build off these basic skills and continue to add more difficulty and distraction. In addition, if you want to practice the elements of the Canine Good Citizen evaluation, this is the class for you.
Prerequisites: Puppy/Basic Obedience with Julie Bailey or instructor approval
Length of Class: 8 week course
Class Size: Minimum 4 students, maximum 6
Level Up!:
- Level Up! is a follow-on course for those who have completed Beyond Basic Obedience with Julie Bailey. This course is for those working toward therapy dog work, toward competition, and those wanting to continue advancing to get the best working connection with your dog possible. Level Up! is also good for those who want to continue training because you enjoy the structured activity and class setting with your dog.
Prerequisites: Beyond Basic with Julie Bailey or instructor approval
Length of Class: 8 week course
Class Size: Minimum 4 students, maximum 6
Beginning Open:
Learn Open competition level exercises to join regular Open class.
You and your dog will learn:
- heel free (heel off leash)
- dumbbell retrieve
- drop on recall
- broad jump
- retrieve over the high jump
- out of sight sits and downs
Prerequisite: AKC CD (Companion Dog) title or instructor’s approval to enroll
Length of Class: 8 week class
Class Size: 3-6 students with dogs per class
Beginning Canine Utility Class:
Learn Utility competition level exercises to join regular Utility class.
You and your dog will learn:
- scent discrimination
- signal exercise
- go out
- directed jumping
- directed retrieve
- moving stand for exam
Prerequisite: Preference will be given to dogs with an AKC CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) title or instructor’s approval.
Length of Class: 8 week class
Class Size: 3-10 students with dogs per class
Intro to Rally:
You and your dog will learn:
- All Novice Rally signs including some advanced signs, walking a course and the differences in titles from Novice to Master. In addition, you will learn the basics of entering and performing in AKC Rally competition.
Prerequisite: Basic obedience or instructor’s approval. Your dog is expected to know heeling, sit, stay, down from a stand, recall to front, and finish to heel position.
Length of Class: 8 week course
Class Size: Minimum 3 students, maximum 6
Beginning Conformation:
This is an introductory course designed for the new conformation handler.
You and your dog will learn:
- stacking
- ring procedures
- gaiting patterns
- show vocabulary
You will also learn information for outside the ring such as dog show rules, how to enter your dog, what to wear, and what to do once you get to the show.
Prerequisite: None
Length of Class: 6 week course
Limitations: One dog and one handler only
Class Size: Minimum 3 students, maximum 6
Introduction to Nosework: Mastering the Indication
This is an introductory course to lay the foundation of all canine scent detection by establishing a solid indication of target odor. You will teach your dog an indication behavior when they find what they are looking for by shaping the indication behavior.
Prerequisite: None
Length of Class: 8 week course
Class Size: Minimum 3 students, maximum 8
Advanced Nosework Techniques
Building from the Intro class, teams will be introduced to additional odors and start perfecting their skills with training games, handling exercises, and practice in trial situations and settings. This class places emphasis on building strong communication between the handler and the dog as you get ready to compete. Class size is limited
Prerequisite: Introduction to Nosework or instructor approval
Length of Class: 8 week course
Class Size: Minimum 3 students, maximum 8
Ongoing Classes
Rally Class:
Polish for Rally competition at all levels.
Prerequisite: Puppy or Basic Obedience and Intro to Rally, or instructor’s approval.
Intermediate Obedience Class:
Polish heeling, recalls, stays at a distance. Learn Novice competition level exercises including figure 8 and finish.
Prerequisite: Puppy or Basic Obedience, or instructor’s approval
Novice Competition Obedience:
- Heel Position
- Heel On Leash and Off Leash
- Learning Turns
- Fronts and Finishes Left and Right
- Recalls
- Sit and Down Stays
- Figure 8
- Stand Stay
- Learning Straight
Prerequisite: Completion of Basic Obedience or instructor approval.
Setting up for CD Competition
Open Competition Obedience:
- Off Leash Heeling
- Retrieve Over High Jump
- Retrieve on Flat
- Drop on Recall
- Signal Exercise
- Fronts and Finishes
- Perfecting Straight
- Perfecting Turns
Prerequisite: Completion of CD title or instructor approval.
CDX Broad Jump
Utility Competition Obedience:
- Perfecting Heeling
- Signals
- Go Outs and Directed Jumping
- Glove Exercise
- Scented Retrieve
- Moving Stand
- Perfecting Fronts and Finishes
Prerequisite: Completion of CDX title or instructor approval.
Utility Dog High Jump
Description for On Going Conformation:
This is an ongoing course designed for novice and experienced conformation handlers.
Come in and practice and polish for the ring!
- stacking
- ring procedures
- gaiting patterns
- show tips
Prerequisite: Previous show ring experience or Beginner Conformation course
Length of Class: Ongoing
Limitations: Well behaved additional dogs welcome for an added fee
Open Nosework Practice:
Good times continue! Open Practice is an ongoing drop-in class for teams that are ready to compete in UKC, AKC, USCSS,or NACSW trials. Teams will hone their handling, indication, and searching skills by using simulated trial scenarios and skill games. This is a chance to problem-solve whatever issue that you may have encountered. Many of the sessions will be held at various locations in the Austin area.
Prerequisite: Instructor approval.