Obedience Training
DOG OBEDIENCE TRAINING CLASSES
A WORD ABOUT GROUP CLASSES
Obedience classes are crucial for a relaxed and confident pet. They prevent behavior issues by establishing rules, teaching desired manners, fostering effective communication, and building positive bonds. This training extends to both indoor and outdoor settings, enhancing the overall relationship with your dog while setting clear boundaries for acceptable behavior. Class sizes are six dogs or less, allowing for more individual focus for the handler and dog. Please note that class offerings/options may vary by session.
Obedience Training Sessions:
Session 1 Begins January 6th, 2025
Monday, January 6
- 5:00 pm Puppy Class
- 6:00 pm Manners 101
- 7:00 pm Community Class
Tuesday, January 7
- 5:00 pm Manners 101
- 6:00 pm Rally Class
OBEDIENCE CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
PUPPY CLASS
We focus on making you and your dog successful! The very first thing we work on is attention! We use games for this to keep it interesting for your dog. This is the foundation of all dog training. Your dog needs to think you are the best thing ever! We will discuss words of affirmation and correction words as well. We cover impulse control and behaviors such as jumping, barking, and potty training. We talk about body awareness and environmental stimuli. We cover commands such as leave it, sit, stay, down, come on recall, and how to start properly walking on a leash. We also work on fun commands like get it and find it and target training. This class is the basis for training your dog in the future and continuing with Manners 101 and 201/community. For puppies 3 months to 6 months. Puppies should be vaccinated before attending.
4-week course $195
MANNERS 101
The “Manners 101” course focuses on making your pet a well-mannered companion through essential commands like walking on lead, sit, down, stay, and recall. It also addresses common behavioral issues such as barking, digging, and jumping. The class caters to puppies and adult dogs, assisting with housebreaking and counter-surfing. Open to dogs aged 4 months and older, it is an ideal starting point for creating a best friend. Your dog may need to repeat this class before moving on to the next level of community class or rally classes.
4-week course $195
MANNERS 201/COMMUNITY CLASSES
After mastering the basics in Manners 101, our 201 Community Class elevates the challenge by placing dogs and handlers in new environments. This advanced training aims to strengthen previously acquired skills, foster your dog’s confidence, and transform them into well-rounded pets ready to accompany you anywhere, at various stores, malls, parks and restaurants. Urban Canine Good Citizen Class test can be given during this class.
4-week course $195
Community classes weather permitting will include outdoor locations: These locations will focus on continuing to train and improve your dog’s social skills. The outdoor environment brings many new distractions and challenges. From runners to soccer games, many exciting things are going on.
Rally Class
Come join us for some fun with your dog!!! Must have successfully completed manners 101 and an evaluation prior to class: Rally obedience is a dog sport that involves a handler and their dog working together to navigate a course marked by signs, performing a series of obedience exercises. It’s a fun, fast-paced activity that can help improve a dog’s skills and the handler’s communication skills. This class is advanced obedience and will start out on leash but will work towards off leash training.
4-week course $195
CANINE GOOD CITIZEN
CGC is an AKC certification that you can get with your dog! It is all the skills you have been working on, but no training collars are permitted. This is a step that is usually required prior to a therapy dog or a service dog certification.
Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger+
Test 2: Sitting politely for petting+
Test 3: Appearance and grooming+
Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)+
Test 5: Walking through a crowd+
Test 6: Sit and down on cue and stay in place+
Test 7: Coming when called+
Test 8: Reaction to another dog+
Test 9: Reaction to distraction+
Test 10: Supervised separation+
This certification can be tested during a community class
Urban Canine Good Citizen
See testing requirements here: https://www.akc.org/
AKC FIT DOG CLASS – LEVEL 1
Come and have fun with your dog!!! No age requirement! Come and have fun with your dog! Learn new behaviors and skills for your dog, and help them become engaged in the learning process. We will work on front paw targeting, a tuck sit, a kickback stand, some cookie stretches, and many more fitness activities. Each class will include a warmup and a cool-down. This class helps the handler learn proper dog alignment and teaches your dog to perform the exercise correctly.
There are three levels of AKC fitness titles-Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each title requires a specific number of activity points to be completed, which varies based on title level. Earning points is done outside of class as well with hikes and outings, with dog and handler.
4-week course $195
PRIVATE LESSONS
Private lessons will be available Monday, Tuesday, and some weekends. If you want to train with friends, we can make that happen. Call our office and one of our trainers will contact you. All classes are held in our large heated training facility. $80/hr or three one-hour sessions $220.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer makeup classes for all of our group lessons.
Need some extra practice? Try our New Drop-in policy to practice with your dog in any obedience class. Participants must have attended classes at Big Times or scheduled an evaluation. Class cost is $20, evaluation $10.
We accept cash, personal checks, and credit cards.*
AVAILABILITY
This is a first-come, first-serve opportunity. Call Big Times Kennel at 937-885-3427. We are excited to offer more personalized dog training and dog lessons for you and your pet.
Do you have questions about our training program? Feel free to call. You can schedule a visit to see a training session.
Big Times Kennel Dog Training Center is located south of the kennel, with ample parking and plenty of open grassy areas to walk your dog before class begins.
MEET OUR TRAINER
Kim Scoville, Trainer
Despite holding degrees and working in the Physical Therapy and Special Education fields, my true passion lies in dog training. With 27 years of experience at Big Times, I’ve worked with various dogs, including therapy dogs and rescued dogs dealing with all kinds of issues. As an AKC-certified trainer, I offer CGC certifications, Trick Dog, Urban Canine Good Citizen, and temperament testing. From basic puppy classes to AKC Fit Dog, I cover it all. Join me to engage in community classes and visit indoor stores/restaurants in winter and outdoor places/festivals in spring/summer. I specialize in working with reactive and sometimes aggressive dogs. Currently, I’m training a Rough Coated Collie in Herding and Scent work and a Standard Poodle in Agility, Dock Diving, and Barn Hunting, emphasizing good obedience skills. Join us for classes and fun!
You can follow us on Facebook at Big Times Kennel and K9 Training Center and on Instagram or subscribe to our YouTube channel — you might see you and your pup on there!