lee at clevercompanions-dot-com
This is a summary. Before you submit an application please download complete application materials. The application packet consists of the Class Description, the Guidelines/FAQs, the Application, and the Schedule.
My Approach
My teaching/training style relies heavily on proven positive methods rather than physical corrections or punishments. There are many styles of training and it's important that you choose a style and an instructor suited to your philosophies and needs. I believe that reliable behavior is a function of a well-founded relationship with our dogs. I do not use choke, shock, or prong collars or other harsh physical punishments. I do use rewards including food. If you are not comfortable with this approach, please ask your veterinarian or other animal professional to refer you to a different instructor whose philosophies are more in line with your own.
My classes are small and personal. Maximum class size is six dogs. This allows me to better personalize my classes to the mix of dogs or puppies in the class.
The Beginning Manners courses focus on household etiquette and problem solving/problem prevention. It is for puppies 10 weeks of age or older. Because my focus is on family dogs I do not accept dogs over eight months who are not spayed or neutered unless there are health reasons for the delay, your veterinarian has an older minimum age, or you have recently adopted an adult dog and your spay/neuter appointment is after the class begins.
A beginners course is just that—a beginning. No dog, not even Lassie, is going to be trained in a few short weeks. Training is a lifelong process for you and your dog. This is a foundation course in training, behavior, and responsible ownership. How quickly your dog will be “trained” depends on several factors, including your dog’s level of maturity, his previous training experiences, his personality, and, primarily, and, most importantly, the commitment you make and the time you have available to work with your dog. If you expect me to train your dog for you with no effort on your part, please do not apply. My classes do include weekly homework assignments. Handouts and homework assignments for each lesson are provided on a CD.
In class I’ll discuss basic learning issues and introduce simple, basic behaviors like sit, down, come, stay/wait, focused attention, controlled walking and leave it. Our focus is on developing good foundation skills and on developing impulse control and frustration tolerance. To help you accomplish these goals, I provide some specialized equipment as part of your class fee.
While your dog will not be trained to a high level of reliability in eight weeks, you should take with you the skills and knowledge to accomplish that long-term goal. If you have simple training problems like pulling, jumping up, stealing food from counters, or demanding attention, you’ll learn why these behaviors and others develop. Your handouts will provide information and strategies for dealing with a variety of issues. I’ll try to help you develop skills and techniques to assist you in overcoming them with time and practice.
I also offer my students a single, in-home private session to address issues that may not be covered in a Beginning Manners class or to work on something that you feel needs immediate attention before your class starts. This one-hour session can be scheduled at any time after you have registered for the class or up to four months after the class ends. There is additional information at the end of this Class Description handout.
Special Needs Classes
Greyhounds Only is a Beginning Manners class specifically designed to suit the needs of retired racing Greyhounds. It is adapted to help your retired racer feel more at ease in the learning environment. In addition to the foundation behaviors, this class will focus on the special socialization and confidence building needs of retired racers or other adopted adult sighthounds with similar special needs.
The structure and class fees are the same as those for the all-breed Beginning Manners class and the private lesson option is available.
Note: Greyhounds Only is usually restricted to adult retired racing Greyhounds and adult Galgos or other sighthounds who were adopted as adults and have social or environmental backgrounds similar to those in a kennel or farm environment. If your Greyhound or Galgo is under one year or has never been in a racing kennel, Greyhound farm, or hunting Galgo environment, the regular Beginning Manners class may be a better choice. If you have questions about which class to take, contact me.
Toy Breeds Only is a Beginning Manners class for dog breeds whose adult weight will be under about 20 lbs. Many of these small dogs can feel overwhelmed in a class of large breed dogs. When I have sufficient interest I will create a separate session for small/toy dogs.
Other special needs classes include:
Baby Makes Three is a beginning manners class designed specifically for families that are adding a child or baby. We will focus specifically on the skills and issues that will help keep your dog and baby safe and happy.
Best Friends is a special class designed for young handlers ages eight through twelve.
These special needs classes are offered based on interest/demand and require special applications. Please contact me for additional information.
Additional Learning Opportunities
Family Dog. Family Dog is a continuation of the Beginning Manners program. The focus of the Family Dog program is on increasing reliability, furthering the human-canine bond, and on improving self control, and frustration tolerance.
The format for Family Dog is non-traditional. There is a membership fee (good for one year) and a fee for each session you attend. There are eight lessons. Each week’s lesson is self-contained. It means that things like vacations or conflicts with schedule won't matter because each session is self-contained so you don't have to do them in order.
You and your may start in any week and attend as often as you like for one year, paying only for the lessons you attend. You may renew the annual membership as often as you like. Contact me for additional information.