Obedience Classes

To see the schedules for any of our obedience classes, please visit our online class schedule or give us call and we'd be more than happy to help.

To check out descriptions of each class, click on the name of the class you're interested in, or scroll down to read all the descriptions.

Puppy Class    Level 1
Level 2    Level 3   Level 4  

Small Dog Obedience

  Competitive - Novice   Competitive - Open & Utility

Puppy Obedience
and Socialization

A new puppy fills a home will joy, with laughter, with companionship and with @#!!#@.  Your puppy may look at you with adorable, innocent puppy eyes one minute and chew just one of your treasure leather shoes the very next.  A trained puppy can be the joy of your life and an untrained puppy can be the worst thing that ever happened to your new furniture. (and your shoes, and your carpet, and your yard)

Training your dog when it is young may save your sanity and your dogs life.  Many families with untrained or poorly trained dogs end up giving their dogs to the Humane Society or having them put down because of dangerous behaviors.

NOW WHAT?

From puppy class, you and your dog can move onto many different experiences.  You can go hone the the basics that you've learned and expand on those yourself.  You can take your dog just a little bit further or you can take them all the way to the top.  You can begin a sport and start working with your dogs confidence with Petzercise or Agility.  Whatever you decide to do, it's important that you continue to train your dog into a dog that fits into your family and lifestyle.  If you have a little dog, the Heatherlea Small Dog Class may be for you!!

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Obedience
Level 1

The goal of Level 1 obedience is to teach dogs that are too old for puppy class basic skills such as sit, down and to move beside you. Together, you and your dog can establish better communication and mutual respect.

NOW WHAT?

From Level 1 you and your dog have a few options. Level 2 obedience will take the skills that you've learned a step further and take you closer to competitive obedience. If that is not something that you see in your future, Petzercise or Agility may be more your speed. 

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Obedience
Level 2

So, now you've finished puppy class or Level 1.  Your dog can sit and down and no longer pulls you through the neighborhood at the end of its leash but want to become a little more like those dogs on TV., or that well behaved dog down the street. 

Welcome to Level 2!!

Many people are happy with the basic obedience learned in Level 1 and in puppy class but others strive for more with their dogs.  This class will teach you how to better work with your dog and will strengthen the communication between you and your best friend (that's your dog, remember?)

NOW WHAT???

If your interest lies in an even higher level of obedience,  Level 3 may be what you and your dog are looking for.  If obedience trials are something that interest you, Competitive Obedience - Novice may be what you and your dog need. If you're happy with the way your dog behaves and are looking for some fun, sporting activities to do with your dog, Petzercise or Agility may be more your style.

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Obedience
Level 3

You and your dog have graduated from Level 2 and you're itching to learn more. If this description fits you, then Level 3 may be for you.

Level 3 teaches the skills needed for obedience trial exercises for those teams interested in getting their Companion Dog (CD) title. Handlers will learn the exercises and how to execute them properly. The handler will also learn how to teach their dog the exercises in small increments the dog can understand and accomplish.

The skills needed for the next CKC trial level, Companion Dog Excellence (CDX), will be introduced, though not heavily trained. This is to assure that as a handler you are aware of the next step to which you and your dog can aspire.

NOW WHAT???

If your interest lies in an even higher level of obedience Level 4 may be what you and your dog are looking for. Hoping to compete seriously? Maybe a Competitive Obedience - Novice class would be for you.  If you're happy with the way your dog behaves and are looking for some fun, sporting activities to do with your dog, Petzercise or Agility may be more your style.

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Small Dog Class

A specialty class designed to give the small dog owner an environment pleasant for the learning experience of their special friend.  To qualify to be admitted into the small dog class, you dog must weigh 10 lbs or under.

This class will involve some obedience, a little conformation practice, and introduction to agility like equipment. It is geared to having the small dog feel confident with strange surroundings. 
 

Ready to play with the big guys?? If your interest lies in an even higher level of obedience Level 2 may be what you and your dog are looking for. Hoping to compete seriously? Maybe a Competitive Obedience - Novice class would be for you.  If you're happy with the way your dog behaves and are looking for some fun, sporting activities to do with your dog, Petzercise or Agility may be more your style.

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Competitive Obedience
Novice

So, now you've finished Level 2 or Level 3 and are looking to begin seriously working towards achieving the elusive Companion Dog (CD) title. Competitive Obedience - Novice is the class for you.

Working closely with you and your dog, this class teaches you how to become a competitor. You and your dog will learn all the skills needed to compete while developing a knowledge of what it is that trial judges are looking for. It will be expected that you do work with your dog between classes to strengthen the skills taught in class.

NOW WHAT???

If your interest lies in an even higher level of obedience,  Level 4 may be what you and your dog are looking for.  If succeeding on the obedience trial circuit has become your passion, Competitive Obedience - Open & Utility may be what you and your dog need. If you're happy with the way your dog behaves and are looking for some fun, sporting activities to do with your dog, Petzercise or Agility may be more your style.

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Obedience
Level 4

You and your dog have graduated from Level 3 or Competitive Obedience - Novice and you've decided to train to become an Obedience Champion.  You've decided that you and you're dog are ready to put in the work needed to be the best.

Level 4 teaches the handler and the dog that are already at the Companion Dog (CD) level how to work better as a team, as well as the skills needed to compete for the Companion Dog Excellence (CDX) title. The handler will also learn how to teach their own dogs by breaking up the exercises in to small increments that the dog can understand and accomplish.

NOW WHAT???

After all this training, it is inevitable that your dog will be well behaved. Even so, perhaps some more precise work on your obedience work to prepare for competition is what you want. If so, why not give Competitive Obedience - Open & Utility a try. Need to loosen up? Try a fun Petzercise or Agility class!  Both classes will teach your dog an entirely new set of skills and allow you and your dog to better understand each other and work together.

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Competitive Obedience
Open & Utility

You and your dog have graduated from Level 3 or 4, or maybe Competitive Obedience - Novice and you've decided to seriously pursue your obedience titles. You've decided that you and you're dog are ready to put in the work needed to be the best in the competition circuit.

Competitive Obedience - Open & Utility trial exercises for those teams that are already at the Companion Dog (CD) level and helps them aquire the skills they need to compete for the Companion Dog Excellence (CDX) title. Handlers will learn the exercises and how to execute them properly . Handlers will be expected to work with their dogs between classes as there is a large amount of material covered each week.

NOW WHAT???

Try a fun Petzercise or Agility class! Give yourself and your dog a chance to relax and have fun together. Both classes will teach your dog an entirely new set of skills and allow you and your dog to better understand each other and work together.

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