OBEDIENCE TRAINING
WHAT TO BRING
Footwear - Training is held at Heatley Park which at times is wet and the grass thick. Wear sensible footwear to classes - joggers or enclosed footwear is ideal, thongs or open sandals are not!
Mossie repellent – Summer time is rife with mosquitoes, especially during and after rain. Make sure you spray yourself liberally with a repellent to avoid being made a meal of.
Bumbag or treatbag - A bag clipped around the waist is recommended to hold treats, plastic bag to pick up after your dog, car keys etc. They can be purchased at any pet shop or at the clubhouse. It is not recommended to bring down any valuables eg handbags as there is no secure place to store them while in class.
For the dog - A cloth webbing lead and flat collar (leather, training or similar) are recommended for your dog and can be purchased from the clubhouse. Bring some suitable treats for training, eg diced apple or cheese, liver treats etc or small packets of liver treats can be purchased from the clubhouse.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Junior handlers - A local Council bylaw prevents children less than 10 years old to train dogs, but they are welcome to watch while a parent or friend attends a class. For safety reasons please do not let your child run around the perimeter of the grounds or through classes. They are welcome to sit in the clubhouse and do homework, read, or play with toys under supervision of a club member. Drinks are available for purchase.
Bitches in season - No bitches in season are allowed on the grounds – for obvious reasons!
Picking up – It is council law that owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. Please bring your own plastic bags or they are available from the clubhouse.
All dogs are welcome regardless of breed - as long as they are at least 16 weeks old and vaccinated. You will be asked to declare that your dog is properly vaccinated when registering.
THE CLASSES
BEGINNERS’ CLASSES
Beginners’ classes start on the first Tuesday of each month from February to November. Classes run from 7.00pm to 8.00pm at Heatley Park, Fulham Road, Heatley, in Townsville.
New handlers can sign up any Tuesday night from 6.30 – 7.00pm and then come along again on the last Tuesday of that month at 7.15pm to attend the free Introduction to Training talk. Or, you can do both on the last Tuesday of the month. Once you have attended the Introduction you will be advised what month you can start your training. Depending on numbers this may be the following month or even the one after that. You must attend the Induction to Training talk before commencing classes.
No dog is too large or small or old to come to training. If your dog has an aggressive nature let us know when registering and we may recommend alternative arrangements for specialised training.
We will train you to train your dog using positive reinforcement training methods of praise, food rewards, gentle patting, games and toys. Learn how to correct your dog’s unwanted behaviour in a non-aggressive manner.
Dogs are assessed each week on the exercises being taught for that particular month. At the end of the month they can progress to the next level if they performing each exercise satisfactorily. If it is felt that more practise is required they will remain at the same level for further training the following month. It is much better to repeat a class, sometimes more than once, rather than go up to the next level and struggle with new lessons.
There are many factors that dictate the rate of learning, and it is important to understand that it is not a race to get through each class. Some dogs take more time than others to understand the exercise being taught, the amount of time you spend each day training is important, bitches in season will lose a number of weeks each year when they can’t be brought to class, and any medical problems you or your dog may fall to will halt training for a few days or weeks. The important thing to remember is – don’t give up!!
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Beginners Class 7.00–8.00pm
Class One
- Teach your dog to heel on lead at normal pace
- Right and left turns, right-about and left-about turns.
- Sit and stand, and introduction to the down exercise
- Introduction to the recall
- Polite greeting
Class Two
- Progress further with the drop exercise
- Slow and fast pace
- Stays on lead
- Continue with the recall exercise
- Introduction to the stand for examination
Class Three.
- Progress further with the recall
- Progress further with the stand for examination
- Stays off lead
Advanced Class 8.00-9.0pm
Class Four is less structured than the beginners’ classes. You can continue with your training to keep it up to date and learn some fun tricks, or with a view to compete in competitions in obedience, agility, jumping, tracking, and endurance.
A ring is set up to simulate a trial. Instructors will give handlers the opportunity to work through the ring as if in a trial and teach some ring craft. A great way to get a taste of competition trialling!
Training and competitions are available for all dogs, regardless of breed or pedigree.
Thursday night training 6.30-7.30pm
Thursday night training is free for Class 4 and Class 3 handlers who wish to have one-on-one training for either progressing into competitions or if there is a particular behaviour that requires specific attention. It’s free, so why not make use of it!
FLYBALL TRAINING
Flyball is a fast, fun sport that has taken off around the world. If your dog is ball crazy then this could be for you. Check out the flier on our website for more info.