Classes Offered for March/April 2024

• PK - Puppy Kindergarten

  This class will introduce puppies to social situations as well as beginning obedience training suitable for puppies 8 weeks to no more than 10 months of age. This class also covers the skills needed to pass the S.T.A.R. Puppy Program, with an emphasis on owner education.

  Prerequisites: Attending a previous ACA Puppy and/or Obedience Foundations class OR watching the orientation video and reading the orientation handout prior to the first class.

• GD1 - Good Dog 1

  This class is designed to help owners train a well-behaved dog that is attentive and responsive. Dogs are taught manners, with an emphasis on self-control, sit, down, stays, coming when called, "leave it", polite leash walking, and appropriate greeting behavior. Focus on the handler will be emphasized as more distractions are introduced. No previous training experience is required. Students must watch the Orientation videos and read the Orientation handouts prior to the start of the session.

  Prerequisites: This class is for dogs six months or older, who have successfully passed the required Testing at ACA (see General Notes above for dates/times), or who have taken a previous ACA class such as Puppy Kindergarten and have permission of an ACA instructor. Dogs must be at least 6 months.

• GD2 - Good Dog 2

  This class will build on the skills taught in Good Dog 1 and Puppy K including walking politely on leash, greeting people, coming when called, and stays. We will add more "real world" distractions to various training situations, so handlers learn to apply class material outside of class. Practical tricks and games will be included to continue to strengthen the relationship with your dog and improve your training skills. If there is enough interest, test items from the Canine Good Citizen test will be introduced. In addition to reinforcing and expanding on basic skills, this class can be used as a stepping-stone to more advanced obedience classes.

  Prerequisites: Prerequisites: This class is for dogs six months or older, who have taken a previous ACA class such as Good Dog 1 and/or have permission of an ACA instructor. Dogs must be at least 6 months.

• AF1 - Agility Foundations 1

  In this class dogs will be taught the skills needed to begin agility classes such as: cone work, shaping tricks and behaviors, interaction with props/equipment, toy work, stays, and recalls. This is a very fun class that can be taken in preparation for Agility Foundations 2 or as a stand-alone fun class

  Prerequisites: ACA's Good Dog 1 or 2(with instructor permission). This class is a prerequisite for Agility Foundations 2. Dogs must be at least 6 months.

• AF2 - Agility Foundations 2

  In this class dogs will be taught agility skills including: targeting, cone work, stays, station work, board work, obstacles (table, tire, tunnel, as well as an introduction to the dog walk and a-frame), beginning jump work, tricks, warm-up routine, and toy/drive work.

  Prerequisites: Dog and handler attendance of Agility Foundation 1 or higher class at A Click Above and permission of Claudia Bates. Dogs must be at least 8 months.

• AF3 - Agility Foundations 3

  This class is a continuation of Foundation 2, with concentration given to jumping skills and beginning handling over jumps and tunnels as well as other skills. Skills taught will include: stays, beginning agility handling on short sequences, jumping skills on one jump, contact obstacle skills (mainly end behavior), and beginning weaves.

  Prerequisites: Attending a previous Agility Foundation 3 or 2 Class and permission of Claudia Bates. Dogs must be at least 10 months.

• AF4 - Agility Foundations 4

  This class is a continuation of skills learned in Foundation 2 and 3 classes with concentration on contact work. Skills taught will include: targeting/board work, stays, contact end behavior, teeter, weaves, and full contact work.

  Prerequisites: Satisfactory completion of Agility Foundation 3 and permission of Claudia Bates Dogs must be at least 12 months.

• HS - Handling Skills

  This class will include the learning of agility handling skills at an intermediate pace and level, using jumps and tunnels including: the tire, long jump, jumps, and tunnels in the form of shorter sequences. Skills taught will include a variety of handling techniques (front crosses, rear crosses, blind crosses, etc.). Students will be taught handling required for common patterns seen on agility courses (serpentine, threadle, pinwheel, etc.), efficient lines, as well as choosing the best handling options for each individual team. This class should be paired with one of the Contacts and Weaves classes.

  Prerequisites: Completion of Foundation 3 and 4 and/or have permission from Diann Gastley/Trish Dranchak.

• CS - Crossing Skills

  This class is designed to help students perfect their timing and skills with Front, Rear, and Blind Crosses in small sequences using Jumps and Tunnels. Great class for additional sequencing practice with coaching.

  Prerequisites: Completion of at least one session of Handling Skills taught at ACA.

• CNW - Contacts and Weaves

  in this class, contact and weaving skills taught will be geared to advancing the dog on to one of the advanced classes. Specific attention will be given to fast and accurate contact work, using (primarily) the targeting method. Contact and weave stations and grid exercises will be used. This class can and should be taken in conjunction with either Handling Skills or one of the Intermediate classes. Please note: while there will be instruction provided in this class, many sequences or stations will be set up for students to practice independently.

  Prerequisites: Dogs must have taken Agility Foundations 3 and 4 with ACA and have permission from Claudia Bates.

• CNH - Contacts and Handling

  This class combines skills taught in Contacts and Weaves and Handling Skills. Students will have three weeks of each class. See descriptions of Contacts and Weaves and Handling Skills for details.

  Prerequisites: Dogs must have taken Agility Foundations 3 and 4 with ACA and have permission from Claudia Bates.

• Pre-Competition Handling Skills

  This class builds on the agility handling skills taught in previous handling classes. Skills taught will include a variety of handling techniques (front crosses, rear crosses, blind crosses, etc.). Students will be taught handling required for common patterns seen on agility courses (serpentine, threadle, pinwheel, etc.), efficient lines, as well as choosing the best handling options for each individual team.

  Prerequisites: This class requires completion of Handling Skills class, mastery of all equipment, except weave poles, and/or permission of Trish Dranchak or Claudia Bates.

• ACHS - Advanced Competition Handling Skills

  Skills class focusing on a different skill set each week, such as tunnel entrances and exits, distance handling, layering, technique training, S lines, back sides, threadles, lateral lead outs, and more! Must be proficient on all obstacles. Twelve weave poles and all contacts may be used.

  Prerequisites: Dogs must be currently competing at the Novice or above level (having earned at least one standard leg) and have proficiency on all obstacles including full contacts and 12 weaves.

• MCHS - Masters Competition Handling Skills

  Skills class focusing on a different skill set each week, such as tunnel entrances and exits, distance handling, layering, technique training, S lines, back sides, threadles, lateral lead outs, and more! Must be proficient on all obstacles. Twelve weave poles and all contacts may be used. The Masters class will feature international skills useful for Premiere, ISC, and Masters Challenge classes.

  Prerequisites: Dogs must be competing at the UKI Senior and/or AKC Excellent level and have proficiency of all equipment.

• CCW - Coursework for Competition

  These classes are designed to work on courses seen at the Novice through Premiere/Masters level. Each week handler will be able to choose from three different nested courses from Novice through Masters. The Novice courses will be suitable for students and dogs just beginning to trial while the more advanced courses will present many challenges seen at the Advanced, Masters, and even international competitions. Sequences, small courses, and full-size courses will be done in this class to help the dog and handler team to fine tune the skills learned in previous handling classes. These classes fine tune the application of handling skills, (acquired through our intermediate programs such as Sequencing with Jumps and Contacts), course analysis, obstacle independence, and obstacle discrimination.

  Prerequisites: Dogs in this class need to have earned an AKC OA or UKI BID (s). In addition, we require Completion of any of the following at ACA: Previous Competition Coursework classes (taken with current dog,) or Competition Handling Skills (with permission of your current instructor), as well as proficiency of dogwalk and A-frame, the seesaw, 12 weave poles on both sides, and handling techniques (front crosses, blind crosses, rear crosses, etc) and/or permission of Claudia Bates.

• GCC1 - Games for Confidence and Control 1

  These classes will help dogs and handlers struggling with over-arousal and stress in busy and distracting environments. Whether your dog is unsure and nervous or over-the-top excited by everything, this class is for you! Most of the content of this class is borrowed from Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed, but we are also using principles and methods borrowed from Sarah Stremming, Hannah Branigan, Dr. Amy Cook, and the Behavior Vets team. Instructors: Claudia and Sarah

  Prerequisites: Permission of Claudia Bates and Sarah Dyer.

• GCC2 - Games for Confidence and Control 2

  These classes will help dogs and handlers struggling with over-arousal and stress in busy and distracting environments. Whether your dog is unsure and nervous or over-the-top excited by everything, this class is for you! Most of the content of this class is borrowed from Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed, but we are also using principles and methods borrowed from Sarah Stremming, Hannah Branigan, Dr. Amy Cook, and the Behavior Vets team. Games for Confidence and Control 2 will build on the skills taught in GCC1. Instructors: Claudia and Sarah

  Prerequisites: Permission of Claudia Bates and Sarah Dyer.

• COF - Competition Obedience Foundations

  This class is geared toward handlers who are interested in showing in Obedience and/or Rally, or who want to explore higher level work. It is required for those planning to take Competition Obedience I or Rally Obedience classes at ACA. Skills covered include maintaining attention, handler-focused heeling, the figure 8 exercise, turns, pivots, changes of pace, and related footwork. Recalls with fronts, both types of finishes, and the stand and stand stay will also be included. Additional exercises unique to the Beginner Novice title, and to Rally, will be added if there is time and interest. This class is ideal for those starting a dog on the competition obedience track, for those who want to develop obedience skills for Rally, or for dogs already in an upper-level obedience class that could benefit from more foundation work.

  Prerequisites: Successful completion of Good Dog 1 and/or Good Dog 2, and /or permission of an ACA instructor.

• Competition Obedience 1

  This class is designed to prepare handlers and their dogs for competition at the Novice level, and introduce the foundation skills needed for Open and Utility. Topics covered will include heeling, sit/down/stand stays, Novice recalls, jumping (high, bar, and broad), retrieving, position changes, and go-outs.

  Prerequisites: Successful completion of ACA's Competition Obedience Foundations class, or any ACA obedience class above the COF level, and/or permission of an ACA obedience instructor. Students (current ACA or new) can also Test into Competition Obedience 1.

• Competition Obedience 2

  This class is designed for obedience handlers looking to compete at the Open and Utility levels. We will expand on the skills taught in Competition Obedience Level 1, as well as introduce additional exercises. Topics covered will include Drop on Recall, Scent Articles, Retrieve over the High Jump, Directed Jumping and Go-Outs, Command Discrimination and Signals, and the Moving Stand for Exam.and broad), retrieving, position changes, and go-outs.

  Prerequisites: Successful completion of the skills in ACA's Competition Obedience 1 class, and permission of Nancy Walkins or Liz Breyer. Students new to ACA should consult with Nancy and/or Liz concerning enrollment in this class.

• ISW - Intro to Odor

  Scentwork is a very fun activity for dogs and handlers. It is inspired by working detection dogs. Dogs will enjoy scenting and searching and putting their keen sense of smell to work! Scentwork is a light physical activity that can be a good extracurricular activity for pets, agility, and obedience dogs. The activity is addictive for handlers and dogs.

  Prerequisites: Pre-requisite for Intro to Odor is attendance of Intro To Scentwork with Karen Allen

• CSW - Advanced Scentwork

  Scentwork is a very fun activity for dogs and handlers. It is inspired by working detection dogs. Dogs will enjoy scenting and searching and putting their keen sense of smell to work! Scentwork is a light physical activity that can be a good extracurricular activity for pets, agility, and obedience dogs. The activity is addictive for handlers and dogs. All four elements will be done each week.

  Prerequisites: This class will be a continuation of previous classes. Permission of Karen Allen is required.

• Rally Obedience

  In this class, students will learn the skills necessary to perform AKC Novice, Intermediate/Advanced, and Excellent Rally courses. Two weeks will be spent on each level, beginning with Novice. Students will learn the Rally regulations and the rules for each level, how to perform the various signs, and how to walk courses and strategize the flow of a course. We will reinforce the foundation training needed at each level. Each week there will be a competition course set up for handlers to perform individually, with instructor coaching, as well as a practice side that will focus on learning new signs. Note: Since we are only able to offer one section of Rally this session, courses and levels may be modified depending on the skill level of the handler/dog teams that register for the class.*

  Prerequisites: Successful completion of ACA's Competition Obedience Foundations class, or any ACA obedience class above the COF level, and/or permission of an ACA obedience instructor. Students (current ACA or new) can also Test into Rally Obedience.