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ALBANY OBEDIENCE CLUB
Instructor: Joan Pivorun-Wehrle
Mondays 10:45-12:15
Criteria: Handlers/dogs should be running at the Open or Excellent level.
Content: This session will include full courses, including Masters level Jumpers with Weaves and Standard, as well as Time to Beat. Some weeks may use shorter sequences to focus on specific skill improvement. Participants will have the opportunity to suggest the specific skills on which they wish to focus.
Limit: 10
Instructor: Spencer Wohlers
Mondays, 4:00-5:00PM
Criteria: Class is open to any dog who either has earned a Rally Excellent title or who has been in the Advanced /Excellent Run through classes and are proficient with Excellent level exercises.
Content: This class is a Rally Master Run Through class. Emphasis will be placed on becoming familiar with the signs for the Master level. There will be a different course each week to practice Rally Master Level Rally skills and guidance will be available.
Limit: 8 working teams; quiet auditors are welcome.
Instructors: Spencer Wohlers and Joan Healey
Mondays, 5:30-6:30PM
Criteria: have taken the Rally Novice Class or been evaluated by the instructor, and are familiar with the Rally signs.
Content: This is a RUN THRU class. Practice Rally courses for Advanced and Excellent will be set up. Each team will have a chance to walk and practice the course.
Instructors: Lauren Bachner and Angie Proper
Mondays, 6:45-7:45PM
Criteria: Dog should have some basic obedience skills sit, down. Must be comfortable being in a crate.
Content: Rally is a fun approach to obedience. Courses are set up using directional signs very similar to beginner novice obedience. Handler is allowed to talk to the dog. A different course will be set each week and different skills will be addressed. There may be games to learn skills but always there will be an opportunity to have fun with your dog. It doesn't matter if you plan on competing in rally with your dog or just want to have fun.
Junior Handlers are welcome
Limit: 6, one dog per handler unless class does not fill.
Instructor: Michael Clemens
Mondays, 7:00PM
This class will meet at Averell Harrison State Office Campus, Lot H.
Description: Introduce your dog to the fundamentals of tracking. Bring a harness (preferred) or buckle collar, a 6-foot leash, favorite toy and treats.
Limit: 6
Instructor: John O'Hanlon
Mondays, 7:00-8:00PM
Criteria: Dogs of any age are welcome.
Content: Dogs will learn to come when called, walk at owner’s side, sit, down, stay, along with various “send-aways”, plus many other useful training ideas.
Junior Handlers welcome
Limit:10
Instructors: Joann Boomhower and Cathy Reardon
Thursdays, 10:00-11:00AM
Criteria: Suitable for dogs six months or older, with little or no previous training.
Content: Teach your dogs the skills needed to be a polite family companion. Topics include attention, sit, down, stay, come, loose-leash walking, polite greetings, and everyday manners.
Instructors: Joan McMaster and Nancy Sconza
Tuesdays, 1:00-2:00PM
Description: Handler Discrimination is an AKC and UKC scent work nosework element using items with the handler’s scent for searches. This element is one of the elements at trials and is a fun challenge for teams.
Teams will learn to search various scenarios they may encounter from Novice through Master levels depending on the size of the class and the level of the competitors. This class has been able to accommodate all levels and has students who participate for fun and or hone skills for competition.
Instructor: Lauren Bachner
Tuesdays, 2:30-3:30PM
Criteria: Must be proficient in all 4 odors; must be competing at advanced level and working toward excellent or master.
Content: This is a run through class. Participants must set one excellent/master level hide each class. This would include blind and inaccessible hides. This is not an instructional class.
Limit: 8
Instructors: Caroline Mosca and Chris Danker
Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30PM
Criteria: Must be able to perform contact obstacles safely and have a solid recall.
Content: Sequences for Novice/Open level will be set up with a variety of ways to work the obstacles. Handlers will have the option of training on all obstacles. However, it will be encouraged for handlers to work on skills specifically needed for their dog: ie start line stays, distance, backsides or various crosses, or just weaves during their individual time on the floor. If requested, guidance will be given to help each team.
Instructor: Michelle Key
Tuesdays, 6:45-7:45PM
Criteria: Teams should be proficient with jumps and tunnels. Specialty jumps may be used as well.
Content: We will be running small sequences of 3-6 obstacles. In our 6 weeks, we will cover Front Crosses, Pinwheels, Rear Crosses and Forward sends.
Juniors welcome
Limit: 5
Instructors: Chris Danker and Pat Ellis
Wednesdays, 10:00-11:30AM
Criteria: Dogs must have a basic knowledge of heeling, recall and stay. The handler and dog must be able to work on their own while others are training. Handlers must be familiar with the exercises they wish to work on.
Let’s train together! Two rings will be available and we will be there to do a full run-thru or help to work on any exercises that you’d like. When you’re not in a ring, you can work outside of the ring. We ask that everyone help each other.
This is not a teaching class.
Instructor: Joann Boomhower
Wednesdays, 2:15-3:15PM
Criteria: Experienced handlers with dogs in Open/Ex/Master levels.
Content: Each week we will work on specific short sequence challenges only found in current agility courses. Mostly jumps, tunnels and weaves with 1 contact equipment when the course calls for it.
Instructor: Lois Fricke
Wednesdays, 5:45-7:15PM
Criteria: Novice dogs welcome-dogs must be able to do all contact equipment safely.
Content: Class will alternate between AKC Open Jumpers and AKC Open Standard courses.
Limit: 10, one dog per handler unless you are alternating dogs each run.
Instructor: Marcia Dawson
Thursdays, 9:00AM-10:00AM
Criteria: Dogs must have a solid retrieve and as all dogs will be working on the floor together, they must have group manners - on leash and at times off. As long as your dog meets these requirements, you are welcome.
Content: This will NOT be a runthrough class, but a teaching class. The primary goal will be to teach or strengthen every piece within each Utility exercise. This will be a very active class and at times you will be helping each other.
Equipment: Articles, 3 gloves, any collar is fine, leash, treats/toys.
Limit: 6, one dog per handler
Instructor: Sue Sample
Thursdays, 3:30-4:30PM
Criteria: This class is for a handler training their puppy for an active lifestyle which may include competitive dog sports like agility, rally etc. Puppies should be around 3 to 6 mons old at the start of the session, but puppies up to 9 mons are welcome. Puppies must be reasonably well housebroken and be comfortable in a crate.
Content: The primary goal of this class is to build engagement between puppy and handler. We will work on becoming our puppies’ center of attention by using food and play. We will develop foundational skills by using games. We will introduce recalls, going to a mat etc. saving more formal exercises until later. The puppies will not have playtime with each other in this class.
Instructors: Kate Harding and Sue Sample
Thursdays, 5:00-6:00PM
Criteria: Open to any dog six months or older, whose handler is planning to trial in Obedience.
Content: In this class, we’ll use play to develop the foundational skills needed to compete in Obedience. We’re aiming for correct, animated heeling for at least three paces, a zippy recall, a reliable target behavior and, of course, sit, down, stand and stay.
Dogs will be out on the floor only one or two at a time. When not working, dogs must be either crated in the Meeting Room, or hanging out in their cars.
Dogs should wear a properly fitted flat collar, prong collar or fur saver. Handlers should have a 4-6 foot leash, water, delicious treats, a favorite toy and a hungry dog.
Limit: 6, one dog per handler unless class doesn’t fill
Thursdays, 6:15-7:15PM
Criteria: Dog/handler teams must be planning tocontinue past the Novice level in competitive Obedience. Dogs must be somewhere in the range of ready to trial in Novice through trialling in Open. The class is not suited for teams already trialling in Utility.
Content: The goal of the class is to give you some of the tools you’ll need to work with your dog at home. We will work on developing animated, engaged routines through games and well-timed rewards. Our focus will be on engaged heeling, as well as exercises from Novice and Open/Utility exercises. Dogs will be out on the floor one or two at a time. When not working, dogs must be able to rest quietly in a crate, or hang out in the car.
Equipment: Dogs must wear a properly fitted flat collar, prong collar or fur saver. Handlers should have a 3-4 foot leash, water, delicious treats, a favorite toy and a hungry dog. All handlers should have a dumbbell.
Instructor: Caitlin Monjeau
Thursdays, 7:30-8:30PM
First class will meet at AOC. Subsequent classes will be off site.
AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGCU) is a six week course that prepares dog-and-handler teams to earn the CGCU title by building real-world publicaccess skills through progressive community exposure. Beginning at the Albany Obedience Club and moving into local retail and outdoor environments– including Lowe’s, Tractor Supply, and public parks. The course culminates in an official CGCU evaluation at Colonie Center Mall.
Each session focuses on the ten CGCU test items, including doorway manners, crowd navigation, street crossings, reaction to urban distractions, public building down-stays, and vehicle loading, developing the confidence and focus dogs need to succeed in busy public settings.
Dogs must be at least 6 months of age to participate.
Dogs wishing to test for the CGCU title must have an AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate or title on record at AKC, and an AKC registration, PAL, or Canine Partners number prior to the evaluation.
Required Equipment
•6-foot fabric or leather leash (no retractable leashes) •Well-fitting buckle collar, slip/martingale collar, or body harness (no pinch collars or head collars) •Waste bags •Water and a portable bowl for outdoor sessions •High-value training treats (for in-class practice; not permitted during the evaluation)
•6-foot fabric or leather leash (no retractable leashes)
•Well-fitting buckle collar, slip/martingale collar, or body harness (no pinch collars or head collars)
•Waste bags
•Water and a portable bowl for outdoor sessions
•High-value training treats (for in-class practice; not permitted during the evaluation)
Junior handlers, with a responsible adult, welcome
Instructors: Jeannette O'Hanlon and Jaimie Terelo
Fridays, 5:30-6:30PM
Criteria: Dogs must be at least 4 months old to participate. Dogs need to be crated while other teams are working, either in the training room or from your car. Plenty of small high-value treats will be needed.
Content: AKC Scent Work is a fun, confidence-building dog sport that gives dogs an outlet for one of their strongest natural abilities: using their noses. In this introductory class, teams will learn the foundations of scent work in a positive environment. Dogs will be introduced to the first odor, Birch. Handlers will learn how to support their dog while searching. This class is appropriate for beginner teams, dogs new to scent work, and handlers who may want to compete in the future or just have fun with their dog.
Limit: 8, one dog per handler unless class does not fill
Instructor: Jaimie Terelo
Fridays, 7:00-8:00PM
Criteria: Must be proficient in birch and anise odor.
Content: This class will require participants to have their own scentwork kits or be willing to acquire such after first class. Participants will set-up a search area at each class at various levels from Novice thru Excellent (training for this will be provided for new handlers). After the areas are set, participants will discuss the hides and then run the hide areas. Multiple dogs per handler will be allowed if they run expediently. Dogs must be leashed at all times (long lines allowed). Proper dog distancing and control required. Crating from vehicle encouraged though inside crating acceptable for non-reactive dogs.
Prerequisite: Scentwork Intro course
Albany Obedience Club, Inc
535 Wemple Road
Glenmont, NY 12077
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ALBANY OBEDIENCE CLUB