All adult dogs must arrive with proof of parvo/distemper
and rabies vaccination within one year (three year rabies is OK).
Puppies must have proof of a series of three DHPP
vaccinations (the final one being at 14 weeks or older).
For all dogs, we recommend bordatella vaccination
and flea/tick preventatives.
Prerequisites for classes are listed with the
course descriptions.
Fees Unless a class is cancelled (and not rescheduled) by instructor,
no refunds are provided for student absence. The ARF adoption fee includes a 60% discount for one (1) manners course taken within 120 days of the adoption date. This offer is limited to basic, puppy or small dog manners classes only and may not be substituted for another class.
Location
All classes are held in Nestle Purina Dog Training Pavilion at ARF's shelter located at 2890 Mitchell Drive in Walnut Creek, California (corner of Mitchell Drive and Oak Grove Road.)
All Obedience/Manners sessions are seven weeks in length with classes once per week.
Basic Manners will teach attention, sit, down, "come"
and loose leash walking. For dogs older than six months. Class session: Seven weeks. The first week is orientation - without dogs. Cost is $150.
Puppy Manners will teach attention, sit, down, "come",
Take It - Leave It, and loose leash walking. This class includes supervised
play time for the puppies. For dogs 16 through 24 weeks at the start of
the session. Class session: Seven weeks. The first week is orientation - without dogs. Cost is $150.
Small Dog Manners is a Basic Manners class for dogs under 25lbs.
We will teach attention, sit, down, "come", and loose leash
walking. Class session: Seven weeks. The first week is orientation - without dogs. Cost is $150.
Wallflowers - This basic manners class is specifically designed to help shy and fearful dogs blossom and learn to enjoy training in a social setting. Learn the skills needed to help your dog become a more confident pooch while teaching him basic manners skills and learning ways to curb unwanted behavior. For this class your dog should be fearful of dogs, people, noises, or other scary things but without a history of aggressive behavior such as snapping and biting. Class session: Seven weeks. The first week is orientation - without dogs. Cost is $150.
Basic Manners II – Take your dog’s training to a new level. Learn how to remove food rewards as you work on more advanced commands and set a solid foundation for off leash work with controlled exercises and drills. Sit and down stays are taught with variations in distance, duration and distractions. Practice heeling by adding pace changes and turns, automatic sit at stops, passing by other dogs and beginning off leash work. Recall work will focus on leaving distractions, passing distractions and ignoring distractions behind the owner. Includes an intro to Rally Obedience as you practice your heeling skills and basic commands. This class helps prepares your dog for the Canine Good Citizen test.
Prerequisite: Dogs must be under handler's control on leash around other dogs and have completed a Basic Manners course.
Class session: Seven weeks. Dogs attend all classes. The final class is a practice Canine Good Citizen Test. Cost is $150.
Basic Manners III: More Manners in Public - Work toward visiting the café or walking calmly down a crowded street, preparing your dog for adventures in the big world. You’ll learn how to “proof” (strengthen against distractions) all the basic moves. Clean up the loose leash walking, shape heeling, and improve leave it to stroll safely through a real-life course full of temptations. Sits and downs and recalls will get faster and more reliable and you’ll stretch those stays under duress. Add auto sits, “finish” (go around), and back up, while gradually building distance, so that your dog will heed your commands when you're a few feet (or 20 feet) away. Last class is set up as a dog-friendly eating area, with "refreshments" for people. Negotiate standing in line, managing the leash while balancing a plate and a drink, and going back to get your change while your pooch lies politely under the table.
Prerequisite: Dogs must be good with other dogs both on and off leash, and have completed a Basic Manners course. Clickers are encouraged but optional.
Class session: Seven weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $150.
Unleash the Madness: Good Dogs with Bad Attitudes
Does your dog bark and lunge at other dogs when you take him out on a walk on leash? Are you a member of the midnight walking club? This course is specifically designed to give you the confidence to handle your dog as you teach him to calmly walk past and ignore other dogs while on leash. Learn how to manage your dog’s leash reactivity until training is complete. Learn how to change the way your dog feels about other passing dogs while he’s on leash, thus eliminating his need to bark and lunge. This class is not appropriate for dogs who only exhibit aggression toward other dogs while off-leash, or who exhibit aggression toward people. The class meets once a week and all family members are encouraged to attend.
Prerequisite: Pre-screening is necessary
before acceptance to this class. Please contact ARF at dogtraining@arf.net or 925-296-3111 for the application. The course instructor will contact
you once the application is received.
Class session: Seven weeks. First class is a mandatory owner-only orientation. Cost is $250.
Unleash the Madness II
Continue to practice desensitization, counter-conditioning, and handling exercises around other dogs in a controlled and safe group setting. Strengthen your previous skills as you work in different environments inside and out and around different dogs with varied distractions. Instructor Approval Only
Prerequisite: Completion of Unleash the Madness I.
Class session: Six weeks. Cost is $120. Dogs attend all sessions.
Training Techniques Lab - How to teach your dog to do just about anything! Learn what methods work to install a variety of behaviors. Get confident on when and how to use luring, shaping, capturing, modeling, and building sequences — whether you are improving daily manners or training for specialized activities. Practice applying and combining basic training skills, making and modifying plans, deciding when to use equipment or other aids to get over rough spots, and soon you'll be ready to train almost anything — plus you and your sidekick will have a lot of fun in the process. Retrieving, targeting, paw, head, and spin tricks will be on the dogs' agenda, but the main point is honing your use of training techniques.
Prerequisite: Dogs must demonstrate basic manners skills. Clickers are encouraged but optional. Please bring treats, toys and your dog on a 4-foot or 6-foot lead. No prong or choke collars, please.
Class session: Four weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $100.
Leash Walking 101 - In this class you'll gain the skills to control your dog on leash. Get him to give you attention and walk without pulling or lunging. Teach him to wait at curbs and leave distractions alone. Learn how to get him to be attentive to you even when you pass by other people or dogs. Not for leash reactive dogs.
Prerequisite: Basic manners or equivalent skill level. Please bring your hungry dog on a flat buckle collar, gentle leader or no-pull harness, 6-foot lead and high-value treats. No prong or choke chains. This class is not for dogs who are reactive on leash.
Class session: Four weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $100.
Dogs at a Distance - Your dog knows sit, down, and recalls. Work on gradually building distance, so that your dog will heed your commands when you're a few feet (or 20 feet) away.
Class session: Four weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $100.
Clicks N' Tricks - Teach your dog these fun tricks using clicker training techniques: spin, paw, crawl, rollover, play dead, back-up and bow. Bring your dog on a buckle collar, front clip harness or head halter with a clicker and a bag of high value treats such as meat or cheese.
Class session: Six weeks. The first week is orientation - without dogs. Cost is $120.
Targeting Basics - Using the clicker, you'll teach your dog to "target" a specific location to teach him a variety of things; including obedience, agility tricks, freestyle basics and parlor tricks! You'll also learn how targeting can help you achieve good behavior with your dog in everyday life. We'll even discuss teaching your dog to ride a skateboard and how to get your dog to give you or someone else a kiss on command!
Prerequisite: Basic manners or equivalent skill level.
Class session: Six weeks. The first week is orientation - without dogs. Cost is $120.
CGC - Canine Good Citizen Test Preparation -
The Canine Good Citizen class is designed to practice the 10 test items you and your dog must pass to get the AKC CGC certificate, including meeting friendly people politely and accepting petting and grooming; walking nicely on a loose leash alone and through a crowd; demonstrating Sit, Down, Stay, and Come; meeting another leashed dog; remaining calm during sight and sound distractions; and being separated from the out-of-sight handler for 3 minutes (for details, see www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm.) The pass/fail CGC test, given during the last day of class, is the gateway to many therapy dog programs and is accepted by some landlords and insurance companies as an indication that the dog has social skills and that you and your sidekick work well together as a team.
Prerequisite: Dogs must demonstrate basic manners skills.
Class session: Seven weeks. The first week is orientation - without dogs. Cost is $140.
Retrieving for Fun - Using positive reinforcement
techniques, teach your dog to retrieve a dumbbell or dummy. This class
will train a basic retrieve behavior which can be used in competitive
obedience, hunt and field work, flyball, many other dog sports, and service
dog work.
Prerequisite: Basic manners or
equivalent skill level.
Class session: Four weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $100.
Reliable Recall - Does your dog come when you call? Would you like a faster, more consistent response? A good recall is not magic — as in most dog training, it's a matter of practice, building methodically from simple to complex skills as you and your dog gain confidence. Learn how to use your voice and body, where and why treats come in, and how to "proof" the command against you dog's particular temptations by gradually adding distractions.
Class session: Four weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $100.
All Sports/Agility sessions are six weeks in length with classes once per week.
Prerequisite for all: Dog must be good off leash with other dogs, demonstrate solid Basic Manners and good Recall. All courses are six-week sessions; dogs attend all classes.
Agility I - Does Fido have what it takes to become an agility aficionado? You and your canine companion will be introduced to the basics of agility and obstacle skills: weave poles, tunnels, tires, jumps, and “paw-sing” at the pause table. Refresh obedience skills as you and Fido have fun. Who knows? You and Fido might just have what it takes to become agility champions!
Prerequisite: Dog must be good off leash with other dogs and completion of Basic Obedience is recommended.
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $120.
Agility II - Now that King has completed Agility I, he might want to try his paw at the see-saw, A-frame and dog walk. In this agility class, you and King will continue to hone his jump, weave poles, tire and tunnel skills, while learning new and more complex contact obstacles.
Prerequisite: Agility I or equivalent
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $120.
Agility III - With Agility I and II under his collar, Rover is now quite the agility dog! This class will work on short sequences using all forms of equipment and incorporating new challenges such as serpentine and treadle, as well as crosses. Rover’s confidence will increase as he completes obstacles while focusing on your body language and verbal commands.
Prerequisite: Agility II or equivalent
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $120.
Intermediate
Agility - So you think you and Rex have a good understanding of agility? Build confidence even further on numerous obstacles by using short-sequence exercises. This class delves into novice and advanced competition level handling skills.
Prerequisite: Six months or more of agility training.
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $120.
Advanced Agility - Take a look in the mirror – do you see a pair of confident and enthusiastic agility competitors staring back at you? If so, this course was made for you and Lassie! Tailored for dogs and handlers preparing for future agility trials and tests, this is a perfect opportunity for all current or would-be competitors.
Prerequisite: Dog should be comfortable with all obstacles including contact obstacles and independent weave pole skills. Nine months or more of agility training.
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $120.
Beginning Flyball (Flyball 101) - It's high energy, fun and loud! Dogs who are crazy for balls or any toy love this sport! Flyball is a relay race in which teams of dogs leap over hurdles to a box with a spring loaded pad that releases a tennis ball. The dogs then carry the ball back over the hurdles to their handlers. Learn the basics as you teach your dog to run a flyball course.
Prerequisite: Dogs must be well socialized to other dogs and people. Dogs should be in good physical shape and enjoy chasing a tennis ball. Basic obedience skills are required including a controlled recall.
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $120.
Continuing Flyball - Take the skills you learned in Beginning Flyball and put them to use while working on building a Flyball team!
Prerequisite: Dog must be good off leash with other dogs and have a good recall. Dog must enjoy retrieving a tennis ball. Completion of a beginning Flyball class required. Bring treats and a tug toy; dog should be on a 4-foot or 6-foot leash. No prong or choke collars, please.
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $120.
Rally I - Rally Obedience, it's the new rage in the world of dog training! Practice basic manners and obedience while learning how to navigate a Rally Obedience course. Rally Obedience moves are based on basic obedience skills but are instead set to a course, similar to agility. And unlike competition obedience, handlers are encouraged to talk to their dogs throughout. Rally is fun for dogs and handlers and is a great supplement to your dog's basic obedience skills. A complete rally course will be run in each class. Who says obedience can't be fun?
Prerequisite: Basic Manners II or equivalent class.
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $120.
Continuing Rally - Learn higher level obedience skills while continuing with the fun!
Prerequisite: Rally I
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $120.
Rally Practice - Strengthen your rally skills! Practice on a variety of courses with feedback from an instructor.
Prerequisite: Rally I
This is a monthly drop-in class. Cost is $15
per class per handler/dog.
Nose Work - K9 Nose Work is a fun new dog sport based on detection training. Nose work allows dogs to do what they love best—use their nose to sniff out rewards. Teach your dog to enjoy the hunt while developing his natural scenting abilities. Nose work classes allow dogs to build confidence without the stress of interaction with other dogs.
Restrictions:Dogs must be crate trained and able to handle confinement away from their handlers during class. Dogs with aggressive behavior directed towards humans are not permitted in class.
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $120.
All freestyle dance classes are four weeks in length with classes once per week.
Auditing the class available for individuals who would like to master freestyle concepts without the distraction of managing their dogs or who have dogs that are uncomfortable in a class setting.
Paws Four Fitness - This program is a canine
“aerobics” freestyle class, geared toward the senior dog, overweight
dog, or physically rehabilitating dog. The goal is to build strength,
flexibility, and regain youthful enthusiasm!
Class session: Four weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $90.
Beginning Freestyle - Have fun — "Dance"
with your dog. This new sport is well suited to the older dog, the less
active or overweight dog as well as to the canine athlete.
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $125.
Intermediate Freestyle - Creating Your Routine. Learn to select music for your dog, create a short routine that can be used for demonstrations or therapy dog visits; this is also the first step toward competition and a freestyle title!
Prerequisite: Must have completed Beginning Freestyle and have the instructor’s approval to register for this class.
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $125.
Competition Freestyle for Performance - More advanced dance
routine work. Prerequisite: Have already
taken a basic course in Freestyle Dance.
Class session: Six weeks. Dogs attend all classes. Cost is $125.
Private Consultations For ARF Adopters
ARF dog adopters are encouraged to call ARF's Behavior Helpline for a complimentary phone consultation. Our behavior specialists may recommend an in person behavior consultation. Within the first 90 days of adoption, the first session is offered free of charge. All other sessions are $75 per hour. Private consultations are by appointment only.
