Conformation

Conformation Handling/Drop-in

These classes are for those who wish to show their dog in the conformation ring.  Students learn more advanced ring techniques, get stacking tips, handling tips, ring protocol for both breed and group rings, and can socialize dogs for the show ring atmosphere. Instructors are experienced show handlers.  This is a drop-in class, pay as you go.

Prerequisite:  Student should be familiar with basic show ring protocol and know how to present their breed of dog.

Puppies

Puppy

This class is for puppies three months to no more than 20 weeks old on the first night of class. Puppies learn how to meet and interact with other puppies and people. They also learn a few simple commands and fun tricks. This is a four week class.

Prerequisite: Puppy’s age must fall within class description.

STAR Puppy

STAR Puppy is an AKC program for getting puppies off to a great start. STAR stands for Socialization, Training, Activity, and Responsibility. Pups in this class will learn all the skills necessary to pass the AKC STAR puppy test in addition to many basic obedience skills, basic obedience, fun training games and more. You are required to attend all six classes of this program in order to take the AKC STAR Puppy test.

Prerequisite: Pups over 20 weeks (with a few exceptions) and no more than 12 months of age. Pups should not reach their 1st birthday before the last day of class/testing day in order to take the test.

Obedience

Beginner Obedience

This class teaches the foundation skills needed for basic manners (sit, down, stand, come, stay, controlled leash walking), impulse control, and handler focus.

Prerequisite: Dog must be at least 6 months of age. 
Limitation: One dog per handler.

Advanced Beginner Obedience

Advances foundation skills. Teaches motivational games and tricks. Have fun with your dog while improving communication, behaviors, and attention.

(CGC/Tricks/Games: Classes including any of these suffixes will provide exercises to better prepare your dog for Canine Good Citizen or Trick testing to earn an AKC title)

Competition Obedience Focus: Foundations for AKC Novice

This class is intended for teams that plan to compete in AKC Novice obedience. Emphasis is on attention, heel position, consistency in training, working through mild distractions, and smooth handling skills.

Prerequisite: Beginner obedience, CGC, or similar.

Novice Obedience

This class will help you build basic obedience skills into precision AKC Novice exercises. All the AKC Novice Class exercises will be introduced: formal on and off leash heeling with pace changes, figure 8, stand for examination, recall, and stays, as well as working with distractions and introduction to hand signals.

Prerequisite: CGC, Beginner Novice, Rally or equivalent. 

Advanced Novice Obedience I

This class will help you build basic obedience skills into precision AKC Novice exercises. All the AKC Novice Class exercises will be practiced and perfected. Working through modest distractions, and polishing handling skills. Intro to low jumps, position changes in front position, and hold a dumbbell may be included.

Prerequisite: Beginner Obedience or equivalent. Students should have knowledge of all AKC Novice exercises. 

Advanced Novice Obedience II

This class perfects all elements of AKC novice obedience. Instruction covers beginning jumping, retrieving a dumbbell, target games, position change exercises, and rally maneuvers.

Prerequisite: Team should be able to perform all AKC novice exercises. 

Open Plus

This class continues to proof heeling and develop, jumping, retrieving, and position changes into complete AKC open exercises. Based on goals of the students, foundation skills for directed jumping, go outs, signals, glove marks, and scent articles will be developed.

Prerequisite: Team should be able to perform all AKC novice exercises. Plus have a reliable retrieve and dumbbell hold, as well as experience with the high and broad jumps (at age-appropriate heights).

Utility

This class continues to proof AKC Open exercises, perfect performance of scent articles and
continue to develop AKC Utility exercises.

Pre-requisite: Team should be able to demonstrate a work-in-progress ability of all the AKC open exercises plus AKC utility scent articles.

Open / Utility Practice Class

This class is for dog/handler teams that are polishing and proofing their utility skills. Handlers often work independently with direction and problem solving from the instructor.

Prerequisite: Dogs should be able to perform all AKC utility exercises or a modified version of the exercises.

Rally

AKC Rally is a sport where the dog/handler team move at their own pace from station to station executing specific exercises.

Rally Novice

Class will continue to polish foundation skills, sit, down, stand, come, stay and controlled leash walking while practicing station to station sequencing. Turns, pace changes, fronts, finishes and additional novice exercises will be introduced.

Rally Intermediate/Advanced

Distinguishes between rally heeling and rhythm obedience heeling, defines heel position. Continues to polish rally novice maneuvers, develops skills for performance of advanced signs, introduces foundations for excellent exercises. Strengthens position changes (sit/down/stand), come, fronts, pivots, jumps and finishes. Will include rally rules and regulations course sequencing and full courses experience.

Pre-requisite: Competition of rally novice class, AKC rally novice title, or approval of instructor. It is required to download or purchase a copy of AKC rally regulations.

Agility

Introduction to Agility

This class introduces you and your dog to the basic agility equipment:  jumps, tunnels, and contacts.  It can be taken just for fun or by anyone who wants to start agility competition.  Class is held indoors and/or outdoors, whatever the instructor chooses.  You are required to take this class if your dog hasn’t had exposure to all the agility equipment.  Other classes you have taken where the instructor let your dog play with the tunnels and jumps do not qualify you to skip this class.

Restrictions:  No prong or choke collars allowed in agility classes.

Agility Foundations

This class will cover the basic foundation skills for beginning agility sports.  Students will be introduced to handling techniques and strategies for building obstacle drive, and will learn various flatwork exercises. 

Prerequisite:  Dogs should be proficient in basic obedience commands (sit, stay, recall) prior to enrolling in this class.

Novice Agility

This class is designed for novice dogs in preparation for agility competition.  Most of the class will be spent running novice courses in standard and jumpers.  Novice level FAST will also be introduced.  Dogs should be reasonably proficient on all obstacles!  Discussion will also be given for having a dog measured, filling out entry forms, preferred or regular classes, etc.  Reading course maps, walk-throughs and volunteer jobs at a trial will also be covered.  Each class will allow limited time for individuals to practice independently on the obstacles.

Prerequisite: Intro to Agility or equivalent, or evaluated by the instructor.
Restrictions: 
No prong or choke collars allowed in agility classes.

Agility Handling Skills and Obstacle

Class will be practicing a combination of handling techniques by using
small area obstacles sequences. May focus on 10 most common techniques.

Pre-requisite: Dogs should have obstacle skills. Handler can be a beginner but needs to know: front cross, rear
cross and blind cross.

Weaves, Tunnel, Jumps, Contact Proofing & Drive

Class will be practicing exercising that create drive/independence. Distractions will be added.

Pre-requisite: Dogs should be familiar with skills needed for jumps, teeter, A-fram, dog walk, tunnel, and weaves.

Multi-level Drop-in Agility

This class offers competing agility dogs (from novice to master’s level) an opportunity to work obstacles, sequences and discriminations on JWW and standard courses on our field.  While no formal lesson plans will be used, all handlers will be expected to assist in course building and designing/suggesting working sequences.  Handlers with more experience will be encouraged to mentor and assist novice level handlers.

Prerequisite:  Must be advanced enough to compete in trials.

Competition Agility

This class offers competing agility dogs an opportunity to work obstacles, sequences and discriminations on JWW and standard courses on our field.  While no formal lesson plans will be used, all handlers will be expected to assist in course building and designing/suggesting working sequences.  Handlers with more experience will be encouraged to mentor and assist novice level handlers.

Prerequisite:  Must be advanced enough to compete in trials.

Agility Course Analysis

Class Description: This class focuses on breaking down and analyzing advanced agility courses. We will be working on fostering good course walking habits in an effort to create more efficient and more consistent runs at agility trials.

Pre-requisites: Must be ready for agility trials.

Tracking

Tracking Class

The course will cover what equipment to use, recommended books, use of food on the track or not, line handling, article indication, instructions on how to begin your dog to track, and more.  Tracking is a good confidence builder for the dog.  This class meets for at least two hours on Saturday mornings.  The teams must practice through the week to keep up with the instruction.  The class will meet at ORKC facilities the first week, then will expand to different locations, but mostly Roane State Community College in Harriman.

Prerequisite: None. 
Limitations: The limitations will be determined by how advanced the teams are in their training.  You will be contacted by the instructor within a couple of days after registering. 

Scent Work

Beginning Scent Work

Class description: This class will introduce dogs to the target odor of birch used in the exciting sport of AKC Scent Work. Dog and handler teams will learn important foundation skills such as odor obedience, search drive, and recognizing changes of behavior. 

Pre-requisite: Dog must be at least 6 months of age.

Intermediate Scent Work

This class will introduce the remaining AKC odors, distractions, odor puzzles, handling skills and multi-hide searches. All four search elements (Container, Interior, Exterior and Buried) will be covered.

Prerequisite: Dog must be on birch odor. Completion of “Beginning Scent Work” or equivalent, or approval of instructor.

Barn Hunt

Novice Barn Hunt

Met rat successfully, have tunneled and climbed. Passed “intro to BH “ successfully or are trialing in novice class currently. 

Open/ Senior Barn Hunt

Dog and handler have titled in Novice. Dog and handler will work on harder finds, longer tunnels and additional rats.