Specialty Classes

Conformation

Length:

Drop-in class (1 session), 45 minutes

Description:

Learn basic conformation handling skills to show your dog in the breed ring.

Class Fees:

$15 ($12 for Active Members)

Age of Dog:

3 months and older

Requirements:

Dogs must be current on DHPP and Rabies vaccinations.

Instructor(s):

Brad Briscoe, Pam Lister

Intro to K9 Nose Work & Intro to Odor

Length:

6 weeks, 30 minutes

Description:

This sport teaches dogs how to focus on searching and gain confidence.

Class Fees:

$150 first dog, $72 per additional dog

Age of Dog:

3 months and older

Requirements:

Dogs must be current on DHPP and Rabies vaccinations.

Instructor(s):

Josette Kimes, Penny Proctor

Continuing K9 Nose Work

Length:

Continuous, 120 minutes

Description:

This sport teaches dogs how to focus on searching and gain confidence.

Class Fees:

$25 first dog, $12 per additional dog

Age of Dog:

3 months and older

Requirements:

Dogs must be current on DHPP and Rabies vaccinations.

Instructor(s):

Josette Kimes, Penny Proctor

Dog Sport Foundations (Platforms)

Length:

Drop-in (1 session), about 60 minutes
This class is usually held the last Monday of each month.

Description:

Learn how to teach dog sport foundation skills to your dog in a fun way using a variety of props including platforms, pivot bowls, targets, cones and more. Low rectangular platforms (made of something like styrofoam or yoga mats) can help dogs learn correct heel and front positions or work on position changes from a distance for the command discrimination and signal exercises. Pivot bowls (such as an upside-down dog dish) can be used to teach pivots (as in heeling turns) and fine tune fronts. Targets are useful for teaching go-outs and backing up, while cones can be used to teach send aways and directional marking.

In this class, we will be working on exercises that can be found in the Fenzi TEAM program, starting with the basics in Level 1 and working up to complex behavior chains in Level 6. These exercises build a great foundation for obedience, rally, and more!

Class Fees:

$15 ($12 for Active Members)

Age of Dog:

6 months and older

Requirements:

For dogs that have completed a Beginning obedience course. Dogs must be current on DHPP and Rabies vaccinations.

Instructor(s):

Dawn Bushong

Rally Obedience

Length:

Drop-in (1 session), about 90 minutes
This class is usually held on Mondays except for the first Monday of each month and holidays.

Description:

Learn Rally Obedience moves and practice running through Rally courses with your dog.

Dogs must be able to be crated in the building or in your car away from you while waiting their turn or while you are walking the course.

Class Fees:

$15 ($12 for Active Members)

Age of Dog:

6 months and older

Requirements:

For dogs that have completed a Beginning obedience course. Dogs must be current on DHPP and Rabies vaccinations.

Instructor(s):

Dawn Bushong

Beginning Scent Work

Length:

Drop-in (1 session), 90 minutes

Description:

This class is geared towards preparing dogs for competition Scent Work in AKC, NACSW, SDS and UKC.

The foundation Scent Work Class teaches the dog an Alert Indicator such as a down and/or a sit to indicate odor. This is taught before teaching the search so that the dog knows the exact behavior we want when he finds odor. Many methods start with search and leave it up to the dog to figure out how to indicate odor to the handler leading to a variety of problems later such as excessive scratching, biting, barking and unclear alerting. By conditioning the Alert Indication first, we can bomb proof a dog's Alert behavior and improve searching behavior. Once the "Indication" is bomb proof we move to Odor Discrimination.

Class limited to 6 dog and handler teams.

Class Fees:

$25

Age of Dog:

3 months and older

Requirements:

Dogs must be current on DHPP and Rabies vaccinations. Admission to any class must be pre-approved by instructor, Steve Bettcher 510-290-2653, steve@k9sniffers.com. Pre-class paperwork must be completed prior to start of class.

Instructor(s):

Steve Bettcher

Intermediate Scent Work

Length:

Drop-in (1 session), 90 minutes

Description:

This class is geared towards preparing dogs for competition Scent Work in AKC, NACSW, SDS and UKC.

Once the dog has mastered the Alert Indication, we introduce Odor Discrimination. We start by adding a blank box and/or tube along with the operant scent box containing a cocktail of odors used in scent work competition. As the dog becomes proficient in this task, we start adding more scent items (boxes and tubes). We also begin working the dog at distance and independently of the handler. At the end of this phase the dog should be finding the odor, indicating with a sit or down from as many as 12 items and working away from the handler off leash. Individual Odors used in NACSW, SDS and AKC are also introduced in this phase of training.

Class limited to 6 dog and handler teams.

Class Fees:

$25

Age of Dog:

3 months and older

Requirements:

Dogs must be current on DHPP and Rabies vaccinations. Admission to any class must be pre-approved by instructor, Steve Bettcher 510-290-2653, steve@k9sniffers.com. Pre-class paperwork must be completed prior to start of class.

Instructor(s):

Steve Bettcher

ONLINE Novice Scent Work

Length:

7 weeks, 1 hour via Zoom

Description:

Novice Scent Work is an AKC Scent Work Division in which the target odor is one of four essential oils, Birch, Anise, Clove and Cypress. The course will have weekly lectures and video examples via Zoom. Home work will be assigned weekly where students will video their assignments and upload them to a Facebook Group page. The instructor (Steve Bettcher) will review the videos and make training suggestions and comments. The course is designed to prepare students and their dogs to compete at the AKC Scent Work Novice Division.

Contact Steve Bettcher (steve@k9sniffers.com) for more info or to sign up for this class.

Note: This is an ONLINE class. This class will not meet in person.

Class Fees:

$195 ($175 for SLDTC members)

Class Size:

Up to 10 students

Age of Dog:

5 months and older

Requirements:

None.

Instructor(s):

Steve Bettcher

ONLINE Intermediate Scent Work

Length:

7 weeks, 1 hour via Zoom

Description:

The course is designed to prepare students and their dogs to compete at the AKC Scent Work Novice and Advanced Divisions. The course will have weekly lectures and video examples on Zoom. Home work will be assigned weekly where students will video their assignments and upload them to a Facebook Group page. The instructor (Steve Bettcher) will review the videos and make training suggestions and comments.

Contact Steve Bettcher (steve@k9sniffers.com) for more info or to sign up for this class.

Note: This is an ONLINE class. This class will not meet in person.

Class Fees:

$195 ($175 for SLDTC members)

Class Size:

Up to 10 students

Age of Dog:

5 months and older

Requirements:

This class is for dogs who have completed Novice Scent Work or by approval of the instructor.

Instructor(s):

Steve Bettcher

ONLINE Advanced 1 Scent Work

Length:

7 weeks, 1 hour via Zoom

Description:

This class will concentrate on advance concepts such as multiple hides, inaccessible hides, high hides, complex odor puzzles, distractors, vehicles and much more. The class will help students prepare for NACSW NW1 and AKC Novice and Advanced Divisions.

Contact Steve Bettcher (steve@k9sniffers.com) for more info or to sign up for this class.

Note: This is an ONLINE class. This class will not meet in person.

Class Fees:

$195 ($175 for SLDTC members)

Class Size:

Up to 10 students

Age of Dog:

5 months and older

Requirements:

Advanced Scent Work is for students who have completed Online Intermediate Scent Work or have a dog that is proficient at searching for all 4 AKC odors in a variety of environments and container types. Also, dogs who have competed in Novice and Advanced AKC or NACSW NW1 are eligible.

Instructor(s):

Steve Bettcher

ONLINE Advanced 2 Scent Work

Length:

7 weeks, 1 hour via Zoom

Description:

This class will concentrate on advance concepts such as multiple hides, inaccessible hides, high hides, complex odor puzzles, distractors, vehicles and much more. The class will help students prepare for NACSW NW1 and AKC Novice and Advanced Divisions. This class is open to students who have completed Advanced 1.

Contact Steve Bettcher (steve@k9sniffers.com) for more info or to sign up for this class.

Note: This is an ONLINE class. This class will not meet in person.

Class Fees:

$195 ($175 for SLDTC members)

Class Size:

Up to 10 students

Age of Dog:

5 months and older

Requirements:

Advanced Scent Work is for students who have completed Online Intermediate Scent Work or have a dog that is proficient at searching for all 4 AKC odors in a variety of environments and container types. Also, dogs who have competed in Novice and Advanced AKC or NACSW NW1 are eligible.

Instructor(s):

Steve Bettcher

ONLINE Novice Handler Discrimination

Length:

7 weeks, 1 hour via Zoom

Description:

Handler Discrimination is an AKC Scent Work Division in which the target scent is the handler's scent rather than the odor of an essential oil. The course is designed to prepare students and their dogs to compete at the AKC Scent Work Novice Handler Discrimination Division. The course consists of weekly lectures and video examples on Zoom. Home work will be assigned weekly where students will video their assignments and upload them to a Facebook Group page. The instructor (Steve Bettcher) will review the videos and make training suggestions and comments.

Contact Steve Bettcher (steve@k9sniffers.com) for more info or to sign up for this class.

Note: This is an ONLINE class. This class will not meet in person.

Class Fees:

$195 ($175 for SLDTC members)

Class Size:

Up to 10 students

Age of Dog:

5 months and older

Requirements:

None.

Instructor(s):

Steve Bettcher

ONLINE Advanced Handler Discrimination

Length:

7 weeks, 1 hour via Zoom

Description:

We will move to the higher levels such as Advanced, Excellent and Master Handler Discrimination. The class is geared towards AKC Handler Discrimination Competition. Students will have to buy supplies such as boxes and cotton balls/Q-tips to participate. Also, they will need to be able to video their homework assignments and upload them to a FaceBook Group. A good internet connect is essential.

Contact Steve Bettcher (steve@k9sniffers.com) for more info or to sign up for this class.

Note: This is an ONLINE class. This class will not meet in person.

Class Fees:

$195 ($175 for SLDTC members)

Class Size:

Up to 10 students

Age of Dog:

5 months and older

Requirements:

Completion of Novice Handler Discrimination class or have competed in AKC Novice Handler Discrimination.

Instructor(s):

Steve Bettcher

ONLINE Competition Handler Discrimination

Length:

7 weeks, 1 hour via Zoom

Description:

We will move to the higher levels such as Advanced, Excellent and Master Handler Discrimination. The class is geared towards AKC Handler Discrimination Competition. Students will have to buy supplies such as boxes and cotton balls/Q-tips to participate. Also, they will need to be able to video their homework assignments and upload them to a FaceBook Group. A good internet connect is essential.

Contact Steve Bettcher (steve@k9sniffers.com) for more info or to sign up for this class.

Note: This is an ONLINE class. This class will not meet in person.

Class Fees:

$195 ($175 for SLDTC members)

Class Size:

Up to 10 students

Age of Dog:

5 months and older

Requirements:

Completion of Advanced Handler Discrimination class or have competed in AKC Novice Handler Discrimination.

Instructor(s):

Steve Bettcher

Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test

Length:

One-time test, about 3 - 4 hours
Each individual test takes about 15 minutes
This test is held periodically.

Description:

Take the AKC's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test with your dog to earn the Canine Good Citizen Certificate.

Test Fee:

$10

Age of Dog:

6 months and older

Requirements:

Dogs must be wearing a well-fitting buckle or slip collar made of leather, fabric, or chain and be on a leash for the test. Also bring the dog's brush or comb to the test. Dogs must be current on DHPP and Rabies vaccinations.

Evaluator(s):

Dee Bogush, Denise Laberee