Basic Training and Introduction to Agility
This class will offer your beginning dog/puppy a valuable foundation for obedience and agility training. We provide a balance of play and control that is necessary to develop your relationship with your dog. Motivational games and confidence building exercises will maximize your training sessions with a focused and enthusiastic partner. Class work includes: companion obedience, basic control skills, reliable recalls, attention building games and an introduction to agility equipment. The prevention of behavior problems are addressed along with building socialization skills with other dogs and people. From this class dogs/puppies will graduate to the Intermediate class where they continue to perfect their obedience skills off leash. They can then test for the AKC CGC. When they finish obedience in the Intermediate class they have the skills to go on into Advanced Obedience and Rally class. The Agility skills taught in Intermediate class help the dogs learn independent obstacle performance on contact obstacles and weave poles and a little distance work to tunnels and jumps. The handlers learn the importance of correct footwork and body language to help their dogs with simple sequences. When these dogs are able to remain focused and work confidently with their handlers they are ready for agility foundation training.
Puppies who join the Basic Training and Intro. to Agility Class on Monday at 7 PM receive the same instruction and qualify for the S.T.A.R. Puppy Certificate at the end of the class.
CERTIFICATION/TITLING OPPORTUNITIES AT MLF
IS YOUR PUPPY A STAR?
MLF is proud to offer the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program to help get puppies and their owners off to a good start. This AKC program welcomes all puppies, purebred and mixed breeds, up to a year of age. The S.T.A.R. Puppy Program is available to you by participating in Basic Training and Introduction to Agility. Upon completion of six classes and passing the requirements, your puppy will receive the AKC S.T.A.R. Certification. From AKC you will receive a Medal and be listed in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy records. You will also receive a beautiful certificate, an AKC Puppy Handbook, a discount to enroll in the AKC Companion Animal Recovery Corp. (a 24 hr. recovery service), and Your AKC, an on going monthly email newsletter that includes valuable training tips and up-to-date information that every dog owner needs to know. We are very excited about this wonderful incentive program that encourages responsible dog ownership and fosters the love and care in training that all puppies deserve.
CANINE GOOD CITIZENSHIP and COMMUNITY CANINE
MLF also offers an opportunity for your dog to be evaluated for the AKC Canine Good Citizen program. The purpose of the CGC program is designed to ensure that our favorite companion, the dog, can be a respected member of the community because it has been trained to be well behaved in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs and people. Owners of dogs that pass all ten items of the CGC test may order an official CGC certificate from the American Kennel Club. The CGC is now a title you can earn from AKC after passing the test items. .
MLF DogSports is pleased to offer AKC’s newest titling opportunity for you and your dog. AKC Community Canine is the third and most advanced level of the Canine Good Citizen Program. The goal of the CGCA (Advanced CGC) title is to test the dog’s skills in a natural setting. For example, rather than the dog being tested in a show ring, in AKC Community Canine, the “walks through a crowd” test item will involve the dog walking through a real crowd at a dog show, on a busy sidewalk, at a training club, or in a local park.
To earn the CGCA title, the dog must 1) be registered or listed with AKC (AKC number, PAL, or AKC Canine Partners and 2) already have a Canine Good Citizen award/title on record. All dogs, including mixed breeds, can earn the CGCA title after passing the ten test items and meeting the above requirements. The S.T.A.R. puppy and the CGC programs are taught and evaluated by Anita Easley, an AKC approved CGC evaluator.
More information about S.T.A.R. Puppy, CGC, and CGCA can be found at: http://www.akc.orgwww.akc.org