Class Descriptions
(If you have any suggestions for a class you would like to see please feel free to let me know)!

Six Week Classes (Cost $150.00)

• Emma Needs Training. My newest edition Emma needs alot of training and this class will be for those of you that are experienced and just need a minimal amount of "instruction" from me because I too, will be in the class working with Miss Emma Princess Warrior) This will be a great class for those of you working for your CGC, Rally or Competition obedience or for those of you needing to work with positive proofing for distractions or desensitizing to other dogs or people. Cost for this 6 week class is only $60.00.

• Puppy K – 6 classes – first class without the dogs, remaining five classes are with the dogs.
  The start of focus and eye contact, sit, down, stand, the basics of stay, come, loose leash walking and “sit for petting” (versus jump on strangers). Answers to those annoying puppy behaviors will be addressed and the last 15 minutes of each class is devoted to puppy playtime.

• Advanced Puppy K – 6 classes – all classes are with the dogs. This is for the group that wants to continue with training and stay together with the same group of people and dogs. We review what you have already learned and continue to add new behaviors. These new behaviors vary depending on the group itself .

• Competition Prep for Puppies - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs. Start your puppy off right! This class will be geared for all types of competition for those of you that already know you want to compete in dog sports. Agility, competition obedience, rally will all be addressed. Normal Puppy k stuff will also be addressed.

• Agility Prep with Jane Killion - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs

• Beginner Agility with Jane Killion - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs. Introduction to shaping obstacle performance. Lowered contacts. Students rotate through practice stations doing mostly individual obstacles. Crosses, stays and releases are introduced.

• Agility: Advanced Beginner Agility with Jane Killion - 6 classes - all classes are with the dogs. Class time is divided into two sections. One section focuses on obstacle performance and or handling exercises and students rotate through practice stations. The second session is practice over sequences of 3-6 obstacles or jump box training. Class is appropriate for dogs who have been introduced to but not yet proficient on all of the equipment or dogs who have issues with/need work on performance of the equipment.

• Novice Prep Agility with Jane Killion - 6 classes - all classes are with the dogs. Class alternates between handling and jump box exercises and 10-15 obstacle courses, usually with a "theme" (front cross, rear cross, distance, etc.) Course analysis/strategy, walking and memorizing a course, and start and finish line behaviors are covered. Dogs should be familiar with the equipment, but dogs with need for improvement on obstacle performance or motivation are welcome.

• Beginners – 6 classes – first class without the dogs, remaining five classes are with the dogs. Eye contact, sit, down, stand, stay in all positions, come, loose leash walking, sitting politely for petting, door etiquette, impulse control, and a few pet tricks.

• Canine Good Citizen - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs. The ten behaviors needed for the Canine Good Citizen test.

  • Accepting a friendly stranger
  • Sitting politely for petting
  • Appearance and grooming
  • Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
  • Sit and down on command - staying in place
  • You will also be learning other behaviors, such as come with distractions, stay with distractions and more useful pet tricks.
  • Walking through a crowd
  • Coming when called
  • Reaction to another dog
  • Reaction to distraction
  • Supervised separation

  We will also be doing additional behaviors with increased distractions and if possible, off leash work – heeling, stays, come and even more useful pet tricks!

• Advanced Beginners - aka Therapy Dog Class #1 - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs The first five behaviors needed for the Canine Good Citizen test.
  1. Accepting a friendly stranger
  2. Sitting politely for petting
  3. Appearance and grooming
  4. Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
  5. Sit and down on command - staying in place

  You will also be learning other behaviors, such as come with distractions, stay with distractions and more useful pet tricks.

• Therapy Dog class, Level 3 - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs
  There are three Levels of Classes to get your CGC & TDI - Level 3: Covers the behaviors needed for your TDI. Ignoring dropped food, being comfortable around walkers, canes and wheelchairs.

• Rally / Competition - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs
  Rally is a new and upcoming sport that takes all of the behaviors that are pretty standard when you train your dog - walk on a loose leash, sit, down, stay, etc. - and makes them fun and rewarding. And, you get to earn titles! Rally is a great in-between sport, if you can't decide what to do next - whether it be earning your CGC or TDI, going into competition obedience or starting agility. Rally is the sport for you!

• Advanced Rally / Competition, Level 2 - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs

• Advanced Rally / Competition, Level 4 - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs.

• Pre-Agility Prep with Anna Burbank - The objective of the class is to familiarize the dog with a number of agility obstacles. We will work on approaches from various angles, with the handler in different positions relative to the dog, from a distance, etc. Shaping will be our primary tool for this. We will also work on targeting and some elementary handling exercises. We start small (jumps low, short tunnels) until the dogs gain confidence. This foundation is essential prior to linking obstacles together in a sequence.

• Pre-Agility Prep with Anna Burbank - Geared to Pupplies - The objective of the class is to familiarize the dog with a number of agility obstacles. We will work on approaches from various angles, with the handler in different positions relative to the dog, from a distance, etc. Shaping will be our primary tool for this. We will also work on targeting and some elementary handling exercises. We start small (jumps low, short tunnels) until the dogs gain confidence. This foundation is essential prior to linking obstacles together in a sequence.

• Beginner Agility with Anna Burbank - This class builds on the skills learned in agility prep and starts to introduce multiple obstacles linked together in a sequence. We will continue to work on individual obstacles, building speed and accuracy. Handler skills such as front and rear crosses will be introduced. "Contact" skills will be emphasized.

• Shadow's Specialties - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs
  This class is named after my border collie Shadow. Because he is a recovering aggressive dog, he has had to be better trained than my "normal" dogs. This class will include more advanced behaviors such as ignoring and coming away from dropped food or thrown toys, drop on recall, drop while running away from you, whistle training and much more.

• Tricks and More - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs.
  Learn how to free shape tricks you only dreamed about training! Roll over and cover with a blanket, bow, wipe your feet, trim your own nails (!!!), close doors, go to bed, carry trick or treat basket to door, put toys away, turn on lights (and turn them off), and much more! Some of these are useful, some just fun.

• Tactile and Tricks - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs
  This class will help save your dog from having to be either put under anesthesia or from having 12 football players having to wrestle your dog to the ground, for something as simple as grooming or toe nail clipping. I will show you how to “free shape” behaviors and a list of tricks will be handed out on the first week. All tricks are marked with a certain number of points. At the last class, you will get to strut your stuff, earn points and win a $10.00 gift certificate. If possible, we will clip nails too! (50 bonus points if we can do it!)

• Agility Prep - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs
  This class is designed to teach your dog to think for themselves (really, not a bad thing!), be comfortable around certain pieces of equipment, stand on moving surfaces, jump simple sequences. Prerequisite is Beginners. FMI, please call Pam at 908-475-5551 or email Jane Killion at janekillion@yahoo.com

• Super Dooper Advanced - 6 week course, all classes are with the dogs
  Continuing to build those foundation and free shaping behaviors and working off leash indoors and on leash outdoors (when the weather is good).

Four Week Classes (Cost $90.00 unless otherwise designated)

• NEW! Pre-FLYBALL class!!!! This class is 4 weeks long and will be working on the fundamentals of flyball. Prerequisites: your dog must have a recall (come), must be good with other dogs and it would be preferred that they already have a retrieve or at least a hold of a ball or toy. 4 weeks

• Acting Classes for Dogs! ** This series of classes will be about teaching your dog behaviors needed for print ads, commercials, TV shows and movies. Once your dog reaches a certain level of proficiency, my agent will come, take photos and put you in her database for future jobs! The behaviors listed below are just a small taste of what you and your dog will learn! In addition to the behaviors learned, distraction training will also be addressed (walking on city streets, up elevators, in crowded rooms with millions of people and cameras). Being flexible and training on the fly is also a part of these classes.

It's Showtime!

• Level 1 "Extra!"
  Target with nose, paw, chin, target to a "mark," sit in chair and place paws on table, work for a stranger, ride a skateboard, close doors, lie down/head up, lie down/head down, lie down/head on paws and more!

• Level 2 "Model!"
  Jump a jump, open doors, pull objects, put paws up on windowsill and look out, kiss someone's face, working off leash, go fast or slow on cue and more!

• Level 3 "Supporting Actor!"
  Lift leg (as if peeing), go through a door and stop, go around objects and stop, play with a stranger (petting, hugging and with toys), retrieve any object, go to a specified place and more!

• Level 4 "The Lead!" (aka Do They Give Oscars to Dogs?)
  Bite pants leg on cue, put toys away, carry toy to a mark and drop it, hump a person’s leg on cue, learn the names of body parts and more!

  **The reason I developed these classes is because I just had the opportunity to do a TV commercial with Emma (Olympic Paint). I had so much fun (as did Emma), I am still on cloud 9 after 4 days. After being stuck in traffic with my agent for hours :o(, the idea for these classes came to me. I ran it past my agent and she thought it was a super idea, since there doesn't seem to be any acting classes for dogs. She will feed me more behavior ideas as she thinks of them, but these are enough to start with.

• Whitman's Sampler - Tricks, Freestyle, agility prep, free shaping and more, all rolled into one! Prerequisite: Beginners class with me. 4 weeks $100.

• On the Road - 4 week course held only in the spring, summer and fall – all classes with the dogs. We will take the dogs "on the road" and meet in 4 different locations to train the dogs in more real life scenarios, building on the skills already learned in the previous levels.

• Back to Basics - 4 week course, all classes with the dogs. This will be a 4 week course to get you back on the right track if you haven't been in for training in awhile. A great refresher course to add between levels!

• Everybody in the Pool! - 4 week course, all classes with the dogs. Just like this sounds, we will be teaching the dogs to swim! Not all dogs naturally know how to swim. If your dog will go into the water but only up to a point, this is the class for you. We will take the dogs to 3 different locations with 3 different water sources - a river, a lake and a swimming pool. (yes we all have to wear bathing suits...)

• Recall Class, Level 1 and 2 - 4 week course, held only in spring summer and fall - all classes with the dogs) The gist of these classes is to teach your dog that you are more interesting than spit on the sidewalk. Prerequisite is Beginners.

  • Level 1 – Follow the Leader games designed to further cement your relationship. We will be working outdoors, so the distractions are there, plus we will add some of our own.
  • Level 2 – All distractions!!!!! And I can think of some pretty creative ones

Three Week Classes (Cost $60)

• Recall and Stop - 3 week course, all classes with the dogs. Bring a harness, leash of at least 30 feet (see the equipment links on the links page), clicker and tons of food, toys and water.

Breakfast Club Class - Six Week Increments (Cost: $250.00)

Class for aggressive or reactive dogs. 6 week increments, all classes with the dogs. Morning sessions from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m on Thursdays & Sundays. Prerequisite: minimum of 6 privates with me.

Please note: Depending on your dog's issues and threshold distances, completing privates with me is no guarantee that your dog will still be suitable for the group class. Not all dogs are appropriate for a group setting. If management decides that your dog needs additional skills prior to participating or is not a suitable candidate for class, management reserves the right to decline his/her continued attendance.

Cost - $250.00 for six-week increments

AGGRESSION IS JUST A BEHAVIOR AND BEHAVIOR IS MODIFIABLE.

This is NOT about muzzling the dogs, throwing them into a room together to “let them work it out.” Classes are set up so that the dogs do NOT “pop” off, do NOT aggress, do not bite. Everyone is as safe as humanly possible, everyone is calm. If your dog’s initial threshold for remaining calm is being 10 acres away, so be it! That is where we will start!

This program is all about setting the dog up to be successful, calm and focused on the handler. It is all about desensitizing and counter conditioning your dog to their own personal “provoking stimuli.”

There are no more than five dogs in a class. There are no more than one or two dogs out at a time. Most of the beginning training will be held outdoors (yes, even in the freezing winter, so­ bundle up!) We will rotate dogs in small, short, successful sessions, always gradually building their tolerance and acceptance of their fearful object(s). We will help each other to be successful and glory in the successess of others.

Prerequisite for joining the class: at least 6 privates with me AND super name recognition from your dog and a super recall.

Speciality Classes

• Kid Proof Your Dog and Dog Proof Your Kid! This two hour session (one hour per class) will help teach your children how to properly approach strange dogs to prevent dog bites as well as teach your dog to accept strange children. The first week will be with you and your children and the 2nd week will be with you, your children and your dog. 2 sessions/2hours. Special discounted cost $30.00 (if you would like to see a different day or time, please contact me. If you have a group of friends that you think would benefit, let me know that you referred them and if they sign up, you will get a 15% discount)

• The Multiple Dog Household Option 1. In this session we will teach your multiple dogs door etiquette. You will be able to have all of your dogs at the door, you can be on the outside with the door open and call one dog through and your other dogs will stay until they hear their name/release word. 1 session/1 hour. Cost $25.00

• The Multiple Dog Household Option 2. In this session we will teach your multiple dogs to go to their crates or mat when the doorbell rings. A huge improvement over knocking over your guests or creating fights when the bell rings! Bring your own crate or mat. 1 session/1 hour. Cost $25.00

• Leave it, aka Mine! This 3 week class will get you on the road to getting a very reliable "mine" cue. An invaluable behavior, which can save you a great deal of heartache as well as emergency trips to the vet when your dog races to get the "cookie" you dropped - only it wasn't a cookie, it was medicine that is toxic for dogs. Or drinking out of that stagnant puddle on the trail that can contain bacteria or the puddle in the parking lot that can contain deadly anti-freeze. And let's not forget the old standby - goose poo! 3 session/3 hours. Cost $70.00

• Loose Leash Walking. This mini crash course will be held indoors as well as outdoors. Equipment needed (special harness - leather tracking harness with padded breastplate or X back sledding harness - and long line) - ask Pam. 2 sessions/2 hours. Cost $50.00

• Four on the Floor. In this class we will work on at least 3 different methods to teach your dog to keep their feet on the ground.

  1. Turning away,
  2. "Up" and "off" cues,
  3. Go visit". 2 sessions/2 hours. Cost $50.00

Write to me any time with suggestions for classes!