Dear Critter Corner: We have done basic obedience classes with our pup and have had a lot of fun. We are looking to do more. Can you give recommendations on the types of classes that are out there and what they focus on?
There are many types of training classes out there, and each one can cater to a specific trait in your pup. Some of the most common ones are agility, scent, rally, and tricks classes. In addition, there are some classes that are geared toward competition, such as flyball, treibball, carting, dock diving, and competition obedience classes. These are all great ways to engage your pup and keep the training fun!
Agility training is designed to build confidence in your pup by encouraging them to go over, under, or through items. This is typically in the form of jumps, tunnels, a-frames, teeter boards, and weave poles. Each object will build upon your dog’s confidence and coordination.
Scent, or nose work, classes are great for all types of dogs. These classes can be extremely helpful with our reactive or over-aroused pups and can help build confidence in the shy or uncertain pup too. In this class you will work on teaching your pup to use their nose and find objects that you have hidden, typically a piece of cheese. For fun, it is usually kept simple and easy for your pup to locate the hidden item. As your pup masters the game, you can increase difficulty by venturing outside.
Rally is a fun twist on basic obedience and will continue to build you and your pup’s relationship. This sport uses stations. At each station there is a sign, and each team must perform the task prior to moving on to the next station.
Tricks class is always fun – who doesn’t love to show off their pup and any cool tricks they may have? You can do this at competition level too, but I personally like just doing them for fun! This can help with building confidence and will strengthen the bond between you and your pup.
If you are interested in trying any of the above-mentioned sports, there is a class that will highlight each of them at phs-spca.org/behavior. You can sign up there.
Tasha Suda is the Lead Dog Trainer for the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA Behavior Department. For more information, please visit www.phs-spca.org, call 650-340-7022 x314 or email tsuda@phs-spca.org.