Overview

 

Competition Obedience Classes with Kathy Lang are divided into two types of classes:  Foundation Skills (FS) are classes in which new skills will be introduced.  Proofing & Ring Prep (PRP) are classes for students whose dogs have learned the main components of the various exercises and are ready to put them together for ring readiness and trial preparation.  Kathy also offers Body Awareness & Conditioning Classes, and Rally Classes are now back on the schedule!

 

Not every class is offered every session.  See class descriptions for more information.  If you don’t see what you are looking for, email Kathy with your specific needs.

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Class Details

 

All classes are six weeks long.  Each class is one hour long, unless otherwise noted.  The cost for each six-week session is $255.00, including sales tax, payable by the first week of class.  Payment may be made in cash, check, PayPal or credit card.  Your space in the class is not guaranteed until you are registered and confirmed.   There are no refunds after the first class meeting, and requests must be submitted via email.  All refunds are subject to a $30 administration processing fee.  Any classes canceled by the instructor will be made up at the end of the session.  Any classes that do not have a minimum of five students enrolled will be cancelled and monies refunded.

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BODY AWARENESS & CONDITIONING CLASSES

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BAC – 1 Body Awareness & Conditioning Class 

 

This class introduces dogs and handlers to the basic concepts of body awareness and conditioning. Dogs with physical issues (injury, rehab after surgery or injury, etc.) should be evaluated by a sports medicine veterinarian. (Ask if you need a referral.) 

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This class is taught with extreme attention to detail. Just as you would expect a coach to help you achieve ideal form if you were lifting weights or working in a gym, our job is to teach you use your hands, treats, the dog’s collar and props (as needed) to achieve proper form. Online groups or other workshop that do not pay attention to the small details have the potential to create problems with the dogs. One of the great things about this type of training is your ability to work at home with a few pieces of equipment. You can work your dog’s brain and body, even when the weather is bad.

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BAC exercises support overall conditioning to improve dog sports performance (heeling, rally, agility, herding and more), create proper body use/development in young dogs and help seniors maintain their fitness.  It’s also a great way to improve communication with your dog, enhance your luring and shaping skills and attention to detail.

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Prerequisite:   Suitable for dogs and puppies who are food motivated.  No aggressive or reactive dogs. 

 

BAC – 2  Advanced Body Awareness & Conditioning Class 

 

This class adds new exercises, routines and circuits as the dogs progress.

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Prerequisite:   Successful completion of BAC-1 and instructor permission.

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Foundation Skills Classes

 

FS 1 - Foundation Skills Part 1

 

This is the class where it all begins for handlers interested in Competition Obedience and Rally training.  The material is presented in a way to support students who want to learn precision and understand how to communicate clearly with their dogs.  This class teaches attention and engagement; dogs learn to stay focused on their handlers regardless of the distractions.   Skills include an introduction to heeling with 100% attention (and the difference between heeling vs. controlled walking), reliable and accurate recalls and other foundation behaviors.

 

Pre-requisite:  This class is appropriate for puppies & dogs owned by experienced competitors; dogs who have finished previous classes with Kathy (such as puppy performance, breed ring, BAC, etc.).  It's also suitable for dogs with basic on-leash control who have taken classes elsewhere (provided they have no barking, growling, lunging or aggression issues).

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FS 2 -- Foundation Skills Part 2

 

This class is a continuation of FS 1.   So many skills were introduced in FS 1 that we need to spend another six weeks to really help our dogs understand what we’re looking for, especially as we add distractions.  Pre-requisite:  Successful completion of FS 1 or instructor permission.

 

FS 3 – Foundation Skills Part 3

 

This class continues building on basic skills introduced in FS 1 and FS 2.  New exercises will include the introduction of Position Changes, Moving Drops, Jumping & Retrieving.  Pre-requisite:  Successful completion of FS 2 or instructor permission.

 

FS 4 – Foundation Skills Part 4

 

This class builds on the previous three FS classes.  We’ll add distance and proofing to the Position Changes, Drop on Recall, Jumping and Retrieving.  Pre-requisite:  Successful completion of FS 3 or instructor permission.

 

FS 5 – Foundation Skills Part 5

 

Builds on all the skills taught thus far with the goal of formalizing the Broad Jump, Retrieve on Flat and Over High Jump, Position Changes and Stays.  Pre-requisite:  Successful completion of FS 4 or instructor permission based on prior training, skills and experience.

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FS 6 – Foundation Skills Part 6

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This class is a continuation of FS 5.  We build on previous skills while introducing Scent Discrimination, Go-Outs, Gloves, Moving Stand and Signal Exercise for the Utility ring. 

 

Foundation Skills Part 7

 

This class is a continuation of FS 6 as we progress with all of the Utility exercises.

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Proofing & Ring Preparation Classes

 

PRP 10 - Heeling, Fronts, Finishes and Rally Novice Skills

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Get ready for Beginner Novice and Rally Novice!  Learn how to reduce reinforcement, establish a heeling focal point, work through distractions, improve your transitions and footwork.  Rally Novice exercises will be taught to support/complement your competition obedience work (same footwork for pivots in both sports; using call front, finish signs to improve obedience fronts and finishes, etc.).  We'll work on sit for exams, sit walk around the ring for Beginner Novice, and put together some sequences for Rally skills.

 

Pre-requisite:  Successful completion of FS 3 or instructor permission.

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PRP 20 – Off-Leash Heeling and Novice Obedience Preparation

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This class expands on and formalizes the Novice exercises from the Foundation Skills classes as well as PRP 10.  Off-leash heeling will be introduced with lots of proofing and challenges for improving on-leash attention and heeling, as well as the recall, front, finish and all three stays.  Pre-requisite:  Successful completion of PRP 10, or FS 6, or instructor permission.

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PRP 30 – Proofing & Ring Prep for Open

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Formalizing and proofing of all Open exercises, including Ring Entrances, Limited Run Throughs, etc.   Pre-requisite:  Dog and handler knowledge of all Open exercises.   Pre-requisite:  Basic skills for Open should be in place as this class will focus on proofing and ring preparation.

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PRP 40 – Proofing & Ring Prep for Utility

 

Formalizing and proofing of all Utility exercises, including Ring Entrances, Limited Run Throughs, etc.   Pre-requisite:  Dog and handler knowledge of all Open exercises.   Pre-requisite:  Basic skills for Open should be in place as this class will focus on proofing and ring preparation.

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PRP 50 - UDX/OTCH Ring Preparation Covering a Selection of Open & Utility Exercises each week.

 

This class is for dogs and handlers who have strong foundation skills in all Open and Utility exercises.  It is suitable for teams preparing to show in Open and/or Utility.  The class will focus on the needs of the handlers in the class, alternating proofing, drills, games and run throughs each week.  Pre-requisite:  Instructor permission.

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PRP 60 - Proofing with Instructor Participation

 

This class will run longer than a normal class (approximately 75 minutes) so Kathy can also participate with her dog.  Students will have the opportunity to assist Kathy while they gain a different perspective of proofing.  The class will focus on the needs of the handlers in the class, alternating proofing, drills, games and ring entrances each week.  Pre-requisite:  Instructor permission.  ​​

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RPN - 1: Ring Prep & Run Throughs for Novice Dogs: Set Them Up for Success

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This class will help handler teams improve their warm-ups, maintain attention and engagement to the ring gate, enter the ring with energy and take charge of their performance at the Novice (Beginner, Preferred and Regular) level.

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Handlers will learn mental preparation and transition skills to improve their team’s performance, as well as training techniques to forward-chain attention throughout their Novice run. Obedience regulations related to Novice classes will be reviewed and applied during each week’s run-through. Handlers will be given feedback during their runs and are strongly encouraged to bring a video camera/cell phone so their runs and feedback can be filmed for their home review. Handlers should bring a soft/wire crate so we can replicate the obedience trial routine.

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Prerequisites: Dogs should be heeling on leash without constant reinforcement (talking, food, toys, etc.), understand turns, halts and changes of pace (need not be perfect). Dogs working at the Novice/Preferred Novice level should also have off-leash heeling skills (need not be perfect). Dogs should understand Sit/Stand for Exam, Recall, Front (& Finish for Novice/Preferred Novice), Sit/Down Stays. No aggressive dogs or extreme behavior problems.

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RALLY Skills Classes

 

RAL 1 - Rally Novice & Intermediate Skills

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Kathy Lang's Rally experience dates back to the first weekend that AKC offered Rally trials.  Her Belgian Sheepdog and Schipperke were the first Rally Excellent dogs in their respective breeds.  Kathy also created a video series to help newcomers have visual demonstrations of the proper execution of the Novice and Intermediate signs.   You can see Kathy's videos on the Vimeo hosting platform:  Novice and Intermediate.  

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Kathy teaches classes in a step-by-step manner so students learn proper execution of the signs.  Her approach complements obedience training skills.  (For example, the proper technique for footwork in rally should be the same for obedience. It's best to learn it the "right" way from the beginning.

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The first two weeks of class will cover all of the signs/stations needed for Novice and Intermediate classes, which are done on leash.  Students will learn how to build on engagement and attention so it carries over into the ring.  Weeks 4 through 6 of the session will have multiple sequences (short courses) so dogs have lots of practice time during class.  Depending on the size of the facility, the training area can be split in two or three mini-rings with baby gates. This approach helps dogs learn to work through the distraction of another dog in adjoining ring.

 

​This class is appropriate for dogs who have the basic skills of heeling (or controlled walking), sit, down, stand, come and stay.  It's also helpful for students who may have RN and/or RI titles, but want to strengthen their foundations before moving into the off-leash Advanced, Excellent and Masters classes.

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All handlers should plan to crate their dogs in the facility each week when they are not being worked.  Bring your own soft crate.  No aggressive or out-of-control dogs allowed in this class.  If you need help with Foundation Skills, refer to FS 1, described above.

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RAL 2 - Rally Advanced & Excellent Skills

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Dogs in this class should have off-leash control, and a good foundation of the skills from Rally Novice & Intermediate (see above).  All handlers should plan to crate their dogs in the facility each week when they are not being worked.  Bring your own soft crate.  No aggressive or out-of-control dogs allowed in this class.  If you need help with basic obedience Foundation Skills, refer to FS 1, described above.  If you need help teaching or improving your Rally Novice/Intermediate skills, please consider the RAL 1 class.

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Questions about any of these classes or your dog's suitability for a specific class?  Email Kathy.