Q Where are classes held?
A April to September – outdoors at a central Nanaimo park or school ground. Classes 10 and 11 are held at the waterfront seawall. September to April -in a warm dry basement at 55 Victoria Rd. in downtown Nanaimo.
Directions
Our Flex-Pass Advanced classes are held in 6 different outdoor venues around Nanaimo - exposing your dog to real world situations. For the winter, we concentrate more on games and agility working indoors at 55 Victoria Rd. We will work outdoors in the downtown area on those beautiful fall, winter and spring days we sometimes enjoy on our Island paradise, however we will meet at 55 Victoria Rd. to keep it simple for everyone.
Q Can my husband/daughter/son/wife attend classes with me?
A Yes! We encourage the whole family to get involved. We do ask that only one person handle the dog each session. The rest of the family is welcome to sit in the observation area to watch and take notes. Everyone can participate in the theory part of the class. With everyone learning the techniques the dog will get consistent training and move along much faster.
Q How old does my dog have to be to start training?
A Eight weeks(we can start with a Welcome Home Puppy Session) He must have the second set of vaccinations before coming to group class. Although young puppies learn very quickly, you must take frequent play breaks. You will be learning how to PREVENT problem behavior before it starts.
Q Is it ever too late to train a dog?
A No. You can teach an old dog new tricks. Dogs love to learn new things and to be stimulated mentally as well as physically. Teaching your dog new things will also increase the bond that you have with your dog. My 13 year old, Lily is still willing and able to learn new things and my 11 year old, Lucky is extremely stimulated by a new learning challenge.
Q What vaccinations does my dog have to have to come to group class?
A Most veterarians recommend that young pups have the second booster before entering into a group situation. For older dogs, you must show proof of vaccination, including Bordatella for Canine Cough or a note from the vet stating that your dog has had a titer test showing that the level of immunity in their blood is high enough that they do not require a booster.
Note: All dogs are kept 10 feet apart in the Foundation Class so the chance of nose to nose contact is minimal.
Q My schedule prevents me from attending all classes – what can I do?
A Option 1: We can arrange for you to attend a make-up session on Tuesday evenings or Saturday Mornings. You will need to purchase a Flex-Pass (6) for this, which will entitle you to 3 make up sessions. If you do not use all of your flex pass sessions during the course, you may attend the advanced classes any time over the next 18 months.
Option 2: We can arrange a series of Private Lessons and Group Lessons to fit your schedule.
Q My dog barks and lunges at other dogs. We were asked to leave the last course we signed up for. Will we be allowed to participate in your classes?
A We will assess your dog’s history and performance before giving you a definitive answer. If your dog has displayed aggression towards people or other dogs, we may ask you to start with a few private Reactive Dog lessons before joining a group. Your dog’s problem behavior can only be resolved by working in a controlled group situation. However, if your dog’s barking does not cease by Lesson 3 by incorporating the techniques we will be teaching you, we will ask you to revert to private lessons until the problem is resolved.
Q What is a reactive dog?
A A reactive dog is a dog who reacts in a manner that is unacceptable in the circumstance.
e.g.
1. A dog that lunges and barks at strangers or other dogs while on a walk either in a friendly or a threatening manner.
2. A dog that runs behind his handler and hides when a stranger or strange dog approaches.
3. A dog that continues to bark and run away when a newcomer arrives at the door.
4. A dog that show fear of a wheeled vehicle or conversely, decides that the wheeled vehicle is fun to chase.
Very frequently the dog’s reaction causes a reaction in the handler that reinforces the behavior. We work to change that scenario.