We hold classes twice a year starting in early January and early September. Online registration opens one month prior to class start date. Classes are ‘first come, first served’ so please register early.
Classes run for 8 consecutive weeks (typically) on Sunday afternoons at the Dunbar Recreation Center located at 2601 Fairlawn Ave. Dunbar, WV.
Classes cost $90 for the entire 8-week session (45 minute classes). Shelter/rescue dog ($70 with proof of adoption), same dog/multiple classes ($90 first class, 50% discount on subsequent classes), and same family/multiple dogs ($90 first dog, $70 for additional dog).
If you have a puppy that will be 5 months old when classes start and you are not sure whether to enroll in the puppy or basic manners class please contact us at kotcdogs@gmail.com and we can help determine which class would be best suited for your dog.
For questions not answered on this site, send email to kotcdogs@gmail.com.
This is a class for puppies 3-6 months of age and is based on the AKC’s S.T.A.R. Puppy Program. Our puppy class emphasizes socialization with people and other puppies, walking on a loose leash, basic commands, Instructors usually offer information on growth, nutrition, grooming, housebreaking and problem-solving.
Basic Manners class is offered to dogs over 6 months old with NO FORMAL training. This class covers the key behaviors that will help develop your dog into a well-behaved companion in the home and in the public. Basic Manners will teach you how to build an enjoyable working relationship with your dog. Behaviors taught will include: sit, down, stay, come, leave-it, drop-it, sit politely to accept greeting, stop jumping on people, and loose leash walking with automatic sit. All exercised are conducted on leash.
EXERCISES:
Sit, Down, Stay/Wait, Come, Watch me, Loose Leash walking w/automatic sit, Stop jumping on people, Leave-It, Drop-it, Off (furniture, counters, etc.), Gentling/Know your dog’s body, Sit politely for greeting.
Intermediate is for graduates of the Basic Manners class and/or for those who want to further develop their relationship with their dog. This class builds on the foundation established in Basic Manners. It will further enhance the dog’s response and reliability to the owner’s commands by focusing on the owner/dog relationship. Intermediate class will help the owner and dog learn how to work through distractions and impulse control issues. This class will introduce more advanced behaviors while also introducing distance, duration, and distractions to help proof basic manners such as: sits, down, comes, and stays/waits.
Dogs must be under control when off lead. This class is to prepare the dog and handler to compete in the AKC’s Open class. Dogs will be learning the drop on recall, retrieving a dumbbell on the flat and over a jump, broad jump, and Hand/Verbal Signals for 15foot distance Stands, Downs and Sits.
Dogs must be under control when off lead. This class is to prepare the dog and handler to compete in the AKC’s Utility class. Dogs will be working Signal Exercise, heeling with a stand, stay, down, sit and come with only hand signals. Scent discrimination, finding the owners scent among a pile of articles. Directed retrieve, dog follows a directional signal to retrieve a glove. Moving stand, as the dog is heeling he must stand and stay on command as the handler moves away then the dog must stay and accept an examination by the judge then return to the handler on command. Directed jumping, the dog must go away from the handler, turn and sit. Then, the dog must clear whichever jump its handler indicates and promptly return to the handler.
Dogs must have taken Intermediate Obedience and be able to heel on-lead, have a solid sit, down, and stay. Be familiar with Fronts and Finishes. Rally combines moving your dog through a course while doing obedience exercises. Jumps will be slowly introduced for Advanced Rally. This class is an introduction to performing the rally signs and courses found in the Novice/Advanced/Intermediate class.
Dogs must be working towards heeling off lead and have taken an Intermediate Obedience and Rally Novice/Advanced class. This class continues to work on the signs and skills in Novice/Advanced as well as adding the signs you will find in Excellent and Master levels. More Distance work in these classes along with learning to send to a cone, backups with pivots, and spins/turns.