FAQ
What kinds of things are covered in your classes?
In addition to the basic obedience commands (sit, heel, stay, come, etc.), my classes include your dog being able to perform these commands with a variety of real world distraction. We cover common behaviors such as jumping on people, nipping and excessive barking to improve your dog’s “manners.” Each class will include related topics like nail trimming, what to know about dog parks, and nutrition. Our goal is to address the Total Dog.
Should we be in the puppy class or dog class?
The puppy class is for the younger dogs up to about 6 months old. We cover housebreaking more thoroughly, keep the work time a bit shorter and spend some extra time in a variety of socialization situations in addition to the obedience work. Your young puppy may not have had his/her rabies vaccination yet per your Veterinarian. This is acceptable as it is a health issue. When your puppy becomes old enough for the rabies shot, please bring the certificate to class.
The dog class is for young dogs as well as older dogs. Once we have our basic obedience skills, we will start to introduce a variety of real world distractions. Tennis balls, treats, rawhides and a variety of distractions that might be encountered in their everyday lives are used. Students are frequently shocked at how quickly and well their dogs get the concept of continuing to “work”. Our goal is to show you just how smart your dog is!
The FIRST NIGHT only of any classes meet without dogs. For night classes the time is usually 7:00 pm. Waterford’s morning classes meet at 9:30 am on the first day only. Check the brochure of your location for specific details.
How do I register for a class?
Each location has it’s own registration. Links are posted under class locations. Phone, internet and mail registrations are available for each location.
What about private In-Home training?
In-Home training can be used for a variety of issues. Situations as serious as aggression toward other dogs or people to housebreaking issues can be addressed in your home where the behaviors happen. Call with your concerns and we will discuss strategies and a plan that can work for you.
Helpful Links!
PetPeople
http://www.petpeoplestores.com/
A midwest based pet store. Full of top quality dog and cat foods and friendly knowledgeable people! Great place to get advice on all things dog and cat!
Finding a Vet
This page, sponsored by American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA, helps you find a AAHA accreditated vet/ vet hosptial in your area.
Dog Food Advisor
This an extremely useful website for both new and expirenced dog owners. Dog food advisor reviews major and independent dog food brands. They tell you what ingredients are in the food and what percentage they make up of the food. They tell you what the nutrional values are of the various brands and they can even send you alerts about recalled dog foods. Bottom line if you are concerned about your dogs nutrition and are looking for non-baised reviews, this is the site for you.
Petfinder
Petfinder is a massive database of millions of adoptable dogs, cats, pigs, horses, lizards...etc. You name it they probably have it for adoption. They have listings of animals from rescues, shelters, and foster homes. No puppy mills here. You can search by state, age, breed and even special needs. If you are looking to add a furry new addition to your household this is one of the sites to go!
How to make a dog First Aid Kit
This page from the AVMA ( American Veterinary Medicine Association) outlines how to make a dog frist aid kit as well as how to handle a sick or injured animal and what to do with your pets during a disaster. This is a great resource to have as well as your vets number and the location of the closest emergency vet clinic.