Bella Vista Obedience Class Descriptions

Level 1:  Puppy Socialization & Basic Obedience
This class is limited to dogs under 7 months of age to provide them with the foundation skills to be good companions. Puppy problems related to house & crate training, jumping up, chewing and mouthing will be addressed. Grooming, feeding and exercise needs will be discussed. The course will cover the basic exercises of sit, down, stay, come when called and walking on the leash in a controlled manner. The “leave it” command will be introduced. As a bonus, we will also introduce the dogs to the tunnel and tire jump for fun!


Level 2:  Basic Obedience
This class is recommended for dogs age 7 months and older to teach them the basic skills to be good companions. The course will cover the basic exercises of sit, down, stay, come when called and walking on the leash in a controlled manner. Problems of barking, jumping up, chewing and mouthing will also be addressed. The “leave it” command will be taught. As a bonus, we will also introduce the dogs to the tunnel and tire jump for fun!


Level 2:  Come, Sit, Stay, Learn
Is your dog wagging his tail because he is happy? What is the emotional state of your dog and why is it important? Are you walking the dog, or is the dog walking all over you? Come, Sit, Stay, Learn addresses all of these questions and much more. This class is recommended for dogs who need basic skills in order to be good companions and for handlers who need the information to teach those skills. Dogs must be at least 12 weeks old or have their adult shots.

These basic exercises will be covered in class: sit, down, stay, come when called, “leave it”, and how to walk on the leash in a controlled manner. However, we go beyond the basics to include instruction on leadership and how to achieve it with your dog. You will learn how to best relay information to your dog to get the desired results and how to build a positive fundamental working relationship.

Your canine companion does not need to be perfect to enter this class. We recognize that before some dogs can learn the basics, problem behaviors may need to be resolved. This class will deal with common issues that include (but are not limited to) barking, jumping up, chewing, and mouthing. Problems will be diagnosed, and a course of action will be customized for each dog and handler.

Even if your dog IS perfect, this is a great place to be! The training philosophy of this class is, “We can’t make the dog do anything, but we can make them WANT to do it.” Fun and games are an important part of the learning process.


Level 3:  CGC Etiquette
To participate in this class, the dogs must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the basic commands taught in the Level 1 or Level 2 or Come, Sit, Stay, Learn classes or on approval from BVTC. The Canine Good Citizen certification has become a requirement for some homeowners by their insurance companies and for some renters by their landlords. Even if that is not an issue for you, this class can help you to cultivate behavior in your dog that makes him accepted and respected by others. Among other things, you will learn how to help your dog enter class in an orderly manner, how to calmly wait his turn in the presence of other dogs, and how to walk with you in public in a way that will make you and your dog role models for others

In addition to teaching basic obedience classes, Deb Sangrey and Cathy Hivner the instructors for this class have been working with shelter dogs for a number of years as well. They have experience with many types of dogs of various backgrounds and have encountered a wide variety of training issues. Their expertise in that capacity will also be shared with the class when applicable.

All basic exercises will be reviewed, and distraction training will be added to ensure a reliable performance in different environments. All exercises tested in the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program will be taught. This includes meeting other dogs and people, supervised separation, walking through a crowd on a leash, and being touched by a stranger. At the last class, students may be invited to take the CGC assessment (a testing fee of $5 will be charged to cover the cost of the test materials). BVTC instructors will determine if the dog is ready to be evaluated.


Level 3:  Life Skills
Course content includes working on crate skills, learning a polite method for meeting people at the door, understanding supervised separation, and other basic manners to make your dog a good companion. Class content will be adjusted to meet the needs of the participants. Let us show you how to teach your dog manners.


Level 4:  Pre-Competition Obedience
This course is designed for individuals who are interested in doing competition obedience, rally obedience, agility and/or freestyle dog sports. Dogs must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the basic obedience commands. The focus of this class will be to teach the handler/dog team proper heel & front positions, stationary exercises, the sphinx down and around & swing finishes. Positive training techniques will be used to make training fun for both the handler and the dog!


Level 5:  Rally Obedience
Dog and handler teams will learn to navigate a course with numbered signs indicating different obedience exercises to perform such as Sit-Down-Sit, Straight Figure 8, Send Over Jump, and Recall Over Jump. Teams will be taught the skills necessary to navigate the course at a brisk, continuous pace without direction from the judge. Class time will be divided into segments so that all teams will have the opportunity to work on the mechanics of the exercises and to run courses. Competition venues for both purebred and mixed breed dogs will be covered. To participate in this class, dogs must be able to demonstrate an understanding of sit, down & stay commands and be able to walk on a leash in a controlled manner.


 Level 6:  Beginner Competition Obedience
The focus of this class is to prepare the dog and handler for competition obedience. Attention skills, heel work, recalls and stationary exercises will be taught. The handler will learn techniques to make training a “game” that the dog wants to play.


Level 7:  Advanced Competition Obedience
To participate in this class, the dog and handler team must have earned at least 2 legs towards a Novice Obedience Title or have attended a Beginner Competition Obedience Class. This class will focus on the advanced exercises required for dogs to compete in the Open and Utility Obedience Classes. Special attention will be given to retrieving, out of sight stays, and distraction training using techniques that make training fun.