Best Friends Adult level training class

Welcome to our Adult Class. I can't label this one a *basic* or beginners class because we do happen to have a few more advanced ones in this class as well. Those who are at an advanced level have taken our beginners class already and are working toward going off leash and to hand signals. Though mixing the levels may seems little unorthodox to some, I think it is a good thing because it gives all those beginners hope for their future as well! This was week 3 in this class, and as you can see Patrick is not exactly feeling stressed by all the learning he has to do.

With the beginners in this class they are working on step three to the heeling on leash work.

We also have been working on getting them to SIT and LEAVE IT. Brandi is doing his best to learn this for his mommy!

With week three they are also beginning to learn the DOWN command. Which is easier for some dogs then it is for others. Emma Grace looks like she has it down *pat*.
One of the other things that we begin with training on in week three is the DOOR MANNERS. With our beginning Adults it is done differently then our advanced students, but hey we all have to start some place!

In our advanced Adult class we have a few that are working off leash part of the time. Their commands are all being worked to switch from voice to hand signals. These are dogs that have taken a few classes with us already and are working their way to go as far as they can in their obedience. Hey a well trained dog makes for a happy dog! It makes the owners happy too as you can see by Bonnie as she works her dog Amber.

One of our advanced level Adults proves that even a pet with a slight physical disability can be as well mannered as any one else. Harley (owner by one of our customer service girls Caitlin) has a disability with his back legs. We make a few accommodations for this but otherwise Harley is keeping right up there with everyone else. So his SITS aren't perfectly straight...at least he
sits when told. We aren't trying to turn our pets into little furry robots anyway!

Emma Grace has had some training already but her mom wanted a refresher course and for her to learn the things she hadn't learned yet so we can get Emma ready for her CGC testing. Go Emma Grace!

Each dog has its own rate of ability in the learning curve so one may pick up heeling faster then the next where one may learn to sit a lot faster. The important thing for each owner to remember is PATIENCE, LOVE, and COMMITMENT. It will get you through the worst days and keep you focused on the good ones. And face it, our pets all have brains, they have the ability to think for themselves and sometimes, even out think us! There WILL be good days and bad days with them. The best you can do for them is to not give up, focus on the bigger picture and keep working with them. Our methods here are tried and true. Once you've gotten your pet to the point of training you want to reach with them (with us the skies the limit!) both of you will be happy and better for it.