BEYOND BASIC

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Intermediate

Introduction to on-lead heeling, off-lead recalls, and stays; continued work on basic obedience skills. Limit 6-8.

PREREQUISITE: SOTC Basic or permission

MEETINGS: 8 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $96 or 8 points, non-members $144

• INT-W630   |   Wednesday 6:30pm starting 6/18   |   Co-instructors Bari Tassinaro & Jackie Upwood 

Canine Good Citizen (Prep Class with Test)

Reviewing all 10 exercises for the CGC test. Extra help on how to train your dog for exercises you may need to work on. At the last class meeting you will be able to take the test for the CGC title. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE: SOTC Basic or permission

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 60 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• CGC-SU7  |   Sunday 7pm starting 6/22 (will not meet on 7/27)    |   Instructor Pam Renock, assistant Libby Lougnot

Tricks

AKC Tricks is a non-competitive titling program that starts with a series of simple tricks at the novice level and progresses through more difficult tricks. The highest levels (not taught in this class) progress to choreographed routines with music and storytelling!

This class is suitable for beginners up. A title does not have to be your goal as tricks are fun to train/show off and are an excellent way to establish and maintain a great training relationship with your dog. In addition to learning specific tricks, this class will teach you how to break down elements of tricks to teach them on your own. Training skills applicable to all dog sports will be emphasized. A list of the AKC options for each level of trick title will be provided, and each dog/handler team will determine what tricks they wish to learn. As much structure and/or customization for each dog/handler team will be provided.

Just a few trick options are: shake, circle around handler either forward or backward, stand on a platform, get in a box, jump through arms or a hoop, roll over, weave through your legs as you walk, figure 8 through your legs, etc.

Limit 4.

PREREQUISITE: A prior successful SOTC class or permission of instructor (don’t hesitate to ask). This class is restricted to dogs that are not reactive to other dogs or food/toys being tossed since we will be creating some quick movement and excitement for the dogs. Dogs need to be able to be managed by handlers. You may need to supply some of the equipment needed for certain tricks. A clicker is recommended (but not required) for training these skills. An introduction to clicker training will be covered.

MEETINGS : 4 meetings,  60 minutes

PRICE:  SOTC members $48 or 4 points, non-members  $72. Optional AKC title test(s) after completion of class for an additional fee ($10 members, $15 non-members).

• CANCELLED  TRX-TH630  |  Thursday 6:30pm starting  6/19  (will not meet on 7/3, 7/10, 7/24)  |  Instructor Lynn Miller, assistant Helen Pfleuger

Happy Heeling

Ready to have some serious fun with your dog? This class is perfect if you dream of a dog who loves to heel - Whether you're into obedience, rally, freestyle, or just want a super-confident, happy dog by your side. We'll be using games and playful techniques to make training fun for both you and your furry friend. Think of it as a fun, engaging way to build an amazing bond with your dog while mastering those heeling skills. Limit 6-8.

PREREQUISITE: SOTC Intermediate or permission

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 90 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  HH-TU6  |  Tuesday 6pm starting 6/17    |  Instructor Kathy Morse, assistant TBA

Conformation

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Conformation Drop-ins

Drop in class for training dog and handler for the conformation (breed) ring.  If appropriate for class make-up, breed standards, conformation rules, grooming of dog and handler will be discussed.

PREREQUISITE:   None! Dogs should be at least 12 weeks of age and should have received age-appropriate vaccinations.

MEETINGS:   8 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $12 or 2 tickets, non-members $18 (per drop-in, pay as you go -- checks, exact change, or  click HERE to pay on-line with a credit card)

TO REGISTER:  To reserve a spot for a particular meeting and to confirm that class will be held, email the instructor via the link below

• CON-TU7   |   Tuesday 7pm starting  6/17 (will not meet on 7/1, 7/29, 8/12)  |   Instructor Mary Kobis, assistants Mary Walker & Lynn Coates

RALLY

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Rally students must crate their dogs while they walk the course. Non-members may use a guest crate, if available, or bring their own crate each time and carry it out after class.

Intro to Rally Skills 

We will work on the skills needed to start competing in Rally. We will work on basics like heeling and stays in addition to learning the Novice signs and the Rally rules. Limit 6-8.

PREREQUISITE: Dogs must be able to do sustained heeling and have reliable sit, down and stay. Dogs must be able to be crated during class.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 60 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• RSK1-F215 | Friday 2:15pm starting 6/20  (will not meet on 7/4, 7/11)  |  Instructor Judy McManus, assistant  Ann Hardy

Rally Novice 

An introduction to AKC Rally, with an emphasis on learning the signs and how to run a smooth and efficient course. Students will work their way through the Rally Novice signs and will learn to walk a course. Dogs will be leashed on course. Limit 6-8.

PREREQUISITE: SOTC Basic graduate or permission. Students must crate their dogs while they walk the course.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 60 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• RAL1-TU5 | Tuesday 5pm starting 6/17   |  Instructor Kathy Morse, assistant TBA

Rally Skills, Advanced Through Master

Each class meeting will focus on a single skill, and students working on all the exercises (regardless of level) related to that skill.  For example, if working on the Excellent-level “backup 3 steps,” we will also work on the Master-level backup signs. We will work sequences, not full courses. Limit 6-8.

PREREQUISITE: Must be working at or above Intermediate and must be able to work off lead. Dogs must be able to be crated during class.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 60 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  RSK3-F1 | Friday 1pm  starting 6/20  (will not meet on 7/4, 7/11)  |   Instructor Judy McManus, assistant  Ann Hardy

Rally Master

Courses with instruction.

PREREQUISITE:   RE title; or RN and CD; or permission of instructor. Students must crate their dogs while they walk the course. Limit 6.

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 90 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• CANCELLED  RAL5-M10   |  Monday 10am starting  6/16 (will not meet on 6/30, 7/7)   |   Co-instructors Pat John & Jennifer Taylor

Ready to RACH

Considering going after your Rally RAE and RACH? This class will use and review all level signs and start to build your dog’s stamina to run more than one course in a day. Format will be three courses, Advanced, Excellent, and Masters, run during the 90-minute class. Time will be spent on skills necessary to properly execute the “harder” signs, and hone your basics. Limit 4 teams.

PREREQUISITE: Students must crate their dogs while they walk the course.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 90 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  RAL6-M1130  |  Monday 11:30am starting 6/16  (will not meet on 6/30, 7/7)  |   Instructor Debbie Keith, assistant Kathy Mosher

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  RAL6-M1  |  Monday 1pm starting 6/16 (will not meet on 6/30, 7/7)  |  Instructor Debbie Keith, assistant Kathy Mosher

COMPETITION OBEDIENCE

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Intermediate Novice

For those familiar with the Novice exercises but not ready for competition. This class will continue work on Novice skills, including the recent changes to the CD requirements. Limit 6-10 (we will split the class into two sections if need be).

PREREQUISITE: Prior Novice class, BN/PN title, or permission. Students must have Novice skills prior to sign-up.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• NOV2-M7  |  Monday 7pm starting 6/16  (will not meet on 7/14)  |  Co-instructors Sue Eaton & Kelly Mueller

Improving Your Heelwork

We will be using the “Heeling Grid” method developed by Laura Romanik to help your dog better understand his job while heeling. Does your dog need help with:

• Understanding *heel position* which is neither lagging nor forging?
• Understanding how to keep his *rear in* on left turns, left Figure 8 posts and on halts?
• Understanding he is to heel with his *head up and watching you* so he doesn’t miss your body cues for turns and halts?

If these or other heeling problems describe your dog, then this class is for you! The goal will be to help dogs achieve a higher degree of proficiency and accuracy in their heelwork.

Limit 6. Auditors welcome!

PREREQUISITE:  The dog needs to understand heeling fairly well,  but is not as proficient as the handler would like. This is *not* a class for beginner dogs who have not started heelwork.

Students will need to own or purchase Laura Romanik’s Heeling Grid workbook as we will be using those grids to further the dog’s skills.

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 60  minutes

PRICE:  SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  HWK-F2  |  Friday 2pm starting 6/20  (will not meet on 7/4, 7/11)  |  Instructor Nancy Frakes, assistant TBA

Intro to Open

An introduction to the Open exercises. Limit 6.

MEETINGS: 8 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $96 or 8 points, non-members $144

• OPN1-M6  |  Monday 6pm starting starting 6/16 (will not meet on 7/21)  |  Instructor Wendy Longden, assistant Gene Longden

Intro to Utility

An introduction to the Utility exercises. Limit 6.

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• UTL1-M5 | Monday 5pm starting  6/16   |  Instructor Kathy Helmke, assistant Sue Eaton

Advanced Open / Utility

A proofing and polishing class for Open and Utility. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE: Working knowledge of all the exercises

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• OU3-M6 | Monday 6pm starting 6/16   |  Instructor Kathy Helmke, assistant Roberta Hennigan

Open & Utility Problem Solving

Students should email their Open or Utility problem to Steph. This is a problem-solving class, not a class designed to teach the exercises. Handlers must already understand the Open or Utility exercise they want to troubleshoot and must already have taught their dogs the exercises. Limit 6.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 90 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  OUP-TU10 | Tuesday 10am  starting  7/1 (note later start date)   |  Instructor Stephanie Podejko

FLYBALL

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No flyball classes offered this time

AGILITY

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Agility students must arrive on time so as to be available to help with equipment setup if required.

Dogs must be crated while students walk the course or move equipment. Students may use a guest crate or bring their own crate each time and carry it out after class.

Agility Foundations 1

This class will cover the foundation skills required for competition agility, such as teamwork, self-control, body control, and shaping. The class is appropriate for all handlers (experienced agility competitors as well as those new to the sport) and is required for inexperienced handlers. If you have never competed in agility, you must take Foundations before enrolling in any other agility class SOTC offers. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE:  SOTC Basic graduate or permission

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 75 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $90 or 9 points, non-members $132

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  AFN1-F630   |   Friday 6:30pm  starting 6/20 (will not meet on 7/4, 7/11, 7/25)   |   Instructor Janine Ramsden, assistant Lisa Garofalo

Beginner Agility

Introduction to contact equipment, jump training, practicing lead-outs, and basic handling. Building drive while maintaining focus and control.  Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE:   Students who have not previously competed in agility must have taken SOTC Agility Foundations or an equivalent class elsewhere before enrolling in this class. Dogs should be at least 8 months old. 

MEETINGS:   6 meetings (6/16, 6/30, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11, 8/18), 75 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $90 or 9 points, non-members $132

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  AGL1-M815   |   Monday 8:15pm on 6/16, 6/30, 7/28, switching to 6:30pm on 8/4, 8/11, 8/18  |  Co-instructors Amy Shaw & Jennifer Precourt  *** Note change of time slot for the last 3 meetings of the class ***

Beginning Agility Cohort Class part 2 (continuation class, part 2 of 3)

This is part 2 of a three-session class working with the same group of students from the beginner through the intermediate-level agility curriculum. Teams completing this series will be ready for the Novice agility class. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE:   For students who completed part 1 of this class in the spring (K. Dolan, T. Boyce-Smith, P. Centola, D. Pridgen). If openings remain after these students have responded, additional students who have taken SOTC Beginner Agility or an equivalent class may be admitted by permission of the instructors. 

MEETINGS:   8 meetings, 90 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $120 or 12 points, non-members $176

• AGC2-W4  |  Wednesday 4pm starting 6/18  |  Co-instructors Dottie Hamblin & Diane Eggleston

Advanced Beginner Agility

Building confidence on contact equipment, introduction of weave poles, developing dog and handler skills, beginning simple sequencing, and doing grid work. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE:   Successfully passing SOTC Beginner Agility or permission / run-through

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 90 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $90 or 9 points, non-members $132

• AGL2-M630   |   Monday 6:30pm starting 6/16  (will not meet on 7/14)   |   Co- instructors Jennifer Precourt, Scott Reichinger & Amy Shaw

Intermediate Agility

Not offered this time

Weave Pole Proofing & Starting 2x2 Poles 

This class is for teams just starting their weave career with 2x2 poles or more experienced teams looking to proof hard entrances and added distractions. Limit 4.

PREREQUISITE:   Dogs must be at least 12 months of age

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 60 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  AGW-TU445   |   Tuesday 4:45pm starting  6/17 (will not meet on 7/22)   |   Co-instructors Karen Vanderburgh & Sue DeRienzo

Jump Sequences

This jumping class is for dogs 18 months old and up who have been actively jumping. The class will focus on sequences usually seen in AKC / CPE. Students can send me a sequence that they are interested in from a trial map and we can do that as well as other sequences which will be presented. We will be working on skills with these sequences for each team.

Limit 4 dog and handler teams.

PREREQUISITE: Dogs must be 18 months old and up, and actively jumping either in other classes or self-trained. Handlers should have some basic handling skills. The sequences will include pinwheels, wraps, front crosses, rear crosses, etc.

MEETINGS: 4 meetings, 90 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $60 or 6 points, non-members $88

• AGJ-M1030  |  Monday 10:30am starting 6/30  (note later start date; will not meet on 7/14)  |  Instructor Linda Kaufman, assistant Barb Reuter

Agility Drop-ins, Novice to Masters

Nested courses will be built, course maps will be provided. Run the courses or train as you wish. Please be prompt for setup. Limit 10 teams per meeting.

MEETINGS: 3 meetings (6/26, 7/31, 8/21), 90 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $12 or 2 tickets, non-members $18 (per drop-in, pay as you go; checks, exact change, or  click HERE to pay on-line with a credit card)

TO REGISTER:   To reserve a spot for a particular meeting and to confirm that class will be held, email the instructor via the link below

• ADI-TH730   |   Thursday 7:30pm starting 6/26 |  Instructor Andrea Lee, assistant Tom Weickert

Novice Agility

For students preparing for Novice. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE:   Successfully passing SOTC Intermediate Agility or permission. Dogs must be able to perform full-height contacts, do 6 weave poles, and negotiate sequences of 8-10 obstacles.

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 60 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• AGL4-TU645   |   Tuesday 6:45pm starting 6/17   |   Instructor Becky Konst, assistant Tom Canino

Open Agility

For students preparing for Open. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE:   Novice agility titles or permission

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 60 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• AGL5-TU8   |   Tuesday 8pm starting  6/17   |   Instructor Becky Konst, assistant Tom Canino

Excellent / Masters Agility

For students preparing for Excellent/Masters. Students are expected to help set up the course. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE:   Open agility titles or permission

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 75 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $90 or 9 points, non-members $132

• CANCELLED  AGL6-TH615   |   Thursday 6:15pm starting 6/19  (will not meet on 7/10) |   Co-instructors Sandy Madaio & Diane Eggleston

Introduction to ISC Agility

This class will focus on identifying differences between AKC titling agility classes and AKC ISC (international sweepstakes class) Level 1 + 2 courses, understanding what skills are needed for the challenges presented, and further breaking those skills down to begin a training plan. This class is appropriate for all levels from pre-novice to competition level teams, as every challenge begins with foundation skills. Each week, we will discuss a different set of challenges found in an ISC level 1 or 2 course, try it out, evaluate where each team is, and lay out the progression for learning that skill or set of skills! All teams will go home with a training plan.

The ISC program offered through AKC agility provides teams the opportunity to train for and run courses that are aligned with designs/challenges presented by international organizations, such as FCI. This has historically been used by teams that have goals to compete internationally, but is open to everyone! 2024 featured the first AKC ISC National Championships in October, and there are more trials including those classes every year!

Skills include but are not limited to: the concept of distance/layering, discriminations, verbal independence, understanding commitment, and backside options.

Limit 4.

PREREQUISITE:  At least Advanced Beginner Agility, or with instructor permission

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 60 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $72 or 6 points, non-members $108

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  AGISC-W11  |   Wednesday 11am starting 6/18  |  Instructor Rumpelstiltskin Morgan

• AGISC-W130  |   Wednesday 1:30pm starting 6/18  |  Instructor Rumpelstiltskin Morgan

• AGISC-W630  |   Wednesday 6:30pm starting 6/18  |  Instructor Rumpelstiltskin Morgan

ISC Agility Run-throughs

An international-style agility course designed by an FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale) judge will be set up on the turf arena (130 foot x 80 foot). This will be an excellent opportunity for those interested in learning about AKC’s International Sweepstakes Class (ISC), a non-regular class providing a dog and handler an opportunity to demonstrate their advanced training and handling skills on various international-style standard and jumpers with weaves courses. Limit 10 dogs. Two-minute sessions on the floor (maximum of 3 runs total).

MEETINGS: Friday 8/22 (additional dates TBD), 180 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $15 or 3 tickets, non-members $25 (per dog, pay as you go; checks, exact change, or click  HERE to pay on-line with a credit card)

TO REGISTER:   To reserve a spot for a particular meeting and to confirm that class will be held, email the instructor via the link below

• ISC (2025SUM)   |   Instructor Lindsey Anne-Marie