BEYOND BASIC

Intermediate

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

PREREQUISITE: SOTC Basic graduate or permission

MEETINGS: 8 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $72 or 8 points, non-members $104

• FULL, WAITLIST CLOSED  INT-W630   |   Wednesday 6:30pm starting 3/29   |   Instructor Patty Warner, assistant Bari Tassinaro

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  INT-TH715   |   Thursday 7:15pm starting 3/30   |   Instructor Larry Krieger, assistant Suzanne Etherington

Canine Good Citizen (Prep Class with Test)

Teaching you how to train your dog to be a Canine Good Citizen as defined by the AKC. At the last class meeting you will be able to take the AKC test for CGC certification. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE: SOTC Basic graduate or permission

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $54 or 6 points, non-members $78

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  CGC-SA10   |   Saturday 10am starting 4/1  (will NOT meet on 4/15)  |   Instructor Patty Warner, assistant Martina St. Leger

CGC Test ONLY (No Prep Class)

For those wishing to take the CGC test without the prep class. Limit 5.

PRICE: $10 (member or non-member)

• CGC-TEST   |    11am on Saturday May 13 (date subject to change, will be confirmed later)   |   Evaluator Patty Warner, assistant Martina St. Leger

Advanced CGC  (Prep Class plus Test)

Preparation for the AKC Community Canine test “CGCA” (Advanced CGC). Handlers should be prepared to practice skills offsite. Limit 8.

PREREQUISITE: Dogs must have earned their AKC CGC and be current on those skills before the start date. Proof of CGC required.

MEETINGS: 5 meetings, 60 minutes. Will meet on 3/29, 4/5, 4/19, & 5/3, with testing to be held offsite the weekend of 5/5 (exact time and date TBD).

PRICE:  SOTC members  $45 or 5 points, non-members $60

• CGCA-W730    |    Wednesday 7:30pm starting  3/29   |   Instructor Colleen Clemett, assistant Janine Ramsden

Tricks (and Maybe Clicks)

Come learn some tricks your dog does not know! Possibilities are many, and participants are welcome to request particular tricks. Each week at least one new trick will be introduced, and we will review and advance on the prior week’s tricks. Among the tricks we can consider are: shake, high five, circle around you forward or backward, spin in front or on the side of you, go around a cone, get in a box, put front feet on a pad and stand facing you (good for lots of kinds of training), circle around a pedestal while front feet stay on the pedestal (excellent for rear end awareness and keeping butt in for heeling), roll over, play dead, get on a platform, shake, high five, jump over a bar, kiss, touch fist or target stick, bow, figure of 8 through legs, weave through your legs as you walk. Limit 5.

What you will need

You will need some low-cost (or no-cost) equipment, such as a cardboard box big enough for your dog to stand in with the sides cut down low (one-quarter to one-third the dog’s leg length). It would also be useful for you to have a clicker: a small hand-held device used to mark a precise point where your dog is doing what you want. Clickers are available at pet supply stores or from chewy.com and amazon.com. Use of a clicker is not required, but the instructor highly recommends that you at least experiment with one.

PREREQUISITE: SOTC Basic grad or permission. Students must have basic control of their dogs. No dog-reactive or food-aggressive dogs (there will be some throwing of treats, and some of the dogs will be moving fast).

MEETINGS: 4 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $36 or 4 points, non-members $52

• TRX1-TU445  |  Tuesday 4:45pm starting 3/28 (will not meet on 4/11)  |  Instructor Lynn Miller, assistant Barb Reuter

FLYBALL

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Beginner Flyball

This class will teach the basics: retrieving a tennis ball; coming back with the ball; going over jumps to get the ball; doing a swimmers turn off the flyball box while catching; and doing all of this while running fast. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE:   SOTC Basic graduate or permission. Handlers must have basic control of the dog. Dogs should be at least 1 year old. No people- or dog-aggression.

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $54 or 6 points, non-members $78

• FLY1-W630   |   Wednesday 6:30pm starting 3/29  |  Instructor Jessie Burgess, assistant Jessica Sielawa

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:   6 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $9 or 1 point, non-members $13 (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-TU8   |   Tuesday 8pm starting 3/28  (will NOT meet on 4/11)   |   Instructor Mary Walker, assistant Mary Kobis

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.

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 $54 or 6 points, non-members $78

• RAL1-SA9 | Saturday 9am starting 4/1 (will NOT meet on 4/15)  | Instructor Kathy Morse, assistant Kathy Vanderworken

Rally Novice / Intermediate

Work on the Novice and Advanced signs for dogs not ready to work offlead. Limit 6-8.

PREREQUISITE: SOTC Basic graduate or permission. Dogs should have had some prior obedience training and be able to walk nicely on lead. Students must crate their dogs while they walk the course.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 60 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $54 or 6 points, non-members $78

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  RAL2-TU6 | Tuesday 6pm starting 3/28 (will NOT meet on 4/11) | Instructor Kathy Morse, assistant Lisa Williams

Rally Advanced / Excellent

Work on the Advanced/Excellent signs. Limit 6-8.

PREREQUISITE: Dogs should be able to work off-lead. Students must crate their dogs while they walk the course.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 60 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $54 or 6 points, non-members $78

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  RAL3-SA1015 | Saturday 10:15am starting 4/1 (will NOT meet on 4/15) | Instructor Kathy Morse, assistant Francine Bassett

Rally Excellent

Courses with instruction. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE: RA title or permission of instructor. Students must crate their dogs while they walk the course.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 90 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $54 or 6 points, non-members $78

• RAL4-M11 | Monday 11am starting 3/27  (will NOT meet on 5/1)  | Instructor Debbie Keith, assistant Anne Kernan

Rally Master

Courses with instruction. Limit 6.

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

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 90 minutes Monday class, 60 minutes Tuesday class 

PRICE:   SOTC members $54 or 6 points, non-members $78

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  RAL5-M1230 | Monday 12:30pm starting 3/27  (will NOT meet on 5/1) | Instructor Pat John, assistant Jennifer Taylor

• RAL5-TU715 | Tuesday 7:15pm starting 3/28 (will NOT meet on 4/11) | Instructor Kathy Morse, assistant Lisa Williams

Freestyle

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Intro to Rally FrEe

Rally-FrEe is a relatively new sport combining the course layout of rally and the creativity and musical aspects of canine freestyle. (More information available on the Rally Freestyle Elements website.) The sport was developed to help freestyle competitors fine-tune their foundation behaviors and to create a fun activity without the pressure of designing your own routine. Not to mention it's a great next step for dogs competing at high levels of rally or obedience.  Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE: Dogs should be comfortable being in a class with other dogs and with being crated for occasional course walk throughs.  Handler focus and heeling or strong loose-leash walking skills required.

MEETINGS:   6 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE:   SOTC members $54 or 6 points, non-members $78

• RFE1-FR645  |  Friday 6:45pm starting  March 31  (will NOT meet on 4/14)  |   Instructor Jamie Ohman

COMPETITION OBEDIENCE

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Young Dog Competition 3

A continuation of the fall Young Dog class. Limit 6.

This is the 3rd class in a 3-class sequence. The sequence starts once a year, in the fall, with follow-on classes offered in the winter and spring sessions. 

PREREQUISITE: For those who took the fall and winter classes.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $54 or 6 points

• CLOSED | YDC3-TH6 | Thursday 6pm starting 3/30 (will not meet on May 4) | Co-instructors Kathy McCloskey & Donna Schmidt

Precision Heelwork 2

A continuation of the instructor's fall 2022 Precision Heelwork class. In addition to teaching dogs how to heel in precise heel position, the class will also teach some fun exercises that will enhance the ability to perform other exercises that make use of heel position. Examples are the Stand for Exam from HP and the Finish into HP. Limit 6 dogs.

PREREQUISITE: Priority will be given to students who took the instructor's prior class, and next in line will be the auditors from that first class. Beyond that, any additional students must know how to shape behaviors, and their dogs be under control with some prior obedience training. Dogs must be crated in the ring in which the class is held.

MEETINGS: 8 meetings, 60 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $72 or 8 points

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  HWK2-TH445 | Thursday 4:45pm starting 4/6  | Instructor Nancy Frakes, assistant Amy Thorna

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 8.

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

MEETINGS: 5 meetings (4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 5/1, 5/15), 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $45 or 5 points, non-members $65

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  NOV2-M7 | Monday 7pm starting 4/3 (will NOT meet on 4/24, 5/8) | Co-instructors Sue Eaton & Kelly Mueller

Intro to Open

An introduction to the Open exercises. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE:

MEETINGS: 6 meetings (4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 5/1, 5/8, 5/15), 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $54 or 6 points, non-members $78

• OPN1-M5 | Monday 5pm starting starting 4/3 (will NOT meet on 4/24) | Instructor Kathy Helmke

Advanced Open / Intro to Utility

For those who have learned all the Open exercises and want to start training for Utility. Limit 6.

PREREQUISITE: Working knowledge of all the Open exercises

MEETINGS: 6 meetings (4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 5/1, 5/8, 5/15), 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $54 or 6 points, non-members $78

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  OPN3-M6 | Monday 6pm starting 4/3 (will NOT meet on 4/24) | Instructor Kathy Helmke, assistants Sue Eaton & Kelly Mueller

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, 60 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $54 or 6 points

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  OUP-TU12 | Tuesday 12 noon starting 3/28 | Co-instructors Stephanie Podejko & Lou Scrimale

SCENTWORK

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Scentwork classes are held offsite, at American High (the old A.V. Zogg Middle School), 800 4th St., Liverpool.

*** IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT DATES *** Classes will not be held at American High for the two weeks preceding SOTC's spring scent trial, to be held at that site April 29-30. This is so the site can air out prior to the competition. If possible we will arrange another location for classes to be held on those dates (Tuesday April 18 / 25 and Thursday April 20 / 27). Otherwise those meetings will be skipped and will be made up at the end.

Introduction to Scentwork

For dogs that have no scentwork experience or need more basic experience in foundations.

What you will need

• Lots and lots of good treats
• A crate, if possible
• A harness if you have one (if not, a collar is fine to start with)
• Water and a bowl (dogs scent best when they are hydrated)

Limit 6-8.

PREREQUISITE: None! But no aggressive dogs.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $79 (or 6pts + $25), non-members $104

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  SCT1-TU630 | Tuesday 6:30pm starting 3/28  (will NOT meet on 4/11) | Instructor Becky O'Brien, assistant Allison Blakley

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  SCT1-TH6 | Thursday 6pm starting 3/30 | Instructor Nan Bonnell, assistant Danielle Knobel

Novice / Advanced Scentwork

For those who have the basics of scentwork and need more experience with different container and interior set-ups. Limit 6-8.

PREREQUISITE: Successful completion of Introduction to Scentwork or one leg earned at a Novice-level scentwork trial.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $79 (or 6pts + $25), non-members $104

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING  SCT2-TU730 | Tuesday 7:30pm starting 3/28 (will NOT meet on 4/11) | Instructor Terri Botsford, assistant  Ann Marie Letto

• SCT2-TH3 | Thursday 3pm starting 3/30 | Instructor Nat Lussier, assistant Heather Lane

Handler Discrimination

Handler Discrimination (HD) is the fifth of the AKC Scent Work divisions. Instead of using birch, anise, clove, or cypress, you use your own scent. At the Novice level you compete using a cotton sock or cotton glove that you have scented by wearing it somewhere on your body for a few hours (or days) ahead of time. The item is then placed in a container/box of the same kind used for regular Novice Containers. In this class we will start out with the sock/glove and after a few weeks start practicing for the Advanced level, which uses a cotton ball instead of the sock/glove.

PREREQUISITE: Prior SW experience is a plus, but not a requirement. No aggressive dogs.

MEETINGS: 6 weeks, 45 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $79 (or 6pts + $25), non-members $104

• SCT3-TU430 | Tuesday 4:30pm starting 3/28 (will NOT meet on 4/11) | Instructor Terri Botsford, assistant Sandy Madaio

Fun Games & Practice Hides Part 2

In this class we are going to have lots of fun by using scentwork games to target and improve both fundamental and advanced scentwork skills. In addition to the games, there will be container and interior hides set up to practice and enhance both dog and handler search skills in order to achieve the best possible outcome for the team. Limit 8.

PREREQUISITE: This class is intended for dog/handler teams who are working at the Novice to Advanced level or beyond and are capable of conducting a search for multiple hides. Preference given to those who were enrolled in the instructor’s 2023 Winter class.

MEETINGS: 6 meetings, 75 minutes

PRICE: SOTC members $79 (or 6pts + $25), non-members $104

• FULL, WAITLIST FORMING   SCT4-TH4 | Thursday 4pm starting 3/30 | Instructor Jean Rand, assistant Janine Crane