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Canine U manners classes - designed to be effective, efficient and fun!
What class should my dog attend?
For small and medium breed puppies (or dogs likely to be 40 or less as adults) between the ages of 8 weeks and 4 months, our 4-week Complete Puppy class is perfect. Large-breed puppies (those likely to be 40 lbs or more as adults) need to be 8 to 14 weeks at the time of the first class, so they aren't too large for or play too roughly with the smaller-sized puppies.
For dogs 4 months and older who need work on basic manners and behavior, our 6-week Better Dog 1 class is the place to be. We cover all of the basics, like sit, stay, come, leave it, walk nicely on leash, as well as other important behaviors. No dog is too old to start learning!
For dogs that have completed Better Dog 1, we offer Better Dog 2 and 3 classes. These six-session classes are perfect for improving your basic skills and working towards having a well mannered dog even in real life and distracting situations. These intermediate and advance classes need to be taken in sequence and Better Dog 1 is a prerequisite unless you obtain instructor approval.
Why should I enroll my dog in Canine U?
We believe that every dog can be a better dog and our Canine U program is designed to do just that. Our classes focus on teaching families how to raise a happy, healthy and well-mannered companion. We cover basics such as loose leash walking, sit and stay as well as behavior problems like jumping and not coming when called.
How old should my dog be to start classes?
Puppies can come to class as early as 8 weeks old. We believe that no dog is too old to learn so our Better Dog 1, Better Dog 2 and Better Dog 3 are open to any dog over the age of 4 months.
Can my entire family attend?
Yes! We actually encourage you to bring other family members as this is the family pet and the whole family should learn how to train. The key to effective training is consistency so it’s good for everyone in the household to come to class if possible. It’s a great learning experience for all! All children under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Chilren 6 and under need permission from the instuctor to attend. For the safety of both the children and dogs, children attending classes must remain seated with the parent or legal guardian at all times. Yelling, playing and running are not allowed in or outside of class, since this can be distracting and dangerous. It is advisable and in some instances required to have one adult to watch the dog during class and one adult to watch the child. If children are unable to comply, for the benefit of the group as a whole, they will be asked not to attend future sessions.
Do I need any special collars or training materials for class? How do you train?
Our instructors rely on dog-friendly training methods so choke chains, pinch collars and the like are not permitted in class. We suggest that you come to class with a standard buckle collar for your dog and a 6’ lead. The instructor may recommend a Gentle Leader® Headcollar or a Gentle Leader Easy Walk Harness®. Please click here for more information about the Gentle Leader® Headcollar and click here for more information about the Gentle Leader Easy Walk Harness®. Also, be sure to bring along tasty treats for your dog. We recommend that you bring treats that your dog gets extremely excited for and break them into small, pea-sized pieces. Soft, smelly treats work better than hard, crunchy biscuits.
What is Bordetella?
The Minnesota Valley Humane Society’s Canine U Dog Training program requires that all of our students be up to date on all vaccinations, including Bordetella. Please check your dog’s vaccination records to make sure he or she has been vaccinated for Bordetella. All dogs adopted from MVHS have been vaccinated for this disease.
Bordetella, which is commonly referred to as “kennel cough” is a contagious, airborne disease. Like the common cold, it is a bacterial infection that can be passed by droplets in the air from one dog to another. Most boarding and training facilities require it because of this easy transmission. Because it is not a life threatening disease, it is generally an optional vaccine and may not be given with the general set of shots your dog or puppy gets as a series from your veterinarian. If your dog or puppy has not received a Bordetella vaccination, please get one from your veterinarian before the next class. If you request the intra-nasal form of the vaccine, your dog should have protection within two days. As with any vaccine, there is no guarantee that your dog is one hundred percent protected, but even if he or she is exposed and gets sick, it is usually to a lesser degree. We want your dog to have fun in class and go home happy, not sick!
How many dogs are in the class?
Complete Puppy class typically range from 5 to 10. Better Dog 1, 2 and 3 classes limit attendance to 8 dogs each. Classes are small so that you and your pet receive individual attention.
Are your instructors qualified?
Our Canine U instructors are members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and are officially recognized by the American Kennel Club as Canine Good Citizen Evaluators. Inga From is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (www.ccpdt.org) and has been training group classes professionally for several years. Kate is also a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (www.ccpdt.org) and has competed with her dogs, in formal obedience and agility, attaining titles on her dogs including CD (Companion Dog), CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) and CGC (Canine Good Citizen). Amanda Thorstad is currently a student at St. Olaf College studying psychology and behavior and Ted Ziaja is our newest addition, with experience as a graduate of the Triple Crown Training School in Texas, and is just getting settled in at MVHS.
All of our instructors value learning and growth and are passionate about remaining educated on new and changing professional standards. Our philosophy in the Canine U is to find the most effective and efficient training methods which are the least invasive and minimally aversive (or LIMA) - making sure our classes are fun for you and your dog.
Why do dogs not come to the first night of class for Better Dog 1?
This class has been specifically designed so that the first night of class is a discussion time only. You’ll hear from the instructor what to expect during class as well as hear from the other parents about the issues or concerns they have with their pet. You'll also get your first week’s homework assignments and be able to get acquainted with the instructor and class setting without the distraction of your dog - that way you'll have the best chance of setting yourself and your dog up for success.
Can my dog repeat a class?
Of course! If you and your dog are not quite ready to move to the next level, you can repeat any class as many times as you’d like for half price. Contact Kate at 952-894-5000 x30 or KateA@MVHSpets.org if you’d like to repeat a class. Or just sign up on-line and make a note that you are repeating a class and we'll apply the discount.
Once I sign-up for a class, can I cancel or reschedule?
If you need to cancel, please notify MVHS at least 1 week(5 business days) prior to the start of the first class. This will allow us time to find a replacement and provide you will a full refund or transfer you at no cost. If you have a schedule conflict before the first class begins and need to reschedule, contact Kate at 952-894-5000 x30 or KateA@MVHSpets.org to find the next available class.
If you need to reschedule your class once it as already started, there is a $25 transfer fee.
What if I miss a night of class?
We understand that emergencies arise and you may need to miss a night of class. If possible, please call MVHS before the class begins so that we know not to expect you. We will send that night’s homework to you in the mail. Because we limit class size there is no way to have to make up a missed session - we will do our best to catch you up in the following week's class.
How do the enrollment fees benefit MVHS?
Canine U is one of the many programs offered at the Minnesota Valley Humane Society and was originally established to support the MVHS pre-adoption spay/neuter program. All proceeds from Canine U benefit the Minnesota Valley Humane Society and our spay/neuter program and we strive to keep our class fees as low as possible to make training affordable to the entire community. For this reason we do suggest all our students consider making an additional donation at the time of their graduation in honor of their dog and help insure our training programs continue to thrive.
Do you have a question we didn't answer here? E-mail KateA@MVHSpets.org or call 952-894-5000, x30.
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