Training Classes
The kennel club offers multiple classes including super puppy class, basic obedience, novice and advanced rally obedience, and beginning and advanced agility. Other classes, such as advanced obedience and conformation, are offered periodically. One-on-one sessions are also offered on a case-by-case basis. MKKC courses are taught by club members with experience training dogs of various sizes and breeds.
S.T.A.R. / Super Puppy Class
Our S.T.A.R. / Super Puppy class is a seven-week class for puppies 8 weeks to under 6 months. The focus of the class is working on socialization and confidence building. It is a part of the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program which works toward four objectives: Socialization, Training, Activity, and Responsibility. After accomplishing the 20 behaviors assessed on the S.T.A.R. Puppy Test, the puppy and its owner are well on their way to successful canine good citizenship.
Current instructors are Erick Arthington, Kay Cassella and Susan Keller.
Basic Obedience
Our basic obedience class is a seven-week long class for dogs over 5 months of age and older. This class teaches training techniques needed in order to have a well-behaved, well-mannered dog. Dogs learn to walk appropriately on a leash, sit, down, stay, come when called, politely meet new people and dogs, and much more. Included with our basic obedience class is an opportunity for your dog to become a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) by passing the CGC test at the end of the course.
Current instructors are Susan Keller, Diana Farmer, Erick Arthington, Salene Carlson, Sidney Carlson, and Ren Meyer.
Beginning Agility
Beginning Agility is an eight-week class for dogs at least six months of age with some obedience training. This class teaches the familiarization of obstacles used in AKC and UKC agility. By becoming familiar with and accomplishing the obstacles in the agility course, your dog builds confidence and focuses its energy as well as builds strong bonds with its owner.
Current instructors are Susan Keller and Dale Bormann.
Intermediate Agility
This is an eight-week class designed for dogs that have completed the Beginning Agility class and have been introduced to all agility obstacles. This class introduces simple sequencing and serves as a great stepping-stone toward the Advanced Agility class.
Current instructors are Susan Keller and Dale Bormann.
Advanced Agility
Advanced Agility is an eight-week class for dogs with training in beginning agility. This class builds on the confidence and knowledge obtained through basic agility while adding handling skills and working with obstacle sequences. As you and your dog become skilled on the agility course, you can explore competitive agility through local dog shows and events.
Current instructor is Susan Keller.
Novice and Advanced Rally Obedience
Rally Obedience, or Rally-O as the dog sport is often called, is a relatively new competitive sport similar to Traditional Dog Obedience in basic skills, but differs in the format or the way in which required skills are performed.
The Novice Rally class is an eight-week class that introduces all the Novice level signs used in the design of a Rally course. Rally is a fun way of teaching your dog basic obedience exercises such as sitting, standing, lying down, heeling, and many other exercises to develop attention and response. This class teaches the skills needed to negotiate the rally course and perform each station correctly. Each class participant will work with his/her dog through a Rally course composed of 10 to 15 sequentially numbered Rally signs. Each Rally sign has a brief description of the exercise the dog and handler need to perform.
The Advanced Rally class is an eight-week competition class and builds on skills learned in the Novice class plus includes advanced to master-level stations and prepares the class participant for competing at Rally trials.
Rally Obedience was created by Charles L. (Bud) Kramer. The America Kennel Club (AKC) and United Kennel Club (UKC) have adopted Rally as part of their performance events. For his work, AKC awarded Bud a posthumous lifetime Achievement Award for his development of Rally and Agility.
Current instructors are Susan Keller and Erick Arthington.
Therapy Dog Training and Certification
Therapy dogs provide a certain level of support and comfort whether visits are to nursing homes, hospitals, local libraries, or schools. This class is a seven-week class to help provide steps in preparing your dog to become a therapy dog including training, what to expect on visits, and preparation and testing through ATD (Alliance of Therapy Dogs) for therapy dog certification.
Current instructors are Amber Boatwright, Lori O'Brien and Susan Keller.
Trick Dog
Have you heard of the AKC Trick Dog program? Far from being silly and inconsequential, tricks can be the building blocks for more advanced work. A good trick training foundation helps you form a strong and mutually enjoyable working relationship with your dog. Tricks are a great way to build your dog’s enthusiasm, engage their mind, and have fun at the same time!
In this class, we will use the AKC Novice and Intermediate trick lists as a guide, with the opportunity to test your dog at the end for an AKC title. Some of the tricks we will focus on have an application for competition and showing but they help create a better all-around pet too. In addition to teaching these tricks, we will talk about how they can help improve your dog's focus and lower their stress level. If your dog already knows a basic trick behavior on the list, we will add more challenges by working on distraction and stimulus control. There are also an infinite number of variations to each trick.
Current instructor is Amber Boatwright
