| APDT C.L.A.S.S |
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C.L.A.S.S. has some similarities to the AKC Good Citizen Test or therapy dog testing, but in many ways it is also very different. It is a three-level evaluation in which dog guardians can demonstrate the real-life skills of their dogs, as well as demonstrate their own understanding of basic dog handling, training and care. There are three levels to C.L.A.S.S. (B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.), each requiring a higher level of training The APDT developed C.L.A.S.S. with several end goals in mind. One of the major themes in the Canine Life and Social Skills program is to promote positive, ongoing training resulting in a stronger owner/dog bonds. Rather than focus on skills that are not often required in day to day life, C.L.A.S.S. emphasizes the need to train real-life practical skills and polite behaviors such as waiting until cued to exit a vehicle or building, calmly settling when asked to do so and walking nicely on a leash. Education of not just the dog, but also the human, is at the forefront of this program as it requires clients to become educated about canine behavior thus helping them to make appropriate choices for their canine companions when in social situations. As more and more student teams complete C.L.A.S.S., it is hoped that there will be more opportunities for well-behaved pets in society in general. We here at Green Acres are very excited about this program and look forward to its continuing addition to our training curriculum. Green Acres’ Operations and Training Manager Kate Dutra is an APDT C.L.A.S.S. Instructor and Evaluator. You can learn more about the APDT C.L.A.S.S. BA evaluation in the following podcasts from the January 11, 2014 and January 18th editions of The Woof Meow Show Train Your Dog Month - APDT C.L.A.S.S. and Getting You and Your Dog Ready for Their BA – part 1." – We discuss the benefits of training a dog to the standard set by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) BA Evaluation. In part 1 of this three part series we discuss why we like C.L.A.S.S. so much and how we have adopted it as the foundation for our entire training program. We discuss what an evaluator will look for at each step of the evaluation and why the skills being evaluated are important for every dog and handler. Lastly we provide some quick tips for training those behaviors. In this show we address; waiting at the door, warm-up time, and come and leashing up manners. <click here to listen> Train Your Dog Month - APDT C.L.A.S.S. and Getting You and Your Dog Ready for Their BA – part 2 – Kate and Don discuss the benefits and importance of training your dog to the standard set by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) BA Evaluation. In part 2 of this three part series we address the following elements of the BA evaluation; come and leashing up manners, loose leash walking and attention, meet and greet, and bonus tricks. We discuss what an evaluator will look for at each step of the evaluation and why the skills being evaluated are important for every dog and handler. Lastly we provide some quick tips for training those behaviors. <click here to listen> Train Your Dog Month - APDT C.L.A.S.S. and Getting You and Your Dog Ready for Their BA – part 3 – Kate and Don discuss the benefits and importance of training your dog to the standard set by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) BA Evaluation. In part 3 of this three part series we address the following elements of the BA evaluation; leave it, wait for the food bowl, stay, settle, and give and take. We discuss what an evaluator will look for at each step of the evaluation and why the skills being evaluated are important for every dog and handler. Lastly we provide some quick tips for training those behaviors. <click here to listen> You can also learn more at the APDT's C.L.A.S.S. website: http://www.mydoghasclass.com. |
Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) is a new program developed by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) based on input from both dog owners and non-dog owners, shelter workers, and professional dog trainers. C.L.A.S.S. has been designed in an effort to benefit not just pet owners and dogs, but the community as a whole!