Eligibility

All dogs MUST be vaccinated and should be 20 weeks of age but at least over the age of 16 weeks. If the dog is under 20 weeks old it may be advisable to join the Puppy Class. This may be especially important if the dog has either never done any formal training or is a smaller breed of dog. Please bring your dog’s vaccination certificate.

Venue

Metropolitan Dog Obedience Club shares the facilities of the Warehouse Cricketers Clubhouse that is situated at Marchant Park, Murphy Road entrance, Chermside, Queensland. However owns it's own storage and clubhouse facility The Metro Dog House.

Class Content

Each level lasts as long as required for both the handler and dog to learn the required skills to gain promotion. Remember practice makes perfect and you need to take time at home to practice to gain promotion. When you have been told by your instructor that you have been promoted it is necessary to notify one of the volunteers at The Metro Dog House front desk. This will ensure that upon promotion a certificate of promotion will be awarded to you.

Class 1- Introduction- One week of general information and exercises to practice your handling skills and introduce you and your canine companion to class expectations and techniques. Followed by three weeks covering simple exercises to teach your canine companion how to be a better member of the family. Exercises include introduction to heeling, sending your dog to his bed, sit, stay, drop and recall. You then progress to class 1 Beginners until such time as your instructor promotes you to class 2. This is a self paced class.

Class 1- Beginners lever to polish up your skills for promotion to Class 2. Dogs should be able to heel on lead, complete an automatic sit and have a good working partnership between dog and handler.

Class 2- Polish up on Class 1 training. Introduction of drop, stand, stand for examination, stays (at sit, stand & down) and finish to recall. For promotion heeling should be very good, drop and recalls good and the stand for examination should be fair.

Class 3- Smarten up hand signals and footwork. Introduction of 3 paces, the pivot left about turn and off lead work (at the discretion of the instructor) and combining recall and the finish to recall. For promotion stays to be very sound, stand for examination and stand free to be very good and recall (complete) to be very good.

Final assessment to progress from class 3 up to 4 will be done by the Training Coordinator.

Class 4- Training for competition standards. This class is for those members wishing to compete in Obedience and Rally O Trials.