Class Descriptions

At the AHS Training School your dog will learn the following skills at each Level.

Puppy Kindergarten and Level 1 Move Up Skills (Foundation Skills)

• Owner can recognize and fix a tight leash (hallway counts, too!)
• Stationary attention for 5 seconds with low distractions
• Puppy/dog sits for greeting (dog’s rear stays on floor, pup/dog does not creep or come forward)
• Puppy/dog takes treats with a soft mouth
• Owner can easily handle puppy’s/dog’s ears and paws
• Stranger can take the puppy’s/dog’s leash and get their attention to have them sit

Level 2 Move Up Skills (Skill Building)

• Stationary attention for 10 seconds, moderate distractions
• Sit: verbal and signal, 1 cue
  Sit from a down
• Down: no lure, owner upright, signal, 1 cue
• Come: across room with low distraction
• Loose Leash Walking (LLW): intro baby steps, 10 steps, no lure
• Sit for greeting: greeter can pet dog on their head
• Stranger can handle dog’s ears and paws
• Trick: shake, wave or high-5

Level 3 Move Up Skills (Reliability.  Level 3 grads can go to Tricks/Games class!)

• Sit for greeting: greeter can shake owner’s hand, dog remains sitting.  Greeter can pet dog, dog may stand once greeter has touched the dog, no jumping up allowed.
• Moving attention, 10 feet, no lure, focus on owner with moderate distractions
• Sit: distance sits (owner 10’ away)
  Sit from a down (owner 10’ away)
• Down: verbal only, 1 cue. Distance downs (owner 10’ away).
• Come: can add "wait" if "stay" is solid
• LLW: direction changes, including emergency U-turn. Automatic sits
• Sit/Stay and Down/Stay: Owner 20’ away with moderate distractions
• Trick

Level 4 Move Up Skills (Canine Good Citizen Level)

• Pass Canine Good Citizen test

Level 5 Move Up Skills (Novice Obedience Level)

• Sit/Stay: 1 minute, owner in sight across room
• Down/Stay: 3 minutes, owner in sight across room
• Come: Across the room + "wait", with high distractions

Therapy Dog

• Does your dog enjoy people?
• Would you like to make a difference in your community?
• If you answered yes to both of these questions then volunteering as a therapy dog team might be just for you!
• After your dog passes the CGC (Canine Good Citizen Test) you are eligible to enroll in the Therapy Dog Class.