Dogwood Training Center

Dogwood's obedience training protocols condition the behaviors we want to see repeated and interrupt-and-replace behaviors we want to extinguish. Conditioning is the simple process of creating a belief in the dog that certain behaviors will always initiate the corresponding reward. Examples include ringing a bell to get the door opened, or sitting to get attention and petting, etc. 

Our agility training methods are emulated throughout the English speaking world. We focus on creating a positive atmosphere that allows the dog to learn and work with the utmost confidence. We focus to a great extent on teaching the handler his job in training and directing the dog. 

Rather than correction-based training, which often just suppresses behaviors in specific situations, we rely on the clever dog's desire for reward and the canine willingness to repeat behaviors they find rewarding. With this philosophy always driving our training methods, we teach using purely positive methods and arrive at our training goals without ever resorting to force and violence. The result is a happy and hard-working dog.

Gas Savers Classes

The very high price of gasoline has put and extraordinary economic pressure on many of our dog training students (and probably everybody else's too!) We have resolved to do something that should make a difference.  Effective immediately we are launching a schedule of classes to be offered once every month, on a Sunday; and will run four hours. 

Novice Agility

8:00 am to Noon - $90 (call for scheduled dates!)
(second dog, in a different gas savers class, $80)

The Novice Gas Savers class consists of two four-hour training segments intended to provide a transition between the beginners program and the competition program. Obstacles are gradually raised to competition heights and handlers are introduced to basic handling concepts.

Advanced/ Masters Agility

8:00 am to Noon - $90 (call for scheduled dates!)
(second dog, in a different gas savers class, $80)

The Advanced/Masters Gas Savers class consists of two four-hour training segments  intended to build a comprehensive repertoire of movements and options for the handler, and to train and proof the dog in a vast array of sequencing challenges. 

Rally Obedience [discontinued until late Fall 2006]

1:00 pm to 5:00 pm - $90 (call for scheduled dates!)
(second dog, in a different gas savers class, $80)

Rally Obedience is an AKC and APDT titling event with a skill level designed to fall between that of the Canine Good Citizen certificate and a novice obedience title. For years, obedience competitors have used “doodles” to warm up their dogs. These doodles included heeling in straight lines and circles, assisting the dog into fronts and then having them finish right or finish left, or encouraging quick sits.

Rally Obedience illustrates these random doodles on signs and students learn how to correctly perform the doodle, as well as how to string doodles together in sequence. Our training exercises use positive reinforcement to create and reward the behavior. No harsh corrections are permitted, regardless of how you and your dog have trained in the past. Our classes are designed to be enjoyable for handlers and dogs. Our dogs love obedience training!

Prerequisite for this class is “Novice Competition Obedience” (above) or proof of equivalent training.