Training
We offer a range of dog training classes, from Puppy Socialising to Advanced Obedience. Classes are held on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings.
Training Classes
We accept dogs of all breeds from the age of 6 months for obedience training. Train your dog to the level you want – we have people who train with us for 2 or 3 months simply to get some basic obedience, while others stay for many years and move on to advanced levels. Our Obedience classes include a variety of disciplines, dependant on the class level, such as Socialising, Recalls, Agility, Scent Work, Tracking, Retrieve and Manwork. We also offer Puppy Socialising, Manwork and Flyball classes.
Classes are on Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings.
Obedience Levels
We have several obedience levels that cater to every level of experience. Our Obedience Training is for all breeds and includes Obedience, Socialising, Retrieve, Agility, Tracking and Protection Work. Training is an important part of any dog’s life and improves character, confidence and stability. It is vital in helping the dog to adapt to the role it has to play as part of the family.
SATURDAY MORNING CLASSES
Elementary
This is our class for dogs that have never had any obedience training. The course is 4 weeks long and specific disciplines are taught each week. This course covers sit, down, heeling with turns (left, right, about, left about, circle left, circle right), on the move recall and stay. After this course your dog is automatically promoted to the Beginners Class. As one lesson builds on the next, and as there is no makeup class, handlers should try not to miss any lessons during this class.
Beginners & Preparatory
These classes are for dogs who have completed the Elementary Class. These classes practice and expand further the commands taught in Elementary, as well as adding some new ones. Depending on the progress of you and your dog, after one or two months you will be automatically promoted to the Intermediate Class.
Intermediate
These classes continue the refinement and practice of previous commands, as well as introducing new ones. You stay in this class until you are ready to take the test to pass to the Novice Class. The test involves class moves without the use of treats and praise.
Novice
These classes start to prepare our dogs for the most advanced level of training. There is a big jump from the Intermediate Class, and this class includes off-leash work as well as some Field Work exercises. You stay in this class until you are ready to take the test for the Advanced Class.
Advanced
Our highest class level includes off-leash obedience as well Field Work exercises, Retrieve, Scent Work and some Manwork. Our Advanced Class handlers and dogs compete in our annual Dog Of The Year competition.
WEDNESDAY EVENING CLASSES
Junior
Beginner, Preparatory and Intermediate Classes are combined in this class with exercise adjusted for dogs of different levels. Saturday handlers may also use this class to catch up on classes that they may have missed, and vice versa. You can also train your dog twice a week if you wish – see our fee structure.
Senior
Novice and Advanced Classes are combined in this class with exercise adjusted for dogs of different levels. Saturday handlers may also use this class to catch up on classes that they may have missed, and vice versa. You can also train your dog twice a week if you wish – see our fee structure.
Puppy Socialisation
NOT RUN AT PRESENT
Puppy Socialisation classes can help your pup get off to a good start, with exposure to interesting situations and activities in a supportive environment. These are not obedience classes, but rather activity and play sessions with other pups, with a few obedience moves added in. Our Puppy Graduate classes are for puppies who have completed Puppy class, and continues the journey with more experiences and some more simple obedience. Puppy class is available to puppies between 10 and 16 weeks of age, provided that the puppy has had its second set of vaccinations. Proof of inoculations must be presented at the first class.
Puppy Graduate is available for puppies who have completed one month in Puppy Socialisation. Puppies may remain in Graduate class until they are 6 months old and ready to start formal obedience. In some cases the Graduate pup may skip Elementary Obedience and proceed directly to our Beginner obedience class, depending on the dogs progress. This would be discussed with you by your instructor.
Puppy classes are held on Saturdays at 11h45 and last an hour. New classes start monthly, dependant on demand.
Manwork (Protection)
Our practical and fun Protection Training classes are on Wednesday evenings at 19h00. These classes are only available to dogs in the Advanced Obedience class. A short “baby manwork” class is offered on Saturday mornings for some selected dogs as an introduction.
These classes teach guarding, warning, attacking and control behaviours, and help to build a dogs confidence in a non-pressurised environment.
Please note that not all dogs and handlers are suitable for this sort of training, and some may not be accepted for the class.
K9 TRAINING PROTECTION DEMO
Are you interested in learning more about protection training done in our Manwork Class?
Flyball
NOT RUN AT PRESENT
Flyball is an exciting team dog sport for ball crazy dogs. In flyball, the first dog in a relay team of 4 dogs runs down a course of 4 jumps, retrieves a tennis ball from a special spring-loaded box and returns over the 4 jumps to the handler with the ball. Once the dog is clear the next dog goes. Teams race against each other and the fastest clean run wins. In competition teams race against each other in a best out of 3 fashion. It is great fun for both handlers and dogs.
Our flyball class is for both fun and competition. To play flyball, a dog needs:
- To be around a year old
- To be physically fit and able to jump 30cm (no overweight dogs or dogs with joint problems)
- To be social enough to run past other dogs
- To have a good toy drive and be crazy for balls
- Have a good recall
Flyball classes are on Saturday afternoons at 16h00 and last about an hour. Flyball dogs do not need to be members of K9 Training.
What To Bring:
- Dog with collar & leash. Please make sure that collars and harnesses are correctly fitted and that the dog cannot slip out of them.
- If the dog wears a muzzle please make sure that the dog can breathe and pant adequately, basket type muzzles that allow the dog to open his mouth should be used, not the type that holds the mouth closed.
- Treats for dog – meat based treats work best, such as small slices of Vienna , ham, leftover chicken or steak, biltong etc. Something your dog will really like. Try & avoid a biscuit based treat if you can. For puppies the treats need to be very small and soft. Bring lots and lots of treats, especially for puppies!
- You can also bring a toy to play with your dog on breaks. Tug toys are good. We do not allow junior obedience levels to go off-leash so no long distance ball throwing should be done unless you can run really really fast with your dog on leash!
- We have communal water for the dogs, but you may bring your own if you wish as not all dogs like to drink out of a communal bowl.
- Hat & sunblock & a drink for yourself – training is on a field in the sun and it gets toasty in the summer, so please make sure you are adequately protected.
- Please wear comfortable walking shoes and clothes that allow you to sit on the ground if necessary.
Elementary
- Treats
- Collar and leash
- Toy optional, for breaks
Beginner, Preparatory and Intermediate
- Treats
- Collar and leash
- Toy
Novice
- Treats
- Collar and leash
- Toy
- Retrieve article – dumbbell
Advanced
- Treats
- Collar and leash
- Toy
- Retrieve article – dumbbell
- Squaring articles – peg, matchbox, square of cloth, small section of hosepipe
- Manwork harness
- Tracking lead
- Tracking harness
Manwork
- Leash
- Wide flat buckle collar or manwork harness
Flyball
- Leash
- Harness – Standard H or sports type. Step in harnesses are not suitable.
- Tug toy
- Treats