"I've been through Beginning and Polishing Obedience training.  My dog and I are enjoying ourselves.  What's next??"

Well, there is another level of obedience training offered by the Great Falls Dog Training Club.  Open Obedience is the natural progression level for you and your dog to work together.  In Open you will work on reliable off leash heeling with figure 8's.  You will progress from the basic recall exercise to dropping (downing) your dog during the recall exercise. Retrieval of a dumbbell begins with teaching your dog to take the dumbbell, hold it in their mouth and then release it upon command.  Meanwhile, you will teach your dog to jump over a broad jump as well as a high jump upon command.  Dogs will practice 3 minute long sits and 5 minute long downs with the handler progressing out of sight.

The goal of this class is to instruct students on meeting the AKC Open Class requirements which are: Heel Free and Figure 8; Drop on Recall; Retrieve on Flat; Retrieve over High Jump; Broad Jump; Long Sit; Long Down. However, any and all dogs and their owners will benefit from this training whether you compete in trials or not. 

The Level III - Advanced "Open" Class is generally offered once a year and is taught by Instructors with numerous advanced training titles.  As with our other training classes, you must pre-register and your dog must have proof of all current vaccinations including bordatella.  Pre-requisites for this class are  completion of Level I - Beginning Obedience and Level II - Polishing Obedience.  You will attend a one hour class once a week for 8 weeks.  Practice with your dog on a daily basis is essential.

To find out more information on this training opportunity and when the next class will be presented contact Marie Gamradt, Training Director.