Our Classes
Every dog-handler team benefits from learning together!
Puppy, Beginner Obedience, and Rally Obedience classes will resume in the fall
Our instructors have scattered to the four winds to train their dogs, raise puppies, & plan the September obedience trial. Please check back in September.
Intermediate/Advanced Obedience
Next Drop-in Class:
Monday, March 27 at 7 pm.
Members only, $5 per dog, one dog per handler.
Our Classes - General Information
The SKOC offers classes in the disciplines of Conformation, Obedience, and Rally Obedience for puppies and adult dogs and their handlers. Classes are offered based on instructor availability, usually September through December and January through March. We look forward to seeing you at our classes!
We train to the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) standard for each discipline. Inquiries can be directed to the SKOC Training Chair, Lavella.
Our classes are active and interactive; please dress casually and be prepared to move around.
If you are a working member, training a service dog, if you are a certified SJA therapy dog team, or if you are a junior handler participating in CKC conformation events, you are eligible for a registration fee discount. Please reach out and we will provide you with a promo code to use in our online store.
Note: The SKOC is not an appropriate environment for aggressive dogs. Handlers of aggressive dogs will be referred to trainers who specialize in management of aggression, sometimes called reactivity. Feel free to reach out to us and we will be happy to connect you. See also the SKOC's Refund and Disruptive Dog Policy.
Conformation
Instructors will provide information to help with gaiting your dog, ring procedures and patterns, and setting your dog in a proper pose for examination by a judge.
Junior handlers actively competing in Junior Handling competitions are welcome to attend for free.
“Overall appearance and structure determined by the physical development of an animal’s individual parts as well as the combined relationship and outlines of such.”
-Harold R. Spira, Canine Terminology
See also: What is a Dog Show?
Puppy Foundation
Puppy foundation classes are open to puppies 12 weeks to under six months of age at the start of the class. This class is an introduction to basic training for the new puppy and owner. Our priority is for you to develop a positive, trusting relationship with your puppy using praise, food rewards and play to teach your puppy and to build his/her confidence. We teach foundation exercises such as handler attention, sit, down, leash walking, etc. in a group setting, and you will learn how to communicate with your puppy in a way that he/she will understand. The exercises we teach are a great introduction to basic obedience for home and/or performance venues.
A minimum of two sets of vaccinations are required for puppies to participate.
There are SEVEN classes in a set of puppy classes.
There are a maximum 8 dog-handler teams per class, with 2 to 3 instructors.
Beginner Obedience
Beginner Obedience is designed for dogs ages six months and older, with no upper age limit. This is a class for dogs with limited obedience skills, and for all beginner handlers. There is no pre-requisite for Beginner Obedience, but many Puppy graduates enjoy the sequential learning offered in Beginner Obedience.
Exercises include heeling on leash, sit for examination, recall (coming when called), and sit and down stays. These are the exercises required for CKC Pre-Novice level and are the basics for a well-mannered dog.
All training is done on-leash. We require that participants use a collar and 6 foot leash. Harnesses, haltis, and retractable leashes are not allowed.
There are EIGHT classes in the Beginner Obedience course.
There are a maximum 8 dog-handler teams per class, with 2 to 3 instructors.
Rally Obedience
CKC Rally Obedience is a companion sport to CKC Obedience. Both events require teamwork between dog and handler, along with similar performance skills. The chief objective of Rally is to provide a fast-moving and motivational activity that demonstrates the competency of handler and dog in performing basic obedience exercises without requiring exact precision for success.
Dogs in Rally Obedience events should demonstrate willingness and enjoyment. To that end, handlers may use praise, encouragement, and petting throughout a rally course.
Rally Obedience is excellent for building the dog-handler team and offers progressively challenging training and competition.
SKOC Beginner Obedience is the prerequisite for Novice Rally Obedience.
Novice Rally-O - students will be introduced to the 42 Novice level CKC Rally Obedience signs (exercises) and practice navigating courses containing these signs. Skills learned and reinforced at this are heeling, sit, down, stay, call front and leash management.
Intermediate, Advanced and Excellent Rally-O - students will be introduced to the to the Intermediate, Advanced and Excellent level CKC Rally Obedience signs and practice navigating courses containing these signs. Additional skills at these levels are stand, pivot, working around distractions, jumps, back up and working off leash.
Master Rally-O - students will practice courses containing Master level CKC Rally Obedience signs.
Note that participation in the Masters Rally-O course is limited to working members of the SKOC.
There are EIGHT classes in the Beginner Rally Obedience course, and the same number in the Intermediate/Advanced/Excellent course, and in the Masters course.
There are a maximum 8 dog-handler teams per class, with one instructor.
Intermediate and Advanced Obedience
Intermediate and Advanced Obedience follows beginner obedience for dog-handler teams that wish to develop or refine their skills and training, perhaps towards competition, or for the joy of working together.
Intermediate and Advanced Obedience is offered to graduates of Beginner Obedience that are members of the SKOC on a drop-in basis. The cost is $5/session. Pay in person when you come.
The exercises taught are those required for Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced levels of Obedience training as set forth by the CKC. Exercises include heeling on leash, figure 8, stand for examination, heel free, recall, jumps, scent articles, long sit and long down.
Additional Important Information
Class Participants:
At this time we are accepting a maximum of eight (8) participants into each class. This ensures personal attention to each dog-handler team, and provides adequate space in our facility for social distancing. A short waiting list may be kept for particular classes, at the discretion of the instructor, in case a space becomes available due to cancellation. The SKOC does not offer a waiting list for future classes, as different classes are sometimes offered only annually. Registration including payment will secure a place in a class.
For best learning progress, we recommend that each dog train with a single handler.
All dogs must be up to date on vaccinations.
Register for Upcoming Classes HERE.
Our Instructors:
Our volunteer instructors and assistants are experienced and knowledgeable trainers. We tailor learning modalities based on the needs of the dog-handler team. Strict criteria must be met to become a trainer for SKOC, including demonstrated skill in training their own dog(s) (titled at CKC obedience, rally obedience, and/or conformation events), and adherence to the SKOC training curriculum.
SKOC's Refund and Disruptive Dog Policy:
This policy is applicable to all classes offered by the Saskatoon Kennel and Obedience Club.
At present class fees are based upon $20.00/class, plus applicable taxes.
If, after the first class, you choose to withdraw from the remaining classes and notify the instructor within 48 hours of the end of the first class, all fees will be refunded in full. If, after this point, even if you have missed the first class, and you choose to withdraw from the remaining classes, there is no refund of fees. Discretion will be applied in case of emergencies or extenuating circumstances.
Instructors reserve the right to excuse a dog-handler team based on the mental and physical health, welfare, and safety of your dog and all the other dogs in the class. If you are excused by the instructor during the first class, all fees paid will be returned in full. If the instructor offers specific guidance to manage a disruptive dog in the first or any subsequent classes and you do not follow the guidance, the instructor may elect to excuse you from the class and no refund will be offered. In this context, SKOC defines disruptive as unmanaged aggression. The reason for this is that the SKOC environment is not the correct environment for this dog at this point.
