Make Sit Happen - Dog Training Services

ü Unlike classes found in pet stores, Make Sit Happen classes are held indoors in a 4,000 sq. foot private, doggy daycare facility with rubberized flooring, so there are no distractions, and the facility is geared towards dogs and their comfort!

ü Family members are encouraged to attend classes on a space available basis. Dogs need consistent training from the entire family!

ü Dogs are required to be current on vaccinations/inoculations (age-appropriate).

ü Children aged 12 and up may be permitted to participate if they demonstrate an ability to maintain consistent control of the dog. This option is subject to the instructor’s approval and permission may be revoked.

ü Every child under 7 years old must be accompanied by an additional adult and supervised at all times.

PUPPY SOCIALIZATION SESSIONS:
Puppies up to and including the age of 18 weeks may attend Puppy Socialization Sessions! We require all attending puppies have completed at least the first two sets of DHPP vaccinations and be up to date on de-worming. (Proof required before being admitted to session.) The main activity of each session is a supervised playgroup in which owners and their puppies get to interact with the instructor and each other. While the pups are playing and learning, owners are encouraged to ask questions and initiate discussions about topics that are of interest to them! Supervised socialization sessions give your puppy a head start in life, before or in conjunction with obedience class! Discussions include ‘life with your new puppy, potty training, crating, handling, grooming, basic nutrition, biting, mouthing, chewing and more! Sessions are held at the Belle Mead Animal Hospital after hours. Cost is $10.00 at the door each session you and your pup attend! Please call ahead before attending your first session.

SUNDAY SOCIALS!
“Sunday Socials” are 30 minute, owner participation social sessions providing exercise, socialization and confidence building! These sessions are NOT for dogs with aggression issues, and are offered to dogs needing to get some off-leash exercise and confidence building with their humans! We offer two separate sessions – one for adolescents, the other for shy, nervous and non-reactive dogs. These sessions give you and your dog exercise, and help to build the social skills and confidence!

Social sessions are held indoors in the 4,000 sq. foot, ‘Ruff House/Play Room’ at Dog Days Daycare on Roycefield Road in Hillsborough.

How it works-

Ø	Appropriate reservation is determined:

10:15 am to 10:45 am – adolescent dogs 5 months & up

11:00 am to 11:30 am - small, shy & nervous dogs

You must show proof of vaccinations, sign waiver, pay $20 per session fee.

Ø	You enter the building with your dog on leash into ‘social area’.

Ø	Dogs & people walk, with dogs taken off leash, when instructed.

EVERYONE MUST KEEP MOVING in the same direction the entire session. No stopping – stopping causes problems!! However, you can chat as you move! A continuous, circular motion keeps dogs from focusing on each other for too long, reducing stress, and creates a calming, relaxing motion that dogs understand. Both you and your dog will be burning calories, meeting new dogs & people, and having a good time!

Ø	There is no food, toys or treats allowed during sessions.

Ø	You can interact with the dogs if the dog initiates it, but you must keep moving!

Ø	Two people per dog maximum.
Ø	Sorry – no children under 16 years of age.

The importance of socialization remains after the puppy socialization classes have ended.

“The issue goes deeper than simply learning how to behave around other dogs. Regular socialization gives dogs the opportunity to exist in their most natural state: in the company of other dogs. This is incredibly therapeutic for dogs, lowering their overall stress level as well as lowering stress specifically related to other dogs. In addition it has been proven effective (in conjunction with obedience training) for reducing or eliminating certain types of aggression.” (Chad Mackin - A+ Dog Obedience)

BASIC MANNERS 1:
Our beginners group class is offered to puppies and dogs’ current on age-appropriate vaccinations (registration and proof of vaccinations required before attendance in the first session). Basic Manners 1 is for dogs who have not had any training or who have had minimal training. This 7 week program meets once a week, focusing on beginning basic obedience skills, such as ‘watch’, ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘stay’, ‘walking nicely on leash’, ‘automatic sit’, ‘come’! Q & A offered each week to help prevent and correct unwanted behaviors such as jumping, mouthing, potty training, destructive chewing, barking. We also discuss grooming, nutrition, exercise and more.

BASIC MANNERS 2:
(Pre-requisite Basic Manners 1 or equivalent.) Now that your dog has some manners, we add distance and distractions to raise the bar on what we learned in Basic Manners 1. A continuation of Basic Manners with more responsibility on the dog rather than you, we aim to build even greater focus, impulse control and reliability. This course ‘bumps it up a level’! You’ll be glad you did!

CGC – CANINE GOOD CITIZEN CLASS:
This class focuses on obtaining the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen certification and is recommended for anyone who would like to be recognized for their skills with their obedient dog! Your dog does NOT have to be a pure breed – just a ‘Canine Good Citizen’. The CGC test date** will be determined, and the test administered, shortly after completion of the class. Criteria for passing the 10-step AKC test include:

1. Accepting a friendly stranger.

2. Sitting politely for petting.

3. Appearance and grooming.

4. Walking nicely on lead.

5. Walking through a crowd.

6. Sit and down on command/staying in place.

7. Coming when called.

8. (Controlled) reaction to another dog.

9. (Controlled) reaction to distractions.

10. Supervised separation.

(Read more on the AKC website at: http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm )

THERAPY DOG CLASSES
Given in conjunction with the CGC class, this instruction prepares you and your dog to become a Certified Therapy Dog Team (read more about the test, certification and therapy dogs at: www.golden-dogs.org). Your dog will become familiar with walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, loud noises and other distractions! Testing administered shortly after completion of the class to allow time for success in becoming a Certified Therapy Dog Team!

PRIVATE CLASSES
Group classes are not for everyone, so private instruction may be the solution you need. This option offers you the opportunity to work individually with the trainer in your own home and is scheduled around your availability and your dog's specific behavior modification needs. There are no minimum number of sessions required, and a program can be structured to include a quick ‘brush-up’ on basic obedience, new puppy structure and implementation, a complete training program for a new dog, or if you want to work on specific behavior issues and solutions including:

- Jumping up

- Pulling on Leash

- Potty Training

- ‘Door Dashing’

- Barking

- Chewing

- Mouthing

- Shyness

- Control Issues

- 'Rowdy' Behaviors

- 'Alpha Attitudes'!

……..or any other behaviors you want to eliminate ***, change or add! Give us a call to schedule a session around YOUR schedule!

DAY TRAINING PROGRAMS

Don't have time to train your dog on a daily basis? Our dog trainer can do it for you! Customized plans for you and your dog save time, money and frustration. We work with your dog the way we approach training our own dogs, with clear communication, repetition, real life scenarios, and methods that work.

Day Training is a program designed for busy owners. We train your dog for you, in your home, in your neighborhood, out and about, while the dog is at Day Care, while you are at work (you can also stay and observe). You are given a weekly lesson on your dogs progress at the end of the week, so you can maintain and practice what your dog has been taught. Your dog benefits by learning from a skilled and experienced dog trainer. You get the results!

Day Training programs include email support and a follow-up visit within 2 months at the completion of your program. Each plan is different, designed to fit your unique situation. These programs can be for training home manners such as polite greetings, waiting at doorways, walking nicely on leash, 'come', or for a totally trained dog from 'A to Z' with all of the above and more.

After an initial interview, we design a plan for your dog. The trainer will come to your home at least 3x to 5x's a week to work your dog, and then meet with you at the end of the week to transfer the skills taught. Depending on the plan, training could take one week or up to 10.

Have a well behaved dog - you know you want it! Prices vary dependent on Program selected.

FUN WITH RALLY-O (OBEDIENCE)

This FUN, 5 week, non-competitive class teaches the fundamentals of this new dog sport, Rally Obedience! Your dog does not need to be perfect, but must not be reactive or aggressive, and must already know some commands such as sit', 'down', 'stay' and be able to walk with you on a leash. The rest will be taught in class!

Rally-O is like a combination of agility and obedience. There is a numbered course in the ring that the handler/dog team must complete. The emphasis is more relaxed than classic obedience, focused instead on attitude, enthusiasm and teamwork. Novice is done on leash, but there are also advanced and excellent levels that we can do off leash as you progress!

You are allowed to talk to your dog and praise them as you go, and you are allowed to repeat commands. COME HAVE FUN WITH YOUR DOG!! Spaces limited! First come, first served!

FUN WITH AGILITY!
Come have some fun and get some exercise with your dog! Non-competitive group classes that gives you a taste of what the sport of agility is about! Safely learn all of the agility obstacles on ‘mini’ equipment while building confidence and improving obedience and relationship skills! Work with your dog as a team!! Run thru’s on ‘mini’ agility equipment! See our ‘Events’ calendar for the next scheduled session! Registration and some previous basic obedience skills required!

Children and Dog Safety, Therapy Dog Visits, Seminars
Do you have, or belong to a group who would benefit from a ‘seminar’ about dog behavior?? Want to teach a class of children how to be safe around dogs? Need to have a visit from a Therapy Dog? We offer:

Children and Dog Safety & Dog Bite Prevention program for children – Teaching safety around dogs; what our dogs body language is telling us; how to approach unfamiliar dogs; how to avoid a dog bite. Presented to groups of children, including Scout Troops, teachers classrooms or assembly sessions, day camps, etc., we present this program to the group of your choice! Adults are often surprised at what THEY learn from the session. No live dogs are used in the program. Interactive sessions with pictures and audience participation!
Therapy Dog Visits – Certified Therapy Dog(s) thru Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs are available to make visits to Assisted Living homes, nursing homes, hospitals, Read to a Therapy Dog or to visit your loved one in your own environment. Call 908-359-9228 or e-mail for more information and details!
Adopting a dog, Dog Behavior, Canine Body Language, or related topics - We can build a program or seminar based on your needs. Whether its finding the right dog for your family, local rescue organizations or dog parks, we can help! We also have handouts explaining behaviors as well as informational topics regarding all things canine – just ask!

TRICKS CLASS
This class will teach various tricks – no two classes will be exactly the same! Requests from participants will be honored (within reason) – so be prepared to come and have some fun! You CAN teach an old dog new tricks, or even a new dog OLD tricks!

PRE-ADOPTION: NEW PUPPY/NEW DOG CONSULTATIONS
Planning on adding a new dog to your family? Need help in selecting the right breed and personality type for your lifestyle? Not sure where to start, what to do or how to prepare your home and family? Let us help set your puppy up to be successful BEFORE you bring him/her home!