See Spot Sit, LLC
Group Classes
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See Spot Sit, LLCGroup Classes |
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See Spot Sit, LLC, offers group training classes for pups and dogs who are 4.5 months or older. (Pups 18 weeks and under should enroll in Puppy Kindergarten.). Classes are based on skill set (both dog and human!) and teams may progress through the levels at their own pace.
| Class | Covers | Pre-Requisites |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Basic obedience and manners training: respond to name, come when called, sit, down, stay, walk politely on leash, greet politely. | -none- |
| Level 2 | Increased emphasis on leash walking, coming when called, stay, (not) jumping up, and working near distractions. | Level 1 skill test |
| Level 3 | (description coming) | Level 2 skill test |
First, you register for one of the upcoming Orientation sessions. The Orientation covers basic administrative information, class structure and content, and instruction and demonstration of the skills you will go home and practice with your dog before the first class. DO NOT bring dogs to the Orientation session.
At the time you register, you will also choose your preferred day/time for attending the Level 1 class. (Most dogs will begin in Level 1 - students who have taken classes at See Spot Sit before see below.) After attending the Orientation, you will begin classes the following week. You have eight lessons and twelve weeks in which to use your lessons. Thus, if you have a vacation, illness, other commitment, or weather/transportation problem, you do not have to forfeit a class. Weeks that the facility is closed for vacation are not counted in the twelve weeks.
Each level is skill based. You and your dog will attend the class at Level 1 until your instructor has checked you off on all of the skills for that level. Then you will start attending the Level 2 class, until you have completed the skills there and are ready to move to Level 3. You do not have to spend all eight of your lessons in a single Level. You move to the next level when you are ready. You can see the skills lists for each of the levels here: Level 1, Level 2.
Most dogs with no previous training will spend 4-6 weeks in Level 1, 6-8 weeks in Level 2, and can remain in Level 3 indefinitely to maintain and add new skills. Dogs with prior training may progress faster. Don't forget, some of the skills tested are human skills, not just dog skills!
Depending on your training goals for your dog, you may not meet all of your targets in eight weeks. If you would like to continue your training, additional lessons can be purchased in 4-lesson blocks. You will have six weeks to use the four lessons.
While you are enrolled, you may also attend the Behavior Workshop which is offered once per month. In this workshop we cover strategies for dealing with problem behaviors. There is not time in the regular training classes to deal with each student's individual issues, so you can bring your questions to the Behavior Workshop. You may attend the Behavior Workshop as many times as you wish. DO NOT bring dogs to the Behavior Workshop.
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All dogs in group classes must have been examined by and received a clean bill of health from a veterinarian. Specifically, all dogs must:
You may have your vet fill out and sign the section on the health certification form, -or- you may submit printed receipts from your vet showing the appropriate information. Bring the health certification with you to the Orientation session. Dogs without proper health certification will not be admitted to class. No exceptions.
For safety and out of consideration to the other students, aggressive dogs or dogs who have ever bitten a person or another dog are not permitted in group classes. Owners of these dogs should contact me for a referral for behavior counseling.
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Level 1 and Level 2 classes are offered at three different days/times per week. Level 3 classes are offered twice per week. You can see the current day/time offerings here. Each class meeting is 50 minutes long.
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First, check the schedule to find the days and times each Level is offered. Then, you can either register online, or you can register by mail. To register by mail, download the registration form, fill it out, and send it in with the registration fee. Health certification information can be mailed at the same time, or brought to the Orientation. Your registration form and fees need to be received before your place is guaranteed; therefore online registration is encouraged. We cannot hold a space in the class for you until registration information and payment have been received.
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Because enrollment in this type of program is flexible, we can't always predict how many openings there will be in a given day/time slot. Sometimes students will move through quickly and many spaces will be available and sometimes students will "back up" in a particular time slot.
When you are registering for your initial enrollment, the registration process should prevent you from choosing a Level 1 class day/time that is full. If that is the case, and that particular day/time is the ONLY one you can attend, you will have to enroll for the following month. Sometimes, even after you have attended an Orientation, we may have to delay your start date by a week or two because of space available. In this case, we will adjust your end date accordingly.
When you are moving from one Level to another, your instructor will move your registration to your desired day/time class for the next Level if there is space available. If there is no space, and that particular day/time is the ONLY one you can attend, you may have to wait a couple of weeks to resume class at the next Level. In this case, we will adjust your end date accordingly.
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Extra weeks have been built in to your lessons to accommodate events like illness, school commitments, vacation, and weather. Because the classes are skill-based, you will not "miss" anything or be behind if you are absent one week. Each week in class you will work on a variety of exercises for the skills taught at that Level, and each dog in the class will work as his own pace. Exercises will be structured so that the appropriate level of challenge is available for all students and dogs.
If you do have to miss a class, we strongly prefer that you simply attend your regular day/time the next week. This helps us predict how many students will be in each class and prevents large numbers from showing up at one class and only a few at another. However, on an exceptional basis it is ok for you to attend a different day/time for your Level during a week that you have to miss your regular class. The instructor of the other day/time will probably be different, so be sure you let the instructor know what your regular day/time is so she can check your skill sheet.
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Most of the time, a weather cancellation should not affect your use of your lessons. Extra weeks have been built in to your lessons to accommodate events like illness, school commitments, vacation, and weather. However, sometimes Mother Nature does not cooperate and one day of the week may get hit several times in a row. If the facility is closed for a weather cancellation and this impacts your ability to finish your lessons in the allotted time, we will adjust your end date. These adjustments will be handled on a case-by-case basis. If the facility was not officially closed and you chose not to attend on a particular day due to weather, we will not adjust your end date.
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The fee for initial enrollment (Orientation, 8 classes, and Behavior Workshop) is $200. Each class meeting is 50 minutes long. You will have 12 weeks following your Orientation to use your 8 classes.
After your initial enrollment, you may renew your registration for blocks of 4 additional lessons. The fee for renewals is $80. You will have 6 weeks to use your 4 classes.
For the Levels classes, you may cancel your registration before the Orientation is held and receive a full refund. Once you have attended an Orientation, you may cancel your registration within two weeks and receive a 50% refund as long as you have not attended any classes. NO REFUNDS will be given once you have attended a class. NO REFUNDS will be given if it has been more than two weeks since you attended the Orientation, even if you have not yet attended any classes.
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The whole family is welcome (and encouraged) to attend class. Although children will be permitted and encouraged to participate in training the dog, an adult must hold the leash during class.
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© 2002-, See Spot Sit, LLC
rev. 17 Aug. 2011