Training Classes
All classes are suspended until further notice due to Covid-19. We do not have access to our training sites.
Help: Which class should I take?
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Companion Obedience Foundation Skills Course
Meets Mondays, 6:00pm
Meets at the UMass Field Station
Instructor: Wendy Marcks, assisted by Diane Hagelstein.
- Companion obedience training for handlers to learn how to teach their dogs, and for dogs to learn foundation behaviors and life skills that will make them great companions.
- For new dog owners, beginners, veteran dog owners with new dogs, and handlers who want to practice fun, positive teaching techniques with their dogs.
- Meets once per week for 6 weeks.
- The first class is 90 minutes long and is for humans only.
Updated learning theory and positive reinforcement techniques to build trust and produce long lasting results will be presented. Methods including use of a clicker or verbal marker will be explained. Shaping will be described and class members will participate in exercises to learn and improve timing.
- Weekly assignments for practice at home.
- Course fee $165, includes a clicker.
- Instructor plus an experienced assistant to provide individual attention.
- Limited to 10 dog/handler teams.
Additional information:
- Usually for one handler per dog, however, additional family members may attend and work one at a time with the dog. Handlers should be at least 15 years old.
- Dogs should be at least 5 months old with all vaccinations up to date.
- Please leave your dog at home on the first night of class.
- You must pre-register for this course. Class size is limited and this course often fills.
Print a course application form (PDF format)
- Toy breeds up to 1 year of age may attend the Advanced Puppy Course instead of this beginner course if space permits.
Check class schedule for next start date.
Questions to Diane Hagelstein, email or 978-621-0474.
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Companion Obedience Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Skills Class
Meets Mondays, 6:45-7:30pm at UMass Field Station
Instructor: Wendy Marcks, assisted by Diane Hagelstein.
- For those who have completed a Beginner obedience course, Foundation Skills course, or an Advanced Puppy course.
- You must pre-register for this 5-week course. Class size limited to 8. registration form
- Check class schedule for next start date.
- Course Fee: $100 for Non-Members, $75 for CRDTC Members
- Questions to Diane Hagelstein, email or 978-621-0474.
Course content:
- Provides review and further work in companion obedience and the AKC Canine Good Citizen exercises.
- Each class will focus on two or more of the ten CGC exercises. The exercises include:
- Accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, and allowing light grooming
- Walking on a loose leash and through a crowd with distractions
- Sitting and lying down on command and staying in place
- Coming when called
- Behaving politely around other dogs
- Remaining calmly with a stranger while the owner is out of sight
For detailed descriptions of the CGC exercises, see the AKC site.
- The Advanced CGC (CGCA) and Urban CGC (CGCU) also will be discussed. Some of these additional exercises will be demonstrated and practiced in class.
Take the CGC Test whenever you and your dog are ready. There are CGC Tests offered at intervals during the year. See CGC Test schedule
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Novice Skills Obedience - new time, new format!
Meets Mondays 7:00-7:45 pm at 219 Bear Hill Road, Waltham MA.
Instructor: Tracy Mulrenan
Please note: Dog Retreat & Spa requires all dogs to have the full suite of vaccinations, including Rabies, Distemper, Parvo (titers accepted), Bordetella and Canine Flu (it's okay if your dog has only had the first inoculation). You can register and upload copies of your documents at their site, or have your vet send them, or call them for more information.
- For first time handlers and advanced beginner dogs.
- Focus on teaching attention heeling and also the skills needed for novice and advanced obedience.
- Each class includes both active and stationary exercises to keep things lively and dogs are taught using a variety of of engaging activities building on dog-handler physical interactions and relationship, food, and toys.
- Also may include some tricks, heeling to music, play engagement, and proofing.
- Optional sit stay and down stay practice following class.
Fall 2019 - Spring 2020 courses:
- Session I: Gaining Attention. Work on building and reinforcing attention necessary for skill work.
- Session II: Building Heel position with Attention. Work on stationary attention, beginning heelwork and figure eights.
- Session III: Building Heelwork continued. Intro to Stand for Exam
- Session IV: Building Heelwork; Halts; Continuing Stand for Exam; Stays
- Session V: to be announced
- The goal is for dog and handler to be able to complete the AKC Novice exercises which include:
- Heel on Leash, Heel Free, and Figure Eight - dog watches its handler and adjusts its pace to walk at the handler's side.
- Stand for Examination - dog allows hands-on touching such as that by a veterinarian or groomer.
- Recall - dog immediately comes when the handler calls.
- Long Sit - dog sits on command and remains in a sit position for 1 minute and until released by the handler.
- Long Down - dog lies down on command and remains in a down position for 1 minute and until released by the handler.
- You must pre-register for this 6 week course. Limited to 10 teams.
- Print a registration form.
- Course Fee: $100 for Non-Members, $75 for CRDTC Members
- For dates and schedule see class schedule.
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Competition Obedience - Novice, Open & Utility
Meets Mondays 8:00-9:00pm at 219 Bear Hill Road, Waltham MA.
Optional sit stay and down stay practice immediately preceeding class, 7:45-8:00 pm
Instructor: Tracy Mulrenan
Please note: Dog Retreat & Spa requires all dogs to have the full suite of vaccinations, including Rabies, Distemper, Parvo (titers accepted), Bordetella and Canine Flu (it's okay if your dog has only had the first inoculation). You can register and upload copies of your documents at their site, or have your vet send them, or call them for more information.
- For handlers working in Novice, Open and/or Utility. Beginners to Utility are welcome!
Participants determine class content.
- Ongoing classes, September through June. Attend on a regular or occasional (drop-in) basis.
- Fees: Members $15/night, Non-members $20/night; Members may purchase a 6 night discount card for $75.
- If you've never trained at CRDTC, please print out and complete a training application and bring it with you the first time you come to class.
- No class in July or August. See Summer Training
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Puppy I (Beginner Puppy or Puppy Kindergarten)
Meets Tuesdays 6:30-7:20pm once per week for 6 weeks at the UMass Field Station, Waltham MA.
Instructor: Ronni Dalton, assisted by Susan Stock
- For puppies 8-24 weeks of age at the start of class.
- Topic covered include: handling & environment exposures; targeting, basic positions (sit/down/stand), recall games, leash walking and more. The first class is for humans only, please leave your pup home on the first night.
- Puppies must be on a schedule of routine vaccinations and have had vaccinations appropriate for their age. It is recommended that pups have a series of two vaccinations by the start of class, however, check with your veterinarian.
- Class size is limited to 8 puppies and this course often fills. Pre-registration is required. Fee $165.
- Print a registration form.
- Questions? Please email Ronni Dalton at hsif130@aol.com
- Check class schedule for next start date.
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Puppy II (Advanced Puppy)
Meets Tuesdays 7:30-8:20pm once per week for 6 weeks at the UMass Field Station, Waltham MA.
Instructor: Ronni Dalton, assisted by Susan Stock
- For puppies less than 6 months old that have already completed a puppy kindergarten or beginner puppy course.
- Topics covered: fun methods for adding duration and distractions to the basic skills of leash walking, sit, down, stay, and come; beginning heel work, fronts and finishes.
- Puppies must be on a schedule of routine vaccinations and have had vaccinations appropriate for their age; check with your veterinarian.
- Toy breeds up to 1 year of age may attend this course instead of the Foundation Skills Course if space permits.
- Class size is limited. Pre-registration is required. Fee $165.
- Print a registration form.
- Questions? Please email Ronni Dalton at hsif130@aol.com
- Check class schedule for next start date.
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Rally
CRDTC offers rally as a special activity several times a year.
Schedule:
- Spring 2020: schedule to be announced
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Tricks!
Tricks training is incorporated into both the Foundation Skills classes and the Novice Skills classes.
Testing for the AKC Tricks titles is offered several times each year.
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Training for Therapy Dogs
Do you have a potential therapy dog? Dogs that do therapy visits must have excellent temperament. They should be calm, relaxed, confident, outgoing, friendly, patient, gentle, and enjoy physical contact with all types of people. They should be tolerant of other dogs and completely non-aggressive. Behaviors can be modified with training, but a dog's basic personality and disposition is unlikely to change.
In addition, therapy dogs should be well trained, obedient, and have good manners. They should work nicely on leash with their handler in new surroundings and remain under good control despite distractions. Dogs should be healthy, current on all vaccinations, clean and well groomed, free of parasites, and have short/smooth nails.
Dog owners and their therapy dogs make a commitment to do regular volunteer visits at a designated nursing home, assisted living or special needs facility, senior daycare center, rehab center, or hospital. These visits can spark conversation, provide comfort and companionship, and renew fond memories of a person's previous pets. Some therapy dogs participate in reading with children programs at libraries and schools.
The specific requirements for certification vary by therapy dog organization but generally include successfully completing a basic obedience dog training course and passing the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, taken when the dog is at least one year old. Some organizations have additional requirements and their own tests for certification.
The CRDTC Good Citzen Skills course is based on the CGC exercises. Each class focuses on two or more of the ten CGC exercises, so all ten are covered over a five-week cycle. Training for the Advanced CGC (CGCA) and Urban CGC (CGCU) tests is also discussed in this class. The CGC exercises are described on the AKC website
Please note that therapy dogs are not considered assistance dogs or service dogs and thus do not have the access rights of animals assisting the blind or disabled.
For more information and a partial list of local and national therapy dog organizations see the
CRDTC therapy dog page
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Special Classes/Workshops and Summer Training
- Introduction to Tracking - May 2020
Instructor: Roseann Mandell.
For Beginners only. Set of three classes.
Each class runs 60 - 75 minutes and includes a handout, classroom discussion, and field exercises for the dogs. There is homework assigned each week. Your dog should be comfortable staying alone in your vehicle when not working.
Course fee is $75 for non-members, $60 for members. Registration opens April 1st. Limited to 5 with preference to CRDTC members.
Some resources: A Beginner's Guide and information about AKC tracking events.
FMI: crdtc@yahoo.com
- Summer Training - July 2020
Relaxed, informal, all-level (beyond Beginner) drop-in training sessions on Monday evenings in July. Held outdoors.
to be scheduled
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