K9 Training Services & Courses

Rescue News: We currently have no dogs 'in rescue'!

Our Rescued Friends' Hall of Fame

Our Newsletters

In Memorium
KOAL (Sept 1995-May 2008)

News on Local K9 Bylaw Changes

Spirit Ridge K9 Training & Rescue

RR #3, Orton

E-mail: jim@spiritridge.net

"........ because sit happens"

Services

At Spirit Ridge K9 Training & Rescue we offer a wide array of K9 Training Services, Behavioural Modification advice and activities tailored to your dog's temperament and working abilities. We offer both an outdoor fenced-in training area set on a 22 acre rural property just north of Hillsburgh as well as a comfortable indoor 1,300 square training facility constructed and finished in August 2007. This facility is insulated, heated and has rubber floor matting to help cushion our furry friends' jumps when they practice agility and other like dog sports!

The following classes are offered in the Winter 2009 training season - please e-mail us or call Jim at 519-855-6962 for further information and start dates.

K9 Training and Dog Sport Classes

GROUP OBEDIENCE CLASSES: During this six (6) week class you will learn fundamental dog handling and leadership skills as well as the standard obedience exercises (sit, down, stay, recall, proper heeling, simple turns and 'about' turns etc). Classes are small (do not exceed a maximum of six dogs), last for one hour and can include dogs with varying previous experience. Handlers will be taught motivational techniques and the proper use of praise, toys and/or food motivation to get the most out of their dogs. Next scheduled class starts Thursday, January 15th at 7:00PM. Please call (519) 855-6962 or e-mail us to register for this class. (6 weeks, Cost: $180.00).

PUP-TASTICS COURSE: This 6 week course is targeted for puppies up to 6 months of age who have little or no exposure to proper or enough socialization during the first critical months of their life in the home. During this course, the puppies will not only socialize and teach other proper K9 social skills (under supervision) but will also be exposed to our own trained older dogs which, as part of our stable pack, have the ability, skill and patience to teach them. All existing behavioural problems in the home will be addressed and solutions provided. Furthermore, handlers will be taught how to 'play train' their puppies at home (only through use of purely positive techniques), administer proper and calming massage, and get them on their way to more formal obedience training. All puppies will be properly exposed to environmental obstacles (ladders, agility tunnel, different terrain) under supervision in order to create a solid foundation and improve the stability of their temperament. Please call (519) 855-6962 or e-mail us to register for this class. (6 weeks, Cost: $180.00)

PUPPY AGILITY COURSE: This six week basic introductory low impact agility class is specifically tailored to young dogs (under the age of 1 year) paying particular attention to the fact that their musculoskeletal system is still under development. The puppies will be properly introduced to all the agility equipment and handlers will have an opportunity to determine whether their pups have an aptitude for this wonderful dog sport. Simultaneously, puppies will have an opportunity to properly socialize with their new buddies in a fun and active environment. Training will also include help with moderate behavioural issues where appropriate. Please call (519) 855-6962 or e-mail us to register for this class. (6 weeks, Cost: $180.00)

RALLY-OBEDIENCE CLASSES (Beginner): Get involved in this new dog sport that teaches obedience in a fun way for both dogs and handlers! A course is set up with 10-19 signs each of which instruct the dog/handler team to perform a certain obedience exercise. Dog/handler teams in the Intro level course will learn all the basic commands as well as how to motivate their dogs to do the obedience exercises. Remember, Rally-O is a dog sport that allows constant communication with your dog .... it's supposed to be fun! Teams will also have an opportunity to test themselves in a few short courses. The Beginner class will offer more advanced techniques to perfect the commands and teams will have several opportunities to run a full Rally-O course. Please call (519) 855-6962 or e-mail us to register for the next class which will begin on Wednesday, January 14th at 7:00PM. (6 weeks, Cost: $190.00)

RALLY-OBEDIENCE (Advanced): Requires completion of our Beginner course and/or successful acquisition of the Novice Rally Obedience title. Wednesday evenings at 6:45 PM (6 weeks, Cost: $190.00)

TRACKING CLASSES (all levels): This 6 week course will teach you all about your dog's nose, how to understand it better, respect it and develop a bond by creating a handler/dog team that learns to search for hidden objects on a course. You will be taught how to lay a track, read a terrain and determine its suitability for your dog's skills and how to encourage and handle your dog. A 'schutzhund style' tracking technique will be used. This style essentially teaches the dog to use a 'deep nose' tracking style (nose constantly in the ground - no head lifting) that is slow and methodical. Since this is the hardest style of tracking to teach, you will easily be able to switch to a CKC tracking style to trial your dog, if you eventually choose to do so. The nature of tracking is such that it is best taught early in the morning. Consequently, this will be a weekend (Sat or Sun) morning class and will commence no later than 9AM. Requirement for the Intro class: a flat 1-1.5 inch width collar; additional requirement for beginner class: same flat collar plus a 20 ft light leash. (6 weeks, Cost: $190.00) No new beginner Tracking class are scheduled due to weather conditions and we will start again in late Spring 2009. Please call (519) 855-6962 or e-mail us to be placed on our waiting list and pre-register for the next Beginner class.

AGILITY CLASSES (Intro, Beginner & Intermediate): The 6 week Intro course introduces you and your dog to the basic agility obstacles, jumps, tunnels and contact equipment. The Beginner class varies from the Intro class because it presumes basic knowledge of all the equipment and emphasizes footwork development and proper body positioning allowing your K9 teammate to 'read' you and your commands better on the course. (Cost: $180.00). Note: These two agility courses are open to dogs over the age of 1 year (for large breed dogs, the age is 1.5 years). This rule ensures no detrimental health impact on your dog's joints before they are fully developed. Due to high demand, our agility classes are continuous and can be taken either on Tuesday (7:00PM) or Saturdays (10:00 - 3:00PM) NOTE: The course fee of $180.00 per six classes also includes use of our outdoor/indoor training facilities on Sunday mornings (9:30-12:00 AM) for practice!

PRIVATE OBEDIENCE SESSIONS (cost ranges from $80-$110 per hour depending on the seriousness of the issues as well as whether the session is in your home or here at Spirit Ridge - please inquire!)

SPORT PROTECTION: Sport protection is taught in select cases of K9s that have exceptional obedience and want to take it 'to the next level'. A rigorous obedience screening test of the handler/dog team must be successfully completed prior to entering this course. Absence of proper and reliable obedience training will necessitate starting Sport Protection with formal obedience training and subsequent testing to ensure proper standards. Please e-mail us or call Jim at 519-855-6962 for further information on this course.

Behaviour Modification Sessions

At Spirit Ridge we believe that no K9 should be left behind; dogs that have issues with dog-on-dog or dog-on-human aggression are welcome. The nature of these issues as well as safety precautions, make it imperative that such sessions be private. All behavioural problems are addressed at our training facility or, if you feel more comfortable, our K9 Trainer will visit you in the privacy of your home to help you with your K9 problems. Once your dog has overcome the initial problems, we recommend careful integration into our group obedience classes.

Our in-home private sessions consist of:

-- an initial consultation (during which a questionnaire about you, your dog and the dog's environment and temperament is conducted). Initial advice and training take place during this first session. Due to the seriousness of many of these aggression/dominance issues families face with their dogs, we try to provide help during this first session that will address the key issues and give families some relief. Many dog owners report immediate improvement after using our recommended handling techniques and making the in-home changes that are recommended. Please note that the comprehensive nature of our recommendations is such that dog owners cannot cherry pick to use the ones they like while 'shelving' those they prefer less. Consistency is a main requirement for success as dogs see things very much in a 'black or white' manner. As a result, all actions on the families' part need to be consistent and point the dog only in one direction - that the humans in the family are indeed, the pack leaders. The initial consultation typically lasts about 1.5 hours. For the more difficult or multi-dog cases, the session could last up to 2 hours.

-- follow up Support: In spite the fact that we leave you with a series of handouts that are intended to make certain you have instructions to fall back on, there is much to absorb from the first session. As a result, we are available to you (at no extra charge) for any questions or clarifications stemming from the initial consultation. Applying the lessons you learn, correctly and consistently, are very important for your success and we are with you every step of the way even long after we leave your home!

-- follow up additional sessions: In most instances, just an initial consultation is enough to get you well on your way to controlling your dog(s). However, in a small percentage of difficult cases or multi-dog/animal homes, we are required to make a return visit and help with specific issues. These visits usually last no more than 1 hour. To date, we have never been required to make more than two visits to any household.

Following our in-home visit(s), do not be surprised if you are urged to attend an upcoming group obedience class at Spirit Ridge, in order to make your transition from behaviour modification to obedience training - in the presence of up to five other dogs and handlers. During these classes, we not only teach the usual sits, downs, come, heeling, turns etc commands but we also attend to any further behavioural needs of you and your dog in a supportive environment. Unlike some other training schools, everyone attending our classes is here not only to learn but to also help each other. We have all been in the very same situation, at one time or another, and know that training for real life situations is the only way we can be prepared for real life situations.

Please e-mail us or call Jim at 519-855-6962 to enquire about our private sessions.

Seminars & Events

Throughout the 2008-09 Season, Spirit Ridge will offer a variety of seminars and events. For more information on some of our planned seminars and events please click here.

Training Area Rental

Our clients frequently have problems training where they live either because of safety issues with urban traffic or the existence of other dogs and animals. We offer clients our fenced-in training area for their own use as well as our area with agility equipment - assuming they have the basic knowledge to safely use the equipment and their dog is age-appropriate (over 1 or 1.5 years of age depending on breed size). Hourly rental for our outdoor training area is $20.00/hr; for our indoor training facility the fee is $50.00/hr. All proceeds go to our dog rescue fund. You may call (519) 855-6962 or e-mail us to enquire on availability and to book your time slot.