USDTC Obedience

Our goal is to promote the "TOTAL DOG" concept! We offer Puppy Kindergarten to advanced obedience classes. We accept pure and mixed breeds.

Please pick the following links.
Puppy Classes Including Puppy Basic
Basic Obedience
Junior Handler Basic Obedience
Sub Novice/Novice & Rally Obedience
Open and Utility Class
Canine Good Citizen
FYI - AKC Obedience Titles & UKC Titles

PUPPY CLASS- This class is for all puppies from 3 to 6 months of age. In some cases older puppies are admitted into the class. Throughout the six week class, we help the owners to begin to understand their new friends, solve problems, answer questions, introduce obedience commands and to have fun! Obedience commands consist of: Sit, Down, Loose Leash Walking, No Jumping Up, Wait at Open Doors, and To Come when called. Each class begins with a group discussion on an informative subject such as nail trimming, toys, crate training, or skin and ear care. Introduction to Puppy Agility Obstacle course is presented as well!

PUPPY BASIC- This class is for larger breed puppies and / or puppy graduates that are not ready to go to Basic Obedience classes.
This class teaches the same as puppy class but it is 8 weeks long. Introduction to Puppy Agility Obstacle course is presented as well!

BASIC OBEDIENCE - This 8 week course focuses on reviewing and strengthening basic commands as well as teaching your dog to Heel. Basic commands such as: Sit, Down, Come, Wait, and Stay are reinforced and some new commands are added to improve your dog's overall knowledge and performance. This course offers a great way to gain greater control of your dog and sharpen response to commands. Techniques taught in class will also expand your training options to include competition obedience, agility and more!
Requirements: Any dog age 6 months or older

JUNIOR HANDLER BASIC OBEDIENCE - This 6 week course focuses on reviewing and strengthening basic commands as well as teaching your dog to Heel. Basic comands such as Sit, Down , Come, Wait are reinforced and some new commands are added to improve your dog's overall knowledge and performance.
This class is only open to junior handlers ages 8 years to 17 years. Parents need to attend all classes as well.
Requirements: Any dog age 6 months or older.

SUB NOVICE/NOVICE
There are two types of Sub-Novice/Novice classes. The Structured Sub-Novice Class is an 8 week class and focuses on attention, more concise heeling, along with introduction(s) to the different levels of Obedience Competition (i.e. Open and Utility) for A.K.C. as well as U.K.C.

If you do not wish to commit to an 8-week session and are familiar with the Novice level exercises, we offer on-going/drop-in classes. These classes are designed to work on the standard Novice level of Obedience with lots of heeling practice, better recalls and in a continuous environment, eventually encouraging off lead heeling.

Requirements: Must have Basic Obedience or had equivalent training.

RALLY OBEDIENCE
It is a mixture of obedience and agility. The team of dog and handler on leash move continuously and perform the exercises indicated by the sign at each location. After the judge's "Forward" command, the team is on their own to complete the entire sequence correctly. Unlimited communication to dog from handler is encouraged.
Higher levels will be off leash and have jumps as well.
Requirements: Must have Sub Novice Obedience training.

OPEN AND UTILITY CLASS

These classes reflect consistent training off lead, being able to be sent over jumps to identify and retrieve dumb bells. These programs are for dogs working at the novice and advanced obedience levels. Currently, there is an advanced obedience class which includes reviewing upper level obedience training. This class is On-Going!

CANINE GOOD CITIZEN (CGC) If your dog has good manners, he or she may be eligible for an award from the American Kennel Club!

Welcome to the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Program. Started in 1989, the CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. All dogs who pass the CGC test receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club and they are automatically recorded in the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Archive. Our club will provide a rosette as well.

To receive the CGC award, dogs take the 10 item CGC Test. Items on the test include the following:
       Test 1 Accepting a Friendly Stranger
       Test 2 Sitting Politely for Petting
       Test 3 Appearance and Grooming
       Test 4 Out for a Walk (walk on a loose leash)
       Test 5 Walking Through a Crowd
       Test 6 Sit and Down on Command/Staying in Place
       Test 7 Coming When Called
       Test 8 Reaction to Another Dog
       Test 9 Reactions to Distractions
       Test 10 Supervised Separation

WHO CAN TAKE THE TEST?
All dogs, including both purebred and mixed breed dogs are welcome to participate in the CGC Program. Dogs must be old enough to have received necessary immunizations. Also, a dog is never too old to be a good citizen!

WHERE CAN YOU GO TO HAVE THE DOG TESTED?
Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club, Inc. is offering a CGC Testing. Testing date will be announced.

OTCH SHADOW DANCER IN BLUE GENES UDX2, NA, NAJ, U-CDX, CGC
DANCER WON MULTIPLE HIGH IN TRIALS IN OBEDIENCE

FYI

AKC OBEDIENCE TITLES AND UKC TITLES

FYI: ON AKC TITLES

NOVICE CLASS: CD
When a dog earns the title of Companion Dog, he has the letters CD placed after the registered name. This requires three qualifying scores under three different judges. Each class has a total possible 200 points and a dog must receive at least half the points for each exercise and a total of 170 points to earn a qualifying score.

OPEN CLASS: CDX
A dog who earns the title Companion Dog Excellent will get the letters CDX placed after the registered name. This requires three qualifying scores under three different judges. Each class has a total possible 200 points and a dog must receive at least half the points for each exercise and a total of 170 points to earn a qualifying score.

UTILITY CLASS: UD
A dog who earns the title Utility Dog will get the letters UD placed after the registered name. It requires three qualifying scores under three different judges. Each class has a total possible 200 points and a dog must receive at least half the points for each exercise and a total of 170 points to earn a qualifying score.

UTILITY DOG EXCELLENT: UDX
A dog who has earned the Utility title and earns an additional 10 qualifying scores in both the Open Class and the Utility Class at the same trial earns the title Utility Dog Excellent and has the letters UDX placed after the registered name.

FYI - ON UKC TITLES
Look under http://www.ukcdogs.com/Agilityrules.htm Agility Titles and All-Star Ranking