Private Sessions
We offer private training sessions for basic training or for working on a behavior problem. The cost for basic training is $40 for the
first 60 minutes (minimum). After the first 60 minutes, time will accrue in quarter-hour increments at $10.00 per quarter-hour or part thereof. The cost for consulting
and working with problem behaviors is $50 for the first 60 minutes (minimum). After the first 60 minutes, time will accrue in quarter-hour increments at $12.50 per
quarter-hour or part thereof. Driving distance will be charged at $1.00 per mile from Consultant's home.
Email us, or call Judy at (260) 238-3073 or Margery at
(260) 456-5255 for more details or to schedule a session (we are located in the northeast Indiana area).
Course Information and Schedule
Tricks!
Tricks are a wonderful way to improve communication skills with our dogs. Tricks are often behaviors that dogs would not do naturally,
so teaching them requires that we figure out new and improved ways to communicate. The more cues a dog learns to respond to, however trivial, the quicker and more
automatic all of his responses become, whether it is a cue for a trick or a down stay. This variety of learned behaviors and improved responsiveness also gives us more
tools for dealing with inappropriate behavior: we can cue one or more tricks and direct his energy and enthusiasm to appropriate behaviors. A little
creativity and practice can solve many problems!
Tricks also provide the mental stimulation that all dogs need along with their physical exercise requirements. Since most tricks are not "essential" to life with our dogs,
we tend to train these behaviors in a more light-hearted and relaxed manner, greatly benefiting our relationships with our dogs.
This four-week beginning tricks class will include: learning about targeting and shaping; learning to determine which individual behaviors are necessary to perform a given
trick, and then how to chain them into the finished product; how to use cues, both visual and verbal; and of course learning as many tricks as we can!
Upcoming Tricks! course
Day: TBA
Time: TBA
Dates: TBA
Location: Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control, 3020 Hillegas Rd., Fort Wayne
Cost: $85 (Regular My Best Friend discounts apply - see below.)
Tracking
Tracking with your dog is a magical experience, a great way to strengthen your relationship with your dog, as well as work
with your dog's innate ability to see the world with their noses. Tracking is a purely positive activity, where the dog gets to lead us on an incredible journey.
Dogs interpret the world based on what they smell. Tracking involves the dog processing all the smells in their environment, distinguishing the tracklayer's
scent, and following it to the glove (or other article on the track laid by the tracklayer). How many of you have observed your dog, nose to the ground, happily
following some scent to and fro across a field, lawn, or parking lot? Dogs naturally have this wonderful ability to distinguish and follow one scent over all the
millions of smells around them. This is the essence of tracking.
Upcoming Tracking course
Day: TBA
Time: TBA
Dates: TBA
Location: TBA
Cost: $125 (Regular My Best Friend discounts apply - see below.)
Therapy and Visiting Dog Training
Do you have a dog that enjoys visiting with people? Would you like to help a child gain confidence in his reading, inspire a
recovering patient to make the extra effort of walking down the hall because he has a dog to walk with, or bring the gentle touch of warm fur to residents of a
retirement home? Have you ever thought that you and your dog might make a good visiting dog team?
Therapy Dog teams are community assets which add immeasurably to the quality of life of those with whom they interact. Many people find
that the most rewarding work they have ever experienced has involved Therapy Dog activities.
Because we feel that temperament, training and proper placement of the Therapy Dog teams are crucial to success and satisfaction, My Best Friend Dog Training
and P.A.W.S. (Pets Assisting Well-being and Success) will be contributing their respective experience to these fields during this upcoming Therapy Dog course.
During the course you will be given a chance to talk with a P.A.W.S. representative about your interests, your dog's unique qualities, and which Therapy Dog
situations you would both be most comfortable in.
We require that you and your dog have already earned a C.G.C. (Canine Good Citizen)
designation before entering the Therapy Dog class. If your dog has not already earned his C.G.C., he can be tested for $20.00. Please contact Judy at
judy@mybestfrienddogtraining.com
or (260) 238-2073 for more information.
Therapy Dog certification through Therapy Dogs, Inc. requires that dogs pass their evaluation before visiting in the community. Therefore, you will see that the first night
of the course will be the evaluation, and you will pay for the course only after you have passed this evaluation. The three observations will take place during our
class meetings at various community settings.
In order for you to have a chance to practice the exercises necessary for the evaluation, we will offer two
optional pre-evaluation sessions.
Optional Pre-Evaluation Practice:
Day: Thursday
Dates: September 2 & 9
Time: 7:30-8:30 pm
Location: Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control, 3020 Hillegas Rd., Fort Wayne
Cost: $20.00 per session
Evaluation: Evening by appointment on Tuesday September 14, at Grabill Library
13521 State Street, Grabill, IN
Therapy Dog I - Upcoming Class and Observations
Day: mostly Wednesday (there may be some day/date shifting dependent on visitation schedules at various facilities)
Dates: Thursday September 23; Wednesdays September 29, October 6, 13, 20 & 27, November 3, 10 & 17, December 1 & 8
*Please note: no class on November 24*
Time: Evening (start time between 6:00 and 7:30 pm depending on location)
Location: Thursday September 23 & Wednesday December 8 we will meet at Fort Wayne Animal Care and Control, 3020 Hillegas Rd.,
Fort Wayne, other dates will be at various community facilities.
Cost: $210 which includes all evaluations/observations and text (Delta Society: Pet Partners Team Training Course Manual, 2005).
If you have a recent copy of this text that you wish to use, $30 will be deducted from your cost. Regular My Best Friend Dog Training
discounts apply (see below for details).
Registration: Call Judy Archer-Dick at (260) 238-3073
Miscellaneous:
Testing will be done by a Therapy Dogs, Inc. certified evaluator (www.therapydogs.com),
and final registration will be through Therapy Dogs, Inc.
Placement services will be through P.A.W.S. unless a team prefers to find their own placement. Contact Kay Anderson at (260) 625-4520
for more information about the P.A.W.S. organization.
Evaluations/observations must be done with the dog on a four foot leash and flat (or Martingale) collar or head halter. Exceptions can be
made if Therapy Dog, Inc. is contacted ahead of time.
Rally Obedience
Rally obedience is a fun and exciting team sport for you and your dog. You will learn and practice some formal obedience exercises
such as "Heel" and "Figure 8" without many of the communication restrictions of traditional training. The goal is to enjoy learning and working with your dog.
Rally obedience trials are also offered by the AKC and APDT if you would like to compete in the future!
Upcoming Rally Obedience course
Day: TBA
Time: TBA
Dates: TBA
Location: Northeast Fort Wayne (outdoors - near the intersection of Wheelock and St. Joe Road) |
Puppy I
for Canine Toddlers through Tweens
These classes are designed for the puppy from seven weeks to 5 months old who has never taken
a training class before. The pup will have the opportunity to socialize with both humans and other dogs, and engage in off-leash
playtime: larger pups may be separated from the smaller ones in order to ensure a healthy and enjoyable learning experience.
He will also learn some obedience fundamentals such as sit, down, stand, coming when called and basic loose leash walking.
Owners will learn how to approach training, management and discipline in a positive manner during the most crucial social growth
stage in their dog’s development.
We recognize that this critical period of your puppy’s life is short and you need to enroll him in a
class as soon as your veterinarian feels he is adequately immunized. For this reason our Puppy I classes are on a 4-week rotational
system so that you can start any week you like and continue for four weeks.
Puppy I course info
Day: Thursday
Time: 6:15-7:15 pm
Dates: Every week (4-week rotation)
Location: Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Cost: $85 for four weeks
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Puppy II
This class is available to the puppy who is under a year old and less than 35 pounds.
Although most puppies in class will have attended Puppy I class, there is no pre-requisite. During this class the pup will
practice strengthening his attention to the owner, learn proper greeting behaviors to both dogs and humans, more precise sits and downs,
loose leash walking, down- and sit-stays, "leave-it" and a recall that is truly reliable.
Upcoming Puppy II courses
Day: Monday
Time: 7:30-8:30 pm
Dates: August 16 & 23, September 13, 20 & 27, October 11 (Note: No class on September 6 & October 4)
Location: Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Cost: $125
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Day: Thursday
Time: 7:30-8:30 pm
Dates: September 30, October 7, 14, 21 & 28, November 4
Location: Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Cost: $125
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Dog I
This class is for the dog over 35 pounds and/or over six months of age who has not taken a positive
reinforcement-based training class before. It is never too late to start! Obedience exercises such as sit, stand, down, and stay are
introduced, as are loose-leash walking, polite greetings, "leave-it", attention, and the really reliable recall – skills
crucial to the pet dog living in our human society. The owner will gain a better understanding of what dogs need and can be expected to
achieve, as well as how to positively approach common problems that arise with dogs in the household.
Upcoming Dog I courses
Day: Monday
Time: 6:15-7:15 pm
Dates: August 16 & 23, September 13, 20 & 27, October 11 (Note: No class on September 6 & October 4)
Location: Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Cost: $125
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Day: Monday
Time: 7:30-8:30 pm
Dates: October 18 & 25, November 8, 15, 22 & 29 (Note: No class on November 1)
Location: Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Cost: $125
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Dog II
This class follows Dog I or Puppy II. (Puppies who have participated in Puppy II need not attend
Dog I). Now your dog will gain much more self-control and confidence by working through a variety of distractions, thereby strengthening
behaviors he has previously learned. He will learn to focus on his owner even when food (or a favorite toy!) is on the floor beside him
and then "leave it" to follow the owner when asked. He will practice proper greeting behavior under a variety of
circumstances, longer sit- and down-stays with distractions, and he will continue to succeed in reliably coming when called even when
the environment is very exciting. Owners help shape this course by suggesting behaviors they would like to work on during their set of
classes.
Upcoming Dog II courses
Day: Monday
Time: 6:15-7:15 pm
Dates: October 18 & 25, November 8, 15, 22 & 29 (Note: No class on November 1)
Location: Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Cost: $125
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Canine Good Citizen
Started in 1989, CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community.
The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs.
All dogs who pass the CGC test receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club and as of January 1, 1999, they are automatically
recorded in the AKC's Canine Good Citizen Archive.
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 such as rabies vaccines, and there is no age limit on the test. A dog is never too old to be a
good citizen. If dogs have been coached at home or with other trainers and are well-mannered, owners can have their dogs tested.
We will periodically provide a CGC training course to owners and dogs who have already learned the basics of positive reinforcement
training and would like help with gradually improving their skills before taking the test. Cost and dates of the class include the CGC
test. You may take the CGC test without the course if you feel that your dog might qualify for this certification without additional
training classes.
Upcoming Canine Good Citizen Course
Day: TBA
Time: TBA
Dates: TBA
Location: Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Cost: $125
Upcoming Canine Good Citizen Test
Day: TBA
Time: Evening by appointment
Date: TBA
Location: Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
The cost of the test alone is $20 if a $10 deposit is received prior to the test, and $25 if no deposit is received.
Skills, Drills and Thrills!
If you feel that you and your dog would benefit from a chance to practice and strengthen many of the skills acquired in Puppy II
or Dog I before advancing to Dog II, this four-week course is the one for you! We will practice and add more challenges to polite greetings,
walking on leash without pulling, leave-it, the Really Reliable Recall, and stay. But since drill can be dull, we will spice it up with games that are
fun - and educational - for canines and humans alike!
Upcoming Skills course
Day: TBA
Time: TBA
Dates: TBA
Location: Animal Care & Control, 3020 Hillegas Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Cost: $85 |
Taking it to the Streets
Walking your dog in a public place can be rather daunting. Although your dog may quickly follow your
cues in your living room, it is much more difficult to achieve those results when the distractions of people, other dogs, critters and
bicycles are sharing a park with you! This class takes place in various Fort Wayne parks, where you and your dog will learn how to deal
with such situations so that you can relax and enjoy a walk together.
Upcoming Taking it to the Streets course
Day: TBA
Time: TBA
Dates: TBA
Location: Shoaff Park, Headwaters Park, Lawton Park and Foster Park in Fort Wayne. We will let you know weekly which park we
will visit next.
Cost: $125
Pet Agility
A wonderful way to enhance your relationship with your dog, agility for the pet dog stresses safety while building
confidence. You will learn how to guide your dog through tunnels, over jumps, the dog-walk, teeter and more, in a positive manner that will minimize stress and maximize fun.
Simple sequences will be introduced.
Upcoming Pet Agility course (Beginner)
Day: Tuesday
Time: 6:15-7:15 pm
Dates: September 21 & 28, October 5, 12, 19 & 26
Location: Northeast Fort Wayne (outdoors - near the intersection of Wheelock and St. Joe Road)
Cost: $125
Discounts
- $20 off if you register and pay for two consecutive 6-week courses
at once (examples: Puppy I & Puppy II; Dog I & Dog II; Puppy II & Dog II, etc.). *Please be aware that the total fee for both
classes must be paid in advance for this discount to be effective.*
- $10 off if you bring your dog to a second 6-week course at a later date.
- $10 off if you have already attended one of our 6-week courses and bring a different dog
to a course.
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