Northwest Obedience Club

Obedience: Pre-Novice
2026-11-23 09:00 - 09:50, 2026-11-30 09:00 - 09:50, 2026-12-07 09:00 - 09:50, 2026-12-14 09:00 - 09:50, 2026-12-21 09:00 - 09:50, 2026-12-28 09:00 - 09:50, 2027-01-04 09:00 - 09:50, 2027-01-11 09:00 - 09:50 (America/Chicago) and 7 more dates
Prerequisite: Mastery of Beginner Obedience objectives.
As well as learning new exercises, Pre-Novice students will refine the skills they learned in the Beginner Obedience class.
Students in Pre-Novice class must master a level of criteria prior to advancing to a Novice level class with Instructor approval.

Heeling Skills:

Focus on handler/engagement between handler and dog (use of high-value treats)
Appropriate marking and rewarding of behavior
Proper leash handling
Use of commands
Heel position; auto sit in heel position upon halting
About turn, U-turn, Quarter turns on a pivot (left and right)
Gait changes (slow/fast)
Reverse and call to front
Dog is under control at all times

Commands:

Heel position (set up, get in, etc.)
Sit
Down
Sit and stand for exam
Finishes (swing and around)
Stay/wait at end of leash (one minute stay on sit and down)
Front/come at 40 feet (recalls)

Figure Eight:
Handler pacing remains the same while dog speeds up or slows down to accommodate the handler.

Obedience: Beginner
2026-11-26 09:00 - 09:50, 2026-12-03 09:00 - 09:50, 2026-12-10 09:00 - 09:50, 2026-12-17 09:00 - 09:50, 2026-12-24 09:00 - 09:50, 2026-12-31 09:00 - 09:50, 2027-01-07 09:00 - 09:50, 2027-01-14 09:00 - 09:50 and 7 more dates
The skills taught in this class that are necessary to move up to the next level are:
1.) Limited use of luring
2.) Automatic sits during heeling
3.) Down on command
4.) Heeling appropriately during a simple heeling pattern
5.) Handler is able to walk around the dog to heel position when returning to dog from a stay (dog remains in Sit position)
6.) Sit for exam
7.) 30 second sit/stay and down/stay
8.) An on leash recall
Our training method is to mark & reward correct behavior, so food rewards will be used. For information about any of our Obedience classes contact the Training Hall Secretary.
