Bayshore offers three main training programs. Which one you follow is based on your interests.
We recommend all puppies start with the Pet Obedience program and take the Puppy Kindergarten class.

If you have no prior experience with dog training, you should continue in the pet obedience program through the Beginner 2 class.

If you have prior experience with dog training and dog sports, you can jump into one of the other programs at any point.

All classes at Bayshore are taught with positive, motivational methods. They are intended to be fun for both the dog owner and the dog, while still providing the desired results, i.e., creating the dog you want to live with.

See below for descriptions of the training programs. Also see Class Progressions to see how classes progress within each of the training programs.

 Pet Obedience:

The Bayshore Pet Obedience program teaches you how to work with your dog with basic skills needed for a well mannered dog at home and in public places. This program offers a series of three classes including: puppy kindergarten, beginner 1 and beginner 2.

• The Puppy Kindergarten class is very important for all puppies to work on socialization skills around other dogs and people. The puppies get to play with other puppies and to interact with strangers. House manners and common behavior issues (e.g., housetraining, jumping on people, etc. ) are covered. This class gets you and your dog off to a wonderful start of building a great relationship and training foundation with your dog.
• The Beginner 1 class teaches all of the basic obedience skills your dog needs (e.g., come when called, sit, down, stay, wait at the door). House manners and common behavior issues (e.g., housetraining, jumping on people, etc. ) are covered.
• The Beginner 2 class solidifies the skills learned in the Beginner 1 class and focuses on fading food rewards, distance control and work around increasingly difficult distractions. Weather permitting; some of the classes may be conducted outside the building and around Eatontown.

Bayshore recommends all dog owners commit to one year of training with their dogs.

At the end of the Beginner 2 class, we recommend you continue your dog’s training by considering one of the following:

• CGC - earn an AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate – this is appropriate for people looking for a well mannered dog in their home and in public places and are not interested in competition canine sports such as Rally, Obedience, or Agility.
• Please see http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/ for more information on AKC’s CGC certification.
• Therapy - This class prepares your dog to pass a standardized therapy dog test which will enable you to volunteer wherever therapy dogs are welcomed.   Therapy dogs are traditionally found in hospitals & rehabilitative facilities as well as in hospice & nursing homes.  Additionally, libraries and schools encourage visiting therapy dog teams which educate children about pet care and safety and offer the opportunity of participating in the National Kids Read Program.
• Please see http://www.golden-dogs.org/  for more information on therapy dogs and testing.
• Rally – If you are interested in pursing competition canine sports you may consider earning a Rally title on your dog (see Rally Program Description)
• Competition Obedience - If you are interested in pursing competition canine sports you may consider earning an obedience title on your dog (see Competition Obedience Program Description)

 Rally:

Rally is a canine sport in which the dog and handler complete a course that has been designed by the rally judge. The judge tells the handler to begin, and the dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations (10 - 20, depending on the level). Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. An example of a sign in the novice level is “Sit/Down Walk Around Dog”. Throughout the course the handler heels with their dog. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience and the handler may talk to their dog throughout the course and give multiple hand and verbal cues.

Rally is a good stepping stone into continued obedience training, and a great opportunity to have fun with your dog while building a great relationship.

Bayshore offers classes in Rally to teach you the skills needed to earn Rally titles and to practice running rally courses. There are three main titles that can be achieved; Novice, Advanced and Excellent. Each is more difficult than the previous, similar to achieving a higher education.

Please see: http://www.akc.org/events/rally/ for a description of AKC rally.

 

Competition Obedience:

Competition obedience is a canine sport that tests your dog’s ability to perform a series of exercises working with you as a team. The exercises consist of heeling, sit and down stays, stand for examination, retrieving, directed jumping, recalls, scent work, etc. There are three levels of obedience; Novice (earn a CD title), Open (earn a CDX title), and Utility (earn a UD title). Each level is more difficult than the previous, similar to achieving a higher education.

Bayshore offers classes in Competition Obedience to teach you the skills needed to earn obedience titles and to show in the ring.

Please see: http://www.akc.org/events/obedience/ for a description of AKC obedience.

Other Class Offerings:

Show Handling:

Bayshore offers classes in Show Handling where you will learn the skills necessary to compete in AKC breed Conformation events. Skills taught include "Stacking", "Go Around", "Stand for Examination", etc.