Training Classes Help Owners and their Dogs

Get your dog ready for summer’s fun activities by completing a training course with him! We are hosting canine training courses at the South Venice Civic Association building. The classes will be on Thursday evenings starting April 2 and ending May 7, 2015. Pre-registration is required, along with proof of rabies and other required shots. Sign up at Suncoast Humane Society, located at 6781 San Casa Drive, Englewood, or call 941-474-7884 and visit www.humane.org for more information. In the Basic Level Training class you will have fun working with your dog in a force-free way using positive reinforcement. You will learn to use verbal cues and hand signals to teach your best friend to sit, stand, lay down, focus (watch me), best manners at the front door and polite leash walking along with other behaviors. As part of the Second Level Training class, your dog will take a 10-step Canine Good Citizen test on the sixth week of the course. The evaluation includes Accepting Friendly Strangers, Walking Through a Crowd, Reaction to Other Dogs and Distractions, Supervised Separation, and Grooming. Handlers and canines with passing scores will be able to order a Canine Good Citizen certificate from the AKC. An additional third course has been added for more advanced training. Starting on April 2, the Tricks and Fun with Agility Equipment class is a five-week course teaching tricks and basic agility. You must have completed the Second Level Training class listed above before registering for this class. The price for either of the six-week courses is $100 each, and the five-week advanced course is $80. Please remember to bring treats and wear sneakers. The South Venice Civic Association building is located at 720 Alligator Drive, South Venice, FL 34293. Give us a call at 941-474-7884 during our business hours Tuesday-Saturday for more information!