Sunday morning training times:

                   10.15 - 11.00 a.m. ~ Grades 1 & 2

                   11.15 - 12 noon   ~ Grades 3, 4 & 5

                   Novice, Open & Utility ring-work from 09.15 a.m.
      
                   Flyball  ~  from 09.30 a.m. ( see Flyball page for more details )

                   Rally-O  ~ Introductory Rally Obedience is available 10.00 - 11.30 a.m.
                          
            Tuesday evening:  7.00 - 8.00 p.m.             
                Puppy Kindergarten only ( pups 8 - 16 weeks of age)

            Wednesday evening:
                   7.30 - 8.30 p.m. ~ all classes
      Members are welcome to attend either/both Wednesday and Sunday classes.
            
          N.B:  Hot weather policy :  Sunday training will be cancelled if the
          forecast temperature at 6 p.m. the preceding day, is 34 C. or higher.
 
         Wednesday evening classes are cancelled if the temperature at 6 p.m.  
        the previous evening is 34 C. or higher. See: temperature readings & forecasts  
               This doesn't affect Puppy Kindy classes on Tuesdays, as they are held indoors. 

           Sunday training is not held on long weekends, nor on the two
               dates each year when the club hosts Obedience trials, which
               in the current year will be on May 23rd & October 10th 2010.   
               All members are more than welcome to attend these events
             to learn how trials are run, and what's expected of competitors.
                               ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~                                        
        Puppy Kindy
               Puppy Pre-school for pups aged 8 - 16 weeks, who have received
          their first vaccinations (bring your pup's vaccination certificate with you)
          are conducted inside the clubrooms on our washable floor surface
          on Tuesday evenings throughout the year. All family-members
          are encouraged to attend these sessions, which offer pups and
          their owners supervised socialisation with other dogs, as well as
          teaching basic commands such as to to Sit, Stand, Stay, Drop,
          Come, Fetch, and to walk on a lead, and provide support and
          advice for those who may be experiencing difficulties with puppy
          behaviour, or such 'life-skills' as house-training. Dover's training
          methods are positive and gentle, encouraging a combination of
          motivational techniques that utilise voice and rewards (treats or
          toy) with the correct use of a collar and lead.
          Puppies graduate to the outdoor classes at 16 weeks of age,
          and remain in Puppy company until they reach 6 months, when
          they join either Grade 1 or 2 depending on their progress so far.
              Puppy Kindy is free with standard club membership.

        The first Puppy Kindy classes for 2010 commence on January 19th
                                    
                             
                               Puppy class:divided into groups depending on experience
                                           ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~    

      Graduation (see also Graduation Criteria )
        Assessment for graduation to the next class is held on the last Sunday of
       each month, unless this clashes with a Dover Obedience Trial (see 'Diary')
       or long weekend, in which case graduation occurs the week before.
          You are assessed during class by instructors who are not your regular weekly instructor.

       You need to remember to wear your badge so when you & your dog pass (!)
       it can be clipped to indicate graduation. You will be issued with a certificate
       which you can collect at the Club Office.

              Don't be discouraged by others graduating around you if you aren't making the      
              same progress. There are many reasons why dogs will learn at different rates:

• Some breeds mature more quickly than others, and some breeds have been developed
  for the purpose of working as part of the handler's team, for example herding breeds.
  
• Some of your class-mates may be training their second or third dog, so they know
  what they're doing, and will probably have trained their new pup from very young.
  They may be planning to compete in Obedience events, and can often be fast-tracked
  through the early classes; while others are just trying to ensure their dog is well
  socialised and obedient in a more 'everyday' sense .  
  
• If you have taken on a mature or rescue dog, they may have experiences in their past
  life which inhibit their learning initially, but these can be overcome with patience.
  
• Some breeds are more independent and not as receptive to training as others.
• We understand that some owners have more commitments and calls on their time than
  others, but we would emphasise that a small amount of time devoted regularly to training
  will pay dividends not only in skills/behaviour, but in the dog's confidence, and in your
  relationship with them.
  N.B: A prolonged or intensive training session the day before graduation cannot make
  up for those many missed short sessions, and may stress both dog and handler.
• This is not a race so much as the development of a partnership with your dog, primarily
  as a companion, and should be enjoyable for both of you. If it also becomes a successful
  working team, and then a hobby or even an obsession(!) that's a bonus, but even the most
  competitive teams have disappointments, and frequently have to go 'back to basics' with
  new exercises.
  Don't put pressure on yourself or your dog to graduate every month. You have plenty of
  time, and the instructors are there to help you: many of them have struggled themselves
  with 'difficult' dogs, and fully understand that it doesn't always 'fall into place' easily; but
  a dog that starts off slowly may still be the more reliable performer in the long term than
  the one that seems to be headed for stardom from puppyhood.  Dog-stars burn out too.
                                               ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  
  

Graduation Criteria