How do I Sign Up for Classes?
What is Taught?
Who May Attend?
When and Where are Classes?

How do I sign up for classes?

You may register for classes by mail or calling 623-412-3288.  This is our registration line. You will leave your name and address and one of our phone representatives will send you a packet of registration information.  You may also download the general rules.  Send a check made out to PFOC for $40 to: Marilyn Bennett, 7148 W. Caribbean Lane, Peoria, AZ  85381. Forms should be received at least one week prior to the beginning of class.

What is taught?

We teach you, the handler, to use love and patience to communicate with your dog to make your dog a canine good citizen.

Your dog should be a joy to live with, safe around other pets and children. In our beginning classes we teach attention, control, dominance exercises, sit, down, stay, and to come. By the end of the Basic Beginning class you and your dog will be exposed to the exercises presented in the AKC Canine Good Citizen Award. (CGC).

We offer classes that range from Kindergarten Puppy Training through Utility Obedience Training. We also offer classes in Conformation Showing.

Puppy Kindergarten Obedience:
Introduction to basic commands such as heel, sit, down, off,  stay, etc. Teaches dominance techniques so that the human is alpha in the "pack".  Teaches basic dog maintenance skills such as grooming, teeth brushing, and toe-nail cutting.

PFOC Instructors are certified in administering the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program designed to get dog owners and their puppies off to a good start.  The AKC Socialization, Training, Activity, Responsible owner program is an incentive program for loving dog owners who have taken the time to Train Their Pups to Be Stars. Click here for more information from the AKC website.

Basic Beginners (Puppy, Young, & Adult):
You will learn to teach your dog to sit, down, stay, heel, come and leave it. The main focus is to have a well behaved family pet.

Advanced Beginning I:
A more structured continuation of Beginning.  We will add new exercises to make the student familiar with exercises used in the beginning level of obedience competition.

Advanced Beginning II:
A more structured continuation of Advanced Beginners I.  At this level handlers are expected to know the basic commands and have the dogs under control. At this point one is either putting the ‘finishing touches’ on the family pet or may be considering showing their dog in obedience competition.

Pre-Novice:
The handlers and dogs that have attained this level are usually planning to show in obedience competition. This demands a commitment on the part of the handler to work with his/her dog to correct and fine tune the basic obedience exercises.

Novice:
Prepares you to show your dog in obedience competition.

Show-Novice:
This class is for persons preparing to go into obedience competition.  Approval from current instructor is necessary to be able to enter this class.

Open Obedience:
Is open to dogs that have earned two legs (passed two times in Novice obedience competition) or have received a Companion Dog title. In this class the dog and handler learn how to perform the Open Obedience exercises.

Utility Obedience:
Is open to dogs that have earned two legs or have received a Companion Dog Excellent title in obedience competition.  They will be taught the exercises necessary to earn a Utility Dog title.

Rally Obedience:
Rally is a 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.  Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience.

Conformation:
You will be taught the proper procedures for handling a dog in the conformation ring at a dog show.

Who May Attend?
The classes are set up so that one person should be the handler of the dog. Family members may attend, but should stay on the side-lines as observers.

When and Where are Classes?
The six week session of classes are taught on Monday evenings at Encanto Park, 15th Avenue and Encanto Blvd, Phoenix, AZ.