Building Canine Confidence October 26 - December 21, 2024 Saturday 12:00 p.m.

Building Canine Confidence

October 26 – December 21, 2024
No class November 16th and December 7th
Saturdays at 12:00 p.m.

Instructor: Julie W

Building Canine Confidence is a beginner to intermediate course for guardians who would like to help their dogs build confidence when interacting with the world around them. This class will focus on skills for the dogs, confidence building games and team building exercises for dogs and people. We will concentrate on overcoming fears, such as new environments, objects and noises. This is not a manners class and does not require any previous training. We will use a combination of exploring, games and play to help your dog learn how to feel safer when exposed to unfamiliar stimuli. We will help your dog think and make choices and use his or her body effectively. This is an excellent start for under-socialized, fearful, and “shut down” dogs.

While some of the exercises covered can be used to help introduce a wary dog to strangers, this class is not designed for dogs with known stranger issues.

Reactive dogs are welcome to attend this class with permission from the instructor after the dogs have received training, such as in our Managing a Reactive Dog class, which is specifically designed to better manage reactivity. Guardians with unprepared reactive dogs may not be able to complete this class.

The first class is for people only.

7-session, 1-hour classes in Smoky’s Training Center, Richmond, VA

Training Classes Waiver:

By registering for training classes with the Richmond SPCA, I hereby waive, release and discharge for myself, my heirs, personal representatives and assigns any and all rights, liability, causes of action and claims that may now or hereafter accrue to me or which I may now or hereafter assert against the Richmond SPCA or the officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns of any of them for injury or illness and/or property damage that my dog may suffer or sustain as a result of his or her participation in Richmond SPCA animal training programs. I hereby assume all risks of any such injury, illness, or damage. I certify that my pet is physically fit to participate in Richmond SPCA animal training program activities.

BACK TO CLASSES

PET VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

All dogs must be current on the following vaccinations at least three days prior to their first class (protective titers also accepted):

Rabies: for all dogs ages 16 weeks and older, updated annually or every three years (per your veterinarian’s recommendation)
Distemper/Parvo: updated annually or every three years (per your veterinarian’s recommendation); puppies must have had at least two sets prior to class and by 16 weeks of age
Bordetella: updated every six months or annually (per your veterinarian's recommendation)

You or your veterinarian must provide proof of current vaccinations or protective titers on or before your pet’s first training class.

Send your veterinary records by email to gbirdnecklace@richmondspca.org, fax them to 804-521-0540 or bring printed copies to our humane center’s front desk. Please mark them to the attention of Gail Bird Necklace.

Vaccination waivers from your veterinarian should be sent by email to eholst-grubbe@richmondspca.org or faxed to 804-521-0540. Please mark them to the attention of Eileen Holst-Grubbe.

All waivers must be approved by our veterinarian and management team.

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

We rarely cancel class due to inclement weather. If we're experiencing a significant weather event (snow, ice, etc.), we will make every effort to contact participants at least an hour and a half prior to class start time in the event that we have to cancel class.

CANCELLATION / REFUND POLICY

Registrations that are cancelled seven or more days prior to the start of class will be refunded in full. Registrations cancelled with fewer than seven days notice will not be refunded and we will not offer credit toward future sessions for missed classes.

Questions about your training class? Check out our Training Class FAQs and Policies. See you in class!

Building Canine Confidence

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