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Frequently Asked Questions
I have completed the online registration, did you receive my payment and can you tell me when my class is? Thank you for your registration. The Treasurer will check new registrations and bank payments once or twice a week and will send confirmation of payment. On the Friday evening before classes commence we will send out emails to new members confirming their class time and instructor. * If you have not received this email by 10pm on the Friday before classes commence please email us.
How old does my puppy have to be before we can start? We require all dogs and puppies to be fully vaccinated before you start.
I have a rescue dog, can we still join? Yes! The Foundation class starts with all the basics of dog training, including loose lead walking, basic commands, building value for focusing on and looking to the handler for guidance, and more. It is designed for those with puppies to adult re-homed/resuce dogs, and everything in between.
How much does it cost to attend classes? Membership is for 12 months. Single membership (one handler) is $90. Single renewal (due 12 months after joining) is $60. Family membership (two or more handlers) is $120. Family renewal (due 12 months after joining) is $90 That's it. No other fees.
When are classes run? Our classes are run on Sunday mornings between 9am - 11am, rain or shine. There are no classes over the summer holidays. Our last class / fun day is typically run on the first Sunday of December. We return to classes on the first Sunday of February. There are no classes when we run our annual Obedience and Rally competition, usually the first Sunday of October. Check out events page for details. Some long weekends during the year there are no classes (e.g. Easter Sunday). Check our Facebook page or latest newsletter for updates.
Can my child train our family dog? Children must be 10 years or older to be a handler. Any child under 16 must be accompanied by an adult and a family membership is required.
My dog doesn't like other dogs, can we train with you? Yes, however we request your dog wears a yellow bandana or yellow jacket letting other owners know they need to give you and your best friend some extra room and to not approach without checking with you first. Please let us know when you register and make yourself known to your instructor at the commencement of classes.
Can my partner and I both train our dog at class? It is wonderful to have the whole family communicating and training your dog in the same way, and we encourage this. However, having two people giving commands to the dog at the same time can be very confusing for the pup. We suggest one person at a time is the handler during class and the other person stays a little way back from the class - just far enough so that you can still hear, but not too close to distract your puppy. You can swap over at different times if you wish as long as you are not distracting others during class time.
Alternatively, one person completes the full program then the other person participates with the dog before progressing to the next class level. For example Jenny attends 4 weeks of Foundation class with their puppy, Lulu. Then Jenny's partner attends the next 4 week Foundation class with Lulu before they move up to Intermediate class.
I am going to be away, what do I do? Where possible, please let your instructor know if you will be away for upcoming classes. They will either give you things to work on, or may suggest you repeat the class level you are attending to get the most out of the programs (depending on how many classes you will miss). We understand everyone is unwell occasionally. When you return, if you can come to class 5-10 minutes early, your instructor may be able to fill you in on what you missed the previous week.
My female dog has come into heat/season. Can we still come? Please leave your female dog at home when she is in heat/season. However, we encourage you to still come to classes so you can learn the skills to take home and practice with your pup.
I have done training at another club, do I have to start at Foundation class? We you register / join, please advise us that you have trained at another club. We will get in contact with you to organise an assessment with you and your dog. Through the assessment we will determine the best class for you and your dog.
Do you offer individual lessons? We are a small community club run entirely by volunteers. At this stage we are unable to offer individual lessons.
What is your weather policy? We run classes in all weather. If it is raining on a Sunday we will be there. If it is windy on a Sunday we will be there. If it is hot on a Sunday we will be there (with the exception of extreme heat, as per our heat policy, no classes when the temperature reaches 35 degrees).
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