Agility                           
Agility remains the fastest growing dog sport. It is a sport that finds dog and handler teams leaving the agility course celebrating, whether they have qualified in their run or not. It is also very popular among spectators, the action is fast and it is always entertaining whether the dog does as the handler asks or not. It's fun for everyone! Agility lessons are available as private lessons or will soon be available as "Drop in Sessions" on Saturday mornings. Please give us a call if you are interested.

Protection
Schutzhund is a German word meaning "protection dog". It refers to a sport that focuses on developing and evaluating those traits in dogs that make them more useful and happier companions to their owners. Schutzhund work concentrates on three parts. tacking, obedience and protection work (similar to dogs in police work).

Search & Rescue
When choosing a dog breed suitable for search and rescue work it is recommended to choose from a breed that possesses such traits as: excellent scenting capability, strong drives (prey, pack, play, etc.), physical endurance/stamina, high degree of intelligence, and high degree of trainability. In general, working breeds such as the Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd Dog, Border Collie, Belgian Malinois, and Golden Retriever make suitable candidates for search and rescue work. It is important to note, however, that breed alone does not produce an ARDA quality search dog. A stable, friendly temperament and strong drives are essential and can only be achieved through good breeding programs, frequent socialization with other dogs and humans, and a strong training foundation.

Trailing (Air Scenting)
Air scenting search dogs are trained to seek the unique scent that is produced by the bacterial activity on human skin cells. As these cells are shed from the body and released into the environment, they become airborne. The trained search dog has been taught to detect this scent in the air and will "work" the air currents back and forth until the subject is located. Once the dog has located the scent source it returns to the handler and leads him to the subject.

Tracking (Foot Print)
A dog is "tracking" when he is following the scent trail or disturbed vegetation scent, left by a person (or other animal) that has traveled along a certain route. Following a track is one of the many useful things dogs can do to help people. Hounds track game, rescue dogs track lost children, police dogs track suspects, well trained pets can find lost items.

Aggression Rehabilitation
There are many reasons for aggression in dogs. Most aggression is rooted in fear, timidity, anxiousness or nervousness. The good new is many aggressive dogs can be rehabilitated so that they can function appropriately in a family setting. Rehabilitation often requires a longer term training commitment (four weeks or more) however success is not guaranteed. Call the kennel to speak directly with a trainer or to schedule a free evaluation.