Connected: A Teamwork Class for Dogs and Their Humans

Connected: A Teamwork Class for Dogs and Their Humans
Oroville, California

Dates: January 21, January 28, February 4, and February 11
Time: 6:00 PM
Duration: 4 Weeks

Good training isn't just about teaching dogs what to do. It's about creating a partnership where both ends of the leash understand one another.

Using Rally Novice-inspired exercises as our foundation, this class focuses on communication, teamwork, handler skills, and problem-solving. While many of the exercises come from the sport of Rally, this is not a competition class. Instead, we'll use these fun and engaging challenges to strengthen your relationship with your dog while improving focus, engagement, and obedience skills.

Whether your goal is better everyday communication, improved leash skills, a stronger working relationship, or simply a fun way to train with your dog, this class is designed to help you become a more connected team.

A Sneak Peek Inside the Group Class Curriculum

Week 1: "Are We Even Speaking the Same Language?"

Sometimes the biggest training challenge isn't the dog. It's the communication.

This week focuses on creating clarity between dogs and their humans while introducing foundational Rally exercises that improve focus and teamwork.

We'll cover:

• Engagement and attention

• Fronts and finishes

• Handler mechanics

• Understanding rally signs

• Building clear communication between dog and handler

Week 2: "Learning to Dance Together"

The best teams move together, not against each other.

This week focuses on movement, transitions, and helping dogs learn how to stay connected while navigating different exercises and environments.

We'll cover:

• Pace changes

• Left turns, right turns, and about turns

• Position changes

• Maintaining engagement while moving

• Building confidence through successful repetitions

Week 3: "Trust the Process"

By now you'll have the pieces. This week is about learning how to put them together.

We'll begin combining exercises into short sequences while helping both dogs and handlers become more confident problem-solvers.

We'll cover:

• Rally-style sequences

• Working through mistakes without frustration

• Improving timing and communication

• Building confidence under mild distractions

• Strengthening teamwork

Week 4: "The Teamwork Challenge"

It's time to put everything together.

During our final week, teams will work through beginner-friendly rally courses designed to showcase the skills they've developed throughout the class.

We'll focus on:

• Running complete rally-inspired courses

• Improving flow and communication

• Building confidence as a team

• Celebrating progress

• Creating a plan for continued growth

This class is designed to be fun, challenging, and educational for both dogs and handlers. The goal isn't perfection. The goal is building a stronger partnership and creating a dog that wants to work with you because the two of you understand each other better.

All equipment and training tools are welcome. Training should fit the individual dog and handler team. If you have questions regarding equipment, I'm happy to help guide you.

Small group format • Limited to 5 teams