Obedience Training by Toni Thompson

We are delighted to have Toni Thompson as Dog Wood Park's obedience instructor!  Toni has been training dogs for over 30 years.  Her primary interest and experience has been in obedience work, although she has  taught agility, tracking, canine good citizenship, puppy kindergarten, conformation, carting, water rescue, and puppy drown-proofing.  She has studied canine behavior with a number of experts, including William E. Campbell, Ian Dunbar, Connie Cleaveland, Michael W. Fox, and Peter Vollmer, and trained with Milo and Margaret Pearsall.  In the past she has served on a variety of boards, including Board of Directors of the Alachua County Humane Society, and the UF Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee. She is a former director of the Ann Arbor Michigan Dog Training Club and the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors. She is an award winner from Dog Writer’s Association of America (ARC) for the training book Hearing Dogs for the Hearing Impaired Dog Owner . Toni has earned numerous obedience titles from both AKC & CKC with her Great Danes, Pugs, and Doberman Pinschers.

Beginner I Obedience:  You'll learn the basics of training including how to get and hold your dog's attention.  The sit, down, stand, stay, come, and heeling patterns are introduced.  Positive training methods are used (treats, toys, praise), not choke collars.  Puppies will be allowed to take this class as soon as they have completed a set of puppy shots. No dogs over the age of 99 may take the class (in other words, a dog is never too old for obedience training!). Do bring your dog to the first class.  The cost for a 6-week class is $99, payable at the first class (we accept MasterCard, Visa, cash and checks).  Dog Wood Park Members receive a 5% discount.

Novice/Beginner II Obedience classes:  This is a continuation of basic training; the goal is off-leash control.  Included is the introduction of "take, hold, and carry," jumping, and AKC requirements for the CD degree.  The cost for a 6-week class is $99, payable at the first class. 

How do you know if your dog is ready for Novice?  He/she should be able to do the following (all on lead):  sit/stay for 1 minute, down/stay for 3 minutes, heel and do figure 8s, stand for examination, come (recall).

Open Obedience Class: This class is specifically designed for those that want to continue intensive obedience work, and those that want to show in Obedience. Your dog must be controllable off-leash prior to taking this class. Novice/Beginner II and permission by instructor are required for this course. The cost for a 5 week class is $99, payable at the first class.

New Classes starting Thursday, September 11th (Beginner at 7pm, Open at 8pm) and Saturday, September 13th (Beginner I at 10am, Novice/Beginner II at 11 am). Sign up early as classes will fill up quickly. Note: Appropriate footwear required - no heels or flip-flops.

All classes will be held indoors in our air-conditioned/heated building. 

To register for an obedience class, email or call (335-1919) the park.   Include your full name, dog's name, age and breed, and your phone number.