McKaynine Obedience

What Type Of Training Methods Are Used? While we do aim for top-notch competition-level training, we'll never mess up that special connection between you and your dog just for the sake of being perfect in the ring. Our main goal is to make sure your dog genuinely enjoys what they do and we achieve this through positive reinforcement. We simply do not use forceful obedience training methods - and just so you know, pinch or shock collars are a big no-no, no matter what. Is There A Test At The End Of A Course? When the course wraps up, we do have gradings, but don't sweat it! You can totally redo a grade if you want, and there's zero pressure to go through the grading if it's not your thing. We get it, tests can be a bit nerve-wracking, but these gradings give us all something to aim for. Honestly, most folks hit their home obedience goals whether they nail the grading or not, and that's what really matters to us. Our main mission is to see an improvement in your pup's behaviour at home. Now, we're total nerds, and we'd love to see everyone continue to the advanced stuff, but.... your wishes come first! We're at our happiest when you achieve your personal goals, no doubt about it. What Is Required For Classes? All our students should be in tip-top health, with vaccinations, deworming and tick and flea control all squared away. They should also sport a regular flat collar and be leashed up with a standard webbing lead, about 1.2 meters long. Don't forget to bring some treats along for the ride. Our classes are popular, so you need to book your spot – it's a must. If your pup hasn't been to one of our puppy schools before, we'll need to do an assessment to make sure our classes are the right fit for you. But if your pupper has rocked our puppy school, we've got a spot reserved just for them in the next obedience course. Is There Anything Obedience Classes Can't Address? Absolutely! It's important to know that obedience classes are not remedial classes and they can't address everything. There are two main aspects to consider: Behavioural Problems: Obedience training primarily focuses on teaching dogs to respond to commands. It won't magically fix behavioural issues like digging up the garden or chewing your laundry. Those require a different approach. Behaviour Modification: For tackling deeper behavioural problems such as reactivity, anxiety or any kind of aggression, you'll need the expertise of an experienced and qualified animal behaviourist. They can dive into the root causes and provide specialised guidance either through a behaviour modification programme or private lessons, depending on the severity of the problem. If anyone claims that obedience training alone can solve all behavioural issues, they might not be fully grasping the distinction between obedience and behaviour modification. If you're ever in doubt, don't hesitate to reach out to us for clarification or guidance. We're here to help! At What Level Is My Dog Considered To Be "Trained"? Well, you can keep teaching your good pupper new tricks forever if you want! But if you're gunning for a well-behaved dog at home, we suggest kicking things off with the Elementary Obedience class. After that, dive into the three-month Canine Good Citizen Bronze program. That combo should give your doggo an awesome foundation for being a super well-behaved and all-around awesome canine companion. Where Do We Start? The journey begins with our Elementary Beginner course, which typically runs for 2 to 3 months and is available at all our branches. If your dog didn't attend our puppy classes, we'll do a quick assessment to figure out the right training level to meet your goals. Plus, it's a great opportunity for us to get acquainted with both you and your four-legged companion before we kick off the classes!

Check out the info on our various obedience levels or if you're in a hurry, pick your location...

A dog that listens, even when there's

plenty going on around them

Figuring out what makes your dog tick

Helping your canine companion be a

total pro at getting things right

More hangouts with other dogs and

humans

A pretty sweet deal for the long run

without breaking the bank

A lifeline for surviving your dog's teenage

years with support and advice

What exactly is covered in these classes?

We've put a lot of thought into each obedience grade to make sure they're enjoyable to hound and human while still getting the

important stuff done. Starting with Elementary Obedience, we dive into loose lead walking. As you and your canine partner

move up the ranks, we throw in more cool stuff like fetch, epic stays, long-distance control, send-aways and even some

nosework challenges!

Taking an obedience course with your pup can score you some awesome

perks, like:

Honeydew
Midstream
Delta
Randburg
Randfontein
Working Trials
Tracking
K9 Yoga
Mantrailing

What Type Of Training Methods Are Used? While we do aim for top-notch competition-level training, we'll never mess up that special connection between you and your dog just for the sake of being perfect in the ring. Our main goal is to make sure your dog genuinely enjoys what they do and we achieve this through positive reinforcement. We simply do not use forceful obedience training methods - and just so you know, pinch or shock collars are a big no-no, no matter what. Is There A Test At The End Of A Course? When the course wraps up, we do have gradings, but don't sweat it! You can totally redo a grade if you want, and there's zero pressure to go through the grading if it's not your thing. We get it, tests can be a bit nerve-wracking, but these gradings give us all something to aim for. Honestly, most folks hit their home obedience goals whether they nail the grading or not, and that's what really matters to us. Our main mission is to see an improvement in your pup's behaviour at home. Now, we're total nerds, and we'd love to see everyone continue to the advanced stuff, but.... your wishes come first! We're at our happiest when you achieve your personal goals, no doubt about it. What Is Required For Classes? All our students should be in tip- top health, with vaccinations, deworming and tick and flea control all squared away. They should also sport a regular flat collar and be leashed up with a standard webbing lead, about 1.2 meters long. Don't forget to bring some treats along for the ride. Our classes are popular, so you need to book your spot – it's a must. If your pup hasn't been to one of our puppy schools before, we'll need to do an assessment to make sure our classes are the right fit for you. But if your pupper has rocked our puppy school, we've got a spot reserved just for them in the next obedience course. Is There Anything Obedience Classes Can't Address? Absolutely! It's important to know that obedience classes are not remedial classes and they can't address everything. There are two main aspects to consider: Behavioural Problems: Obedience training primarily focuses on teaching dogs to respond to commands. It won't magically fix behavioural issues like digging up the garden or chewing your laundry. Those require a different approach. Behaviour Modification: For tackling deeper behavioural problems such as reactivity, anxiety or any kind of aggression, you'll need the expertise of an experienced and qualified animal behaviourist. They can dive into the root causes and provide specialised guidance either through a behaviour modification programme or private lessons, depending on the severity of the problem. If anyone claims that obedience training alone can solve all behavioural issues, they might not be fully grasping the distinction between obedience and behaviour modification. If you're ever in doubt, don't hesitate to reach out to us for clarification or guidance. We're here to help! At What Level Is My Dog Considered To Be "Trained"? Well, you can keep teaching your good pupper new tricks forever if you want! But if you're gunning for a well- behaved dog at home, we suggest kicking things off with the Elementary Obedience class. After that, dive into the three-month Canine Good Citizen Bronze program. That combo should give your doggo an awesome foundation for being a super well-behaved and all- around awesome canine companion. Where Do We Start? The journey begins with our Elementary Beginner course, which typically runs for 2 to 3 months and is available at all our branches. If your dog didn't attend our puppy classes, we'll do a quick assessment to figure out the right training level to meet your goals. Plus, it's a great opportunity for us to get acquainted with both you and your four-legged companion before we kick off the classes!