Wag University
Wag University offers a wide range of classes to fit your needs, from basic manners to tricks and Canine Good Citizen certification and more! Lead by our Animal Behaviorist, Diann Andress CPDT-KA, DN-DTC, CTDI, DN-WTWI, our seven-week courses are offered to you at only $150.00. Classes run on a seven-week cycle; each is limited to eight participants per session. Dogs must be current on vaccinations. Dogs should also be friendly toward other dogs and people.
Check out our Events Page for times of classes.
https://www.humanesocietyofpolkcounty.org/events/wagu/
Ready to Sign up for a class? Click HERE
Basic Good Dog Manners
This is a pet dog manners class built on mutual trust and respect between owners and their dogs using positive reinforcement training methods. This class teaches the basics of good dog manners: sit, down, stand, stay, come, loose leash walking, polite greetings and leave it.
Better Good Manners/Canine Good Citizen
The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program, established in 1989, is an American Kennel Club program to promote responsible dog ownership and to encourage the training of well-mannered dogs. A dog and handler team must undergo a short behavioral evaluation of less than half an hour; dogs who pass the evaluation earn the Canine Good Citizen certificate, which many people print after the dog’s written name, abbreviating it as CGC; for example, “Fido, CGC”.
The evaluation consists of ten objectives. All items must be completed satisfactorily or the team fails. Test items include:
- Accepting a friendly stranger
- Sitting politely for petting
- Allowing basic grooming procedures
- Walking on a loose lead
- Walking through a crowd
- Sitting and lying down on command and staying in place
- Coming when called
- Reacting appropriately to another dog
- Reacting appropriately to distractions
- Calmly enduring supervised separation from the owner
Evaluators sometimes combine elements during the actual test.
If all ten objectives are met, the handler can apply for a certificate and special dog tag from the AKC stating that the dog has earned the CGC.
Dogs do not have to be registered with the AKC to earn a CGC, nor do they have to be purebred or, in fact, registered with any canine organization. The goal is to promote good citizenship for all dogs.
Since its inception, the CGC program has become the model for similar programs around the world, is the backbone of other exams, such as those given for therapy dogs, and is a good starting point for more advanced dog training.
Tricks
This class improves and proofs, with distractions, the exercises from The Basic Good Manners Class.
It will make your dog the life of the party wherever you go! Tricks learned in this class will be:
- Paws Up, Spin, Twist
- Bow, Prayers
- Shake Hands, Hoop Jump
- Target, Roll Over, On Your Side
- Figure 8s/ leg weaves
- Wave, Peek-a-boo, Crawl
- Sit Pretty/Beg
These are but a few examples of the University offerings. However, as you will see, Wag U has a class for you!
Need additional information about WagU? Please contact Diann Andress at WagU@humanesocietyofpolkcounty.org