Local trainer to teach new dog sport at LADOC

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lamonitor.com

Mary McCalister, local dog trainer and exhibitor, will teach the newest canine sport, Rally Obedience, at Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club on Tuesday evenings beginning July 11, said Leslie Hansen, LADOC's director of training .

Registration for all summer classes will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at LADOC's Training Center, 246 East Road in Los Alamos.

Fees vary according to the number of class sessions, and there is a 30-percent discount for undergraduate /graduate students and the first class for dogs adopted from animal shelters with proof of adoption/enrollment. All dogs must have proof of up-to-date immunizations.

Rally Obedience trains both the dog and the handler to work together to move through a course of exercises selected by a judge or trainer from a set of nearly sixty possible exercises.

At each station in the course, the handler reads the instructions for the exercise and directs the dog through the exercise before the pair can move on to the next station. In competition, not only must the pair perform the exercises to the satisfaction of the judge, but they also are racing the clock, competing both for highest qualifying score and fastest time through the course.

This brand-new class provides a great bonding experience for you and your dog. Dogs must have completed Basic Manners; the fee for the six sessions is $60.

McCalister will also teach agility, a sport often seen on television in which the dog performs such advanced exercises as weaving through a set of poles similar to a slalom course in skiing, broad jump, high jump, going through tunnels, balancing on an elevated board, and going over a tall A-frame.

In competition, the dog must qualify on each exercise and do the exercises in the order prescribed; again, the dog with the fastest time and highest qualifying score wins.

Ron Smith, whose Standard Schnauzers have been regulars in McCalister's classes, said "Even if you never intend to enter a dog at a show, this class is just plain fun for you and your dog. Our dogs love it."

Dogs must have completed Basic Manners and be at least 10 months old. The six-session agility class will be held on Tuesday evenings 6:30-7:30 p.m. beginning July 11; the fee is $60.

Vicki Telles will teach the ever-popular Puppy Kindergarten for puppies ranging in age from 12 weeks to 6 months. Beginning on July 12, the class will run on Wednesday evenings 7-8 p.m. for six sessions; the fee is $60.

"This is a great way to socialize your puppy and begin proper training," said Suzanne Smith. "It's easy to laugh at puppy antics, but remember, the antic that's cute the first time may prove to be unacceptable the hundred and first time. The final class session is a puppy party in which prizes are awarded for the best trick.

"Start early to teach the puppy who's the pack leader and what's considered acceptable behavior." On Thursday evenings beginning July 13, Cheryl Ammann will teach two classes: Canine Good Citizen 6:30-7:30 p.m. (prerequisite Basic Manners; six sessions, fee $60) leading toward the AKC's Canine Good Citizen Test for a CGC title, and Recall from 7:45-8:45 p.m. (four sessions, fee $40).

Holly Trellue will teach a seven-session Basic Manners class from 6-7 p.m. on Friday evenings beginning July 7. Class fee is $70.

Leslie Hansen teaches an ongoing drop-in class in Competitive Obedience from 6:45-7:45 p.m. on each Monday evening except the first one in the month, alternating between Novice and Open exercises.

The class is free to LADOC members and $3.50 per session for non-members; pre-registration is not required.

For 4-H members only, Karen Young teaches two free ongoing classes: "4-H Kids and Canines" on Monday evenings 5:30-6:30 p.m. and "Advanced 4H Kids and Canines" on Saturday afternoons from 1-2 p.m.

For more details and to register for these free classes, call Young at 672-9378.

LADOC has trained dog owners to train their dogs for nearly a half century, and holds several events during the year that are free to the public, including a Fun Match in August and an AKC Obedience Trial in September.

Persons interested in joining the club are cordially invited to attend a meeting, held at 7:15 p.m. on the first Monday evening every month except December at the LADOC Training Center on East Road.