Training Services
Canine Training Classes Offered
Tired of your dog not listening to you? Are you getting the reputation in the neighborhood as the house with the problem child???? Call and enroll in one of our training classes. Classes will be starting soon. Sign up now and learn how structured obedience training can make your dog not only a better member of society but also a pleasure to live with.
Puppy starter class:
This class covers the basic foundation of obedience, and addresses, house breaking, digging, jumping, excessive barking, relaxed car rides and much more.
The class will run for 6 weeks. Cost will be $75.00 for all 6 weeks. (held for about one hour each session)
Beginner obedience:
Once the puppy class has been completed, dogs will move onto the Beginner Obedience classes. This class is much more structured and focuses on formal manners. Communication will be your key for all future handling. We feel that our obedience class will not only provide a way to comfortably handle your dog, but have a much higher level of communication also.
This class will teach commands such as: Heel, sit, down, extended sit stay, extended down stay, come and a finish command to return to your side. We will also concentrate on how to safely play with your dog. It will also provide a strong foundation for off lead control.
This class will run for 8 weeks and the cost will be $125.00 (will be held for about 90 min per session)
Intermediate level:
The focus of this class is progressing to off lead control, heavy environmental distractions such as public walks to the park, child school play ground, control around traffic, accepting visitors in your home, being left unattended in both your home and auto etc…
Also, commands such as sit and down in motion will also be introduced, plus much more.
This class will run for 8 weeks also. The cost is $100.00 (will be held for 90 min. per session)
Advanced class:
Note: In order to join this class you must be a graduate of the previous classes or have taken an adequate amount of private training that will prepare you for this level of training.
This is an on going class only offered one day a week.
The cost is $ 100.00 for 5 classes although we suggest weekly enrollment it will be your choice to come when you choose.
This class may run for one to 2 hours depending on the turn out of students.
Guaranteed to send you and your companion home tired and fulfilled with tons of learning experience.
Private classes:
The cost is $400.00 per 8 lessons. (each private lesson will be about one hour.)
Location is also not limited to our training facility. We often like to work out doors or the environment was each student might have a problem in.
In-house boarding and training:
We offer a boarding program for students who are very busy to do the necessary foundation work or for people who may have a dog that is out of control. This program is structured on an individual basis and will address every problem you may have.
The cost is $250.00 per week.
For more information or a complimentary free evaluation please contact Jon Naroditsky at: 1 618 584 3163 or check us out on the web at: falawoods.com
Please note, we still offer a discount to our previous students, law enforcement, firemen and any local public servant as well as any current military personnel.
No problem dog is ever turned away. Our program is the most comprehensive in the country.
All behavior problems are addressed not hidden.
"In-house boarding and training for out of country or out of town clients."...........
Do to the fact that our out of town clients will not be able to attend weekly fallow up lessons we require that every dog boarded for training to be picked up from our facility in order to insure that each handler gets extended hands on training. We suggest a minimum. Of 3 consecutive days prior to departing. As our school has its own dorm there will not be any additional cost to the handler for their stay here.
In most cases we suggest a minimal of 4 weeks.
Each dog will have extended training periods to assure a higher level of consistency and clarity.
Do to the extra time that each dog receives we are able to customize our program to further benefit each individual student.
The cost for this in-house boarding program is..
$475.00 per weeks. After 6 weeks long term boarding rates will apply.
Training Homework Sheets
Our training homework sheets below are designed for new client, and those in the beginning stages of training. Please Print these off and follow the instructions.
Heeling [print sheet]
Heeling
Key pointers:
- Proper position is to have your dog parallel to your side with his ear even with your thigh.
- Your leash should always be loose—whether walking or at a standstill.
- Your arm should hang naturally to your side.
- Praise is always given when the dog responds to the first command.
- Left hand should hold lead like you are riding a bike—hand over the top of the leash.
The only time the leash will change position is when the dog is either too far ahead, too far behind, or too far out to the side. To correct your dog, snap to the opposite direction of his position. For example: If the dog is too far ahead, snap the leash straight back, saying, “heel”. Immediately, return the leash back to the proper position.
DO NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE , when giving a correction (or any time, for that matter). If more than one correction is needed, gradually increase the “hardness” of the correction until the dog responds, repeating the command with each new correction. The first command is always given without a correction. If the dog does not respond, the command is repeated with a correction.
Remember:
Always maintain a loose lead—consciously have your left arm hang to your side.
Don’t raise your voice.
PRAISE your dog when she responds to the first command that is given!!!!
Sitting [print sheet]
Sitting
Key pointers:
- Proper position is to have your dog’s right ear even with your knee.
- Your leash should always be loose.
- If your dog is not responding, push on her rear end, then snap up and say “sit”.
When the dog is asked to sit, she should sit immediately, by placing her rear end on the ground. The sit should be one smooth movement, with the front paws staying stationary. Paws should never move forward or backward when she is asked to sit. If the dog does not respond to the sit command, you will snap up and slightly forward (as if you were bopping yourself on the chin), repeating the command, “sit”.
Remember:
Always maintain a loose lead—consciously have your left arm hang to your side.
Do not raise your voice.
PRAISE your dog when she responds to the first command that is given!!!!
Sit Stay [print sheet]
Sit/Stay
Key tips:
- Put your dog in a “sit” without using his name.
- Always say the stay command before leaving your dog.
If the dog moves from the sit/stay, do not run up to correct him. Slowly walk back and heel him into the original position from which he moved. Place him back into a “sit”, and correct him from moving by firmly snapping upward, repeating the word, “stay”.
Note
Always give the “stay” command before leaving your dog. Make sure you do not say the command as you are leaving. The dog will want to start to move with you in the heel position, if he is not told to “stay” before you begin to move.
Remember:
Increase the “hardness” of the correction as needed.
Do not raise your voice.
PRAISE your dog when she responds to the first command that is given!!
Downing [print sheet]
Downing
Key tips:
- Proper position is to have your dog laying down parallel to you, with her elbows even with your heels.
- Have your dog sit. Then give the “down” command.
- Do not use your dog’s name.
In these basic training sessions, you will first ask your dog to “sit”. Once your dog is sitting, you will give the “down” command.
Do not bend forward as you are giving the “down” command. Stand straight and allow the leash to slide through your hand, as the dog lays down. If the dog does not respond, move your hand down the leash, toward the collar, and snap down and toward your heel. Bend at the waist and repeat the command, “down”. Then, emphasize the snap on the command “stay”.
Remember:
Increase the “hardness” of the correction as needed.
Do not raise your voice.
PRAISE your dog when she responds to the first command that is given!!
Downstay [print sheet]
Down/Stay
Key tips:
- Make sure the “stay” command is given before you walk away.
- Never use the dog’s name when doing down/stays.
- Never call your dog from the stay position. Always return to her side and release.
- Always emphasize the snap on the “stay”.
If your dog sits up during a “down/stay”, you should return to the heel side and correct her by placing your hand on the leash, close to the dog’s neck, and snap down toward your heel. Repeat the command “down”. Then, snap firmly and repeat “stay”.
If the dog moves forward or backward, or leaves the spot where you put her, walk the dog at a heel position and return her to the original spot. Then, lightly snap the dog straight down, repeating the “down” command. Do not put her into a sit position—go directly to a down, for the command that was broken was “stay”. Snap again, and repeat the “stay” command. Walk away from your dog.
The dog is put into a down/stay for periods b/t ten minutes to one hour. Never call her from this position. The only way she is released from this position is to have the person who placed her in the down/stay return to her side and tell her that she is free. No one other than the person who put the dog in the position can release her (aside from a family member that is working with the dog, as well).
A dog should be able to perform a long down/stay through normal distractions. Do not alter your behavior, or that of your family, to help the dog stay. Do not let your dog end her down/stay without you returning to his side to release her. The decision needs to be yours!
Do not allow your dog to sniff or stretch or roll over during the down/stay. These things should be corrected the same way as if the dog had moved. She should either be looking at you, or fall asleep.
Coming [print sheet]
Coming
Key tips:
- Leave your dog on a sit/stay and give the “come” command from the end of the leash.
- In the beginning, you may repeat “stay” as often as you’d like.
The “come on leash” exercise is practiced initially from a sit/stay. Once your dog is on a sit/stay, walk to the end of the leash, face your dog, and using his name, give the “come” command. At this time, the dog should come in a controlled manner and sit directly in front of you. If he does not respond when asked to “come”, repeat the come command with a firm snap toward your body. As the dog is moving toward you, slide your hand down the leash toward the dog’s neck. This will put your hand in the proper position to correct the dog if he does not sit when he comes to you. If the dog moves before he is called, you should heel him back to where he was, tell him to “sit”, and give a sharp snap up and forward, while repeating the “stay" command. Never stand directly in front of your dog — go to the right side, left side or behind.
When your dog comes to you, he should sit directly in front of you—not off-center. If his rear end is off to the right, put your left hand on his collar and pull him directly forward, towards your knee. If his rear end is off to the left, put your right hand on his collar and pull him directly forward, towards your knee.
All training at Fala Woods, be it boarding and training, private lessons, or classes, is always conducted in the same manner. Our methods are based on consistency and repetition with corrections given when appropriate. We believe that a consequence must be given for misbehavior. Before undesirable behavior is corrected we must first be certain that it does not stem from confusion of what is being asked. Each new command is physically shown to the dog repetitively and consistently. When the dog starts to anticipate the commands, he or she is showing their understanding of what is being asked, and at that point you can expect the dog to execute the command on the first verbal request. We believe that when the training is being conducted the whole family should work together with the dog or dogs. This will ensure that the dog is receiving the same signals from everyone in the family. If the dog is receiving different signals from each family member, the dog will not respond in a proper manner. So, one of the most important goals of the Fala Woods training staff is to have the dog and family work together in a sure and positive manner, which will produce a relaxed and enjoyable dog for the family.
We at Fala Woods do not believe in using food to make a dog respond to training. We would like the dog to respond to the owner for who he or she is, not for what he or she has. Once the dog is working for the owner for this reason, you will see a very consistent, happy working dog.
We at Fala Woods also believe in starting dogs at a young age, usually at 3 1/2 to 4 months of age. When starting training with a dog at a young age, you are starting with a dog that has hardly had any time to develop bad habits. This makes it easier for the dog and owner to work together. When starting a young dog in training, we believe in using the hands and the leash working together to place the dog into the command given. Once the dog has full understanding of what we are trying to do, then and only then will we begin to use only the leash for the training of the dog. At this point, the hands can become an instrument of praise. This gives the dog a reason to respond in a positive manner". Starting training with a dog at a young age of 3 1/2 to 4 months old cuts your working time down by half, if not even more, compared to starting with a dog at the age of 8 months to 1 year. Therefore, we believe in starting a dog at a very young age for best results.
One of the most important beliefs to us at Fala Woods is that while training a dog, the leash should always be loose. This is a very important point to remember. The reason for having the leash loose is to give the feeling to the dog of being off leash. When you get to the later stages of training, which will be off the leash, you will see the positive results you will have from always having worked the dog with a loose leash. So remember, the leash is used for correction, not control.
It is important to remember that obedience is the key to all training. Obedience is not just a way to make your dog respond to the commands being given. Obedience is a way to communicate with your dog. Through proper obedience training, you will develop respect, thus giving you control. That control will enable you to do things with your dog that in most cases, the dog would not have enough trust in you to attempt. Without respect, trust and control, it is impossible to have a true bond between you and your canine partner. Complete unity is very, very important, not only in a service / working dog, but it makes for a much better family pet! companion.
Our final goal at Fala Woods is to work on having your dog be an enjoyable member of the family, as well as a service / working partner. One part of reaching the final goal is having a dog that has a very good obedience foundation. The second part is having a dog that is very well mannered. These two things go hand in hand. Having a dog that is obedience trained but who does not have an understanding of how to use the obedience in everyday life will not give you a completely enjoyable family dog or working partner. We would like to give you some examples of little things that mean a lot.
- How should your dog respond to a car ride?
- If you are taking your dog for a walk, and out of nowhere another dog comes running up and barking at your dog, how should your dog respond?
- How should your dog react approaching any kind of doorway, be it a car or a building of some kind?
- Let's say you are walking down the street with your dog and someone comes up to talk to you.
- How should your dog react?
If your dog is uncomfortable in an environment and does not have enough trust in you to relax, how can that dog be expected to work in that environment?
Now let's move on to the house and think of some things, such as:
- How the dog should respond when the family is sitting down to eat dinner.
- How the dog should react when a visitor comes to the front door.
- If your dog is not comfortable enough to remain in the company of new visitors, how can you expect him or her to protect you?
These things seem like minor things, but they are very, very important. There are many more examples where obedience will play a big role in everyday living, and we hope Fala Woods Canine Training and Developmental Center can help. So, Fala Woods' final goal is having the dog be an enjoyable member of the family, and having the family wake up every day looking forward to having their dog be there.
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Although many of our clients are large working dog owners we have our share of small companion dogs who are enrolled in our training program also.
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Obedience is the key to all training. Without obedience you do not have a way to communicate with your dog. Without communication it is imposable to resolve phobias like garden hoses. As you see being done with this young am staff.
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Learning to sit quietly before, during, and after a bath is part of good manners; dogs who are enrolled in our training program learn these important manners.
Singing her favorite song after her bath. This dog truly enjoys her bath time.
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Without formal training at a young age it is nearly impossible to teach manners such as what this 18 week old am staff is being taught.
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Whether your training to achieve a well mannered well trained companion or a working service dog stability around wild life and all other animals is a must. This young fawn lives on a game farm. We often use captive raised wild life to help train our clients dogs. If your dog likes to chase deer, rabbits or water fowl we can help eliminate this behavior.
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This rottweiler is being prepared for home protection. Home invasions are not stressful to a dog that was properly prepared.
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Whether you're training for sport protection or live scenarios, it is very important to cover as much as possible in training before trial day, or a live encounter on the street.
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Showing the desire to bite while being befriended is a must for any dog who needs to work alone. This young band dog is learning how not to trust intruders.
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Taking the bite without any backup from the handler.
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This bulldog is learning to stay stable on the bite despite what the agitator is doing.
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Having a very hard and relaxed solid bite is as important as the anger and desire to make the bite.
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Old Man fujimo bandit stopping this agitator from entering the window.
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Obedience is the foundation to all training.
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No matter how scary or uncomfortable it may be, the dog needs to trust her handler.
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Showing trust in her handler, down/stay means just that no questions asked.
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Different footing is often scary to green dogs. This dog is learning to overcome this environmental stress.
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Here is a perfect example of obedience: this dog learned to be comfortable in this obstacle through o.b then she was taught to bite.
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She got the name "the blur" for a reason.
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Like people many, dogs are claustrophobic. Until exposing your working partner to such stress through training, you may not have a safe opportunity while under live scenarios.
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We feel that dogs need to learn to deal with threats from the agitator before they become to much of a material junky.
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Notice the deep bite and direct eye contact. This dog is biting with intention.
