Happy, healthy, confident puppies grow up to well-socialized companion animals.  HOT’s Puppy Classes are designed to help the owner establish leadership, learn how and when to discipline and assist with the leash breaking, socialization and house training of a puppy up to five months of age. Students learn how to teach their puppy to walk politely on a leash, and basic commands such as sit, down, stay, quiet and come. Puppy class instructors also review grooming and nail trimming, general health information, behavior and seasonal problems with students. Plenty of playtime is included and games are used to teach retrieve and come exercises.

Well-socialized, confident and obedient dogs with responsible owners are welcomed members of a community. In HOT’s Basic Classes, students learn the proper use of training equipment; how to get and keep their dog’s attention, how to give commands; correction and praise; and controlled walking on a leash. They learn how to teach their dog the basic commands of sit, down, stay and how to release their dog from training. Heeling is taught through straight line, serpentine and circle exercises. Advanced exercises in the basic class include stand, long sit and down, automatic sits at halt and recalls on a long line.

Registration materials -- Basic Class

Pre-Novice:  $95  –  6 weeks

There is so much more obedience training than come sit and stay.  HOT’s Pre-Novice is designed for the dog and handler who already know the basic commands but want to continue their training, either to strengthen their basic skills or to lay the groundwork for those who might want to one day participate in competitive obedience.  Exercises are a combination of repeated skills learned at the Basic level and new, progressively difficult exercises. Course work includes Attention; Sit/Down Stays; Finish (long and short); Figure 8; Foot Work; Heeling on Lead; Recalls; Stand for Examination; Heel Free; Heeling through Crowds; Controlled out of sight stays; and Stays with loud noises and distractions.

The American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program was started in 1989 to reward purebred and mix breed dogs who have good manners at home, in public places and in the presence of other dogs.  The AKC’s CGC Program stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs.  HOT’s CGC Prep Class is designed to prepare you for each of the 10 exercises included in the AKC’s CGC Test, such as politely accepting a stranger, grooming, or the presence of another dog.  Your dog will learn to walk politely with you in public, deal with distractions while on your walk, and to sit, down and wait for you to call them.  The class concludes with the CGC Test conducted in a relaxed, non-competitive atmosphere.  All dogs that complete the class and pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.

We sincerely hope that CGC will be only a beginning for you and your dog, and that after passing the CGC test, you'll continue training in obedience, agility, tracking, or performance events.  Consistent, ongoing training will enhance the bond between you and your dog. Dogs who have a solid obedience education are a joy to live with, they respond well to household routines, have good manners in the presence of people and other dogs, and they fully enjoy the company of the owner who took the time to provide training, intellectual stimulation, and a high quality life.  HOT offers the following advanced classes to give you the opportunity to strengthen and reinforce your dog’s basic obedience training so that you can experience the joy and benefits of a well-trained dog.

Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler complete a course of 10 to 20 designated stations on a course designed by the judge. Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. The team of dog and handler moves continuously at a brisk, but normal, pace with the dog under control at the handler's left side. There should be a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler both during the numbered exercises and between the exercise signs; however, perfect "heel position" is not required.  Unlimited communication from the handler to the dog is to be encouraged and not penalized. Unless otherwise specified in these Regulations, handlers are permitted to talk, praise, encourage, clap their hands, pat their legs, or use any verbal means of encouragement. Multiple commands and/or signals using one or both arms and hands are allowed; the handler's arms need not be maintained in any particular position at any time, however, the handler may not touch the dog or make physical corrections.

Rally provides a link from the Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) program to obedience or agility competition, both for dogs and handlers. In addition, rally promotes fun and enjoyment for dogs at all levels of competition.  HOT’s Rally Instructors will spend the first part of each class reviewing select Rally Exercises, demonstrating how they should be executed and explaining how they are scored.  The remainder of class time is then devoted to students working on those exercises under the guidance of the instructor.   Level 1 focuses on the exercises included in Rally Novice courses, Level 2 focuses on the Rally Advanced exercises and Level 3 covers the exercises from the Rally Excellent Class.

Novice is designed for the dog and handler who might want to one day participate in competitive obedience. Exercises are a combination of repeated skills learned at the Pre-Novice level and new, progressively difficult exercises.  Required Equipment includes a flat buckle nylon or leather collar or positive control collar, 4-foot nylon/leather leash and a 15-foot long line.

Open is designed for the dog and handler who want to train for competitive obedience at the Open level. Exercises are a combination of repeated skills learned at the Novice level and new, progressively difficult exercises including retrieving a dumbbell, the high and broad jumps, drop on recall and out of sight stays.  Required equipment includes a flat buckle nylon or leather collar or a positive control collar, a 4-foot nylon or leather leash and a dumbbell sized appropriately for the dog's bite.

Competitive tracking is a sport that judges a dog's ability to recognize and follow human scent, a skill that is useful in the service of mankind.  We are not training for search and rescue work, man trailing or evidence discrimination, however, the same basic skills learned in this class are utilized to train dogs for those services.  Tracking, by nature, is a vigorous, outdoor sport.  Tracking tests demonstrate the willingness and enjoyment of the dog in its work, and should always represent the best in sportsmanship and camaraderie by the people involved.  HOT’s Tracking Class is designed for those who have never tracked before or who have been out of the sport for a while and are starting a new dog.  Students will learn the start, corner, article indication, and line-handling skills necessary to develop the teamwork with their dog needed to build a training regime that, with commitment and consistency, will lead to the successful completion of the AKC Tracking Dog (TD) Test.

Tim Robbins offers a Conformation Class on Tuesday evenings from 8:15 - 9:45 pm at HOT's Training Facility for those who want to learn about showing in the breed ring or just need to polish a dog before showing.  Classes are open to all breeds, adults and puppies, experienced and novice handlers.  Dogs must be leashed trained and have up to date vaccinations, including rabies.  Bitches in season must be wearing britches.  For more information contact Tim at [email protected]

All students working in any of the Advanced Training Classes should have a current copy of the A.K.C. Obedience Rules and Regulations, A.K.C. Judges Guidelines and other Rules and Regulations appropriate for the titles toward which they are training.  Equivalent U.K.C. Rules and Regulations should be obtained if applicable.

Class sizes are limited, so, if after registering you find that you are unable to attend this course, please let us know in advance so another applicant may fill your slot.  Your enrollment will be canceled and your check will be voided or you may elect to transfer your enrollment to a future Puppy or Basic Class.  If you must miss a class, your instructor will offer an abbreviated make-up session before your next class (as their schedules allow).  No refunds will be made after the first class is completed.  If for some reason you are not able to complete your scheduled class, a transfer certificate will be provided for a slot in a future Puppy or Basic Class. Only one transfer will be allowed per student. There are no transfers offered for CGC, Rally or Advanced classes.

Houston Obedience Training Dog Club, Inc. does not allow overly aggressive or vicious dogs in its classes.  Dogs who are potentially dangerous to other people and/or dogs will be dismissed from class and referred to a private canine behavior modification program at the owner’s request.  In the case of dismissal, NO REFUND WILL BE GIVEN and the dismissed dog may not enroll in any future HOT Dog Club class until the owner can provide proof that a behavior modification program has been successfully completed.