REGISTERED STUDENTS: TO BOOK YOUR SPOT IN CLASS, CLICK HERE!
SCHEDULE & VENUES
Our classes are held at the Cowichan Exhibition Centre in Duncan.
As a Cowichan Canine Foundation Student, you pick your own class times and YOU CAN COME TO CLASS AS OFTEN AS YOU WANT during the period of your 10-week course:
Wednesdays
11:00am – 12:00noon
12:15-1:15pm
7:00-8:00pm
8:15-9:15pm
Saturdays
10:00 – 11:00 am
11:00am – 12:00noon
2:00-3:00pm
From time to time as student demand warrants it, there may also a “Small Dogs Special” class available on Saturday afternoons, for dogs under 22lbs adult weight.
Other class times may be added from time to time as student demand increases, while at other times, class times may be changed, so please always double-check!
ROLLING ENROLLMENT
- NO NEED TO WAIT FOR CLASSES TO BEGIN!
Download, print and submit this Registration Form together with a copy of your dog’s vaccination/titer record and your payment (cheque or cash, please). You can either snail mail, or – if you pre-register via telephone (250-743-7648) or email (info@cowichancanine.ca) – you can bring the registration package to the Orientation class, which is your first, compulsory class.
Orientation Class Schedule
Orientation his is your FIRST CLASS, and you need to attend this 2 hr class WITHOUT YOUR DOG before you start attending the training classes with your dog.
Here is the schedule of our upcoming Orientation classes:
Sat 18 Feb 3:15pm
Wed 7 Mar 7:00pm
Sat 31 Mar 3:15pm
Wed 18 Apr 7:00pm
Cowichan Canine is closed on Mondays and Fridays, and we are also closed on: Sat 4 Feb, Sun 11 Mar, Sat 21 Apr, because of special events.
MODULAR SCHEDULE
- TRAIN WHEN IT SUITS YOU!
At your convenience, you pick and choose your own class times from the schedule and YOU CAN COME TO CLASS AS MANY TIMES A WEEK AS YOU WANT during your course. In fact, we encourage you to come to class twice a week, if you can. You pay the same price, however many (or few) times you come to class!
Even though we’re working within a class format, we will spend a lot of time in class coaching you and your dog through the programme on an individual basis – our curriculum is in fact based on individual coaching.
Our Instructor:Student ratio is 1:4.
After you have attended the Orientation class, the Foundation Programme gives you 10 weeks during which you can attend as many Foundation classes as you wish each week.
If you need to take a hiatus during this period for health or other reasons, please report your absence in advance, and we will put your attendance on hold. You can take a maximum of THREE such breaks, but you need to complete the programme within FOUR months from your start date. Your 10 weeks will be extended automatically if the school is closed. All students get a “free week” if the school is closed for part of a week.
If you find that you need more time than the 10 weeks to complete the course, top-ups of one or several weeks are available for purchase (see below).
You WILL need to practice at home in between classes – sorry, there are no “miracle cures”. THE GOOD NEWS is that, because of the positive training methods that we use, you only need to practice on average 10-15 minutes a day!
Fact: You can expect that your dog will become a training addict!
As you progress through the course, you will receive a full set of training sheets, which include complete, step-by-step instructions for all the behaviours that are included in the course.
CURRICULUM: The Foundation Programme is aimed at dogs from 17 weeks and older. It teaches the basic skills that all dogs and owners need, whether the dog is “just a pet” or aiming for a competitive dog sports career. If you take the time to work with your dog at home for – say on average – 10-15 mins a day, you likely to walk away from the Foundation Programme with a happy and obedient dog that you will be proud to take out in public, and you will also have gained a basic understanding of how to continue to teach your dog most basic skills and tricks. The programme is based on the curriculum developed by the Karen Pryor Academy.
CONTINUING EDUCATION: Your Foundation Programme GRADUATION CERTIFCATE, which you will receive when you have completed at least 80% of the 29 behaviour levels, gives you access to our Continuing Education Programme, with classes in agility, rally obedience, advanced clicker training and much more.
PROGRAMME SUMMARY
| Behaviours included in the course |
Come When Called |
| Duration |
10 weeks |
| Max time allowed |
4 months |
| No. vacations (“hiatus”) allowed |
3 |
| Graduation |
>80% of behaviour levels signed off |
| Cost of Programme - unlimited no. of classes for 10 weeks |
$185 |
| Can I buy top-up time if I run out of time and still wish to complete my dog’s training? |
Yes |
| Top-up: 1 single class |
$15 |
| Top-up: 1 week (unlimited classes) |
$20 |
| Top-up: 2 weeks (unlimited classes) |
$35 |
| Top-up: 4 weeks (unlimited classes) |
$75 |
| Graduation gives access to Continuing Education courses? |
Yes |
DO YOU HAVE A PUPPY UNDER 17 WEEKS OLD?
If you have a puppy that is less than 17 weeks old, enrollment in the Foundations Programme also entitles you to FREE Puppy Socialization classes until your puppy is old enough to enter the Foundation Programme. Please select “Puppy Socialization” from the Classes drop-down menu, download and complete the separate Registration Form for the Puppy Socialization class and bring it to your first puppy class.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to send an e-mail to info@cowichancanine.ca or call 250-743-7648 or 250-732-5415.
WELCOME TO CLASS!