My goal for the Canine Confidence course is to give people a place to bring their dogs where they can have fun! That fun also has many benefits for the dogs:
+ Exposure to new and unusual things builds neural pathways in the dogs brain.
+ Helps boost confidence with each new obstacle they learn to master
+ Works on impulse control– most obstacles will need to be worked slowly and carefully. It is definitely NOT about speed on this obstacle course!
+ Can teach problem solving skills– We will present the dog with challenges that are skill level appropriate and let them work through how they will meet the challenge in a way that is safe (handler/trainer helps make sure the dog is making safe choices)
+ Trust in and bonding with the owner
+ Anxiety is lowered and confidence is raised as the dog learns to conquer obstacle after obstacle
+ Socialization to several unusual surfaces and different heights can help dogs overcome fears of novel things and when puppies are under 16 weeks old, it can help prevent fears from developing.
The obstacles and the challenges they present will teach the dogs:
+ Proprioception (body awareness)- learning how to control their body, particularly the rear end which, without training, just follows the front end with little thought or awareness involved.
+ Agility– If you do fast paced sports, you need an agile dog. Teaching the dog how to use his whole body will help them achieve that goal.
+ Balance– Urban dogs don’t usually get much practice with balance skills. But having good balance can help them prevent injuries and be more confident on unusual surfaces.
+ Coordination– Dogs bodies have a lot of moving parts, and most times the dog can accomplish most tasks without much thought. But having more body awareness and the ability to focus on a certain body part, such as what the right rear foot is doing, can make their movement and ability to navigate difficult obstacles a thing of beauty.
+ Core strength– Another thing many dogs lack is good core strength, because most dogs don’t need it to get around the house and walk around the block. But building good muscle tone helps prevent injury and keeps the dog fit. If your dog participates in dog sports, good core strength will really help them!
+ Mental Stimulation– Dogs are highly intelligent and can become bored with the “same ol’ same ol” daily routine. The course will give them new challenges and problems to solve, working their brain in ways that will wear them out, in a good way!
+ Because you can get cool medals! On the page for each level, you’ll see the medal the dog can earn for that level. The dog must complete each item on the check off sheet in a calm and confident manner at least twice to earn the medal for the level.
** Course is closed to new clients and is being phased out. Visit rules page for link to booking calendar** Located between Camden and Cassatt SC just off Route 1 