Curriculum

At CBS Inc our aim is to help guardians to teach their dogs the skills required to happily integrate into the home and also to become welcomed members of their community. To achieve this, our classes are structured progressively towards the Canine Good Citizen (TM) Award. Our Bronze and Silver classes teach everyday manners for dogs, an understanding of how dogs learn and how we humans can learn to read a dog's body language.

Using a series of learning activities and games to help put this knowledge into practical application in the home and in the community, our classes are a fun way of acquiring new skills. An important part of dog training is also ensuring that dog guardians are given the information they require to help understand why their dogs behave the way they do. Hence our classes contain an educational component for people as well as dogs.

Bronze Class

In this 8 week class we teach guardians how dogs learn. We will provide an introduction to reading the body language of dogs and teach the correct approach to dogs by humans. We will also teach basic first aid and provide ideas for preventing boredom and its associated nuisance behaviours. Guardians will be taught how to train their dogs to pay attention to them, sit, drop, stand, walk on a loose leash without pulling, settle on a mat or bed, come when called, wait, accept handling all over and grooming, perform an emergency stop, leave specified objects alone and sit politely to greet a stranger.

Silver Class

This is the next block of 8 weeks, in which the Bronze level exercises will be consolidated. Guardians will learn how to train their dogs to walk close and make turns, walk calmly on a loose leash amongst people and a variety of objects, stand for handling and examination, alight from cars safely, practice good doorway etiquette, stay, meet a new dog, search for objects, retrieve objects, go to a mat or bed, wait patiently and politely whilst humans are eating. This program culminates in a street walk.

Gold Class

This is an ongoing class, filled with many fun learning activities, including trick training, doggy dancing, an introduction to competition obedience and a chance to pursue the Canine Good Citizen Award.

Canine Good Citizen Award

This test challenges pet dogs and their guardians to complete a series of exercises that relate to everyday life, e.g. safety in and around the car, good manners when being greeted and petted by a stranger, how to behave appropriately around another dog, coming back when called, good door manners and several other life skills that make living with your dog a pleasure. The guardian is also challenged with an open book, written test about responsible pet ownership.

The successful Canine Good Citizen Team is awarded a certificate and photograph and the successful dog is permitted to wear the specially designed and highly respected Canine Good Citizen collar and lead.