EEEEKS!

There's a dog training place in Plymouth, 25 minutes away, Sirius Dog Training that has Rally!!!!!!!! That might work. Excited, excited. The training is part of the clicker expo yahoo group. Barbara Ferguson, anyone heard of her?

And Performance Plus also has a Rally class about the same distance away. Sirius Dog training emphasizes your dog learning and uses language I'd expect of a reward based training. PP is the place Julie and I did a ring rental where prongs were passed out to new training students with excited dogs. Hmmm. The same person who teaches the rally does not teach pet obedience but the class description doesn't have any of the purely positive phrasing. It does seem more competition oriented. I wonder if it's worth inquiring the ratio of positive reinforcement to positive punishment.

Compare:
______ offers a wide array of classes designed to excite, challenge, and inspire everyone from the novice dog owner to the seasoned competitor.
We use progressive, effective, and dog-friendly training techniques in our puppy classes right up through our advanced levels of obedience and agility. All classes are taught in a positive, energetic, and enjoyable atmosphere.
We want to help you bring forth a happy, attentive, tail wagging, obedient dog that is a pleasure to share your life with.
Our programs are designed to provide you with unique ways to improve your knowledge of dog training, learn about your dog's wants and needs, HAVE FUN and BE SUCCESSFUL training your dog.

RALLY RULES AND MOVESThis new competition sport is loads of fun! It's obedience with a new twist. It covers the fundamentals of heelwork, halts (automatic sits), downs, pivots, recalls, finishes, left and right about turns, circles, figure eights, and spirals. In this 6 week class you will learn how to teach your dog to perform the various competition obedience maneuvers. You will become familiar with the signs and learn what is expected at each station. You will learn the rules of the game as to what is score-able and what is not. This sport was designed to allow handlers and their dogs to have fun and earn titles while competing in a more relaxed environment. Pre-registration and completion of Basic Manners Plus or equivalent required.

Dog place #2:
I wanted to provide a place where people could go with their dogs where training was effective because the methods used were
proven through science, rather than myth or legend.
~~ A place that is stress free. ~~

I believe that not only do dogs enjoy learning, they are also MASTERS at learning. At _____ the classes are full of smiling faces, bright eyes,
wagging tails and lots of laughter. No stress, no punishment, no cross voices. Training is about understanding the way their doggy brains tick:
hat which makes them try again to understand our strange language, that which keeps them in the game trying to please us.
~~ Dogs are such fast learners when we humans get it right! ~~

I believe a dog should be mentally alert, but not anxious. He should be happy in his environment and enjoy relationships with
everyone in the family. He should take time to play (just because the moment arises),
~~ enjoy the sunshine, enjoy your company and offer limitless affection. ~~

Our crew has tons of patience, and years of experience. It is our pleasure to share what we have learned with you and
~~ ensure the class progresses at a comfortable speed for both you and your dog. ~~
The classes are for ALL LEVELS and are grouped in a 4 week session,
cost per 4-week session is $80.00


Rally is a Fun team sport for both purebred and mixed breed dogs and their handlersDesigned for the pet owner ~ It’s a combination of Agility and ObedienceA rally course includes 10 to 20 stations, depending on the level.Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience. Communication between handlerand dog is encouraged and perfect heel position is not required, but thereshould be a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler. The mainobjective of rally is to produce dogs that have been trained to behave inthe home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs, in a mannerthat will reflect positively on the sport of rally at all times and under all conditions.

And now, can you tell me which is which? Which would you prefer to go to? Realizing that both of these are advertising, but I do think you can get a feel about a place from their langauge. It would be skewed if either place had a non-dog trainer web designer who picked the language.