Please click here to enrol in a group class!

Examples of Pet Dog Ambassador Class Content:

Level One - Puppy
(aged 4 to 9 months)

Level 1 (Puppy) Dogs, like people, learn best when they are young. That is why we love to see puppies (four to nine months) reach their first pet dog training goal early.
This is a one hour class.

Week 1
Week One of the Programme is without dogs.
This allows dog guardians to concentrate on the information, without the distraction of having the dog.
Topics that will be covered:
·      Force-Free training overview
·      Recommended equipment  Including appropriate reinforcers
·      The need for understanding canine body language
o   Particular emphasis on stress signs
·      Short meet and greets
·      Name recognition, bridging, reinforcing and simultaneous & trace conditioning
·      The ‘look’ and ‘sit’ games
Instructions for enrollment in the programme. 
Week 2
Condition name
Condition bridge
Gain attention, bridge, reward
Sit –lure (fade) - hand signal
Hand target
Sit – front and side with hand signal
Pay the check in
Environmental Enrichment
Week 3
Revision: target to move dog to side. Also “Fido, look, sit, B/R” – not lured
Go to place (mat)
Drop (Down)
Loose Leash Walking
Give/Take/Exchange
Bite inhibition
“soft mouths”
Resource guarding
Week 4
Stay/Wait – in sit & drop/down
Sit for polite greeting
Loose Leash Walking with recall and collar touch
Leave it
Stand
Handling/Massage
Week 5
Consolidation Week
Combine Exercises:

1. ‘Fido, look/watch’, Loose Leash Walking and Recall
2. Go to place (with sit or drop) and stay for 10-30 seconds

Loose Leash Walking 15 metres (50 feet) towards a known person then sit, drop or stand
Play Consolidation games
Push-ups and sit-ups
Sit, drop and stand using hand signals – no lures
Body language
Stress/calming signals
Fight/flight explained
Get to know your dog’s body language.
Random Reinforcement
Week 6
Remember to take your online test and get your veterinary certificate!
Settle in place (on mat)
Aiming for 30 seconds – 1 minute– not a stay, a settle. 
Recall as independent exercise with collar touch (between guardians or instructor & guardian)
Vet Type Exam
Wait for food bowl
Some Fun Tricks
Education – building bond using tricks
Week 7
Loose Leash Walking with turns (non-military) and positions (i.e. sit, drop, stand at side)
Recall on long line with collar touch 5 metres
Social interaction Recall from greetings
Social maturity
Ongoing need for socialisation
Week 8
Consolidation games

• Run the Gauntlet Recall!
• Come into Circle

Loose Leash Walking
Bridge and Reinforcement Techniques
*Assessment
Sit at front and side, then take collar
Give, take, exchange
Leave it
Loose leash walking
Social interaction with other puppies
Wait to be fed
Recall
Handling
Go to place
            

Level Two
(any dog over the age of 6 months)

Level 2 (any dog over the age of six months) builds on the work undertaken at Level 1. It is at a level where those who did not undertake Level 1, because they did not fit the age bracket, can still have an easy entry into the program.
This is a one hour class.
*Only one dog per person please in each class*

Class 1
Targeting - Hand + Target Stick
Stand at side and/or front
Stay with distance
Wait at Entrance
Move through together or
Dog first or
Guardian first
Class 2
Recall (leashing up) and release
Give/Take/Exchange
Drop (down) at side
Wait to be fed
Handling
Practise:

1. Stay with distance

Class 3
Loose Leash Walking with attention
Settle
Aiming for 30 seconds in place
Leave it from hand & ground
Practise:

1. Stand at side and front
2. Wait to be fed
3. Targeting (hand and stick)

Class 4
Being alone
Car manners
Emergency Stop
Recall on long leash (10m) with Sit
Practise:

1. Leave it from hand & ground
2. Recall (leashing up) and release

Class 5
Consolidation Week
Instructions for assessment and enrollment in the programme.
Practise:

1. Stay/settle with distance
2. Wait to be Fed
3. Car manners

Loose Leash Walking

1. LLW with attention around cones leaving items/food bowls on the ground
2. LLW with social interaction

Assessment:

1. Car Manners
2. Door manners

Consolidation games
Class 6
Practise:
Car Manners
Loose Leash Walking with Attention
Being Alone
Recall
Handling
Emergency Stop
Stay or Settle
Assessment:

1. LLW with social interaction
2. Wait to be fed

Class 7
Assessment:

1. Emergency stop
2. Handling
3. Stay/settle
4. Being alone
5. Recall

Final Assessment of any behaviour of the following behaviours outstanding:
Car Manners
Entrance Manners,
Leave It,
Loose Leash Walking with social interaction (human)
Wait to be fed.
Recall,
Emergency Stop,
Handling,
Stay or Settle,
Being Alone.

On Successful Completion of Each Level
When candidates are successful at each level, your assessor will notify the PDA Administrator who enters your score into the database. If you have been successful, your qualification certificate will be emailed to you and your medallion will be posted or given to you in recognition of your achievement.
Qualification: The dog earns qualifications as he/she passes each level of assessment. The qualifications are placed after the dog’s name.

• PDA-1 
  
• PDA-2
  
• PDA-3
  
• PDA-4
  
• PDA-Champion
  

Assessment
*You will need to present your veterinary health check form (or pet passport showing up-to-date vaccinations and worming treatments) and take the online knowledge quiz. 
Assessment takes place in a class situation.

1. Your Veterinarian Health Check form can be found by clicking here. We have also created a letter that you can present to your pets health care provider explaining the programme and the need for a signed health check form.
2. To access your knowledge quiz click here. There are some simple instructions to read and a pass code to obtain before you begin.
   

There is a small adminstration fee to apply for the PDA Titles: Application Level Two Pet Guardian - $3.85 (USD)
If you have been successful, your qualification certificate will be emailed to you.
Medallions can be purchased from your assessor for a small cost of €5.00 (This covers the cost of the medallion and postage)   
Your Pet Guardian Guide: A PDF version can be found here

PDA is a worldwide, force-free, companion dog assessment programme. 
You can learn more about The Pet Dog Ambassador Programme here

---

Contact Us

Email Louise@DogSmith.com
Tel: 636083943

Subscribe to our newsletter