Next Step Obedience at Animal Medical Center

Next Step Obedience: Behavior Training for Young Adult Dogs

-- with Dr. Megan Maxwell, PhD & Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist

By popular demand, we are now offering Next Step classes for adolescent or young adult dogs who would like to refresh (or begin!) their obedience training.

We have created these classes to serve the clients who ask us "What's next?" after graduating from Puppy Preschool and also for those clients whose dogs are a bit too old for Puppy Class but who would like to take a class with their dog to help establish good behavior habits and to gain that confidence for both owner and dog that comes from working together with a wonderful teacher and from socializing safely with other healthy well-behaved dogs.

These classes are for dogs who are 6 months to 2 years old. There are no pre-requisites for this class, so you may enroll your dog whether or not you have completed an earlier puppy class. We recommend our Puppy Preschool for puppies under 8 months of age who have not yet taken a puppy class. Puppies of any age who have already completed Puppy Preschool can go straight into a Next Step class to continue their training journey with Megan.

All of our behavior classes focus on understanding how our dogs learn and using this understanding to prevent (or end) problem behaviors and to promote good behaviors. Down

Megan uses reward based training methods, with treats and lots of praise. Megan teaches owners how dogs learn and how to use this understanding to prevent future behavior problems and reinforce good behaviors through the use of "operant conditioning" to mold behavior. Operant conditioning is a sound scientific method of behavior change that involves the use of positive (or, to a lesser degree negative) consequences to reinforce (or discourage) behaviors. Properly applied, these methods will also establish a foundation of security, respect and trust. Positive reinforcement methods allow us to teach our puppies basic obedience commands (Come, Sit, Stay, etc.) as well as open the door to allow us to teach our dogs virtually anything else.

Owners will learn how to help their dogs become calm, confident, obedient and cooperative. We will learn how to avoid accidentally teaching our dogs the wrong thing and we will learn how to make sure we are encouraging our dog to be confident and peaceful by avoiding instilling fears or rewarding agression.

Megan is a talented and experienced certified applied animal behaviorist. She has both a M.S. and PhD in animal behavior, with a research interest in dog behavior. Megan has extensive experience providing behavioral counseling and has made huge differences in the lives of many AMC clients who have faced behavioral difficulties. In addition to her work through AMC, Megan provides private counseling through her private practice and is involved with various dog groups around Morgantown. Megan also teaches animal behavior classes in the psychology department at WVU.

Each week, in addition to the behavioral instruction and some classic obedience training with Megan, Animal Medical Center staff including veterinarian Dr. Steve Zucker and our excellent nurses will offer education and answer questions about basic wellness issues including veterinary emergenices & veterinary first aid, dental health, parasite testing and prevention, vaccination recommendations and other important health issues.

Class Structure

Behavioral Lessons from Megan
- Positive behavior techniques
- How to get the good behaviors you want
- How to prevent or stop the bad behaviors you don't want
- How to help your dog to be confident, calm, secure and obedient
- How to prevent fear and aggression
- How to teach your dog almost anything using sound behavioral techniques, with heavy emphasis on praise and rewards

Discussion of Health and Wellness Issues
- Intestinal and external parasites and their prevention
- Heartworm -- protecting your dog
- Vaccines -- making the best choices for your dog
- Dental care -- teaching your dog to love tooth brushing and planning to prevent dental problems
- Body Condition Scoring -- What's my dog's number? Avoiding early onset Arthritis and other obesity related illnesses through healthy Diet & Exercise
- What's so important about pee? How your dog's urine can tell us about his kidney health, diabetes, and a whole host of other treatable issues.
- First Aid -- How to know whether you are facing a medical emergency with your dog and some Veterinary First Aid techniques to see you through until you get to the vet
- Nail trims -- how to do it all by yourself
- Q & A with Dr. Zucker

Basic Obedience Exercises (Sit, Stay, Down, Leash Walking, Come, "Leave It", etc.)
Classes Limited to 6 dogs.
Dogs Aged 6 Months to 2 Years

Six Weeks of Instruction (Monday evenings from 7:15 to 8:15)

Who, Where, When, How Much?

These classes are for dogs between 6 months and 2 years of age.

Class Times: Mondays, 7:15 - 8:15 p.m.

Class Location: Animal Medical Center, 460 Hartman Run Road

Cost: $110.00 (plus tax)

Requirements:

Recent veterinary exam at AMCOur Next Step classes are open only to dogs who have received a recent veterinary exam at AMC. Before starting a Next Step class, we offer patients who are new to Animal Medical Center a complimentary exam in order for the veterinarian to evaluate your dog's veterinary records and any need for additional wellness care before beginning class. Please bring complete veterinary records to the exam. The courtesy exam does not include any vaccinations or other medical care your pet may need.

Wellness health care up to date (see below)

Advance Registration required. Written records of all medical services provided away from AMC must be delivered, faxed or mailed to AMC for our review prior to class.

Advance Payment required to ensure your space in the class.

Dog-safe & people-safe partipants

For the safety of all participants, all dogs need to be safe around other dogs and people. As part of the sign-up process for the Next Step classes, we will schedule a (no charge) consultation visit for your dog with one of our veterinarians and/or Dr. Maxwell before classes begin. At that time, we will review your dog's medical and behavioral history and make sure that this is the appropriate class for you and your dog.

If your dog has had any aggression issues, please call us to arrange a conversation with Megan before enrolling in the class so that she can help you determine the best behavior training plan for your dog. Megan will gladly talk with you and meet you and your dog to help you determine whether or not your dog is ready for a class or whether some remedial behavior work would be needed before a group class. Megan offers extensive behavior services and can also work with you privately to help you prepare for a group class if there are some issues that need to be worked on before participating in a group class. Since aggression or fear issues tend to both worsen withime and also become harder to solve as they become long-term habits, this age is the time to most effectively prevent small issues from become major problems.

Minor aggression or fear issues can often be successfully resolved through a short course of private behavior consulting and then followed up very successfully with a group class to extend the new good behaviors into the more challenging environment of a group, so please don't hesitate to talk to us about your needs. With Megan's help, we offer excellent options for behavior training and as an expert in canine behavior working in cooperation with our wonderful veterinary staff, Megan is exactly the person to work with for any behavior challenges!

Upcoming Sessions:

April 26th - June 7th (no class May 31st - Memorial Day)
June 14th - July 19th
August 2nd - September 13th (no class September 6th - Labor Day)
September 20th - October 25th

* Additional sessions to be scheduled starting approximately every other month
* Classes with fewer than three enrolled dogs will be combined with an upcoming session (or provided a refund if preferred).

Health Requirements for all Classes

Proof of Vaccinations (including Bordetella) Required
- Current DAPP (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza combo)
- Current Rabies vaccine
- Current Bordetella vaccine within the past 6 months. The bordetella vaccine needs to have been administered at least 2 days prior to the first class!!

Parasite Control Required
- Dog must be free of fleas, ticks and other parasites. We strongly recommend all dogs receive monthly flea preventative medications. (I.e., Comfortis, Sentinel, ProMeris or Frontline).
- Dog must be free of intestinal parasites as evidenced by meeting at least one of the following conditions. (Optimum care requires all three conditions.)
  - Dog is taking a monthly heartworm preventative (i.e., Interceptor, Sentinel, HeartGard or Revolution) prescribed by a veterinarian.
  - Dog has completed a course of deworming medication prescribed by a veterinarian within the past 60 days.
  - Dog has had a "negative" fecal exam at a veterinarian within the past 60 days.

Your dog needs to have a current (within 10 months) veterinary exam and be free of any potentially contagious illnesses or parasites.

For Questions and Reservations

To enroll: Use our enrollment e-form if you are ready to enroll!

Contact us

Please contact us if you need to check on your dog's vaccination and wellness status; to schedule an appointment to update any needed services; if you have any other questions; or if you are ready to enroll. Call us at (304) 292-0126

Enroll on-line. Our goal for all our behavior classes is to help you raise your dog in a way that allows you both to enjoy the time you spend together and to also help you help your dog become (and remain) a well behaved dog with good wellness habits that will last a lifetime and help protect their health and happiness for years to come.