What can I expect on the day of class?
Below is an outline of what to expect on the day of your training at Barley’s Canine Recreation Center. If the training takes place at a venue other than Barley’s, some things may differ. You will be notified in the event of any major changes to the training prior to the class.
FIRST AND FOREMOST- If you are in the Salt Lake area and are training out of Barley’s Canine Recreation Center, we will be following strict vaccination protocol. I have had to turn away numerous dogs for this training in the past because of overdue vaccinations. It is required that your dog is up to date on Rabies, Distemper, Parvo and Bordetella on the day of your training. Ideally, I would like you to email me a copy of your vaccination records ahead of the date of your training (mike@swimatbarleys.com). Otherwise, you must bring a copy of your vaccination records with you to the training. If you are a current client of Barley’s, I will review your records in our system and inform you if there are any issues. If there is an issue with your dog receiving certain vaccinations, please contact me ahead of time so we can discuss the issue.
The class will last between 3-4 hours; this is dependent upon how many dogs are in attendance and how quickly they master the training. Comfortable, close-toed shoes are recommended, as this is an active class and you will be swiftly moving away from the rattlesnakes with your dog.
Someone (preferably the owner or a person the dog knows and feels comfortable with) must be present to handle your dog(s) during class. It is highly preferable to have only one handler per dog, but if you are unable to arrange for this, one person may handle multiple dogs. There is no need to overly exercise your dog before class. The training will provide enough mental stimulation to satisfy and tire even the most energetic herding dog.
Treats can be used during class, but I often find they are a distraction to the other dogs. Also, given that the training can be somewhat stressful, I find that dogs don’t typically want to eat. A water station is provided for handlers. I will provide water for the dogs. There are bathrooms for handlers and ample space for dogs to relieve themselves at the facility.
Please plan to arrive at least 5 minutes before the start of the class, so that we can take care of paperwork, answer any questions, and discuss any behavioral issues before the training starts. Once everyone has arrived and checked in, we will gather in the back of the facility where I will give an introduction to the class.
My introduction may seem a bit long winded, but there are reasons for this: to help you and your dog succeed in this training. I will go over the basic outline of the class; what we will be doing , why we will be doing it and how we will go about doing these tasks. During this orientation, the dogs will have time to acclimate to the environment with their new human and dog friends. I want the dogs to feel comfortable before we get into the training, as this will improve their success. I want them to be paying attention to me and trust me. More than anything, I want the dogs to be comfortable with each other. I will teach them things throughout the class, but they will also be learning from each other. The ability of the dogs to cue off of each other will facilitate learning more quickly than if the dogs were to take a class solo.
When we are all comfortable and have a clear vision of what the training will entail, we will begin the class. Ideally, I would like handlers to be participants. There have been a number of people who come to class that are deathly afraid of snakes. I understand this fear and respect it, so if I can’t talk you into being a part of the class, I can still train your dog without you. However, there is a keen advantage to dogs’ owners and handlers being a part of the training. That advantage is that we will be keeping an eye out on some reactions/nuances that your dog may have throughout the class that could warn you of a rattlesnake being around out in the field. I’ve found that most people who come in feeling apprehensive will leave the class feeling better about rattlesnakes.
The training will take place in layers. All dogs learn at different rates. While I may feel confident that some dogs are done with one layer, others may need more time there. Please be patient. Your dog may have learned one layer quickly, but may need more time on the next one.
I am very patient with the dogs, and want to feel confident about sending every dog that has been through the training out into the field. I will not tell you that your dog is good to go unless I am 100% confident in that fact. If your dog needs additional work, I will be honest about that. We can arrange to work with your dog after class or at a later date at no additional fee.
When I am confident that your dog has completed the training, we will wrap up and I will happily answer any questions that you have. Then, we will take care of payment and send you on your way! The payment methods I accept are cash, check, credit card, Venmo, Paypal, Zelle and cryptocurrency.