Above & Beyond Dog Training offers group and individual classes available for both you and your dog to enroll in. We offer both basic and intermediate instruction levels that will help you gain a better understanding of what your dog needs. As well as what your dog is listening and looking for from you, their leader. Effective communication, consistency and making it fun are the keys to making your dog interested in pleasing you, as well as ensuring they are kept physically and mentally stimulated. Obedience training will involve teaching your dog some basic commands (sit, stay, down-stay, walking at heel & return to you) but can be taken much further with Intermediate level training in many varied areas dependent on your interest levels and the dog’s capabilities as well.

Your dog is a pack animal, and as you are its master, it wants to please you. We practice balanced training methods here at Above & Beyond Dog Training & Rehabilitation. “Balanced” or “Integrated” dog training reaches across the aisle and creates enthusiastic, happy dogs by training with rewards but also produces fast results and reliability by layering in the use of physical pressure and corrections. We also encourage and believe strongly in the healing power of holistic alternative therapies. These often overlooked treatment plans are often disregarded or overlooked but have a very successful history helping dogs (and other creatures) when traditional veterinarian medicine/theories have not helped. This gives the trainer/rehabilitation team a “complete toolbox” and the ability to help the widest range of clients and their dogs.

Intermediate Dog Class Training

Conducted in our quiet location and only after an initial assessment of your dog. Fee: AUD$60.00

So your dog is pretty smart huh? He or she has cruised through Basic Training with flying colours and even perhaps a certificate? Well, congratulations to both you, and that super smart little furry friend of yours! But we’re sure, and we’re pretty sure that your dog’s sure, that they can go further and get smarter and quicker. Imagine watching your dog respond perfectly to a slight movement of your hand and do exactly as you wanted he/she to do. You would feel so proud of them and pretty darn stoked that he or she is your dog we bet. But this sort of thing is a display of a deep bond and understanding between an animal and a human. And to obtain that level of control with your dog will require some patience and some investment of your time. Ready?

What’s Involved?

Dogs starting at the intermediate level are often prepared by teaching them hand-signals combined with voice commands. This association will continue for some time until the dog is ready to attempt working by only the intermediate level dog training exercises which is what the majority of trainers are aiming for:

Complete control of your dog, whether you use a hand signal only OR your voice, whether you are right beside him or out of sight!

So what exactly is involved in many Intermediate Level Dog Training Courses?

1) strengthening and distraction proofing of the Basic or Novice Level obedience commands already learned.

2) greater control at farther distances

3) beginning to work towards off leash control of your dog (including heeling your dog off leash)

4) adding new exercises and commands to your novice level instruction, including:

– sit, stand and down-in-motion: while heeling, you sit the dog and keep walking (the dog cannot follow you)
– recall with the handler out of sight of the dog
– down-stay and sit-stay out of sight
– stranger food refusal (your dog learns not to accept food or treats from someone until you say so)

– dog training hand signals are given from in front
– dog training hand signals from a distance
– food refusal (dog learns not to pick up treats or food while “on command”, whether heeling or on a stay)
– automatic sit when you halt (no command is given)
– recalls from food distraction
– the finish command – after you recall your dog, he will walk around behind you and return to the heel position
– socializing by working other people’s dogs

This is just a sampling of some of the new exercises taught – there can be a lot more. The intermediate level is really a lot of fun!

To learn all of these commands and exercises, you and Cathy will usually take 6mths if working with your dog consistently. 

Remember – a reliable dog comes from taking time with its training. Don’t rush it!

Above & Beyond Dog Training & Rehabilitation excel at Intermediate Dog Training for many different breeds and tasks.

Hope To See You Soon, Cathy & Andrea

Live-in Dog Training

Sometimes the best way to get the jump on your dog’s training is to have them stay with us while they learn the fundamental manners and obedience in a structured environment. The training areas are based on real-life situations and interactions that are fully monitored and safe for your dog to learn socialization and discipline in a fun, consistent way. This 10-day program is great for dog owners that are having problems with initial training, are short on time or who are overwhelmed at the task and need some help. Also, a great opportunity to make the most of your dogs holiday boarding time. Each dog is given special attention, affection and plenty of rewards to make the process as enjoyable as possible. Every dog has basic training around non-reactive dogs, in fenced areas to achieve success at sit, stay, come (here), loose leash walking and duration (mat training). Each day has free time and play-time included. Contact us to find out more.