Click & Trick Training
Sunday, June 8th from 12PM - 5PM
Oozlefinch Beers and Blending
81 Patch Rd, Fort Monroe, VA 23651
Get ready for tail-wagging fun in a 15-minute one-on-one session with certified behavior consultant and dog trainer Sydney Warner! Pick up to two cool tricks or essential training skills to learn together with your dog.
Whether you’re building confidence or just having fun, it’s the perfect way to bond and learn—come join the fun!
Registration Details
- Time Slot: One dog and one to two handlers per time slot
- Cost: $15 non-refundable registration fee to hold your spot
- You may also choose to make an additional donation to the Peninsula SPCA to support animals in need. There will be a collection jar at the event.
- Must register in advance to guarantee your time slot.
What to Do Before the Event
If your dog does not already know a verbal marker or clicker, begin “loading” a verbal marker to help your dog associate clear cues with training. This will ensure the session is as effective as possible and help set your dog up for success.
How to “load” a verbal marker:
- A verbal marker lets your dog know the moment that they perform a behavior you want
- This helps your dog understand what behavior to try again
- Every time that you mark, your dog earns a treat
- “Yes!” = treat
- Repeat!
- Make it consistent! Every “Yes!” is followed by a treat
What to Bring
- Treats: If your dog has food allergies, please bring your own treats. If there are no allergies, it’s recommended you bring your own treats, though we will provide treats and a treat pouch. Make sure to bring a variety of your dog’s favorite treats (low, medium, and high value) cut into small, pea-sized pieces.
- Leash & Harness: Your dog must be on a 6-ft leash and harness or a regular collar/martingale collar. No pinch/prong collars, electronic collars, choke/slip collars, or retractable leashes allowed. You will be asked to swap out for an approved option or forfeit your time slot.
- Clicker: If you already train with a clicker, feel free to bring it along to use.
- Dress Appropriately: Wear comfortable clothing suitable for training with your dog.
Training Topics Available
- Your dog will learn to touch their nose to your palm on cue, such as “Touch”
- This is useful for a recall, interrupting and redirecting your dog, veterinary cooperative care, and more!
- Advanced steps: Hold their nose to your palm for a period of time, touching objects
- Your dog will learn to “sit”, “down”, and “stand” from any of these positions on cue
- This is useful for working on discriminating between these cues
- Your dog will learn to search for food on the floor when cued
- This is useful as a noseworks activity that engages your dog’s brain
- Advanced steps: searching for scent, object, or person
- Your dog will learn that you counting “1.. 2.. 3!” predicts a treat
- This is useful for beginning loose leash walking, a recall, interrupting and redirecting your dog, and more!
- Your dog will learn to check in with you visually between moving back and forth following a treat lure
- This is useful for helping reactive dogs that need to re-engage with you, for energetic dogs to learn some impulse control, and more!
- Advanced step: Performing around a distraction or stressor
- Your dog will learn to run back to you when you move away from them
- This is useful for beginning a recall, teaching your dog to move away from a distraction or stressor, and to re-engage with you after sniffing
- Your dog will learn to “spin” one direction and “turn” the other direction
- This is useful for a fun game and discriminating between cues
- Your dog will learn to pause and “wait” to move before you “release” them from the position
- This is useful for teaching impulse control as well as discriminating between cues
- Advanced steps: Waiting for food or a toy, waiting as you check around a corner for reactive dogs, and more!
- Your dog will learn to go and stand between your legs
- This is useful for getting your dog into your space, veterinary cooperative care, and more!
- Advanced steps: Pair with a nose touch hold for veterinary cooperative care blood draws
- Your dog will learn to weave between your legs, creating a figure 8
- This is useful as a fun game!
- Advanced steps: weaving around objects or weave poles in agility
Important Notes
- No Refunds for Forfeited Slots, Cancellations, or No-Shows: Please arrive at the Clever Critters tent a little early to avoid being late. Late arrivals will be considered a no-show, and your time slot will be forfeited without a refund.
- Waiver: Once registered, you will need to sign our liability waiver prior to your session. You can do so here.
- Positive Training Only: We use ethical, humane methods. Any use of punishment during the session will result in forfeiting the remainder of your time.
- Please Be Mindful of Your Dog’s Capabilities: Every dog is different. Please consider your dog’s individual needs and predisposition when choosing skills. If you’re unsure if a skill is right for your pet, choose another to be safe.