Event Descriptions

Agility Run-Throughs

AKC Rally Run-Throughs

Two rings will run concurrently, with course offerings from Novice to Masters.

Dogs must remain behind ring gating or be otherwise contained when it is not their turn to run.

You may register with more than one dog, or participate in more than one run-through.

Run-throughs are $6 for the first run and $4 for each run after that per person/dog.

Rally Run-throughs will be offered monthly. Dates & times will be announced on our website and on the Family Dog Obedience Facebook page.

AKC ACT (Agility Course Test) Virtual Program – JUMPERS

Now available at Family Dog Obedience!

Virtual ACT 1

AKC ACT (Agility Course Test) Virtual Program

Now available at Family Dog Obedience!

Interested in earning your ACT1 or ACT 2 title, but don’t have all the required equipment? Are you worried about heat, humidity, rain, or wet grass? Is your neighborhood full of distractions like barking dogs, or lawn mowers?

Family Dog Obedience is excited to continue to participate in the AKC ACT Virtual Program by providing exhibitors with a climate controlled, rubber matted facility with all AKC regulation agility equipment to record your virtual ACT1 or  ACT 2 courses.

Make your reservation now to record your agility runs at Family Dog Obedience. Our facility will be available and pre-set with approved AKC courses. No course maps will be provided.

Bring your dog, your phone/tablet for videoing, and a friend if you like, to help you out.

Your facility fee includes a 20 minute session, which is ample time to run both rounds if you wish. You can have unlimited runs within that time period, but we cannot extend your session.

You have the option of running Round 1 & Round 2 in your session if you wish, in the time allowed.

You are responsible for submitting your video to the AKC and sending in their required fees for your submission.

Physical distancing protocols will be adhered to for the safety of all involved. Our personnel will move/handle all agility equipment. Common areas will be cleaned frequently. 

No crates to be brought in the building. Dogs will remain safely confined in vehicles or held by your friend during your walk-through.

You will be responsible for providing a fully functioning video device. Our personnel will record the run at your request, or you may have your helper accompany you and do the videoing.

If you do not complete what you feel is a successful run/video within the 20 minutes, you will have to rebook another session.

For complete rules and information on how to submit your videos for evaluation see visit this link: https://www.akc.org/…/act-program/act-virtual-program/ 

WHEN: Monday, October 3 – appointments starting at 5:00 pm

WHERE: Family Dog Obedience, 1698 N. Main St Ext, Butler PA, 16001

COST: Facility fee – $30.00 per 20 minute session

HOW TO SIGN UP: 

Appointments can be made by emailing Pam at ramarfarm@hotmail.com. First come, first serve. Please specify ACT 1 or ACT 2, your JUMP HEIGHT, and if you have a preferred time slot, and we will do what we can for you.

At your appointment time, please enter through our front doors. You will exit out of our side/back door. Please potty your dog using our grassy area by the dumpster prior to entering. 

PREPAYMENT is required, and can be mailed to FDO, 1698 North Main St. Ext, Butler, PA 16001

Virtual ACT 2

AKC ACT (Agility Course Test) Virtual Program

Now available at Family Dog Obedience!

Interested in earning your ACT2 title, but don’t have all the required equipment? Are you worried about the weather, falling leaves, or slippery conditions? Is your neighborhood full of distractions like barking dogs, or leaf blowers?

Family Dog Obedience is excited to participate in the AKC ACT Virtual Program by providing exhibitors with a climate controlled, rubber matted facility with all AKC regulation agility equipment to record your virtual ACT2 courses.

Make your reservation now to record your ACT2 agility runs at Family Dog Obedience. Our facility will be available and pre-set with AKC courses ACT 2 SET D.

No course maps will be provided.

Bring your dog, your phone/tablet for videoing, and a friend if you like, to help you out.

Your facility fee includes a 20 minute session, which is ample time to run both rounds if you wish. You can have unlimited runs within that time period, but we cannot extend your session.

Facility fee – $30.00 per session

You have the option of running Round 1 & Round 2 in your session if you wish, in the time allowed.

You are responsible for submitting your video to the AKC and sending in their required fees for your submission.

Physical distancing protocols will be adhered to for the safety of all involved. Our personnel will move/handle all agility equipment. Common areas will be cleaned frequently. MASKS must be worn while indoors, but may be lowered while you are running your dog.

No other dogs in the building while recording courses.

No crates to be brought in the building. Dogs will remain safely confined in vehicles or held by your friend during your walk-through.

You will be responsible for providing a fully functioning video device. Our personnel will record the run at your request, or you may have your helper accompany you and do the videoing.

If you do not complete what you feel is a successful run/video within the 20 minutes, you will have to rebook another session.

For complete rules and information on how to submit your videos for evaluation see this link: https://www.akc.org/…/act-program/act-virtual-program/

WHEN: Dates TBD

WHERE: Family Dog Obedience, 1698 N Main St. Ext. Butler PA 16001

COST: Facility fee – $30.00 per 20 minute session

HOW TO SIGN UP:

Appointments can be made by emailing Pam at ramarfarm@hotmail.com. First come, first serve. Please specify your JUMP HEIGHT, and if you have a preferred time slot, and we will do what we can for you.

At your appointment time, please enter through our front doors. You will exit out of our side/back door. Please potty your dog using our grassy area by the dumpster prior to entering.

PREPAYMENT is required, and can be mailed to FDO, 1698 North Main St. Ext, Butler, PA 16001

Virtual Rally Titles – Novice, Intermediate, Advanced & Excellent

The AKC has declared that the Rally Novice, Rally Intermediate, Rally Advanced, and Rally Excellent classes will be available to participate in virtual format, permanently.

FDO is prepared to offer you two of the five predesigned official Rally courses on one date, and then two different courses will be offered on another date, to allow you the chance to get your necessary runs in order to title at each level. Different levels will be offered at different times based on interest. 

You can view the courses from the AKC website, under Rally Virtual Courses. We will record your performance with your device, or you may bring a helper to record the performance. You will be responsible for submitting those recordings and proper fees to the AKC for a judge to review. 

You will have the option of running any or all of the courses. You can also repeat your course multiple times in the time allotted, to get the best performance recorded.

This is a great opportunity to continue your training and obtain a title in just 2 days, without having to buy or print all the necessary Rally cards, travel, or wait for hours to get your turn in the Rally ring. You can also take advantage of our climate-controlled conditions, without the distractions of neighbors, FEDEX, UPS, loose dogs, neighbors mowing grass, kids etc. 

Social distancing protocols will be strongly enforced for the safety of all. Common areas will be cleaned frequently. Masks are recommended to be worn indoors but may be lowered while you are navigating the course with your dog. No crates are to be brought into the building.

For more information please click on the link to the AKC Virtual Rally Program. 

• Procedures for the event will be emailed to you when registration time is confirmed  •

Intro to Treadmill Class

Scheduled in small groups of 4 dogs, Introduction to Treadmill Class will cover some basic assessments of the type and temperament of each dog, and a step by step breakdown of the process. Time will be spent getting your dog acclimated to the various platforms and styles of treadmills, with the focus of the experience being an all positive one. Class size is chosen based on size/length of dog-2 large treadmills, and 2 small/medium treadmills are available. If you don’t have a treadmill at home, opportunities exist for you to continue to use our treadmills for a small fee.

REQUIREMENTS – It is recommended that your dog has attended Complete Puppy classes and/or Basic Manners classes with us in order to enroll. Dogs must be well-socialized and non-reactive to people or other dogs to participate.

Event date to be announced.

Café Class (aka Socialization Class)

The Café class is a semi-social event. It is designed to help dogs and owners practice “socialization.” Behaving in various social settings such as cafés, veterinarians offices, and other locations around people and other dogs, in a calm, and accepting manner is an important skill, and it needs to be practiced routinely. Activities include: teaching the dog how to go under a table/chair and lay quietly for short periods of time; how to stay in the “down” position while people, bikes, other dogs, and other distractions pass by; and most importantly, how to behave in the presence of food – without begging! Café class is one hour long, and will be offered periodically throughout the year. This is a great activity to help folks practice for the Therapy Dog test, (TDI) and also the Community Canine Test (CGCA).

REQUIREMENTS – Café class is open to dogs and puppies ages 3 months and up-however this is not an ENTRY level class. Dogs that are disruptive and unmanageable will be requested to schedule a private lesson. Students that sign up may bring a snack or beverage of their choice, but coffee and donuts will be provided.

Due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 virus, these activities are not being scheduled at this time. We hope to be able to offer them again soon.

Trick Dog Testing

Family Dog Obedience students are encouraged to attend VERSATILITY class to practice their trick dog skills. Evaluators from FDO can do Novice, Intermediate and Advanced Trick Dog testing, either by in person appointments, or virtually by way of SKYPE, ZOOM, or FACETIME. If enough interest is noted, we can set up a day for testing in person. Please let us know what we can do for you. More information on the AKC website.

REQUIREMENTS – Students MUST provide all paperwork, and props as needed. 

Event date to be announced.

Trick Dog Testing Fees

So You Want Your Dog to Become a Therapy Dog?

GREAT – You are invited to come to this free event to learn more about the exciting opportunities and considerations necessary to become a therapy dog team with your favorite furry friend. Topics will include specifying the requirements of the dog and the handler for Pet Therapy, and information on how to get started. The session will provide an overview of Pet Partners Therapy Animal Programs, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization that registers volunteer teams (human & pet) to provide animal-assisted interventions.

You MUST register in advance for this “human only” event (email Val to register). Classes that include the canine participants will be offered when demand has been determined.

Pet Partners Therapy Animal Programs are for those interested in volunteering in their community by sharing a beloved pet with others. Volunteers choose where they would most like to donate their time and determine their own schedule and level of commitment. Whether the handler feels passionately connected to a cause such as Alzheimer’s, enjoys working with specific populations such as Veterans, or looks forward to reading with children, the therapy team will affect a difference locally. Pet Partners certification process, registers volunteer therapy teams that are widely regarded as prepared, professional, and welcomed in thousands of venues throughout the country and worldwide. The benefits of the visits to the recipients are indisputable, while the body of supporting research grows daily. If you and your pet would like to give back to your community while deriving joy, fulfillment, and personal satisfaction by volunteering, consider becoming involved with the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program.

You are invited to attend this event to learn more about the considerations and requirements of therapy teams. The session will be presented by Janet Ellis, educator, experienced Pet Partner Therapy dog handler, and Pet Partners Therapy Team Evaluator. Her Therapy Dog Team has logged over 800 hours in the past 6 years credited to therapy visits in local facilities. Please, no dogs at this event. 

June 23, 2023 at 6:30pm

Bark ‘n Barter

Got unwanted or extra dog items lying around? Do you want to replace them with some CASH or trade them for something else? Or do you have a dog-related craft or item you’d like to market?

OR

Are you looking for good deals on dog training items, like Agility equipment, crates, books, or obedience equipment, Noseworks supplies, collars, leashes, dog videos or magazines, homemade dog treats, or (if we have a rescue group commit) maybe even meet your new best friend?

Family Dog Obedience & My Dogz LLC Activity center will be holding the area’s ONLY indoor dog-related item flea market! For more info, Valsk9@yahoo.com or 412-302-6736

Local vendors wanted! Rent a space, bring your own table and sell or trade your stuff! 10’ space for $10. Reserve your space early!

Due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 virus, these activities are not being scheduled at this time. We hope to be able to offer them again soon.