About Eye of Oden K9 Training

Eye of Oden K9 Training sells named courses with stated lengths rather than open-ended packages, which makes it one of the easier places in Orleans County to plan around. Its own summary of the work is "Big or small, we train them all".

The AKC track

Three of its programs are AKC programs and each runs six weeks. S.T.A.R. Puppy is described by its own acronym – socialization, training, activity and responsible owner. Canine Good Citizen is offered as "an extension of basic training" and manner training, and Canine Good Citizen Advanced sits above it, with the site noting that the standard CGC manner training and AKC testing must be completed first.

The specialty programs

Scent work runs four weeks, and the school's pitch for it is that "scent work builds up confidence in your dog". Trick training, branded Tricky K9, runs six weeks and moves through the TKN, TKI, TKA and TKP titles, which the site says must be completed in order. Service-dog work is listed as obedience, task training and familiarization with the ADA laws. Therapy-dog work is described as "learning skills to bring your dog into settings to comfort individuals in Nursing Homes, Hospitals etc."

The credentials

The site publishes a long list: AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, AKC Temperament Test Judge, AKC Fetch Judge, AKC Fit Dog Instructor, IDPKA Dog Parkour Instructor and Evaluator, membership of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and certification in pet CPR and first aid. Holding the CGC evaluator appointment matters practically: the class and the test can happen in the same place, which is worth knowing in a rural county. All of them are the business's own claims.

What to ask

Ask about prices and the class schedule; every specialty program routes to "contact us for more details".