faq

*Frequently Asked Questions*

*When is training cancelled because it is too hot or too wet ?* Could you please be more specific about the Club's location? *What times do you train?* S.A.O.D.C.'s location and classs-times don't suit me, is there anywhere else I can train my dog? *What does it cost to join the club,* Can I pay with a credit card? *What vaccinations do I need?* *What age can I bring my dog?* *Do I bring my dog with me when joining?* *Do I have to use a slip-collar on my dog ?* *How long are the classes and how long will it take me to train my dog ?* *Can I join the Club on-line?* What do letters before or after a dog's name mean? *If you have any questions not answered above, please send the SAODC an e-mail and we will try to answer your dog-training queries.*

*1.Could you please be more specific about the club's location ?*

The SAODC grounds and club-rooms are sited in Adelaide's parklands, just south of St Andrew's Hospital (UBD Map 4: M 18). The best approach is along South Terrace past St.Andrew's Hospital, turning Right at the eastern end: you will find us about 80 metres along on the right hand side, just before the road is barricaded as a no-through-road. The Club building is nestled in the trees, but quite evident from the road in daylight, or when our lights are turned on for evening training sessions. I hope this helps you find us. Access from Beaumont Road from the south via Greenhill Road involves a hike from the barricade, and we do not recommend this approach.
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2. S.A.O.D.C.'s location and class-times don't suit me, is there anywhere else I can train my dog?

There are about 40 Dog Obedience training clubs scattered throughout metropolitan Adelaide, some groups training during the day, some at weekends, and some on evenings other than Tuesday. Your local Council will have information on private clubs in your own area, or visit the Dogs SA web-site. or phone 8349 4797 for details of clubs affiliated with the Australian National Kennel Council in this state. Top of page

*3. Do I have to use a slip-collar on my dog ?*

No, not necessarily, but you may find that even a dog who is quite well-behaved at home becomes very easily distracted amongst so many other dogs at training, and that
you cannot control him as well as usual,which will detract from the purpose of bringing him to class. In such circumstances, the Instructor or Chief Instructor may recommend the use of a slip-collar or head-collar during the early stages of your dog's education, which can be put aside when you and your dog become more confident and settled in that environment. You will be taught how to use these and other training aids correctly. You must not simply re-cycle an old slip-collar, unless your new pup is much the same size as the previous dog, and the collar is still shiny. If you do buy a slip-collar, make sure that it is the right size ... a collar which is too long or heavy, or too small, will make training much less effective and less enjoyable for both of you. You may have to buy one collar for your puppy, and another one later as your dog matures. Good quality collars of various designs are available from the Club's sales counter, where they can be custom-fitted to the dog on the spot, and you will be shown how to put it on so that it 'slips' as intended, instead of tightening as a 'choker' if put on the wrong way. There are a number of different styles of head-collar available, some of which suit various breeds' facial structure better than others, so these also need to be individually fitted for your dog. 'Eemia' Sandison, appropriately our model dog in these photos, is a G.A.P. (Greyhound Adoption Program) girl now living with Bill and Jillian,
			Slip collar correctly fitted:


			Slip collar incorrectly fitted ='choker'


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4. How long are the classes The classes are a half hour long. *how long will it take for me to train my dog?*
This question is about as easy to answer as the old one about a piece of string ... there are so many variables involved ! The breed, age, and even gender of your dog, and their early socialisation and experiences, influence their readiness for the environment we provide, as do your own relationship with your dog, and your preparedness to be consistent with training outside of class. Theoretically, it is possible to progress through the classes being graduated each month, and so achieve your Basic Obedience Certificate in five or six months, but it is unusual for anyone to manage this in training their first dog. Rushing through the classes also doesn't ensure a better-trained dog, or a happier team, and we may sometimes recommend that a dog-&-handler repeat a particular class for reasons other than the performance of the required exercises, to facilitate their progress and teamwork later on. S.A.O.D.C. does not offer 'crash-courses' but can occasionally offer one-on-one instruction in order to overcome specific behaviours or problems in training. We would also like to think that you and your dog will come to enjoy your membership of the Club, and be in no great hurry to move on, unless it is towards higher levels of Obedience..

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5. *Can I join the Club on-line?*

Sorry no, you have to present yourself and your dog at the Club to allow us to see your dog's vaccination certificate, and at this stage the Club does not have facilities to accept credit card payments. No bookings are needed ... just turn up by approximately 10.45 am on a Tuesday , or 7.45 pm on Tuesday evening, and make your way to the desk inside the Club-rooms. One of the instructors or senior members can look after your dog on the verandah ( dogs not being allowed inside) while you complete some paperwork for our records, before your Introduction /Orientation session, in which you will be allocated a class for the weeks to follow. All members of the family who are likely to be involved in training the dog are welcome to attend this first session, even if they are not all eventually members.
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6. What do letters before or after a dog's name mean?
Wherever in your reading you find reference to the results of canine competitions, or write-ups on individual dogs, you may have seen a series of letters before or after a dog's name, and wondered what they signify. You may also have noticed that some dogs' names are written up differently ... the usual practice is to put inverted commas around a pet-name, but not a kennel or pedigree name, so that O.C. Kayaman Alexis is known as 'Alex' although many pedigreed dogs' registered names have no obvious connection to their pet-names, like the well-known Hillacre Highperformance CDX, ADX, JDX, TDX who is known affectionately as "Frosty" presumably because she's blue.
There is a bewildering array of "titles" on offer to dogs in competition in different classes of Obedience, Agility, Jumping,Tracking, Herding, Conformation (the Show-ring), various forms of Retrieving, Flyball and Flygility, and others which are even less common. Letters before the name indicate a Championship achieved, most frequently in the Show-ring, which will appear as Ch. or Aust. Ch.(you may also see N.Z.Ch.or Am.Ch.or similar, indicating titles gained overseas) There are Obedience Champions too, or the older form, Australian Obedience Champion, O.C. or A.O.C. We also have here in this Club a T.Ch. (Tracking Champion) and at least one dog with a Dual Ch. (Championships achieved in two disciplines, Conformation and one other) ..... but the initials you will see most often around S.A.O.D.C., and may already be aspiring towards yourself, are:
*C.C.D.* Community Companion Dog; 3 Passes under at least 2 different judges. C.D. Companion Dog; Novice Obedience 3 Passes under at least 2 different judges. C.D.X. Companion Dog Excellent: Open Obedience 3 Passes under at least 2 different judges. U.D. Utility Dog: Utility Obedience 3 Passes under at least 2 different judges. U.D.X. Utility Dog: Utility Excellent Obedience 3 Passes under at least 2 different judges. A.D. Agility Dog: 3 Passes in Novice Agility under at least 2 different judges. A.D.X. Agility Dog Excellent: 5 Passes in Open Agility under at least 2 different judges. A.D.M. Agility Dog Master: 7 passes in Masters Agility under at least 3 different judges. J.D., JD.X., & J.D.M. Jumping titles with parallel Pass requirements to Agility. T.D., & T.D.X. Tracking Dog, etc: Tracking titles gained over a series of increasingly difficult courses; only conducted in winter. E.T. Endurance Test: 20km supervised group bicycle-ride or run with the dog being vet-checked at prescribed breaks; only conducted in winter.

*O.C.* Obedience Champiom The criteria for a dog to be awarded this title were changed several years ago, requiring the dog to attain five more Utility class qualifications (often referred to as 'legs') after gaining its U.D. title, each scoring over 185 points out of a possible 200, with at least three First Places. Top of page 7 What times do you train? We train Tuesday morning with beginners' and puppy classes starting at 10.30 am and Tuesday evening at 7.30 pm. New members joining times are 10.45 am on a Tuesday , or 7.45 pm on Tuesday evening, Top of page *8 What does it cost to join the club ?* Membership Fees are by annual Subscriptions New fees were set at a special general meeting 24/02/09 Single $ 55, Double $ 66, Junior (10 yrs to under 17 yrs) $ 44 Extra Family members $ 11 each Pensioner discount is $ 11 for single or double membership. *The club does not extend to credit-card facilities.* Top of page 9 What vaccinations does my dog need ? All dogs must be vaccinated at least to C3 level (Distemper, Hepatitis, & Parvo virus), Proof of this will be required to be sighted before your dog may participate in classes. The Club strongly recommends you discuss with your veterinarian C4 & C5 vaccinations, which covers Kennel Cough Top of page *10 What age can I bring my dog?* All dogs must be fully vaccinated so from 3 months and after vaccinations. Dogs under six months of age automatically go into a Puppy class while older (dog) beginners start in Grade 1, unless they have had previous training and need individual assessment which might put them in a higher class. Top of page *11 Do I bring my dog when joining ?* Yes each week new members attending for the first time have paperwork to complete and pay fees, then join an Orientation class in which Club rules, class structure and expectations are outlined. A basic introduction to training is given to them and their dog, before being allocated to their class for the following week. Top of page *12 If it is too hot.* Training will be canceled : * On any evening when the temperature at 5 PM is 35 C or over, * On Tuesday morning if the forecast maximum temperature for that day broadcast at 9 am on that day is to be 32 C or over. Click here to go BOM Adelaide weather forecast If it is too wet Training will be canceled : * Any morning or evening when heavy constant rain has been falling, You can check by phoning the club on 8223 6626 after 10.00 am for morning classes and after 6.30 pm for evening classes. Should graduation fall on any such occasion, it will be carried over to the following week. Top of page *If you have any questions not answered above, please send the SAODC an e-mail and we will try to answer your dog-training queries.*