As there is so much to remember from your first night, these memory joggers may be of some help in the ensuing weeks.

Attitude

Your attitude affects your dog’s behaviour. If you are positive towards obedience training, you can expect a positive result from your dog. You and your dog are a team, but you are the team leader—the one in charge. Quietly assertive

Sign in for training

At the canteen each week, pay your training fee and receive your disc which will be collected by your class instructor.  Remember to secure your dog away from the canteen area beforehand.

2 metre Policy

Please ensure that your own dog is kept at least 2 metres away from all other dogs on the training ground before, during and after classes. This is club policy and is for the safety of all concerned. In the more advanced classes this distance may at times be closer under instructor supervision.

Footwear

Suitable shoes are important for your safety and your dog’s progress. Flapping footwear not only distracts particularly little dogs but is clumsy to handle a dog in, especially if your dogs stands in your shoe while you are moving.

 Food

Delay your dog’s evening meal until you return home from training nights. Your dog will be more alert without a full stomach and there is less chance of ‘doggie doos’ on the training field. Small titbits can however be brought as an extra reward for great work or a sneaky incentive for a challenge!

Poo Bags

The name says it all. If your dog ‘goes’, before, during or after classes, please bag and dispose of it in the bin clearly marked near the dog house

Bitches in Season

Please do not bring bitches in season to training classes.  Exclusion is for the full three weeks.

Collars and leads

There are a number of collars and leads suitable for training a dog or puppy. Flat collars, half checks or check chains are the most common collars. Leads should be foremost comfortable and suitable to the size and weight of dog at the time of use. Cotton webbing leads are highly recommended and should be a minimum of 750mm long. Halters and harnesses are widely used and these types of training equipment are all accepted for training.  An assessment will be conducted and recommendations will be given on the most suitable training equipment to use for your dog.

The Club has various cotton webbing leads, half checks and full check chains on sale. This allows instructors to size collars where necessary.

Please note that if a check chain is used for training it must be a correct fit for the dog at the time of use and be put onto the dog’s neck the right way up.  Check chains are not an obligated item of training equipment at MMADOC and they are not promoted as club policy.

MMADOC does not promote or condone animal cruelty in any form and the use of all training aids is subject to that policy.

However safety at MMADOC is extremely important and many handlers simply cannot control dog on flimsy collars and leads and in these situations check chains are acceptable training aids under instructor supervision.

Check chains are an obedience training collar and must be removed after training again for safety.

YELLOW DOG CLASS (Dogs In Need of Space)

This class is not currently being offered as a formal option but instructors are able to provide advice and techniques to members who have dogs requiring space and additional training techniques.

Yellow Dog Australia Project suggests a wide range of reasons behind why a dog might need to wear a yellow ribbon, leash, vest, bandanna or any yellow item attached to a leash, collar or harness. It is to communicate that this dog needs some space and please do not approach this dog with your dog. Also it signals to maintain a distance or allow time for this dog with his/her person to move out of the way. 
Wearing the yellow indicator does not mean these dogs are “bad”, rather that they do better with space for a whole variety of reasons that may not be related to their temperament or approachability in itself.   Please see the list of possible reasons your dog may be placed in the Yellow Dog class.