Class Policies

COST OF CLASS

  • 6 weeks: $120.00 effective August 1, 2021
  • 7 weeks: $140.00 effective August 1, 2021               

VACCINATIONS

Puppies must be at least 12 weeks of age by the second class to be allowed in Puppy Class.  If a puppy 8 weeks to 11 weeks is given a letter of approval from their veterinarian stating the puppy is up-to-date on vaccinations and in good health, the puppy will be allowed to take the Puppy Class.  This letter must be sent with the class application or given to the instructor the first night of class. If a veterinarian does not feel the puppy should be in class before 12 weeks of age, the owner may come to class without the puppy, and when the puppy reaches 12 weeks of age, the puppy may then join the class.

In accordance with VA state law current rabies vaccinations are required and proof shall be provided in the form of a rabies vaccination record from a licensed veterinarian for dogs over the age of four months. Titers for rabies vaccinations are not acceptable as proof according to VA state law. SCCTC also requires current core vaccines for DAPP (Canine distemper, canine Hepatitis/Adenovirus, Canine Parvovirus, and parainfluenza) Current titers for these core vaccines are acceptable. These copies stay on file with SCCTC. If an owner gives his/her own vaccines, we will need a copy of the receipt of vaccine purchase. The owner will be required to submit proof of vaccinations as they are updated. It is the instructor’s responsibility to give all vaccination records not submitted online to the obedience/agility chairperson. Owners who have not provided proof of vaccination by the second week of class will be asked to take class without their dog until they submit proof of vaccination.  

DOWNLOAD THE VACCINATION POLICY

HEALTH  POLICIES

Any dog that is showing signs of illness such as runny eyes, coughing, sneezing, diarrhea, vomiting and/or listlessness should not be brought to class.  If the instructor sees a dog in class that is sick, he/she has the right to ask that dog to be taken home.  Females in season will be allowed in class only with approval of the instructor.  If the instructor feels a female in season will be disruptive to the class, the owner/handler may opt to (A) attend class without the dog OR (B) receive a credit of $20 per class missed toward the next session.  (ex. person/dog misses three weeks of class, they could attend the next session with a credit of $60).  A veterinary certificate is required to receive this credit.  Puppies/dogs are not allowed to socialize before, during or after class unless it is during a supervised activity/play.  This is for health and safety reasons as well as to keep distractions to a minimum.  All of the above mentioned policies should be gone over with the owners the first night of class.

DISCOUNT COUPONS

Non-training members taking consecutive classes will receive a $10.00 discount coupon.  These coupons are distributed to students the first week of class and no later than the fourth week of class.  This will allow the student enough time to register for the next class online using the current discount code word.  If a student attempts to register for the next class but is unable to attend because the class was full, the student may use their coupon for the next session of classes.  Limit one coupon per class, per person.   

SPCA and Salem Animal Shelter will give a one-time offer to people who adopt dogs a coupon valued at a discount to 25% of the class value toward a class offered by SCCTC. $30 for a six week class and $35 for a seven week class. Coupon is valid for 90 days. SCCTC will also offer the same discount for animals obtained through other shelters/rescue organizations (documentation is required).

SIZE OF CLASS

There will be a maximum of 8 dogs/puppies to a class unless the instructor requests less or more.  8 is the preferred number for beginner and puppy, 6 to 8 for agility.  If the class has a large number of big dogs, class size can be limited to 6.  The chairperson responsible for organizing and scheduling classes will make that determination. The minimum number for a class is 4.

ATTENDANCE AND GRADUATION

All persons signed up for Puppy and Beginner class must be in attendance the first night unless prior arrangements have been made.  Certificates are awarded to beginning obedience and agility levels. For a certificate to be earned, the dog must attend 4 classes out of a 6 weeks class and 5 weeks out of a 7 week class and be in compliance with the skill requirements for the class. Instructors should announce this the first night of class.

COMPLETION CERTIFICATES

Certificates for Puppy Class, Beginner Obedience and Beginner Agility can be found on the GROUPS.io Files section. 

CHILDREN AS HANDLERS

No child under 10 years of age can handle a dog in class.  If a child is over 10 years of age, they may train the dog with an adult present to supervise.  If the child is not able to handle the dog, the adult will be asked to take control.  To be able to train alone, the child must be 16 years old.  Parents who are trainers are welcome to bring children with them to the training center as long as the children are quiet and well-behaved.  Only one person handles the dog during class.

AGGRESSIVE DOGS/ WOLF HYBRIDS

Aggressive dogs will be evaluated case by case.  If the dog is known to be aggressive prior to class, the training chairperson will make an appointment for a private evaluation at the training center.   The instructor of the class the dog would be in should also be included in the evaluation.  The instructor will make a recommendation to the training committee (comprised of the agility, obedience chairs and training director) and a joint decision will be reached concerning whether the dog will be allowed to train in a group class.  If the instructor is not qualified to perform an evaluation, SCCTC will recommend several names to the handler.  After the handler has the dog evaluated, the evaluator and the instructor will communicate the results to the training committee.  Owners must be made aware that if the instructor deems it necessary, they may be asked to muzzle the dog for class participation.  If the dog proves to be a danger, it will be removed from class.  The owner would then have the option of coming to class without a dog or receiving a refund.  If a situation does occur, instructors should notify the training director and the obedience/agility chairperson within 24 hours.  Instructors must be clear, yet tactful.  Instructors must always make safety the primary goal.  The Board of Directors of SCCTC has ruled that Wolf-hybrids will not be admitted to class.  However, owners may take the class without the animal in attendance. 

REFUNDS

There will be no refund after the first night of class with dogs (i.e. second night for Beginner and Puppy since there are no dogs the first night of class).  Instructors should let people know these rules the first night of class. 

REGISTRATION AND ENROLLMENT PROCESS FOR MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS

Everyone follows the same process for signing up to take a class.  NO one is to show up for a class without registering first.

  1. Visit the club website www.starcityk9training.com to register for the class you wish to attend.  Complete the registration and submit your payment either online using Paypal or by check. Payment by check can be mailed to P.O. Box 20366, Roanoke, VA. or brought to first night of class. There is a $25 fee for all returned checks. Vaccinations records must submitted by the first night of class.
  2. The deadline for enrollment is 5 days before the start of classes and will be on a first come, first served basis.
  3. There is a separate registration for each class taken.  A single class registration is for one dog, one handler team.  Each dog must be registered separately with vaccination forms and enrollment paperwork. Each of these registrations counts as one “seat” in the class.

INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATION

Members in good standing approved by the training chairs can assist with a class and be offered training to become an instructor.  Instructor assistants must assist a class at least twice if the person has never taught an obedience/agility class or once if the person has taught an obedience/agility class for SCCTC or another dog training club.  The assistant may then instruct a class with a qualified instructor (i.e. someone who has instructed an obedience/agility class with SCCTC), and the instructor will let the obedience/agility chairperson or the training director know if the assistant is ready to instruct on their own.    

INSTRUCTOR SUBSTITUTION

If the instructor is unable to attend a class, it is their responsibility to ask their assistant to instruct the class, find a substitute instructor to cover the class, or schedule a make-up date for the class.  If the class will be made up at a later date, it is the instructor’s responsibility to make sure all students are notified prior to the day of class. 

INSTRUCTORS AND CLASS SCHEDULING

Instructors should be courteous and not monopolize a time slot or class level.  If an instructor has had a class level, day or time slot for more than two sessions in a row, please be considerate of other instructors who might wish to teach that particular class or have a specific day or time slot. 

STAR CITY BUCKS

After a session has been completed, the instructor will give the roster or designated form to the SC Bucks Coordinator.  The instructor indicates the number of classes instructed, and the assistant should indicate the number of classes assisted.  If an alternate instructor/assistant is required, a note should be made so the correct instructor/assistant receives the proper amount of Star City Bucks.  The coordinator will credit the Instructor with the appropriate number of Star City Bucks earned.  See the training member document for current SCB amounts.  If the assistant needs to fill in for the instructor, the assistant will receive instructor pay for that week.   Star City Bucks may be used for training dues, dog related publications, seminars, videos, etc. 

ATTIRE: Recommend badges for instructors or shirts (really not an issue outside of making a professional public appearance, board decision, FYI – most obedience instructors have shirts, agility does not.)

It is requested that all instructors wear their SCCTC instructor shirt or a SCCTC t-shirt when teaching non-Star City members.  First time instructors will be provided with a short-sleeve polo shirt bearing the SCCTC logo and the words “instructor” below the logo.  If you have instructed and do not receive a shirt within the session, please notify the training director or obedience/agility chairperson. 

TRAINING EQUIPMENT

The club sells 6’ cotton leashes; gentle leaders, easy walk harnesses, and treat bags.  They are located in the storage area.  If equipment is sold to a student, the instructor and/or assistant should help fit the dog (gentle leaders).  It is wise to choose a color that closely resembles the dogs coloring so that the dog is less likely to see the gentle leader on their nose.  Make sure the equipment is fitted and worn the way the brochure indicates.  Instruct the handler on proper use of the equipment (i.e. for gentle leader, don’t let a dog run to the end of the leash since the gentle leader is worn on the head; don’t pop the leash, etc.).   If you have questions about the proper use of equipment or are unsure about how to properly fit the equipment even with the brochure, please do not attempt to put it on a dog.  Have someone else who is familiar with the gentle leader fit the dog.  The price list for equipment is located in the notebook on top of the equipment storage container.  If you notice the inventory is running low on a particular item, notify the Obedience Chairperson so he/she can make sure the item is restocked (i.e. leashes, treat pouches, etc).

INSTRUCTOR DUTIES

Instructors and assistants will receive rosters from the Obedience or Agility Chair.  Class outlines, general class information, class handouts and other information pertinent to your class level is available on the Groups.io Files section (Files/SCCTC Instructors).  Please check this section each session as information may have been revised.

  1. Read the class outline for your class and make sure your course of instruction covers the outline.
  2. Make yourself familiar with other level requirements.  Be aware of prerequisites for a dog to enter a class level.
  3. Be sure that you and your assistant(s) have the roster prior to the start of class.
  4. Have a lesson plan; be sure your assistant gets a copy to review.  Instructor and Assistant(s) need to coordinate class so it can run smoothly.
  5. On the first night of class, make sure all students have filled out the application form, paid and submitted a copy of the vaccination records.  Collect money if needed and place in the cash box.  Send any vaccination records to the obedience/agility chairperson.  Be sure to ask for vaccination updates for puppies.
  6. Go over rules with class on the first night (i.e. Refund policy, clean-up procedures, sick dogs, attendance, class completion, equipment, etc.)
  7. Keep weekly attendance.  The Roster with marked attendance or designated form will be turned into the Star City Bucks coordinator at the end of the session.
  8. If a student misses class – CONTACT THEM!
  9. If you must cancel class due to weather or illness, it is your responsibility to notify students.  If class is cancelled due to weather, contact your students to let them know class is cancelled.  Cancelled classes must be made up during the session or the chairperson must be informed so that next session will not be interfered with.
  10. Be sure to have completion certificates ready for puppy and beginner class.  Try to plan special events for the last session. 
  11. Have students complete evaluation forms in person or via email.  This should be done for all levels.  Forms are to be returned to the obedience/agility chairperson or the training director. 
  12. Instructors and assistants must do a light cleaning after class.  This means to straighten up and sweep or vacuum. 
  13. If club members are in the last class it is expected that they assist with the clean-up, equipment storage.  Club members should also let the instructor know if they are unable to stay to assist. Agility club members should help with setup and break down whenever possible.
  14. If you are having problems with the class, please do not hesitate to contact the training director or the obedience/agility chairperson. They will be glad to help in any way they can.
  15. The rule of thumb is one assistant per class that reaches 4 students or greater, dependent on instructors needs.  The levels from advanced beginner/CGC and higher will depend on the instructor’s needs. 

Revised 2021.