Over theRainbow Dogs specializes in pet-dog training to help you have a wonderful, well mannered family pet that is the treasure at the end of the rainbow.

All training methods used are humane and based on the positive reinforcement and negative punishment quadrants of B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning. Your dog will be rewarded for performing correctly. If your dog performs incorrectly, the reward will be withheld. Dogs are never physically or verbally punished during training.

Over the Rainbow Dogs recommends using a clicker to train your dog. A recent study reveals that dogs learn initial behaviors about 40% faster if a clicker is used. The clicker is a communication tool used to mark the behavior you want from your dog and to let your dog know that he will be rewarded. You will learn how to pair the clicker sound with a reward, in most cases a food reward, and then use it to facilitate teaching your dog new behaviors.

Over the Rainbow Dogs wants you and your dog to have fun during the training process. Training is structured as a win-win situation so that your dog does the behaviors you want in order to get what he wants. Everyone wins! Everyone is happy!

Over the Rainbow Dogs currently holds classes at the Westview Woof Academy (Westview Animal Clinic) in Muncie, Indiana.

To sign up or get more information on classes, please contact us via email or phone.

 

 

 

 

Lollipup Kids Class (6 weeks for $120)

The Lollipup Kids class is held in an open format which means that you do not have to wait to start training your puppy. If you have to miss a week, you can make it up later as long as your puppy does not get too old or large for puppy class. You and your puppy never have to miss a class that you paid for. The first Lollipup class is free in order to let you decide if you and your dog want to train with Over the Rainbow Dogs.

Over the Rainbow Dogs also offers the American Kennel Club S.T.A.R. Puppy program so your puppy can earn a pre-Canine Good Citizen award. You and your dog must attend 6 weeks of classes to receive this award.

Other classes offered vary in length and have a definite start and end date.

Behaviors taught in the Lollipup Kids Puppy Training class include:

• Introduction to clicker training
• Off-Leash Socialization (when it is safe and in your puppy’s best interest)
• Socialization to people through Pass the Puppy game
• Bite inhibition training (learning to have a soft mouth)
• House training
• Crate training
• Attention to handler
• Replacing jumping for attention with sitting politely for attention
• Sit
• Down
• Settle
• Come
• Introduction to loose-leash walking
• Wait
• Off/Leave It (Introduction)
• Self-control exercise
• Helping your dog be comfortable and happy during the vet exam
• Guidance to prevent future behavior problems including resource guarding, separation issues, and other behavior problems
• Confidence and coordination building games, some on approved K-9 equipment
• And more!

 

 

Munchkins Class (4 weeks for $80)
Munchkins (dogs 5 months to 12 months) will continue, build on, and refine the Lollipup Kids class behaviors while adding the following behaviors:

• Loose-leash walking
• Introduction to stay
• Greeting people and other dogs politely (several methods are taught)
• Emergency Recall
• Tricks

 

 

Yellow Brick Road 1 Class (4 weeks for $80)
Yellow Brick Road 1 (dogs 8 months and older) is a beginning level class for older dogs and includes the following behaviors:

• Sit
• Down
• Come
• Loose-leash walking
• Greeting people politely
• Wait
• Touch
• Stay
• Off
• Settle
• Go to place
• Self-control exercises
• Emergency Recall
• And more!

 

 

Yellow Brick Road 2 Class (4 weeks for $80)
Yellow Brick Road 2 (dogs continuing from Yellow Brick Road 1) takes behaviors from previous classes to higher levels and includes:

• Sit, walk around dog
• Down, walk around dog
• Down from a distance
• Advanced loose-leash walking
• Advanced stay
• Go to place and down stay
• Stand
• Back
• Tricks
• Emergency recall
• Opportunity to take the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen test
• And more!
   

 

 

Dorothy Class (4 weeks for $80)
The Dorothy Class is a class designed to help dogs overcome separation issues and storm phobia. During class instructions are given to help your dog overcome these problems and stay home alone or handle storms with less anxiety. In class you will learn to:

• Use clicker training effectively
• Desensitize your dog to departure cues
• Desensitize your dog to the sounds of a thunder storm
• Management techniques
• How to reduce stress in your dog’s environment
• Engage in planned departure training
• Proper crate training techniques
• How to help your dog settle comfortably in a safe place
• Be your dog’s trusted parent or guardian
• Review basic behaviors including sit, down, and touch
• Use equipment modules and tunnels to build confidence and have fun
• Emergency recall

 

 

Calming Toto Class (4 weeks for $80)
The Calming Toto class is for dogs that are enthusiastic greeters who lack self-control in many aspects of their lives. These are dogs that are friendly but don’t know how to properly expressive their friendliness towards humans. The Calming Toto class teaches:

• Basic behaviors including sit, down, stay, and loose-leash walking
• Impulse-control exercises
• Settle
• Go to place and settle
• Greeting humans without jumping
• Diet, nutrition, and exercise to promote calm behavior
• Emergency recall 

 

 

Wizards Tricks Class (4 weeks for $80)
The Wizards class is a great way to continue the positive and fun training relationship through teaching your dog tricks. You will learn a variety of methods to teach your dog tricks including luring, shaping, targeting, and capturing behaviors. Class is structured so that each week the class is introduced to a trick that the entire class learns as well as providing time for you to work individually on a trick of your choice. Time is also allotted to have fun with tunnels and chutes as well as work on an emergency recall.

 

 

 

If I Only Had a Brain, Heart, and Nerve Class (4 weeks for $80)
The If I Only Had a Brain, Heart, and Nerve Class is for dogs that are either excitable greeters towards other dogs, fearful of other dogs, or reactive to other dogs. This class utilizes Grisha Stewart’s behavior adjustment training technique to eliminate fearful, reactive, and excitable behaviors. Private sessions are required first so you can learn the technique and how to handle your dog effectively and safely.  A muzzle may be required.  The class is formed when there are enough dogs that have made progress through private training. Behavior adjustment training exercises are cponducted outside, so dress accordingly.

 

 

 

Emerald City 1 & 2 Class (Canine Good Citizen and AKC Community Dog) (4 weeks for $80) 
Over the Rainbow Dogs offers classes to prepare your dog for the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and the AKC Community Canine (CGCA) tests.  The CGC and CGCA demonstrate that your dog responds to your requests, is well mannered, and is a safe, well socialized dog around people and other dogs.  The AKC Community Canine (CGCA) is a good step towards preparing your dog to pass the Therapy Dogs International test.

 

Therapy Dog Information (Over the Rainbow Dogs no longer offers testing for Therapy Dogs International.  To locate an evaluator visit the website of Therapy Dogs International at: http://www.tdi-dog.org/HowToJoinEvaluators.aspx.)

Over the Rainbow Dogs recommends the organization Therapy Dogs International. Your dog does not need to take a class to be tested for therapy dog work. Over the Rainbow Dogs no longer offers testing sessions.  If you feel that you need assistance with training, Over the Rainbow Dogs can can help prepare you and your dog for the Therapy Dogs International test. Deb Dolak has been involved in therapy dog work for over 20 years and has evaluated dogs through Therapy Dogs International for over 15 years.

Dogs must be at least one year old to take the test.  Service dogs and dogs registered with another therapy dog organization cannot be tested for therapy dog work with Therapy Dogs International.  Dogs that have been trained using shock collars can not be tested through Therapy Dogs International.  Deaf dogs may be tested but must pass an additional startle test.  Evaluators who have helped train your dog may not test your dog.

All dogs must be tested on a flat buckle or snap collar or regular harness and be on a 6 ft. leash at all times. Treats and clickers may not be used during testing.  

The Therapy Dogs International test simulates a real situation.  Some elements your dog will be tested on include testing your dog’s ability to leave food alone on the floor, refuse food on command offered by hand from someone using a wheelchair, your dog’ willingness to say hello and be petted by someone in a wheelchair, your dog’s reaction to people using medical equipment and to people with infirmities, and your dog’s reaction to children playing on the premises. Your dog will not be in direct contact with the children. The evaluator will observe your dog’s reaction to children in a secure. Your dog will also be tested on basic behaviors including sit, down, stay, come, leave it, walking politely on leash, ability to greet people and other dogs politely, and more.  For more information about the therapy dog test please visit the Therapy Dogs International website and review their brochure of testing requirements.

Therapy dogs are actively working dogs. Passing the therapy dog test does not earn your dog a title until you complete 50 documented visits at an institution. Therapy Dogs International currently offers five titles for actively working therapy dogs. Visits must be documented in order to earn titles. The first title, TDIA (Therapy Dogs International Active) is earned after completion of 50 documented visits. Other titles that can be earned are TDIAOV, TDIRVA, TDIEVA, and TDI Gold level. Therapy Dogs International also has a Tail Wagging Tutors program for children reading to dogs.

 

 

If you are a current student, and you have received log in information, you may log in to view class manuals.
Puppy Class | Adult Dog Class | Behavioral Class

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Please contact Over the Rainbow Dogs (765-288-2514) or Westview Animal Clinic (765-288-1881) for more information on classes.

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