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Relax and enjoy the class and encourage your dog to do the same. Don’t worry if your dog doesn’t "get it". You have learned how to teach the behaviour and can practice at home without the distractions of the hall. Dog School is not about "performing" well in front of others – no-one is judging you or your dog, we respect your commitment to take dog ownership seriously. If you think you or your dog friend is getting tense, then take time out of the lesson, sit quietly and rest and watch everyone else. You don’t have to do everything that is being taught. You can then practice at home. When arriving and leaving the hall please move away from the door and leave space for others. This will avoid bottlenecks which can be stressful for dogs. Some training takes place outdoors please bring suitable clothing each week. Each week please remember to bring suitable treats – these may need to be of higher value than normal because of the many distractions in the hall. Suitable treats are small pieces of meat, Coachies or cheese (Edam is best because it doesn’t crumble), and should be small and easy to swallow as not to interrupt the flow of training. (Ideal size is about the size of a pea). Also it is advisable to bring a pen and notebook, toys, grooming equipment, your dog’s water bowl, a mat and a stuffed Kong to pacify your dog and poo bags. Should you have to use your poo bag it needs to be taken home as the bins at the venues are not for this purpose. There are some dogs that are uncomfortable in a class environment and may show stress behaviours. We do have strategies to stop or decrease these behaviours that may take time to work and it may be necessary to put your dog in to your car, work outside, section them off in the hall, or have some one to one training before you attend class. Remember to carry out regular checks on your dog's collar and lead. Look for fraying, check the catch to ensure it is strong and that the collar size is still correct. In a grown dog you should be able to fit two fingers between the dog’s neck and the collar and it should not be able to slip off over the head. You are responsible for your dog – please be aware of what he/she is doing at all times. Try and keep your dog close to yourself while you are in the hall. Don’t feed your dog for 3-4 hours before coming to class. Your food rewards will then be more motivational.