Puppy Training Tips

During this COVID-19 pandemic, it’s difficult to take a puppy “out and about” so it can experience a wide variety of social situations and stimuli. Though KCFA has had to cancel classes for the summer, we want to encourage “puppy parents” to provide training and educational opportunities at home. In support of those who’ve recently acquired a puppy, KCFA’s Puppy Kindergarten instructors and Training Committee have collaborated to produce several informational articles. Please visit the Course Descriptions page for the links to these articles.

For a smile break, check out the Parade of Puppies video on our Join the Fun page, or visit the link directly at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/embed.animoto.com/play.html?w=swf/production/vp1&e=1595467127&f=VLxyfocoDGhzlzbv4RWfgA&d=0&m=p&r=360p+720p&volume=100&start_res=720p&i=m&asset_domain=s3-p.animoto.com&animoto_domain=animoto.com&options=%20allowfullscreen/iframe

Important Notice: Session 3 Cancelled Due to COVID-19

Due to the ongoing public health emergency from coronavirus (COVID-19), all KCFA 2020 Session 3 training classes have been cancelled.

We’re sorry to have to cancel another session of training and apologize for the inconvenience. The decision was made by the KCFA Training Committee with careful consideration and an abundance of caution and concern for the health and wellbeing of our instructors and students.

In the hope our state will meet the criteria for the reopening of schools in September, the training schedule for the remainder of 2020 is as follows: Session 4 is tentatively scheduled to begin the week of September 13, and Session 5 the week of November 1. All classes for both of these sessions will be six weeks and will cost $80.

Assuming we are able to open registration for Session 4, everyone, including those who had previously registered for Sessions 2 and/or 3, will need to submit new class registration materials in order to register for Session 4. Registrations for Session 4 will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, once specific class days and times are announced and registration has been opened.

Please check back for updates as Session 4 draws closer. Also visit our Facebook page for news, training tips and fun photos and videos. Just click the Facebook logo (“f” in a blue circle) at the bottom of this page.

On behalf of the KCFA Board of Directors and Training Committee, thank you for your understanding, and stay well!

Sign Up Now for Spring Training Classes!

Registration is open for classes beginning in March and April.  Classes fill quickly, so don’t delay – send in your registration today! 

Puppy Kindergarten will be offered Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m., beginning April 6th.

Basic Skills and Everyday Manners will meet Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m., beginning April 11th.

Continuing Basic, with an AKC Canine Good Citizen emphasis, will be on Tuesday evenings, beginning April 7th, at 6:30 p.m.

Intermediate Skills, with an AKC Novice and Graduate Novice emphasis, will begin on Thursday, April 9th, at 7:00 p.m.

Advanced Skills (competition emphasis) will meet on Tuesday mornings at 10:30, beginning April 7th.

Preregistration is required and class sizes are limited.  Instructor approval is required for some classes.   Click the following links for more information:  course descriptions and class dates

New Titles Honored

Heather - OpalMany KCFA members compete in a variety of dog sports, and several dog-handler teams earned new titles during 2018.  These teams were honored at the recent KCFA Annual Meeting held at Sammy’s Place restaurant.  Titles earned range from Canine Good Citizen to Trick Dog to Rally, Agility and Hunter titles.

Visit our Join the Fun page to see photos.  Click on a thumbnail photo to enlarge it, and use the browser’s “back” button to close the photo and return to the page.

Congratulations to all our new title holders!

Service Dog Tales

Come join us on Saturday, July 28, at 1:00 p.m.,
to meet working service Cadence pushing door buttondogs and their handlers, and to listen to their stories of teamwork and transformation.  Learn about the functions of service dogs, how they’re trained, and laws that apply to them.  The presentation will be held in the Community Room of Dwight Foster Public Libary, 209 Merchants Ave, Fort Atkinson.  Admission is free and the public is invited.

Amber Marzahl, a member of the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson,  will anchor the presentation with her service dog, Cadence.  Gulf War veteran Warren Demmin and his PTSD service dog, Loki, will add their own remarkable story to the presentation, and Katie McDonald, with her service dog, Zyko, will talk about what it takes to train a service dog and what functions they might perform.

Topics will include:  What is a service dog?  Who can benefit from a service dog?  What public access rights do service dogs have?  What are a business owner’s rights with regard to them?

The growing problem with “fake” service dogs will be discussed.  These are dogs that don’t perform services other than providing companionship, but are purported by their handlers to be service dogs in order to gain access to housing or public venues where dogs aren’t usually permitted.

Time will be allowed for questions from the audience, as well.

Here’s a poster you can print and post to help us spread the word about this event:    Service_Dog_Event_Flyer

 

 

25th Anniversary Celebration

25th Anniversary Founders Patty Marleen RitaMembers, former members and friends of the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson celebrated the club’s 25th anniversary with a gathering at the Fort Atkinson American Legion Dugout on Sunday, October 29.

Club founders Patty Beran, Marleen LaPlant and Rita Hasel are pictured here with a congratulatory plaque from the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce.

Visit our Join the Fun page for more photos.

Please “Like” our K9 Veterans’ Day Facebook Page

We have started a Facebook page dedicated to the efforts of declaring March 13th National K9 Veterans’ Day.

Please click “Like” on our page to support the cause and follow our progress!

https://www.facebook.com/NationalK9VeteransDay

While you’re at it… Please don’t forget to sign our petition for national recognition of K9 Veterans’ Day!

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/national-k9-veterans-day.html

K9 Veterans' Day Flag