Cindy's Critter Camp is happy to have on site training, provided by John Dahman of Animal Specialties.
John Dahman is a Certified Master Dog Trainer. He is a master graduate of The Tom Rose School of Professional Dog Training. John has in-field experience since 1992 and is a top rated tracker and tracking instructor. John has training knowledge and experience in national obedience trials through utility class, agility, and Schutzhund I, II, and III. He trains dual purpose police K-9’s and has trained working narcotics and cadaver search dogs. John has trained several dogs that are National Narcotic Detector Dog Association certified. John has also trained and certified several service dogs for autistic children.
John has trained his personal dogs at different levels including AKC utility, excellent agility, advanced tracking (including narcotics and cadaver work), and on and off leash attack. His personal dogs include: three border collies fully trained for obedience, agility, and working/herding; one fully trained German shepherd (imported) for tracking and personal protection; and a Belgium melinois (upcoming).
John works with all breeds of dogs and trains an average of 700+ dogs every year in group classes and private lessons in categories of training such as:
- basic obedience through utility class competition rated dogs
- agility
- tracking
- narcotics
- on and off leash K-9’s
- personal protection dogs
- wing and shot, and shoot to retrieve competition
- electronic behavior modification
John enjoys sharing his expertise by giving demonstrations for agility and bite prevention programs for children grades K-5, girl scouts, boy scouts, YMCA’s, Drost Park Pooch Fest, Annual Maryville Pooch Party, and the Belleville Humane Society Pooch Fest.
Why a Master Trainer?How is John different / better than any of the other trainers in the area?
Currently, anyone can call them self a professional dog trainer! Many people call John after spending a large amount of time and money with other "trainers" and still with unresolved dog problems. Please check a "trainer's" educational background and experience before registering for a training class. John's education consisted of (not just reading books, watching videos and online seminars) training and working hundreds of all types of dogs in order to obtain the necessary requirements to graduate. John attended and graduated the Professional Dog Training Course (6 mos) and then went on to learn and graduate the very rigorous "master dog trainer"course. After completing his education at the Tom Rose School, John stayed on to become an instructor to teach others how to become dog trainers. Cindy says, "I have assisted in dog training for 22 years and have worked with 10 different trainers. The last two (graduates of the Tom Rose School) made the most sense, got the best results in the shortest amount of time and were the most humane. I will always hire a dog trainer that has graduated from the Tom Rose School."
Available Services
Evaluations: Convenient appointments can be made with the Master Trainer for a private session to evaluate your dog’s behavior and discuss training recommendations.
Private Lessons: Convenient private sessions with the Master Trainer are available for basic training, problem solving, and mastering advanced competition related skills. Sessions may be scheduled at the owner’s residence if preferred.
In-kennel Training: The Master Trainer will train your dog while your dog is boarded for a minimum of two weeks. Please feel free to call for more information.
Group ClassesGroup Classes: Evening and Saturday classes are available to help you resolve behavior problems, improve obedience, and prepare you for more advanced level training up to competition level if desired. Positive and compulsive reinforcement training techniques will be incorporated to help guarantee your dog training success. Training provides your dog with a fun challenge and an opportunity to build confidence while developing trust in your relationship. Most behavioral problems result from a lack of training and socialization, which can easily be corrected with proper obedience training. John helps pets become a joy to their family rather than a burden. Whether your dog is a puppy or older adult, you and your dog will enjoy the results from training. A current record of vaccinations, including Bordatella, is required prior to the start of classes.
Facility: Cindy's Critter Camp offers excellent facilities for our dog training classes. You and your four legged friend will enjoy a large, open room with plenty of seating and a rubber, accident proof floor. And, because we are indoors, we have year round climate control; Air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter. Because it never rains indoors, little bandit won't have any excuses for trying to skip class.
Classes Offered
Basic Manners: This six week class is for dogs at any age. The first week consists of an informative lecture for owners only; no dogs please. This hour is very important since John is really teaching the pet owners how to teach their dogs. John discusses animal behavior, packing, how dogs think, training philosophies, techniques, his background, equipment, demonstrations and questions. The whole family is encouraged to attend just no children not able to sit still please
During the next five weeks your dog will develop social skills and learn basic obedience skills such as sit, down, stand, healing on a leash, come when called, heal seeking, holding commands with distractions, release command, sit in motion, and down in motion. Problem solving for any and all behavioral issues is always a popular part of training, i.e., house training, jumping, bolting, etc. Training collars and leather leashes are available for purchase.
Intermediate Classes: This six week class is a continuation of the basic training class. Dogs will continue to develop skills learned in basic training with longer periods of holding the commands. You and your dog will learn new skills such as turns and pivots, place, send out, out-of-site sits and downs, and loose leash to prepare to go off leash. An emphasis will also be on polishing your personal handling skills. John is always available for consultations with former students.
Advanced Classes: This class is designed to critique your handling skills and develop your dog’s obedience skills at competition levels.
Canine Good Citizen: This six week class prepares dogs for testing for the AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate. For additional information about the CGC test requirements, go to http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm
Electronic Collar Training: This is a package of four private lessons to learn how to safely use an electronic collar for training purposes (all training is done at a low threshold). Important skills which are learned include off leash heeling and come when called off leash. Problem solving is provided to eliminate maladaptive destructive behaviors, i.e., chasing cars and cats, digging, getting in the trash, counter surfing, fence jumping, and aggression issues.
Competition level training: Including AKC/UKC obedience, shoot to retrieve, and wing and shot field training.
Other Training Services
Hunting Training: Training for hunting is provided at the Master Trainer’s personal farm and bird propagation center. The package includes wing and shot or shoot to retrieve, yard work/woe, directional send outs, whistle training, and retrieval work (positive or forced retrieve depending on the dog). For those who don’t have time to train, John will personally train your dog to specified levels of hunting.
Trained dogs are available as per requested. Birds are also available for sale including bob white quail, Tennessee reds, Manchurian ring neck pheasants, and Chinese ring neck pheasants. Meat birds are available upon request.
Fence Training: John has twelve years of experience providing the installation and training for Dog Guard out of sight fencing.
Personal Protection: Personal protection training services are available for level I alert on command (guard); level II alert on command and bite; level III alert on command and attack; and off leash including out/bark and hold, and reengage. Trained dogs are available (all dogs are German import out of the finest strains). Personal protection training for your dog is available upon evaluation.
Police K-9: Police K-9 trained dogs are available to order.
Training DiscountsPet Adoption Discount: New owners who adopt a dog from a human society or animal shelter are entitled to a free evaluation with the Master Trainer. Evaluation must take place within one month of the adoption and will help you identify potential behavior problems and discuss recommendations to help ensure an enjoyable pet ownership experience. Owners are also entitled to a 10% discount for the basic manners group class if enrolled within one month of adoption.
Veterinarian Staff Services: Are you tired of endless pet behavior questions and problems? And the needless tragic euthanasia statistics across our country? In 2007, Madison County Animal Control put to death 1,535 dog and puppies and 3,126 cats and kittens. Very sad! We all know the majority of those euthanized were adoptable. According to the HSUS, disease is no longer the #1 killer in pets today. It is pet behavior problems or we feel, more correctly, the human/animal communication breakdown!
We would like to thank veterinarians and their staff for your referrals to our training program. So more of you will understand our training style and technique, we would like to offer the following services:
- a complimentary six week basic obedience course to all veterinarians
- for all veterinarian staff, a 20% discount for the basic manners group class or attend the first week “start lecture” for free.
Understanding pet behavior is critical for anyone working with animals. Several area vets have attended our training classes and have been very satisfied with the style and results.
Humane Society Staff Services: Humane society workers, are you "burned out" about returned pet adoptions? Are you tired of behavior problems taking up much of your staff's time? Did you know that the number one killer in pets today is not disease? Rather, it is the behavior problems, ore more correctly, human/animal communication breakdown.
Don't blame them. Train them!
We have always been extremely upset by the tragic euthanasia stats across our country. In 2007, Madison County Animal Control put to death 1,535 dog and puppies and 3,126 cats and kittens. Very sad! We all know the majority of those euthanized were adoptable.
We applaud anyone who helps curtail pet euthanasia, and would like to help. John has hands on experience with thousands of dogs. We are proud of our program and training results. John has had many satisfied customers and has saved many dogs with his proven training techniques. He helps pets become a joy to their family, rather than a burden.
Understanding pet behavior is critical for anyone working with animals. We would like to offer area shelter employees a 10% discount for the basic manners group class or attend the first week "start lecture" for free.
Veteran Discounts: In appreciation of your service to our country we would like to honor both active duty military personnel and veterans with a 10% discount for the basic manners group class.
