What is the right intermediate program for me?

Scheurman's K9 Academy, offers all of its intermediate training programs, in the form of group classes, and private lessons.

All of our Intermediate programs are suitable for the family pet. Whether or not you have a working or competition goal, you can have a pet trained to exceptional levels of obedience. Should the desire to enter the world of competition, you will have a strong foundation, to start. If God forbid you or a family member need a service dog, again you are ahead of the curve. Rather than starting over, you will have a highly trained dog that may enjoy service work, giving a loved one the help they need.

What is currently known as the Intermediate program, has been in existence since the beginning of Scheurman's K9 Academy's civilian training programs.

If it is important to know why it happened. Many of the students have been coming for years. After teaching the intermediate program for 15 years, I became bored, teaching the same thing, so I started adding new commands, from the working Dog Intermediate program. The American Kennel Club added the CGC A, so I thought what the heck its only 10 new behaviors. Then the American Kennel Club added the CGC U, so I thought what the heck its only 10 new behaviors. What the original Intermediate program ended up becoming, is impressive, very educational, and a great deal of fun but a program, which the original students didn’t sign up for.

It is a catch-22 situation, I won’t close the program, because some students joined, because it offered all the CGC programs, and we advertised it with the additional commands. So it stays. In March 2019, the students voted to return to the old test standard of the original Intermediate program.
What is different between the intermediate lite, and the original Intermediate program? The original Intermediate program if for the lifetime of the dog with a few conditions, like attendance.

The Working Dog Intermediate program encompasses everything the original intermediate program offers, plus many additional commands. It also includes building drives, such as prey, hunt, and retrieve drives. Plus it includes all 3 AKC, CGC’s and the actual tests.

The cost of the Working Dog Lifetime Intermediate program is $6,000.00. This program should only be considered by students with younger dogs, with a working goal in mind, such as protection dogs, or search and rescue.  

If you select to pay the listed price, that is a pay once. No class fees for intermediate training for the rest of your dog’s life. We do have an attendance requirement, barring being dropped for failure to attend, or animal abuse, you are paid in full, regardless of the time you spend with us. Whether it be 1 year or 12 years, or more.

The Intermediate program is ideal for students wishing to train their dogs in advanced programs such as Therapy Dog, Competition Obedience, for people training service dogs. Dogs in this category require maintenance training, and is another way for students to keep their training cost low. The student can work on maintaining the dogs working abilities, instead of obedience or regaining obedience during their maintenance training class. Or for an owner who demands an exceptionally trained family pet.

Working Dog Intermediate programs are designed for working dogs.
A working dog has the ability to work 8 to 10 years. This program is ideal for students looking to train their dogs in advanced programs such as Protection, Search and Rescue, Competition Bite Sports or for people training service dogs. Dogs in this category require maintenance training, and is another way for students to keep their training cost low. The student can work on maintaining the dogs working abilities, instead of obedience or regaining obedience during their maintenance training class. Recommended dogs age should be dogs under two years of age, so they can attend for a long time, and the owner can gain the best value for their money.

These programs were developed in 2011. It allows students to join our intermediate program with less out of pocket costs. Then pay a fixed rate per class attended. It is an economical way for students that want to maintain the family pet, or for students that are looking to attend one of our advanced training programs. It is a great way for students to budget their dog training to fit their needs.

When looking at our intermediate options, you first need to have a goal for your training. The best trained family pet, or a serious working/sport dog. Will the dog require maintenance training for your future goals? Are you planning on living in Jacksonville area, or planning on moving and when? Do you have a steady work schedule, allowing you to attend training or can you adjust your schedule to accommodate your dog training schedule?

The fastest student to ever graduate the Intermediate Obedience Program was Debbie Haris, with her Border Collie Dillion. She and Dillon graduated in only 4 months. The longest time it has taken a student to graduate intermediate over 5 years and still working on it.

Fastest Student to earn an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizens Certification, Kendra and Sanroc, her German Shepherd Dog in just under 4 months. The longest time it has taken a student to earn an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizens Certification over 5 years and still working on it.

The disparity of the above times relies simply on the dogs age and prior issues and handlers abilities to understand and apply what they have learned. Debbie who earned both her CGC and Intermediate certification attending twice a week, and Kendra who earned her CGC attending once a week, were exceptional students. Students that have attendance issues, such as not attending classes regularly will always progress slower then students that attend and have goals.

Lastly you will need to consider your financial situation. Which program fits your budget?

Now you have the information to choose the right intermediate option for you.

Scheurman’s K9 Academy offers dog training for ALL BREEDS and ALL AGES in Group classes, Private lessons format and or Board and Trains, for Basic Obedience, Intermediate Obedience, Competition Obedience for both the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club in Novice, Open, Utility and Rally. We also offer training in Personal Protection, Therapy Dogs, Service Dogs as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Search and Rescue, Cadaver Recovery, Schutzhund, KNPV, NVBK, French Ring. We further offer Canine First Aid and CPR classes, using our canine manikin, Scruffy.

Scheurman’s K9 Academy offers training programs to security, and law enforcement to include Narcotics Interdiction Dogs, Building Search Dogs, Perpetrator Apprehension Dogs, Officer Protection Dogs, Explosive Detection Dogs (Bomb), Accelerant Detection Dogs (arson), Riot Control Dogs, Prisoner Escort dogs, Cell Phone Detection Dogs, and Patrol Dogs.