Description
This program is offered to children between the ages of 9-14 who have their own dog and would like to learn the basics of dog training and being a responsible dog owner. It is also offered to children who don’t have a family dog and probably dream of having one, or who’s dog would be unfit for the program. In those cases, they would be working with one of our dogs for the week.
A maximum of 10 children will be accepted each week and a minimum of 8 is required for the program to be held. The children will work with various trainers depending on the activity that they will be doing,but will have one main counselor who will be with them throughout the entire program.
Our highly specialized program will incorporate various aspects of dog training, including the how-tos of obedience, agility, rat sports and scent detection. This program will follow GUIDES CANINS philosphy of relationship building, positive reinforcement and respect. The participants will spend several hours a day working with their dog or their assigned dog and will be encouraged to practice at home if possible. The dogs will work a lot during the day which is why it is important to take breaks throughout, in the morning participants will enjoy dogless workshops where they will make homemade dog biscuits, collars, tags, dog bowls, etc. During the afternoon a more theoretical workshop will be offered where we will discuss and show different dog breeds, dog body language, how the dog nose works and lots more!
We hope to be able to teach, encourage and ignite the passion of these aspiring dog trainers!
2024 dates
Holidays:
January 4-5th, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Summer Holidays:
Monday to Friday, August 5-9th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m
Holidays:
January 2-3rd 2025, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Between 9 and 14 years of age.
All of our instructors and educators are bilingual. The classes, workshops and activities are bilingual. We will switch languages depending on the preference of the child.
A maximum of 10 children per group with one counselor and multiple instructors depending on the activity.
Not necessarily! Our program is also open to children who do not have a dog and who dream of one day having one, or who have a dog that does not necessarily fit with the program. We will gladly pair a child with one of our instructors dogs if necessary, these dogs are very well educated, have experience in the activities mentioned in the description and love children!
If we do not know your dog, if he/she has never followed classes with us, we may ask you to come for a visit before the program, in order to meet the dog. This is done to ensure that the week will go by without a problem and that both the child and the dog will enjoy their week with us. If we do not think your dog is appropriate for the program we will suggest that the child use one of our dogs or we will refund your deposit.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your dog does not transmit any illnesses or parasites to the other participants. Therefore, we ask that your dog be up to date in his/her vaccines and that he/she is protected against ticks, fleas and intestinal worms.
Our main concern is the well-being, developement and learning of your child and dog. This is why we are offering this program in our well-kept installations with many safety and security measures in place to ensure that the week goes well. Our program is currently being approved by the Association des camps du Québec and follows all the security rules and regulations put in place by this program.
To ensure the safety of your child, we will always have at least one person on-site who is certified in first-aid, including training in CPR and we also have a defibillator on site. A first aid kit is also well stocked and available.
At least one veterinary technician in animal health is available throughout the program, along with a canine first aid kit. If the health of your dog requires a visit to the vet, we will advise you and take the necessary steps to ensure his/her well-being!
Your child will have to dress appropriately depending on the weather, boots, rain jacket if it is raining or snowing. He/she must also bring appropriate footwear as many of the activities require moving around and running. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, bug spray and a hat! During the winter program, a snowsuit is required!
Your child must bring a lunch, snacks and drinks. They will have access to a fridge and microwave. They must also bring the appropriate material for their dogs (be sure to identify all objects with their name):
- Collar, Leash
- Poop bags
- Grooming material: brush, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste
- Irrestible treats
- Favorite toy
- Cage (if the dog is comfortable in the cage), bed and blanket
- Bowl for water
Holiday season: Thursday & Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Summer Break: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Group walk
Two times a day the children and dogs will enjoy a walk in our trails. The dogs will be walked either on leash or with a long cord. During these walks, we will work on walking on leash along with recalls.
Training classes with the dogs
Each day basic training classes and dog sport classes will be offered. All levels will be accommodated. It does not matter if your dog or child has experience as we will work with them at their level. The classes offered include Obedience, Agility, Trick class, Scent detection, Rat Sports, Frisbee, Mental Stimulation and Fitness. All the classes will be adapted to the physical capacities of the children and their dogs. The goal is to introduce them to different sports and to ensure that both the dogs and the children have fun!
Dogless workshops
In the morning the children will participate in workshops that will allow them to: create cookies, collars, medals and other art projects. We take care of bringing all the required material and the children will get to keep whatever they end up making. During this time, the dogs will have the opportunity to relax in their crates.
Theoretical workshops
In the afternoon, the children will participate in workshops that are more theoretical where we will learn about various subjects, including various breeds, canine language, avoiding bites, how the dog nose works and lots more! The dogs will once again have a little break where they can relax in their cages!
Making sure that your dog is comfortable in a cage is a good idea for this program! Here are a few points that are important to practice:
- The cage should be kept in a busy area of the house to ensure that the dog is not isolated.
- In the beginning, you can entice your dog to go into the cage with cookies, treats and toys. Also, make sure that all meals
are given in the cage to help your dog have positive experiences in the crate.” - Put the dog in the cage and close the door for a few minutes. Take the dog out only when he/she is calm or silent. If the dog cries, make a noise to surprise the dog, wait a few seconds and then take the dog out when he/she is calm. Never let the dog out when he/she is crying or barking. Always wait for the dog to be calm to ensure that he/she associates being let out with being calm.
- Gradually increase the time the dog spends in the cage when you are home and when you leave the house.
- Each time you place the dog in the cage be sure to give him/her a cookie. You can even have the dog sleep in the cage! Use it multiple times during the day, even if you are at home!
Daycare service is available for the end of the day (from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.) if necessary. The cost is 15$ per day. Throughout this daycare the children will be helped with their homework (practicing activities and sports that they learned throughout the week, walking in the trails and watching dog-related movies.
The 150$ deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable and is required to save your child’s spot in the program. 100% of the second payment will only be refunded with a doctors note given one month before the start of the program, stating that the child can no longer participate due to sickness or a health issue. 50% of the second payment will only be refunded with a doctors note stating that the child can no longer participate due to sickness or a health issue, but given only two weeks before the start of the program. No refund will be given during the 2 weeks leading up to the camp.
The pricing of the Holiday season program is $281 + tx for 2 days. The summer program costs $697 + tx. A deposit of 150$ (non-refundable and non-transferable) is required to reserve your spot. The final payment must be given, as requested, approximately 1 month before the activity date. The price is the same if the family dog is participating in the program or if a dog is given to the child throughout the camp.