Training Levels
Science Based Force Free Training
Bronze
Science Based Force Free Training
Silver
Science Based Force Free Training
Gold
Pet Dog Ambassador
The Pet Dog Ambassador (PDA) is a program for guardians to test their knowledge, skills and ability to manage their canine companion in real life settings.
Its aim is to acknowledge the hard work and commitment that guardians and their dogs undertake to make their shared lives enjoyable and recognises these efforts from a puppy’s very early training.
The program aims to encourage guardians to continue training and developing new skills, abilities, and knowledge. Each of the CBS levels corresponds with a PDA level.
Pet Dog Ambassador Program
Candidates
The program is suitable for all, including guardians and/or dogs with a disability or special needs. Candidates must be 18 years or more.
Canine candidates
Dogs may be any breed or mix aged from four months. Dogs with special physical needs can also be assessed with exercises being adapted if necessary. On successful candidate application, the dog’s Health Check form can be downloaded from the Candidate Knowledge Centre on the PDA website. Not all dogs are suitable to undertake every level of the PDA Program.
Tangible evidence of success
As well as the pride in the hard work that they do, successful dog and guardian teams are awarded certificates and medallions at every level.
Speak to your instructor or see the Pet Dog Ambassador Program for more information about how you can become involved in this wonderfully rewarding program for you and your dog.
Puppy Pre-School
Canine Behavioural School does not teach puppy pre-school (for puppies 8-16 weeks of age). However, as this is the time in a dog’s life when they learn the most, we strongly recommend that all puppies attend a puppy pre-school with appropriately trained instructors.
Recommended Puppy Pre-Schools
Not all puppy pre-schools are created equal! We can recommend the following list of puppy pre-schools as we know the instructors and their qualifications. To enrol your puppy in a puppy pre-school, please contact the providers directly.
Familypet Vet Clinic
| Instructor | Margaret Carruthers |
| Address | 166 Main Road, McLaren Vale SA 5171 |
| Phone | 8323 8522 |
| When | Tuesday night 6pm (7pm as required) |
Greencross Vets Paradise
| Instructor | Felice Case |
| Address | 655 Lower North East Road, Paradise SA 5075 |
| Phone | 8337 4922 |
| When | Wednesday night 7:30pm |
Parade Norwood Veterinary Clinic
| Instructor | Bev Clark |
| Address | 27 The Parade, Norwood SA 5067 |
| Phone | 8363 5323 |
| When | Sunday afternoon x2 classes |
Payneham Veterinary Centre
| Instructor | Susanne Eckert |
| Address | 131 Portrush Road, Evandale SA 5069 |
| Phone | 8362 0831 |
| When | Tuesday night 6pm and 7:15pm (if required) |
Puppy Partners
| Instructor | Felice Case |
| Address | 28B Dewar Avenue, Ridgehaven 5097 |
| Phone | 0408 089 555 |
| When | Various, please call to enquire |
Salisbury Highway Veterinary Surgery
| Instructor | Felice Case |
| Address | 130 Salisbury Highway, Salisbury SA 5108 |
| Phone | 8258 7978 |
| When | Thursday night 7pm |
Stephen Terrace Veterinary Clinic
| Instructor | Bodil Schou-Hansen and Susanne Eckert |
| Address | 45 Stephen Terrace, St Peters SA 5069 |
| Phone | 8362 6688 |
| When | Monday and Wednesday nights 7:15pm |
Walkerville Veterinary Surgery
| Instructor | Susanne Eckert |
| Address | 142 North East Road, Walkerville SA 5081 |
| Phone | 8344 2000 |
| When | Thursday night 6pm and 7:15pm |
Recommended Puppy Pre-Schools Specialty Classes
Family Pet Education – Puppy Play Group
| Instructor | Jess Dunduk |
| Address | 6 Zanoni Cresent, Surrey Downs 5126 |
| Phone | 0403 145 909 |
| When | Thursday 6pm and 7pm |
Noses in Motion
| Instructor | Amanda Ware |
| Specialty | Scent work for confidence and competition |
| Phone | 0414 709 047 |
| [email protected] |
Puppy Partners
| Instructor | Felice Case |
| Service | Toy lending library |
| Who for | Puppies too old for Puppy Pre-School |
| Phone | 0408 089 555 |
Help at Hound – Training Adventures
| Instructor | Lauren Rosevear |
| Specialty | Decompression hikes for your dog to work on training goals. Group adventure walks. Helping improve the life of your hound! |
| [email protected] |
Private Consultations
You may feel you need some private help with training in addition to, or instead of, group classes. Private sessions can address a broad range of training needs, but are particularly useful in resolving problems which, because of their nature or complexity, cannot be easily handled in a class situation.
Sometimes behaviour has a medical and/or neurological cause rather than a training or environmental cause. In these cases, our instructors may recommend that you see a behaviour veterinarian – one who has undertaken additional extensive study in the neuroscience of behaviour – instead of, or in addition to, a certified dog trainer.
Equipment
Choke/correction collars, prong collars and electric/shock collars (illegal in South Australia) are not permitted in any CBS class. Dogs should wear a flat collar and/or a harness.
Sarah Hawker
CBS student
“My rescue dog and I love training with CBS, the trainers have helped me understand and meet my dogs individual needs. I’m always learning new ways to set him up for success so he can live his best life.”
Recommended Certified Instructors
The following certified instructors offer paid private consultations under their own auspices, not as part of CBS
Kate Denman
| Dog Knows Training & Behaviour Consulting | |
|
Qualifications
|
|
| Mobile | 0414 446 878 |
| [email protected] | |
Susanne Eckert
| Behavioural Trainer | Dog & Cat Management Board Behavioural Trainer | Approved for Dangerous, Menacing, Nuisance and Barking Dogs | |
Qualifications
|
|
| Phone | 08 8390 2198 |
| Mobile | 0412 500 661 |
| [email protected] | |
Felice Case
| Puppy Partners – Specialising in puppies | |
Qualifications
|
|
| Mobile | 0408 089 555 |
| [email protected] | |
Tracey Taylor
| Taylored Dog Training | |
Qualifications
|
|
| Mobile | 0422 056 455 |
| [email protected] | |
Jess Dunduk
| Family Pet Education – Specialising in Dog/Children Safety & Life Skills | |
|
Qualifications
|
|
| Mobile | 0403 145 909 |
| [email protected] | |
Lauren Rosevear
| Help at Hound – Behaviour services within 20km Morphettville | |
Qualifications
|
|
| [email protected] | |
RSPCA Force Free Trainers List
Alternatively, the RSPCA force-free trainers list has contact information for other trainers who provide private consultations.
Behaviour Veterinarians South Australia
If your dog is displaying behaviour caused by a medical and/or neurological cause rather than a training or environmental cause, we recommend seeing the following list of behaviour veterinarians in South Australia, in order of proximity to CBS.
Dr Elle Parker
BSc BVMS (Hons) MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)
| Location | Home visits |
| Mobile | 0468 451 313 |
| [email protected] |
Dr Elle Parker
BSc BVMS (Hons) MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)
| Location | Adelaide Vet Trinity Gardens |
| Phone | 08 8169 9777 |
| [email protected] |
Dr Tracey Henderson
BSc MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)
| Location | Australian Veterinary Behaviour Services |
| Phone | 08 7480 0597 |
| [email protected] |
Dr Jon Carruthers
BSc BVMS MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)
| Location | Hills Veterinary Clinic |
| Phone | 08 8278 4147 |
| [email protected] |
Dr Chalette Brown
BSc DVM MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)
| Location | Gawler Veterinary Services |
| Phone | 08 8522 2055 |
| [email protected] |
Dr Carol Mayes
BVSc, MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)
| Location | Greencross Vets Wellington Road |
| Phone | 08 8398 2855 |
| [email protected] |
Questions?
What happens if it is very hot or very wet?
We have hot and cold weather policies which are outlined here.
Do I have to use food in class?
Food is the easiest reinforcer for us to use in a class situation. However, it is not the only thing you can use. A toy can be used as positive reinforcement, so too can pats and attention. However, in such a distracting environment, roast chicken does really well! A bit like getting a $500 bonus rather than a slap on the back and told you are doing a great job.
How many dogs in each class?
Eight dogs with one instructor and at least one assistant
Can my child/children train the dog in class?
Children over 12 years of age may, under adult supervision, and with permission of the class instructor, train a dog in class if certain conditions are met. Please see our Junior Handler Policy.
What happens if my dog gets it wrong in class?
If your dog gets something wrong, we simply try again. If he still gets it wrong, we will lower our expectations slightly and then reinforce the attempt he is making, helping him build a behaviour with which he and you are comfortable.
What happens if my dog doesn't cope in class?
At CBS we have qualified dog behavioural trainers who will help you if your dog is struggling. If, within the first four weeks of term, and after discussion with you, it is determined that your dog is not suitable for class, there is the possibility of refunding in order to help you with private consultation costs.
Will there be homework?
We are a School so, yes there is homework. We can’t expect our dogs to become really great dogs at home, or in the street or out with the family if we don’t practice with them in all of those situations.
How do I graduate from Bronze to Silver and Silver to Gold?
Each training level has set criteria to be achieved before being able to graduate into the next level. These behaviours are marked off during the term with formal graduation on the last week of term.
Enrol Your Dog
New Student Enrolment
$140
| Class | Enrolment Status |
| Bronze | Classes Full |
Existing Student Enrolment
$110
| Class | Enrolment Status |
| Repeating Bronze | Classes Full |
| Silver | Classes Full |
| Gold | Classes Full |
New Student Enrolment
$140
| Class | Enrolment Status |
| Bronze | Enrolments Open |
Existing Student Enrolment
$110
| Class | Enrolment Status |
| Repeating Bronze | Classes Full |
| Silver | Classes Full |
| Gold | Classes Full |
Enrolments for existing students are currently closed.
New Student Enrolment
$140
| Class | Enrolment Status |
| Bronze | Classes Full |
Enrolments for new students are currently closed.
Existing Student Enrolment
$110
| Class | Enrolment Status |
| Repeating Bronze | Enrolments Open |
| Silver | Enrolments Open |
| Gold | Enrolments Open |
New Student Enrolment
$140
| Class | Enrolment Status |
| Bronze | Enrolments Open |
Existing Student Enrolment
$110
| Class | Enrolment Status |
| Repeating Bronze | Enrolments Open |
| Silver | Enrolments Open |
| Gold | Enrolments Open |
New Student Enrolment
$140
| Class |
| Bronze |
| Enrolment Status |
| Classes Full |
Existing Student Enrolment
$110
| Class |
| Repeating Bronze |
| Enrolment Status |
| Classes Full |
| Class |
| Silver |
| Enrolment Status |
| Classes Full |
| Class |
| Gold |
| Enrolment Status |
| Classes Full |
New Student Enrolment
$140
| Class |
| Bronze |
| Enrolment Status |
| Enrolments Open |
Existing Student Enrolment
$110
| Class |
| Repeating Bronze |
| Enrolment Status |
| Classes Full |
| Class |
| Silver |
| Enrolment Status |
| Classes Full |
| Class |
| Gold |
| Enrolment Status |
| Classes Full |
New Student Enrolment
$140
| Class |
| Bronze |
| Enrolment Status |
| Classes Full |
Existing Student Enrolment
$110
| Class |
| Repeating Bronze |
| Enrolment Status |
| Enrolments Open |
| Class |
| Silver |
| Enrolment Status |
| Enrolments Open |
| Class |
| Gold |
| Enrolment Status |
| Enrolments Open |
New Student Enrolment
$140
| Class |
| Bronze |
| Enrolment Status |
| Enrolments Open |
Existing Student Enrolment
$110
| Class |
| Repeating Bronze |
| Enrolment Status |
| Enrolments Open |
| Class |
| Silver |
| Enrolment Status |
| Enrolments Open |
| Class |
| Gold |
| Enrolment Status |
| Enrolments Open |
Step by step instructions on how to use our enrolment portal are available for download here.