American Dog Obedience Center

14/03/2025

Safe travel and good luck to everyone showing at the AKC National Agility Championships in Tulsa this weekend. Families here can watch the live coverage free on https://akctv.live/national-agility-championship/ or stop by the event center if you are close by. Approximate schedule of when dogs will be running:
Friday: 7:20am – 7:00pm – Ford Truck Arena, Super Duty Arena and Ranger Arena
Saturday: 7:20am – 6:00pm – Ford Truck Arena, Super Duty Arena and Ranger Arena
Sunday: Challengers Round 9:30am – Noon, Finals Round 1:15pm – 5:00pm Ford Truck Arena.

In 2013 our Labrador Retriever Henry won his class and became the first Labrador Retriever to earn an AKC National Agility Championship. https://vimeo.com/136298766?share=copy =0

In 2016 https://vimeo.com/162015243?share=copy =0 and 2019 https://vimeo.com/328882831?share=copy =0 when the championships were back in Tulsa, our border collie Lincoln rocked his classes, making it through to the challengers round in 2019.
It represents tremendous teamwork and connection between handlers and their dogs and a strong commitment to the sport to make it to AKC’s Nationals. Congratulations!

10/02/2025

Attention March 2025 families, you should receive your enrollment dates via email this week, by Wednesday February 12 latest. We are looking forward to a full feisty class next month unless there is a cancellation we’re not are not yet aware of. Beyond March, families can enroll your fortunate dogs in American Dog Obedience Center’s special brand of boarding school by phoning 405 364 7650 or emailing [email protected] or using the contact form on our website https://www.dogprograms.com/contact/ We will be training feisty family dogs through June before our July/August summer break.

09/02/2025

Fun and interesting! The Firehouse Art Center along side Lyons Park where you can enjoy walking a paved path all or part way around the park with your dog. I have taken my dogs there to practice for shows. I plan to stop by in April to say hello to Claire Holloway before her workshop. A long time ago Claire gifted us with 3 portraits of our agility super stars, no longer with us. She’s always been an artist - and we are proud of her art in the entryway of our family home. Entertain the artist in you and the love of dog we all share here at the Art Center.

Paw Prints & Portraits is an exhibition celebrating our furry friends and the artists who make their living from their portraiture. Illustrations, painting, and sculptures made with love, and a touch of fur, decorate our homes and our hearts. Every perfectly wispy whisker, spectacular spot, or twitchy tail captured by an artist speaks volumes to the love we share for man's best friends.

The Firehouse Art Center has partnered with Norman Animal Welfare to serve the greater pet community. Featuring a dozen pet artists, the Firehouse has curated an exhibition showcasing a wide range of pet portrait artists from sculptors, illustrators, photographers, and more. This exhibition will run February 20 - April 30, 2025, with an opening reception being held February 20, 2025 from 5:30-8:30pm.

Join us Opening Night
February 20th from 5:30-8:30 PM
There will be live ukulele pop music by Jasmine Danasia. Food and beverages will be provided. A Poorly Drawn Pet Portraits station, where you can get a hand drawn portrait of your pet in ten minutes. There will also be an Embroidered bandana station where you can get your pets name embroidered on one of our themed bandanas.
https://www.normanfirehouse.com/events-exhibitions/2025/1/17/paw-prints-amp-portraits

Special Events:
🌟 Pawliday in the Park
🗓️ April 12 | Lions Park
Enjoy an artist alley, pet professionals, and fun activities for the whole family.

The Firehouse will sponsor muralist Rachel Cromer in partnership with the Norman Parks and Recreation for Movie in the Park.

Workshops & Activities:
🎨 Felted Pet Portraits with Darci Lenker Art (March 1)
🐕 DOGS DOGS DOGS Live Sketching with Claire Holloway (April 12)
🖌️ Illustration Workshop with Rachel Cromer (date TBD)
🐕 Sculpted Pet Portraits with Clayton Keyes (March 27)

Paw Prints & Portraits Featured Artist:
Rachele Cromer
Barbara Benton
Art of Alexandra Brodt
Claire Holloway
Darci Lenker Art
Konobie Arts - Art by Sandy Magrath
Boop Studio
Alayna Wong
Brandilyn Dunning
Clayton Keyes
June frantz hunt photography

24/12/2024

20/12/2024

This year the most fortunate dogs received the gift of adventure through effective training at American Dog Obedience Center.
We will continue to encourage curiosity, exploration and reliable behavior in 2025 through our unique boarding school. Additionally we will be offering opportunities for former clients to study more specific behaviors (of your choice) through private lessons.
We know there are more training options out there than ever before - new franchise and online trainers are everywhere. We appreciate your confidence and look forward to 2025 with new dogs, new families, and hopefully some “formers” again too.

13/12/2024

ALERT! It’s been the food of choice for some families whose dogs we have trained, so heads up if you feed Victor Dog Food.
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/mid-america-pet-food-llc-681516-11222024

We were notified by Dog Food Advisor.
You can subscribe to those alerts here. https://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=HmaVI&m=3cklWzt7zfO0_1z&b=PH3kKDMhzNX0fubu_yzaUA

We talk a lot about WHAT goes into our dogs’ food but HOW that food is handled, processed and packaged is also vital to our dogs’ health - and in some cases it can threaten the health of the human members of a dog’s family too. THIS is that.

25/11/2024

Happy 10th Birthday to our own Rave On - the best agility/rally/obedience and travel buddy we could have imagined back in 2014.
It’s the season of thanksgiving and I’m betting, like us, the dogs are high on everyone here’s “grateful for” list. Our wish is that you enjoy each other to the max - and we appreciate the opportunities to help you achieve that.

19/11/2024

The Dogs Truth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9C_XRcbI_Q

Today we were introduced to a resource through IACP, a professional trainers association, that we are going to include in future clients' “lesson preparation” emails. It’s important information about dogly BEHAVIOR – and so we want to offer you “formers” access to it too.
It is intended to sell a more comprehensive course to trainers, but is also a stand-alone fantastic free resource for our family dog owners too.
We have been teaching canine behavior as an adjunct to dog training through articles and FB posts for many years. See examples in comments below.
Please commit to viewing at least the first 30 minutes. The next 30 minutes supports the first. I think the subject matter and amazing video clips will keep you interested. We have no financial stake.
We would appreciate your feedback, either in a comment below or privately. Most especially we appreciate your efforts to understand your DOG’s truth, now and in the future.

15/11/2024

Consider giving your dog the gift of physical comfort this Christmas that will last a lifetime.
Simply the best! and that is why EVERY student dog at American Dog Obedience Center enjoys a Kuranda bed. We have been using these cots for many years and can verify the "indestructible" claims. Beyond quality, every day we witness dogs (client and personal) welcoming rest on this special canine furniture.

Kuranda Dog Beds are elevated dog beds with a patented, chew proof design. Comfortable, easy to clean and made in the USA. Free shipping on all dog beds.

12/11/2024

Rodeo here went home this past weekend after training with us. He and his family are second generation clients, which is pretty cool.

We’ve never trained a “Rodeo” before. It will add new meaning when I ask feisty client dogs, “Do you think this is my first rodeo?”

THIS Rodeo’s family brought his caregiver to their lesson - a brilliant idea, we thought. While his family is at work, Rodeo will enjoy the care and companionship of another family from their neighborhood. I imagine his training made the idea more inviting to the caregiver, and a second family, especially a family that can communicate clearly with him, is certainly a bonus for Rodeo. Positive pleasant surprises from my first Rodeo!

11/11/2024

One day is not enough. If we can dedicate a month for other different “awarenesses” then how about 365 days of “current veteran issues awareness” in addition to this one day of honor and respect for past service?
Asked with greatest honor and respect for such sacrifice, past and present.

08/11/2024

Student Gabby has been learning competitive jumping behaviors, initially using American Dog Obedience Center’s equipment. Yesterday morning, during a private lesson, Gabby supervised as her handy human and I assembled an entire set of new Practijumps for Gabby to use at home and on their training excursions.

The often overlooked aspect is that Gabby’s human teammate here is both student and teacher in this process. It’s a complicated role. Before they left with their jumps, we introduced Gabby to all three of these new obstacles. You can see she is a force — and we aim to keep her that way.

Dogs that jump in AKC Obedience and Rally events must jump 3 kinds of jumps:
bar jump (single black/white bar),
high jump (white panels)
and broad jump (low, spread, included in this set but not in this photo).

It was a delightful morning, each of us working hard and achieving success at something new and exciting. We hope everyone here has opportunities to experience this kind of satisfaction. You should contact us if you imagine yourself in a similar photo. Huge appreciation for Gabby and Rebecca Hulsey.

23/10/2024

This family right here!
Congratulations to Teresa Armstead and Portuguese Water Dog Rowan. Teresa is a long-time successful AKC conformation handler, groomer extraordinaire, and breeder of champion PWDs. Previously her family showed and bred Giant Schnauzers too. We claim no credit for their (considerable) conformation successes but we have been fortunate over several years to have hosted many of their dogs at our boarding school, including Rowan earlier this year. Their dogs are their “family” too, as well as rock stars!
You all might be interested to know that two + years ago Teresa and her family fulfilled another aspiration with the opening of Pet Passages in Oklahoma City. They have created a funeral home and crematorium that reflects their professionalism and understanding of the deep connections we all share with our pets - forever. Here is a link to that website. https://oklahomacity.ok.petpassages.com/
Families here on our FB page are diverse and interesting with profound love for our dogs in common. It’s amazing to share that with you.

Rowen got a g4 in owner handler. She’s doing so good

22/10/2024

Alfie is one of the best fetchingest “littles” we know. He went home this weekend and things are not the same around here. We appreciate his family for sharing him with us. Stay feisty, little buddy.

16/10/2024

Waiting in line at the RX drive-thru yesterday was more entertaining than usual. This lovely passenger really seemed hopeful. I hope there was a treat involved that I didn’t see.

14/10/2024

Rightly named, Turbo went home Saturday after 2+ weeks of training with us. We appreciate his family’s willingness to look beyond their first dog training course (elsewhere) for help with this energetic boy.
Even if families have chosen another option initially, we can achieve success with our special brand of hands-on dog training. Regardless your dog’s history, will always be real with you about expectations.
We are working through mid-November. There is room for another student dog before our winter break. Phone Kris at 405 364 7650 or use the contact form on the website. https://www.dogprograms.com/contact/ to have a realistic conversation about a better future with your dog.

11/10/2024

Isn’t it the MOST satisfying thing, to have set a goal and then to be in that very moment when you achieve it? That happened yesterday!

Our client’s goal was for this large and energetic dog to accompany the family to restaurants that allow dogs. After a boarding school program at American Dog Obedience Center, they have attended private lessons to grow their relationship. Yesterday they and we (border collie Rave On and Kris) had lunch together at Scratch Kitchen and Cocktails, downtown Norman, to celebrate that goal being met for the first time — right then!

It was delightful! The dogs’ behaviors were nearly perfect. There was initial excitement when we walked in and several hundred savory odors bombarded our senses. Yahoo! said the Labrador who was then able to manage herself with guidance from her human. After we were seated in a kind of indoor patio area, our waitress brought the dogs water and chicken chips (chosen from the dogs’ menu) and an appetizer for us people too.

After only minor reminders, the dogs rested under our table even as staff delivered our delicious (and aromatic) entrees. The dogs’ behavior allowed us to enjoy conversation and fine food. After the meal, getting up from the table and leaving ignited some excitement again, but that energy was calmed and we grabbed photos outside under the Scratch Kitchen sign.

It’s not just the dogly behavior here that is worth celebrating. This adventure also represents significant handler effort and growth to support this dog. Well done Rebecca Hulsey !

And a shout out to Scratch Kitchen for their dog-friendly environment, professional staff, and really good food. It was the perfect spot for our “event.”

16/09/2024

This young girl went home yesterday. Beyond beautiful, Bella is becoming a working member of her family. We shaped her training and their lesson together to enhance a new lifestyle for Bella that includes a family home and a workplace away from home. We also considered work-style changes for her family to address dog-related issues. Of course this is not possible or appropriate for everyone, but we are betting on win/win for this fortunate dog and her busy family.
If you are a former ADOC family - or perhaps a future former family - and this appeals to you, let’s discuss the possibilities. As always, we promise to keep it real.
If you are a “former” whose dog accompanies you at work, we’d love to read your story here.