Team K9

Team K9 offers group classes and private lessons. Group classes are seasonal, held outdoors, and limited to 6-8 teams. Human participants must be adult age.

“ARF Dog Sports” is a 3-class session introducing agility obstacles, rally, and find-it (tracking/scent) games. Dogs must be at least 4 months old, in good health, rabies vaccinated, on leash, and adult supervised. Orientation information is sent via email before the first class.

“K9 Fitness and Fun” is a 6-class session exploring a variety of dog sports like tracking, agility, rally, team games, and flyball. Dogs must be at least 4 months old, in good health, rabies vaccinated, leash trained, and adult supervised. The first class is an orientation without the dog.

“K9 Intro to Flyball” is a class for high-drive dogs interested in the sport of Flyball, a relay race with dogs, hurdles, a spring box, balls, and toys/treats. This class provides an in-depth look at rules and basic training skills, taught at an individualized, controlled pace due to its high-energy, multi-dog, off-leash nature.

Private lessons are available virtually via Zoom or in-person, covering basic training topics such as puppy training, loose leash walking, sit/stay, and problem-solving. These lessons also include advice on dog nutrition, supplements, and toy/treat recommendations. All classes can be repeated for additional training and fun.

Policies

Group class sizes are limited to 6-8 teams. Human participants must be adult age. Classes must meet minimum enrollment requirements, with a full refund provided if a class is cancelled.

For group classes, dogs must be at least four months old, in good health, rabies vaccinated, on leash, and adult supervised. Group class registration is for one handler with one dog. Classes meet outdoors, and for the safety of dogs and handlers, dogs must remain on leash and distancing is encouraged.

Orientation information, including instructions on how to provide a rabies certificate and signed team profile/release waiver, is sent via email before the first class. For K9 Fitness and Fun, the first class is an orientation without the dog, and participants are required to bring their rabies vaccination certificate.

Team K9 offers fun dog training through K9 sports, aiming to help owners develop a strong bond with their K9 teammates through active play. They provide both group classes and private lessons, focusing on a positive training philosophy that emphasizes mutual respect, knowledge, understanding, patience, trust, motivation, and willingness to learn. No correction collars or negative reinforcement training are permitted.

Group classes are offered seasonally through the City of Plano Parks and Recreation department, held outdoors at Liberty Park in Plano. These classes are scheduled with consideration for weather and daylight hours, typically meeting on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. Private lessons are available virtually via Zoom or in-person.

In addition to training, the instructor, Cheryl Bales, has experience and certifications in dog nutrition, supplements, and toy and treat recommendations, which she incorporates into private lessons. Team K9 classes can be repeated for additional training and fun.

Accomplishments

Cheryl Bales, the instructor, has been a sports instructor for over two decades, teaching individuals to increase their performance abilities and to motivate, influence, and instruct others. She made a major career change in 2001 to teaching martial arts full-time.

Cheryl has years of experience and certifications in dog nutrition, supplements, toy and treat recommendations, and dog sport skills. Professional trainers have complimented, recommended, and offered training opportunities to Cheryl.

How to Get Started!

To register for Team K9 group classes, contact Carpenter Park Rec Center. For private lessons, interested individuals should send an email to teamk9.us@gmail.com.

Orientation information is sent via email before the first class, including instructions on how to provide a rabies certificate and a signed team profile/release waiver. For the K9 Fitness and Fun class, the first session is an orientation without the dog, and participants should bring their rabies vaccination certificate. If current scheduling needs are not met, individuals are encouraged to check back or email Team K9 to express their interests.