The group classes aimed at getting dog training exciting and more achievable for the average dog owner by promoting play, exercise, and socialisation on top of traditional dog training. Her Puppy Pronto, Puppy Progress and Dogercise classes are like a tasting plate of dog sports to encourage novice dog owners to communicate effectively and positively with their dogs while achieving good sociability and skill level. The more specialised classes of Rally O Novice, Intermediate and Advanced, Agility Amateur, Olympia, Canine Good Citizen and Speed Obedience increase reliability in obedience skills, improve handling skills and encourage the owner/dog team to consider state level competitions. The class Rumpus Time is purely an exercise, play, and socialisation class for improving enrichment, reducing boredom and increasing sociability in dogs.
From a first term in April 2008 with 16 dogs enrolled, her Benotto group dog training classes regularly entertain up to 120 dogs a week over a selection of 18 class times and 10 class types and utilising 5 regular instructors and inviting guest instructors from other clubs whenever possible.
All the classes at Benotto meet the needs of the dog as well as those of the owner by ensuring a blend of exercises that promote self-control and obedience as well as those that provide fun and entertainment for the dog. Benotto promotes responsible dog ownership in the community by engaging the novice dog owner, providing support to the owner of the difficult dog or bored dog, engaging the community in dog demonstrations and providing a microchip implantation service to dogs and cats. Founder Claire Gick is at the cutting edge of dog sports and behavioural therapy and management methods and ensures her instructors are also foremost in training methods to ensure the client has the benefit of the most effective training methods not only in Australia but internationally. At Benotto – the dog is understood and appreciated for being a dog and all achievements, however minor are celebrated.
More recently, Benotto has added Microchip Implanting to its services for pet owners. Claire Gick and Ali Lockley have their National Microchip Implantation certificate and Claire has her Advanced Certificate in Veterinary Nursing allowing legal implantation in WA for cats and dogs.