Classes: Who's Walking Who?

Stacy Alldredge and the staff of Who's Walking Who will teach two 5-week obedience classes in Tompkns Square park starting Thursday, September 20th.

Enrollment is limited to 7 dogs per class. There are two instructors per class so you'll get plenty of hands on help. Classes are taught on long lines in the park, not in the dog run.

BASIC OBEDIENCE
Starts Thursday, September 20th at 7:00 p.m.
Costs: $225/5 weeks
Topics Covered:
• Introduction to positive training
• Say It Once - one command, one action
• Sit (untl I tell you otherwise)
• Down
• Stay (owner walks away and returns)
• Come (and sit in front of me)
• Heel (Walk when I walk, sit when I stop)
• Plus where to get help with house training, crate training, dog run issues, separation anxiety, problem jumping, barking, nutrition

INTERMEDIATE OBEDIENCE
Starts Thursday, September 20th at 8:00 p.m.
Costs: $225/5 weeks
• Review of Basic Obedience
• Perfecting the walk (walk at my side, no pulling, no lunging)
• Down (at a distrance)
• Stand
• Stay (long stays while owner walks away and returns)
• Heeling (on and off leash)
• Heel (Finish, swing to my side)
• Stay on Heel (moving stay while dog is heeling)
• Distance work with all commands
• Distractions (Do it every time, not when you feel like it)

For more information about the classes, visit Stacy's websites
http://www.whoswalk ingdogtraining. com
http://www.thedogru n-nyc.com

These classes will fill up soon. Space is reserved for Tompkins folks through labor day.

Coming Up: AKC RDO Day!

Andrea Arden, a veteran dog trainer and trusted pet professional, recently reminded me of this upcoming dog event.

From Andrea: It's a couple of months away, but thought I would put the word out there early so you can mark your calendars. The American Kennel Club's Responsible Dog Ownership Day Fair is September 15th in Madison Square Park from 11am-3pm (microchipping clinic starts at 10am).

There are Agility demonstrations (our Agility Director Kris Seiter will be showing off her dogs and their amazing skills), obedience demos, games, rescue groups, and lots more!

For more details on AKC RDO Day, visit:

Thanks for the tip Andrea!!

Dog Trainer to the Rescue! Part 2

So, here’s an update on Roxie’s training.

It turns out, she’s very afraid of people wearing big bulky coats, jerky movements by children, and she’s rude in her greeting to other dogs. All this time I thought she was being barky to protect her people, instead she’s trying to protect herself from scary-looking humans on the street.

With our lady trainer’s guidance, we’re using a clicker to train Roxie and it’s helping the situation greatly. Thanks to the clicker and the cheese treats, I am happy to say that Roxie is improving by leaps and bounds. We give her a “click and treat” everytime she sees a human walking near her and anytime a kid crosses her path. We’ve been doing it for several days and I think by spring she’ll be much more at ease and a happier pooch.

My husband and I still have to do our homework and we’re totally committed to the program. Stay tuned!

Woof! Woof!

Dog Trainer to the Rescue!

I'm so excited! I booked an appointment with an affordable and very nice dog trainer. She gave me so much hope about Roxie’s behavioral issues. Sadly, my pup doesn’t know how to properly greet other dogs without scaring ‘em off and then there’s the random barking at strangers while on leash. Geez!!

My New Year’s resolution was to work on getting more training for myself and my husband so we can better understand why our pup does the things she does and how we can make her life happier. Yay!

So I met with the lady trainer and I’m very optimistic that she can help us. She came to our home and evaluated Roxie and worked with us for an hour or so. (I’m keeping the trainer’s name anonymous until I know how things are working out.)

A few interesting tidbits the trainer mentioned was to consider a Gentle Leader harness. It’s a harness that goes around the muzzle and gives the dog owner better control over the pulling dog. We’re also going to work on my dog’s rudeness and fearfulness too.

During our session, the trainer gave her some good smelly treats she doesn’t normally get to have, such as cheese, chicken, deli meat or Fancy Feast cat food. Yes, I thought the cat food suggestion was strange too, but it must be formulated for dogs or something. I’m willing to give almost anything a try!

Well, I gotta run... I am playing fetch with Roxie indoors for exercise – I bet my neighbors downstairs love that!!

I’ll keep ya posted on the training.

Woof Woof!

Cesar Says...

In an effort to keep my New Year's resolution to nip my pup Roxie's off-and-on aggression issues in the bud. I started watching reruns of the Dog Whisperer. Very interesting show! However, he does has many detractors. So I take his advice with a grain of salt.

Here's some tips he has for the New Year...

New Year's Resolutions for Dog Owners
by Cesar Millan (the Dog Whisperer)

I encourage owners to make a commitment to their dogs a priority in 2007! Here are a few New Year's Resolutions I recommend.

1. Walk your dog every day for at least 45 minutes to an hour. Walking with your dog twice a day for 30 minutes is the first step toward improving your relationship with your dog. The walk is the foundation of your relationship. It is a powerful tool that will help you connect with all aspects of your dog's mind.

2. Set rules, boundaries and limitations every day. As a pack leader, you need to set the rules both inside and outside the house. What you allow and don't allow is up to you, but be consistent, use calm-assertive energy, and never, ever correct out of anger.

3. Live in the moment. Start the New Year with a clean slate for you and your dog. Let go of the past. Don't worry about the future. With your dog and in your day-to-day life, you will find many benefits.

4. Schedule playtime with your dog once a week. Play fetch. Go for a swim. Play Frisbee. Run an obstacle course. Just make sure your dog has had a long walk beforehand, and only play for the time you have decided in advance to allot.

5. Share affection...at the right times only. After your dog has exercised or eaten. After your dog has changed an unwanted behavior into a behavior that you asked for. After your dog has responded to a rule or command. Share affection only when the dog is in a calm-submissive state!

You can watch Cesar at work on his show on the National Geographic Channel or online: http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/

New Year, New Dog?

OK, so the New Year is upon us and everyone starts rattling off about how they want to be a better person, yadda, yadda. Personally, I’d like to work on my dog’s behavior.

I do take some blame. She’s a bit aggressive toward strangers and I’ve tried many things to nip it in the bud, but mostly my husband and I believed that socialization would break her out of it. Not so!

So, my New Year’s resolution is to work harder on solving our little pesky problem. I am going to enroll her in what humans might call “anger management” classes. Haha! I’ll keep ya posted on how we’re doing.

Check out this very cool image from the Chinese calendar. 2006 was year of the dog -- it certainly was for me!

Got dog training suggestions or recommendations? Post 'em here.