Spring Is Almost Here.A month of Groundhogs and Valentines....Happy Valentines Day! Do your dog a favor and ditch the hugs and kisses. Children (and adults, too) often want to show love to dogs the way we show love to each other, through hugs and kisses. Dogs don’t naturally understand this, or even enjoy it. Hugs and face-to-face contact can be very threatening to dogs. A dog may tolerate this for a while, but at some point might bite or snap to protect himself once he’s given unheeded, subtle warnings. Parents should teach their children to avoid face-to-face contact with any dog (even their own dog) and to show love to the dog in ways other than hugging and kissing. Here’s some of our favorite ways to interact with dogs:
An anxious dog might show a half moon of white in his eye, have his mouth closed, have a furrowed brow, may lick his lips or yawn. Many times they’ll turn their head away or even walk away. These signals indicate that he wants to be left alone. A dog that suddenly goes stiff and still is very dangerous, and might be ready to bite.
Upcoming SeminarsFor complete descriptions of our seminars and playgroups, refer to the December 2014 issue of our newsletter: http://kathysantodogtraining.com/schedule/announcements-and-cancellations Dog Body Language Seminar – Thursday Feb. 12th 8pm. How To Understand The Native Language Of Your Dog. This is a FREE Workshop - People only, please. PLEASE RSVP TO LIZ: [email protected] DOG AND PUPPY PLAYGROUPS - EVERY MONDAY 6:00-6:45pm $25 RALLY BASIC REVIEW + RUN THRUS! Friday February 13th at 6pm. For those of you new to, or just getting started with Rally, Jerrie will review course signs and do a brief demo followed by actual run thrus at 6:30pm. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Let's face it. The last quarter of the year is a rough one for dogs. In October, monsters, super heroes, and cartoon characters appear in the streets and on the sidewalks. The incessant ringing of the doorbell and knocking at the door triggers the sounding of the (canine) alarm. And although the humans in the family can usually bribe the intruders away with candy, your dog can become upset and hypersensitive to the arrival of people to your house. Then, in November, a swarm of hungry relatives and friends suddenly appear at the house. Or, you and your dog travel to someone else’s house. Both situations yield an assortment of people that may or may not be familiar to your dog arriving throughout the day. Once again, the doorbell and knocking set in motion your dog’s excited-stressed-frenzied-hysterical behavior. By December, Santa has to use the chimney, because anyone appearing at the front door is subject to frantic barking and jumping! From a dog's perspective, this rash of home invasions is simultaneously exciting, alarming, and irritating. Unfortunately, once a dog has slipped into a highly agitated state, it's difficult to obtain calm, thoughtful behavior from him. The job of trainers (and responsible owners) is to prepare dogs beforehand so that holiday challenges are, well, less challenging. We said it in November, but it bears repeating again: With only a few weeks to go before the tidal wave of holidays, we’ve put together a list of things to help you and your dog make the transition smoothly: 1. Ask us for our Holiday Survival Packet. It contains important information for you, your family, and your guests pertaining to your dog and training. This is the second year we’re making it available because we heard from so many of our students that it was a lifesaver! 2. ID ID ID! PLEASE make it a priority to get your dog a flat collar with “REWARD” and your cell phone number embroidered on it. Help the person who finds your dog to get in touch with YOU, instead of the police or animal control. My dogs each have one from Orvis: http://www.orvis.com/p/reflective-collar/3Y83?adv=127748&cm_mmc=plas-_-Dogs-_-3Y83-_-127748&kpid=3Y83-06-52&kpid=3Y83-06-52 3. Come to Dog PlayGroups. Our playgroups are a great opportunity for your puppy/dog to play in a safe environment while you learn to read the signs of proper (and improper!) play. In addition, you’ll go home with a TIRED dog! 4. Attend Class. We know the holidays are exhausting and that your “To Do” list becomes much longer, but if ‘dog training’ slides to the bottom of the list, his behavior won’t get any better and that will make your life even more challenging! 5. If #3 & 4 Can’t Happen, Consider Enrolling in our Playcare + FastTrack Program. Your dog’s day will include lots of long walks, playtime, a training session and some naptime. We understand that dogs need time to rest, and that non-stop stimulation can create a cranky dog! 6. Let Us Know How We Can Help! Whether you need a lesson sheet, a private lesson, a shoulder to cry on, or a ‘Pep Talk’, all of us are here for you 24/7. Literally. DECEMBER SCHOOL SCHEDULE: Wednesday December 24th All morning classes as usual. Closing at noon. Thursday December 25th CLOSED Friday December 26th Sunday December 28th – Classes and daycare as usual MONDAY DEC. 29th – THURSDAY JAN. 1: CLOSED Friday, January 2nd Classes and daycare as usual. COME PLAY WITH US! Every Monday at 6pm: Dog Playgroup If you’ve never been to one before, this is our healthy alternative to a dog park. Our playgroups are safe, fun, properly structured, narrated and educational. We divide the groups into small dogs/puppies, and large dogs so everyone is playing in their proper “weight class”. Here’s a sample of some of the important things you’ll learn at our playgroups. We’re hoping that when you put one together at your house, you’ll remember these VERY IMPORTANT RULES: 1. Keep your phone with you, but don’t take any calls. Focus on your dog and give the experience your undivided attention. 2. In case of an emergency – have a small air horn ready. If a fight occurs, this is one way to break it up that doesn’t involve putting your hands on the dogs. 3. After allowing your dog to play for 6 seconds, call him back to you. Did he? Great! Let him play and do it again after 15 seconds. Then 30, then a minute, then 3 minutes. If he’s coming to you every time, then he earns a longer play session. Sprinkle commands to him throughout the entire time so that you know that he’s still listening back to you. A dog who ‘hangs up the phone’ and isn’t focused on his owner is unlikely to respond to an important command like Come or Stay that would potentially keep him out of trouble. 4. Stop the party early. Over tired dogs are like over tired kids. They get cranky and that’s when fuses get short. Better to leave the park when your dog is still responsive to you and wanting more than when he’s over it and getting snarky with the others. 5. Never allow a high-speed game of chase to begin if your group exceeds 2 dogs. Although it looks like fun, games of chase can go really wrong, really quickly. The problem occurs because when multiple dogs join the chase, what started as a game can turn into a predatory attack due to overly high arousal levels. 6. Make sure that what you’re watching is actually play. Sometimes owners mistake defensive, deflective responses for play. Not sure? Call your dog to you and then release him back to his game. If he was truly playing, he’ll reengage the dog. If not, he was probably not having as good a time as you thought he was. 7. Check your dog’s collar. Loose fitting, choke chain and/or training collars are a no-no during play. Keep it simple with a snug fitting flat collar (bonus points if you’ve had it engraved to say REWARD + your cell number). Sign up is limited and is open to students in our school only. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL KATHY [email protected] to reserve your spot. Cost is $25.00 Upcoming Seminars: BODY LANGUAGE WORKSHOP: Thursday, December 11th - 8-9pm Think of it as “Interpreting The Native Language Of Your Dog”. For humans to effectively communicate, we’ve devised an immense vocabulary, but dogs are limited to ‘words’ formed by their body parts. Because of this, the dog must re use “words” and depend on context and combination to form his “sentence”. Understanding what your dog is saying is extremely important to prevent bites, fights, and miscommunications between dogs and humans and dogs and dogs. People only, please. RSVP to Kathy at [email protected] OFF LEASH WORKSHOPS (Indoor & Outdoor): Over the summer, we’ve had 50+ dogs graduate to “off leash status.” Yours could be next! Email Kathy or Stacey to learn more about our off leash training program and to find out whether you’re ready to start. FIELD TRIPS WITH STACEY. AND SANTA!! Our 4th Annual Field Trip Class to visit Santa at the Mall. Email her at [email protected] for time and location. THERAPY DOG WORKSHOP Please email Stacey at [email protected] for more details. RALLY OBEDIENCE We now have many of our students competing in Rally. Hooray! We have the following classes to help you succeed: THURSDAY 7PM RALLY/AKC NOVICE LEVEL CLASS WITH KATHY Having trained many of her own (and her student’s!) dogs to AKC’s Obedience Trial Champion (OTCh) titles, this class will teach you how to get any type of obedience title on your dog. If you’re not a currently in this class, please email Kathy at [email protected] for availability. FRIDAY NIGHT RALLY RUN THRUS WITH JERRIE: Friday, December 5th Jerrie will be holding Rally Run Thru’s on select Friday nights. As someone who’s achieved many rally titles on her dogs, Jerrie knows how to set up a course that will build the handler and dog’s confidence as well as test their abilities. In recent months, MANY of our students have competed in Rally trials and have come home with lots of ribbons! We’re so proud of them all, and remember the first day that they came to our school, just wanting a dog that would “listen to them.” Now they’re competing in Rally and earning titles with their dogs! Congratulations to all of them. Cost is $25 and all proceeds will be donated to a local rescue group. Please call or email Jerrie: [email protected] for more information. Holiday Questions Of The Month:
Every year for Thanksgiving, we pack up our whole family (dog included!) and drive to my parents in Maine. Sadly, this year our dog has to stay home. We’ve never left him before - how do we make our nervous, people-shy dog comfortable with the pet sitter we’ve hired? Hiring someone to come to your home and pet sit can be a great experience for your dog if you do your homework before you leave for vacation. Since your dog is nervous and shy, have your pet sitter drop in for a few minutes as many times as possible between now and the time that you leave. It doesn’t have to be a long visit; the idea is to have the sitter get to know him (and vice-versa) and earn his trust. Once your dog is comfortable with her presence while you’re home, arrange for her to stop by when you’re out. Sometimes dogs react differently when a (relative) stranger comes into their territory while the family isn’t home. As their relationship progresses, teach your sitter the obedience commands that your dog knows (leave a written list when you leave), and have her incorporate practice sessions into the visits. The “come” and “stay” commands are potential lifesavers in the event your dog races through an open door or breaks free of his leash and runs into the street, and the odds of your dog obeying your sitter are much higher if they’ve been training before you leave. Eventually, your dog will become comfortable (or even better - delighted) with the new person in his life, and although your departure will have some emotional impact on him (which will probably be minimal compared to the emotional impact leaving will have on you and your family!), at least he’ll be able to relax and enjoy the company of his new friend. My dog licks the dirty dishes when we load the dishwasher. My husband thought that if we gave her one plate to clean off before we loaded it, she would stop. But it didn’t work. She insists on licking every plate and utensil she can get her mouth on. What can we do to stop this behavior? I understand the message that your husband was trying to send your dog - “You can have one plate, but leave the rest alone.” Sadly, the only message she heard was “Plates taste delicious!” Dogs don’t understand the human concept of moderation. The one plate that he allowed her to lick tasted wonderful, so when you’re loading the dishwasher with more of them (and down at her level, no less), it’s easy to see why she thought the first tasting signaled the beginning of the buffet, not the end. To re-train her, put her on leash and place one plate in the dishwasher. When she lunges for it, stop her with the leash while saying “Ah-ah”. The failure to reach the plate coupled with the verbal command will no doubt cause her to stop dead in her tracks and look at you. That’s your cue to say “Good girl” and immediately give her a treat that you’ve hidden in your pocket (deli turkey, anyone?). In a fairly short amount of time, your dog will realize that staying out of the dishwasher pays better than jumping into it. Additionally, if you happen to have a solid “down/wait” command, the time to put it to use would be while you’re loading the dishwasher. Remember that if you allow her to revert to her old habit before she’s totally trained, you’ll never be able to truly stop the behavior. So, in the interest of training, if you can’t monitor her closely, put your husband in charge of the dirty dishes while you take the dog out for a walk. ************** HAPPY HOLIDAYS! We’re a few weeks away from a tidal wave of holidays, and we’ve put together a list of things to help you and your dog make the transition smoothly: 1. Ask us for our Holiday Survival Packet. It contains important information for you, your family, and your guests pertaining to your dog and training. This is the second year we’re making it available because we heard from so many of our students that it was a lifesaver! 2. ID ID ID! PLEASE make it a priority to get your dog a flat collar with “REWARD” and your cell phone number embroidered on it. Help the person who finds your dog to get in touch with YOU, instead of the police or animal control. My dogs each have one from Orvis: http://www.orvis.com/p/reflective-collar/3Y83?adv=127748&cm_mmc=plas-_-Dogs-_-3Y83-_-127748&kpid=3Y83-06-52&kpid=3Y83-06-52 3. Come to Dog PlayGroups. Our playgroups are a great opportunity for your puppy/dog to play in a safe environment while you learn to read the signs of proper (and improper!) play. In addition, you’ll go home with a TIRED dog! 4. Attend Class. We know the holidays are exhausting and that your “To Do” list becomes much longer, but if ‘dog training’ slides to the bottom of the list, his behavior won’t get any better and that will make your life even more challenging! 5. If #3 Can’t Happen, Consider Enrolling in our Playcare + FastTrack Program. Your dog’s day will include lots of long walks, playtime, a training session and some naptime. We understand that dogs need time to rest, and that non-stop stimulation can create a cranky dog! 6. Let Us Know How We Can Help! Whether you need a lesson sheet, a private lesson, a shoulder to cry on, or a ‘Pep Talk’, all of us are here for you 24/7. Literally. COME PLAY WITH US! Every Monday at 6pm: Dog Playgroup If you’ve never been to one before, this is our healthy alternative to a dog park. Our playgroups are safe, fun, properly structured, narrated and educational. We divide the groups into small dogs/puppies, and large dogs so everyone is playing in their proper “weight class”. Here’s a sample of some of the important things you’ll learn at our playgroups. We’re hoping that when you put one together at your house, you’ll remember these VERY IMPORTANT RULES: 1. Keep your phone with you, but don’t take any calls. Focus on your dog and give the experience your undivided attention. 2. In case of an emergency – have a small air horn ready. If a fight occurs, this is one way to break it up that doesn’t involve putting your hands on the dogs. 3. After allowing your dog to play for 6 seconds, call him back to you. Did he? Great! Let him play and do it again after 15 seconds. Then 30, then a minute, then 3 minutes. If he’s coming to you every time, then he earns a longer play session. Sprinkle commands to him throughout the entire time so that you know that he’s still listening back to you. A dog who ‘hangs up the phone’ and isn’t focused on his owner is unlikely to respond to an important command like Come or Stay that would potentially keep him out of trouble. 4. Stop the party early. Over tired dogs are like over tired kids. They get cranky and that’s when fuses get short. Better to leave the park when your dog is still responsive to you and wanting more than when he’s over it and getting snarky with the others. 5. Never allow a high-speed game of chase to begin if your group exceeds 2 dogs. Although it looks like fun, games of chase can go really wrong, really quickly. The problem occurs because when multiple dogs join the chase, what started as a game can turn into a predatory attack due to overly high arousal levels. 6. Make sure that what you’re watching is actually play. Sometimes owners mistake defensive, deflective responses for play. Not sure? Call your dog to you and then release him back to his game. If he was truly playing, he’ll reengage the dog. If not, he was probably not having as good a time as you thought he was. 7. Check your dog’s collar. Loose fitting, choke chain and/or training collars are a no-no during play. Keep it simple with a snug fitting flat collar (bonus points if you’ve had it engraved to say REWARD + your cell number). Sign up is limited and is open to students in our school only. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL KATHY [email protected] to reserve your spot. Cost is $25.00 Upcoming Seminars: DOG SHOW HANDLING CLASS WITH STACEY Email her at [email protected] for time and date. BODY LANGUAGE WORKSHOP: Monday, November 10th - 8-9pm Think of it as “Interpreting The Native Language Of Your Dog”. For humans to effectively communicate, we’ve devised an immense vocabulary, but dogs are limited to ‘words’ formed by their body parts. Because of this, the dog must re use “words” and depend on context and combination to form his “sentence”. Understanding what your dog is saying is extremely important to prevent bites, fights, and miscommunications between dogs and humans and dogs and dogs. People only, please. RSVP to Kathy at [email protected] MULTIPLE DOG HOUSEHOLD WORKSHOP: Thursday, November 20th 8-9pm OFF LEASH WORKSHOPS (Indoor & Outdoor): Over the summer, we’ve had 50+ dogs graduate to “off leash status.” Yours could be next! Email Kathy or Stacey to learn more about our off leash training program and to find out whether you’re ready to start. FIELD TRIPS WITH STACEY Email her at [email protected] for time and location. THERAPY DOG WORKSHOP Please email Stacey at [email protected] for more details. RALLY OBEDIENCE We now have many of our students competing in Rally. Hooray! We have the following classes to help you succeed: THURSDAY 7PM RALLY/AKC NOVICE LEVEL CLASS WITH KATHY Having trained many of her own (and her student’s!) dogs to AKC’s Obedience Trial Champion (OTCh) titles, this class will teach you how to get any type of obedience title on your dog. If you’re not a currently in this class, please email Kathy at [email protected] for availability. FRIDAY NIGHT RALLY RUN THRUS WITH JERRIE: November 14th and December 8th Jerrie will be holding Rally Run Thru’s on select Friday nights. As someone who’s achieved many rally titles on her dogs, Jerrie knows how to set up a course that will build the handler and dog’s confidence as well as test their abilities. In recent months, MANY of our students have competed in Rally trials and have come home with lots of ribbons! We’re so proud of them all, and remember the first day that they came to our school, just wanting a dog that would “listen to them.” Now they’re competing in Rally and earning titles with their dogs! Congratulations to all of them. Cost is $25 and all proceeds will be donated to a local rescue group. Please call or email Jerrie: [email protected] for more information. The school will be closed on Saturday, August 30th through Monday September 1st. We will reopen on Tuesday, September 2nd at 8am.
All of us at Kathy Santo's Dog Training wish you a happy and safe Labor Day weekend. Although we won't be at the school, you can still reach us by leaving a message at 201-512-8316 OR emailing us at [email protected] (Kathy) or [email protected] (Stacey). SOCIALIZATION IS NOT JUST FOR PUPPIES:
One of the things we continually remind our students about is how important early socialization is for puppies. The early weeks—from approximately 8 to 16-20 weeks - are critical for the mental welfare of puppies, and may directly affect their behavior as adults. Socialization should include careful exposure to many friendly people, dogs, places, weather, all kinds of inanimate objects, kids, noises, different kinds of surfaces, and being handled and groomed. While it’s wonderful that many people seem to understand that early socialization is vitally significant for their puppy, there are those that latch onto the word “early,” thinking it also means “only.” One of the issues we notice is that many people think that that they’ve done their job with the socialization process once the puppy is 16 weeks old. They mistakenly believe that they can stop all training and continued experiences, and from that point on their dog is then kept at home, and rarely exposed to anything new. That’s when we get the call that “all of a sudden” their dog became aggressive or fearful or shy. The truth is that dogs benefit greatly from socialization starting at the standard eight weeks of age and extending to at least two years of age. Our dogs must learn to accept many things that they’ll encounter in their life. A brief (albeit incomplete) list would be: · People of all sizes doing completely inappropriate things to them (petting them on the head, pulling their tails, poking them in the eyes, running around and screaming, staring at them) · Visiting the vet and the groomer · Living amongst fluffy prey objects (cats, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs, stuffed animals, etc.) · Living with scary things in the environment such as laptop computers, balloons, gravel, telephones and doorbells ringing, pots and pans clanging, plastic flamingos (!), drainpipes, hanging plants and ceiling fans · Loud car/truck noises, thunder, fireworks, leaf blowers · Bicycles, skateboards, roller blades · Fireworks, gun shots , sirens and much much more. Dogs go through many different “fear periods” throughout their early lives. Some dogs seem to breeze through them with hardly a ripple and with others it appears that “the sky is falling.” These fears can become a real issue, as the available information shows that euthanasia for behavior problems is on the rise. “Fear periods” are defined as the time when your young dog is suddenly afraid of people, objects or places that he used to be comfortable with. Some dogs will manifest that fear into shyness, and some into more active “go away” behaviors such as growling or lunging. The time frame listed below is approximate, but you’ll be able to recognize those times just by being cognizant of your own dog’s change of behavior. • Between 7-9 weeks of age • Anywhere from 4-6 months • Again at around 12 months • At approximately 14 to 18 months and with some dogs can even be as late as 2 years With that in mind, you can see that working your dog through his first or even second fear period isn’t enough to get him comfortable for life for the myriad of things he’ll need to accept. Unfortunately, this is the time that many people stop socializing their dog. It’s also important to know that when your dog is going through a fear period, how you handle it will set the stage for his behavior for the rest of his life. If you punish him for the more active “aggressive looking” behaviors, he’ll think that he was correct in thinking that the object, person or dog was scary, and will continue to display those behaviors. If you coddle and console him for shy behaviors, you’re actually reinforcing him for being afraid and those behaviors will increase. The best thing you can do for your pup during these times is to go places and see people and dogs he is familiar and still comfortable with, and hold off on the new experiences for about a week. In the past you may have heard the advice of “socialize puppies even more during a fear period”, but the problem with that is during these times, your dog is more vulnerable and increased socialization may very well backfire and create more issues in the future. After a week or so, you can resume his normal, socialization-filled life. All of our classes, from puppy to off leash are designed to help you and your dog successfully navigate all of the fear periods in their life. We can help you make sure that their experiences – even the challenging ones – don’t result in permanent behavior issues. My final bit of advice is to keep on eye on your young dog for “weird” behaviors, and recognize that the reason may be that he’s going through a fear period. As for socialization, err on the side of caution. My recommendation to puppy/dog owners is the exact same system that I use with my own dogs: continue to socialize way past the “early” stages and well into adulthood. Events and Happenings In July: SUMMER FAST TRACK PROGRAM (We’ll never tell!) Our popular Fast Track program allows you to drop your dogs off at the school for a day of playing and learning. When you pick up your (tired and trained) dog, we’ll also send you an email telling you what we worked on, and include the lesson sheets that go along with it. Then when you’re at class, we’ll make sure that you’re doing what you need to do to keep the progress moving along. So while you’re down the shore, at the pool, or in the city, your dog can be playing and learning with us. During the month of July, we’ve helped so many students get their dogs closer to where they wanted them to be in terms of manners, socialization and obedience! The program is so popular that we’re almost completely booked for the month of August. If you’re interested, please email Stacey [email protected]. Once all of the FastTrack spots for August are booked, we’ll start a waiting list and open up reservations for the fall. Here’s what students are saying about the program: “We can’t believe the difference that we see in our puppy! The training that she’s getting from you makes life at home and the class that we take much easier to navigate!” – L.M Wyckoff “My family was over for a bbq last weekend and asked who our ‘new’ dog was! Thank you for helping us help him make great strides in his training. It’s amazing how much quicker the training is going just by adding FT to our regular classes. Thank you thank you thank you!” – K.W. Ridgewood “As you know, with 4 children and a spouse that is always travelling, making time to train our dog was limited at best. We managed to come once a week for class, but being able to train during the week was challenging. Your FT program has changed our lives by getting a lot of the training done for us. Plus we know that he’s having fun paying with his friends while he’s with you.” - R.N. Ramsey “Our neighbors just signed up for classes and FT training with you because they couldn’t believe the difference in our dog in just one week! Thank you!” - M.L. Saddle River “My husband thinks I’m the best dog trainer – let’s just keep this between us.” – F.J. River Vale To sign up (spots are limited), please email Stacey at [email protected]. And don’t worry; your secret is safe with us. BE COLLAR WISE! If you haven’t already, PLEASE make sure that your dog has a buckle or quick release fabric collar embroidered with the word REWARD and your cell phone number on it. Bonus points if you order one that’s reflective. Orvis (amongst other companies) offers both types: http://www.orvis.com/p/reflective-collar/3y83 http://www.orvis.com/store/product.aspx?pf_id=9X3Y&dir_id=1633&group_id=1930&cat_id=5743&subcat_id=7018&adv=127748&cm_mmc=plas-_-Dogs-_-9X3Y-_-127748&kpid=9X3Y-42-60 WE’RE CLOSED LABOR DAY WEEKEND We’re closed Saturday August 30th through Monday, September 1st. Classes will resume as usual on Tuesday September 2ndth. During that time, if you have any questions or emergencies, please email Kathy or Stacey and we’ll get back to asap. COME PLAY WITH US! Every Monday at 6pm Dog Playgroup If you’ve never been to one before, this is our healthy alternative to a dog park. Our playgroups are structured, narrated and educational. We divide the groups into small dogs + puppies and large dogs so everyone is playing in their proper “weight class”. Here’s a few great reasons to join us: ◦ Much like active children, dogs thrive on fun and games. ◦ Dogs learn appropriate behavior by playing (correctly) with other dogs. ◦ Play reduces stress and curbs the potential for unacceptable behaviors ranging from anxiety (barking, chewing, digging) to aggression (growling, territorial protectiveness, biting). ◦ Structured exercises enhance mental capacity. ◦ Socializing reinforces good behavior. If your dog is unsure in social situations, he can slowly gain confidence in our structured and chaperoned environment. Sign up is limited and is open to students in our school only. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL EKIN [email protected] to reserve your spot. Cost is $25.00 Upcoming Seminars: BODY LANGUAGE WORKSHOP: August 14th 8pm Think of it as “Interpreting The Native Language Of Your Dog”. For humans to effectively communicate, we’ve devised an immense vocabulary, but dogs are limited by their body parts. Because of this, the dog must re use “words” and depend on context and combination to form his “sentence”. Understanding what your dog is saying is extremely important to prevent bites, fights, and miscommunications between dogs and humans and dogs and dogs. People only, please. RSVP to Ekin at [email protected] OFF LEASH WORKSHOPS (Indoor & Outdoor): Make this the summer when you finally have a dog with an off leash recall! During the month of July, we’ve had more than a dozen dogs graduate to “off leash status” with the help of these workshops! Email Kathy or Stacey to learn more about our off leash training and to find out whether you’re ready to start. DOG SHOW HANDLING CLASS WITH STACEY COMING SOON! Email her at [email protected] for time and date. FIELD TRIPS WITH STACEY Email her at [email protected] for time and location. THERAPY DOG WORKSHOP Please email Stacey at [email protected] for more details. RALLY OBEDIENCE We now have many of our students competing in Rally. Hooray! We have the following classes to help you succeed: THURSDAY 7PM RALLY/AKC NOVICE LEVEL CLASS WITH KATHY Having trained many of her own (and her student’s!) dogs to AKC’s Obedience Trial Champion (OTCh) titles, this class will teach you how to get any type of obedience title on your dog. If you’re not a currently in this class, please email Kathy at [email protected] for availability. FRIDAY NIGHT RALLY RUN THRUS WITH JERRIE: AUGUST 1st and 15th Jerrie will be holding Rally Run Thru’s on select Friday nights. As someone who’s achieved many rally titles on her dogs, Jerrie knows how to set up a course that will build the handler and dog’s confidence as well as test their abilities. In recent weeks, MANY of our students have competed in Rally trials and have come home with lots of ribbons! We’re so proud of them all, and remember the first day that they came to our school, just wanting a dog that would “listen to them.” Now they’re competing in Rally and earning titles with their dogs! Congratulations to all of them. Depending on the weather, the class could be held at the school, or at an outdoor location. Cost is $25 and all proceeds will be donated to a local rescue group. Please call or email Jerrie: [email protected] for more information. SUNDAY RALLY SIGNS CLASS WITH STACEY A current Rally exhibitor herself, Stacey will help you understand and correctly perform the various Rally obedience signs. THIS CLASS IS FOR DOGS WITH BASIC OBEDIENCE SKILLS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH RALLY SIGNS. Email her at [email protected] for dates and times of this class. Before the 4th of July arrives, prepare your dog or puppy to tolerate fireworks noise. Go on YouTube and find a video of fireworks that you can play to desensitize your dog to the sound. I found this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ4KNrOsRLU You can also play a sound CD of fireworks at very low volume in the morning and gradually raise the volume during the day. Hopefully, by the time the real fireworks come, your dog will just think it’s part of the CD. If that doesn’t help, here’s some other helpful ideas: 1. Stay home! Don’t go out and risk your dog having a meltdown. 2. Play calming music or watch television while you’re home during the fireworks. 3. Have a container of fabulous treats in reach (so you don’t have to jump up to get them). Toys are also a good choice for dogs that love toys more than steak. 4. Whenever a firework goes off, close your eyes, breathe out calmly, grab a treat and give it to your dog (you may have to open your eyes for this). Feel free to toss a handful of treats on the floor. If it’s a toy, you can throw it. Other tips: put on a Canine Gym Fit Vest, Anxiety Wrap or Thundershirt before the fireworks start. This shouldn’t be your dog’s first use of such a wrap (otherwise they’ll associate the wrap with the noises!). Use an herbal anti-stress supplement like Animal Essentials Tranquility Blend (try it out before the fireworks), and have calming oils (like lavender) diffusing in the room. If you really must go out: Take a long walk to exercise your dog before you leave. That helps increase the possibility of him falling asleep while you’re gone. Leave him with music and/or television on. Leave him with a full food puzzle (or several) to enjoy while you’re gone. If you have a Kong, you can fill it with peanut butter, baby food, canned pumpkin (go to http://www.kongcompany.com/recipes/ for more recipes!) and freeze it. Or, if you don’t have time to prepare a frozen Kong, make a melted cheese Kong. Melt cheese in a glass container and then pour it into the Kong. You can also put a 1-inch cube (or a slice) of cheese into the Kong, microwave for 20 seconds (times may vary depending on your microwave), and swirl it around until the inside is coated with cheese. Remember to cool off the cheese before giving to him! Events and Happenings In July: SUMMER FAST TRACK PROGRAM (We’ll never tell!) Our popular Fast Track program allows you to drop your dogs off at the school for a day of playing and learning. When you pick up your (tired and trained) dog, we’ll also send you an email telling you what we worked on, and include the lesson sheets that go along with it. Then when you’re at class, we’ll make sure that you’re doing what you need to do to keep the progress moving along. So this summer, while you’re down the shore, at the pool, or in the city, your dog can be playing and learning and becoming the dog that you’ve always wanted him to be! Here’s what students are saying about the program: “We can’t believe the difference that we see in our puppy! The training that she’s getting from you makes life at home and the class that we take much easier to navigate!” – L.M Wyckoff “My family was over for a bbq last weekend and asked who our ‘new’ dog was! Thank you for helping us help him make great strides in his training. It’s amazing how much quicker the training is going just by adding FT to our regular classes. Thank you thank you thank you!” – K.W. Ridgewood “As you know, with 4 children and a spouse that is always travelling, making time to train our dog was limited at best. We managed to come once a week for class, but being able to train during the week was challenging. Your FT program has changed our lives by getting a lot of the training done for us. Plus we know that he’s having fun playing with his friends while he’s with you.” - R.N. Ramsey “Our neighbors just signed up for classes and FT training with you because they couldn’t believe the difference in our dog in just one week! Thank you!” - M.L. Saddle River “My husband thinks I’m the best dog trainer – let’s just keep this between us.” – F.J. River Vale To sign up (spots are limited), please email Stacey at [email protected]. And don’t worry; your secret is safe with us. JULY 4TH SCHOOL CLOSING DATES We’re closed Friday July 4th through Sunday July 6th. Classes will resume as usual on Monday July 7th. During that time, if you have any questions or emergencies, please email Kathy or Stacey and we’ll get back to asap. Have a fun and safe holiday weekend! COME PLAY WITH US! Every Monday at 6pm Dog Playgroup If you’ve never been to one before, this is our healthy alternative to a dog park. Our playgroups are structured, narrated and educational. We divide the groups into small dogs + puppies and large dogs so everyone is playing in their proper “weight class”. Here’s a few great reasons to join us: ◦ Much like active children, dogs thrive on fun and games. ◦ Dogs learn appropriate behavior by playing (correctly) with other dogs. ◦ Play reduces stress and curbs the potential for unacceptable behaviors ranging from anxiety (barking, chewing, digging) to aggression (growling, territorial protectiveness, biting). ◦ Structured exercises enhance mental capacity. ◦ Socializing reinforces good behavior. If your dog is unsure in social situations, he can slowly gain confidence in our structured and chaperoned environment. Sign up is limited and is open to students in our school only. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL EKIN [email protected] to reserve your spot. Cost is $25.00 Upcoming Seminars: BODY LANGUAGE WORKSHOP: JULY 17th 8pm Think of it as “Interpreting The Native Language Of Your Dog”. For humans to effectively communicate, we’ve devised an immense vocabulary, but dogs are limited by their body parts. Because of this, the dog must re use “words” and depend on context and combination to form his “sentence”. Understanding what your dog is saying is extremely important to prevent bites, fights, and miscommunications between dogs and humans and dogs and dogs. People only, please. RSVP to Ekin at [email protected] OFF LEASH WORKSHOPS (Indoor & Outdoor): Make this the summer when you finally have a dog with an off leash recall! Email Kathy or Stacey to learn more about our off leash training and to find out whether you’re ready to start. FIELD TRIPS WITH STACEY Email her at [email protected] for time and location. THERAPY DOG WORKSHOP Please email Stacey at [email protected] for more details. RALLY OBEDIENCE We now have many of our students competing in Rally. Hooray! We have the following classes to help you succeed: THURSDAY 7PM RALLY/AKC NOVICE LEVEL CLASS WITH KATHY Having trained many of her own (and her student’s!) dogs to AKC’s Obedience Trial Champion (OTCh) titles, this class will teach you how to get any type of obedience title on your dog. If you’re not a currently in this class, please email Kathy at [email protected] for availability. FRIDAY NIGHT RALLY RUN THRU WITH JERRIE: JULY 18, AUGUST 1st and 15th Jerrie will be holding Rally Run Thru’s on select Friday nights. As someone who’s achieved many rally titles on her dogs, Jerrie knows how to set up a course that will build the handler and dog’s confidence as well as test their abilities. Depending on the weather, the class could be held at the school, or at an outdoor location. Cost is $25 and all proceeds will be donated to a local rescue group. Please call or email Jerrie: [email protected] for more information. SUNDAY RALLY SIGNS CLASS WITH STACEY A current Rally exhibitor herself, Stacey will help you understand and correctly perform the various Rally obedience signs. THIS CLASS IS FOR DOGS WITH BASIC OBEDIENCE SKILLS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH RALLY SIGNS. Email her at [email protected] for dates and times of this class. SUMMER FAST TRACK PROGRAM (We’ll never tell!)
Our popular Fast Track program allows you to drop your dogs off at the school for a day of playing and learning. When you pick up your (tired and trained) dog, we’ll also send you an email telling you what we worked on, and include the lesson sheets that go along with it. Then when you’re at class, we’ll make sure that you’re doing what you need to do to keep the progress moving along. So this summer, while you’re down the shore, at the pool, or in the city, your dog can be playing and learning and becoming the dog that you’ve always wanted him to be! To sign up (spots are limited), please email Stacey at [email protected]. And don’t worry; your secret is safe with us. COME PLAY WITH US! Every Monday at 6pm Dog Playgroup If you’ve never been to one before, this is our healthy alternative to a dog park. Our playgroups are structured, narrated and educational. We divide the groups into small dogs + puppies and large dogs so everyone is playing in their proper “weight class”. Here’s a few great reasons to join us: ◦ Much like active children, dogs thrive on fun and games. ◦ Dogs learn appropriate behavior by playing (correctly) with other dogs. ◦ Play reduces stress and curbs the potential for unacceptable behaviors ranging from anxiety (barking, chewing, digging) to aggression (growling, territorial protectiveness, biting). ◦ Structured exercises enhance mental capacity. ◦ Socializing reinforces good behavior. If your dog is unsure in social situations, he can slowly gain confidence in our structured and chaperoned environment. Sign up is limited and is open to students in our school only. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL EKIN [email protected] to reserve your spot. Cost is $25.00 Upcoming Seminars: BODY LANGUAGE WORKSHOP: JUNE 12th 8pm Think of it as “Interpreting The Native Language Of Your Dog”. For humans to effectively communicate, we’ve devised an immense vocabulary, but dogs are limited by their body parts. Because of this, the dog must re use “words” and depend on context and combination to form his “sentence”. Understanding what your dog is saying is extremely important to prevent bites, fights, and miscommunications between dogs and humans and dogs and dogs. People only, please. Please feel free to bring the whole family! FREE RSVP to Ekin at [email protected] OFF LEASH WORKSHOPS: Make this the summer when you finally have a dog with an off leash recall! Email Kathy or Stacey to learn more about our off leash training and to find out whether you’re ready to start. FIELD TRIP Email her at [email protected] for time and location. THERAPY DOG WORKSHOP Please email Stacey at [email protected] for more details. RALLY OBEDIENCE We now have many of our students competing in Rally. Hooray! We have the following classes to help you succeed: THURSDAY 7PM RALLY/AKC NOVICE LEVEL CLASS WITH KATHY Having trained many of her own (and her student’s!) dogs to AKC’s Obedience Trial Champion (OTCh) titles, this class will teach you how to get any type of obedience title on your dog. If you’re not a currently in this class, please email Kathy at [email protected] for availability. FRIDAY NIGHT RALLY RUN THRUS WITH JERRIE AT CAMPGAW (weather permitting!) June 6 & 20 Jerrie will be holding Rally Run Thru’s on select Friday nights. As someone who’s achieved many rally titles on her dogs, Jerrie knows how to set up a course that will build the handler and dog’s confidence as well as test their abilities. Cost is $25 and all proceeds will be donated to a local rescue group. Please call or email me for more information. SUNDAY RALLY SIGNS CLASS WITH STACEY Stacey will help you understand and correctly perform the various Rally obedience signs. THIS CLASS IS FOR DOGS WITH BASIC OBEDIENCE SKILLS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH RALLY SIGNS. Email her at [email protected] for dates and times of this class. COME PLAY WITH US!
Every Monday at 6pm Puppy Playgroup (with a few openings for adults) Every Monday at 8pm Adult Dog Playgroup Split Groups = More Room To Play! If you’ve never been to one before, this is our healthy alternative to a dog park. Our playgroups are structured, narrated and educational. We divide the groups into small dogs + puppies and large dogs so everyone is playing in their proper “weight class”. Here’s a few great reasons to join us: ◦ Much like active children, dogs thrive on fun and games. ◦ Dogs learn appropriate behavior by playing (correctly) with other dogs. ◦ Play reduces stress and curbs the potential for unacceptable behaviors ranging from anxiety (barking, chewing, digging) to aggression (growling, territorial protectiveness, biting). ◦ Structured exercises enhance mental capacity. ◦ Socializing reinforces good behavior. If your dog is unsure in social situations, he can slowly gain confidence in our structured and chaperoned environment. Sign up is limited and is open to students in our school only. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL EKIN [email protected] to reserve your spot. Cost is $25.00 MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND On Saturday, all classes will run as usual. We will be closed on Sunday and Monday. Upcoming Seminars: FRIDAY MAY 9th 7:00PM BODY LANGUAGE WORKSHOP: Think of it as “Interpreting The Native Language Of Your Dog”. For humans to effectively communicate, we’ve devised an immense vocabulary, but dogs are limited by their body parts. Because of this, the dog must re use “words” and depend on context and combination to form his “sentence”. Understanding what your dog is saying is extremely important to prevent bites, fights, and miscommunications between dogs and humans and dogs and dogs. People only, please. RSVP to Ekin at [email protected] THURSDAY MAY 15th 8:00-9:00pm SOLVING THE PUZZLE OF MULTIPLE DOG HOUSEHOLDS WORKSHOP A must for anyone with more than one dog, or who’s thinking of adding another. Taught by Kathy and Stacey who’ve both owned multiple dogs for as long as they can remember, this workshop breaks down the hierarchy myths, dominance issues, how to eliminate problems between dogs and how to prevent them before they begin. Please email Stacey to register for the seminar [email protected] $40.00 FIELD TRIP TO THE CITY WITH STACEY SATURDAY MAY 17th at 12 Noon Email her at [email protected] for time and location. THERAPY DOG WORKSHOP SATURDAY MAY 31st 3:00-5:00pm Please email Stacey at [email protected] for more details. RALLY OBEDIENCE We now have many of our students competing in Rally. Hooray! We have the following classes to help you succeed: THURSDAY 7PM RALLY/AKC NOVICE LEVEL CLASS WITH KATHY Having trained many of her own (and her student’s!) dogs to AKC’s Obedience Trial Champion (OTCh) titles, this class will teach you how to get any type of obedience title on your dog. If you’re not a currently in this class, please email Kathy at [email protected] for availability. FRIDAY NIGHT RALLY RUN THRUS WITH JERRIE May 2 & 16th/June 6 & 20 Jerrie will be holding Rally Run Thru’s on select Friday nights. As someone who’s achieved many rally titles on her dogs, Jerrie knows how to set up a course that will build the handler and dog’s confidence as well as test their abilities. Cost is $25 and all proceeds will be donated to a local rescue group. Please call or email me for more information. SUNDAY RALLY SIGNS CLASS WITH STACEY A current Rally exhibitor herself, Stacey will help you understand and correctly perform the various Rally obedience signs. THIS CLASS IS FOR DOGS WITH BASIC OBEDIENCE SKILLS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH RALLY SIGNS. Email her at [email protected] for dates and times of this class. |