December 2006 North Coast Dogs News HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Kirby	Zoey

Special Events at NCD

NEW!! Retrieve Class!

North Coast Dogs has a special new class in December... "Retrieve Class" is a 2-week class that will focus on teaching a polite, well-mannered reliable informal retrieve. The following fun manners will form the basis of this class:

• Polite Exchanges
• Bringing the ball back to your hand (instead of playing "Keep-Away")
• Practice retrieving a variety of item

This class will meet for two weeks in a row, Saturdays 12/16 and 12/23 from 2-3pm. Cost is $45. Dogs should have completed Family Puppy, Family Dog, or equivalent. For more information or to register, call us at (216)221-3647.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS! NUTRITION WORKSHOP!

"Natural Nutrition for Dogs - Food For Thought"

Sunday, February 18 th from 2-4pm
North Coast Dogs will host nationally-known holistic veterinarian, Doug Knueven, for a two-hour presentation. Topics will include:

• Are commercial pet foods as "complete and balanced" as they seem to be?
• What type of diet is really best for any dog?
• Supplements - What dogs need.

Dr. Doug Knueven received his veterinary degree from Ohio State University in 1987 and has been practicing veterinary medicine in Beaver County, Pennsylvania ever since. He is a pioneer in holistic pet care, who has earned certification in veterinary acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and chiropracticy. He also has advanced training in veterinary clinical nutrition, massage therapy, and homeopathy.

Dr. Knueven was a featured speaker at the Association of Pet Dog Trainers annual conference in September 2006 in Kansas City. We were so impressed by his knowledge and insight, we decided to bring him to Cleveland!

Cost for the seminar: $40/person.

Space is limited - To register, call us at (216)221-3647 or email ed@northcoastdogs.com.

 

There IS still time to book your holiday portrait session!

The Studio is now offering professional photo cards from
portraits taken in the studio at our Lakewood/West Cleveland location!

Some features:

• Professional 4x8 Photo Cards
• Envelopes Included
• Photo session sitting fees start at $15.99
• 6 Designs to choose from – Each can be printed Horizontal or Vertical

Click HERE to go to our studio webpage for more information and/or to schedule your studio session, or email mari@northcoastdogs.com.

 

 

 

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"The 1-2-3 of Problem Behaviors " by Ed Dickson

Problematic behaviors from your dog can create anger, frustration and anxiety for you. These are certainly not traits or characteristics that people seek out when looking for a dog. It is very common for them to creep into the relationship as time passes, though. Acting quickly on a disturbing behavioral pattern is important. Here are three quick steps to sit down and ponder when you have decided it’s time to “fix it”.

Step 1) Identify the problem – Be specific. “My dog is bad” does not identify the problem. Be ready to list specifics without the rush of emotional explanations. “My dog pees in the house. He knows it’s wrong because he looks guilty. He waits for me to turn my back and then goes. It makes me so mad!” Instead of the dialogue that ensues, why not just stop at “My dog pees in the house.” Work at staying away from the explanation and just list the actual problem. Now you have a clear picture of what you are trying to alter. If you have a clear idea, you will be much more able to devise a plan to change the unwanted behavior.

Step 2) Don’t let ‘em practice – We know that behaviors that get reinforced will get stronger. Like exercising a muscle, if you keep working it, it’s going to grow. Managing your environment so that problematic behaviors won’t get practiced is essential to any solid treatment plan. If peeing in the house is the problem, you need to be able to cut off access to the places your dog has chosen as potty areas and highly supervise if allowed to explore.

Step 3) What do you want them to do? – The third step is giving them the proper direction as to what they should be doing instead of the behavior that is being chosen. In my opinion, this is the most important as well as the most frequently missed step in problem solving of behaviors. At this point, you have identified the problem and you have kept it from getting worse. Now, set up training sessions where you will be able to practice repetitions of the replacement behavior. In the potty training situation mentioned above, this means bringing some kind of reward to the spot that your dog is supposed to go the bathroom so that you can reinforce the exact moment it happens. If jumping is the issue, train a very solid sit when you approach. This way the dog has an established foundation of what should be done. Next, the “sit when mom/dad approaches” needs to be practiced with a variety of people, teaching the dog a “sit when anyone approaches”.

Of course, this is an oversimplification of the process for some of the more serious behavior issues. It is a starting point to consider though when laying out some kind of behavioral plan. If you can put these three steps down on paper you have defined your starting point and where you would like to be. Now it’s a matter of filling in the middle with the correct steps.

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Notes in Blue are Lakewood Classes

Notes in Green are Mentor Classes

December 2006
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
					1	2
3	4 6:30pm - Competition Agility (ongoing)	5	6 8:00pm - Family Puppy	7	8	9 9:00am - Family Dog 2 2:00pm - Cavalier Play Group
10	11 6:30pm - Competition Agility (ongoing)	12 6:30pm - Family Dog 8:00pm - Foundations for Agility	13	14 6:30pm - Family Dog	15	16 9:30am - Family Puppy 10:45am - Family Dog 12:00pm - Tricks & Games 2:00pm - Retrieve Class
17	18 6:30pm - Competition Agility (ongoing)	19	20 6:30pm - Family Puppy Extra	21	22	23
24	25 CHRISTMAS	26	27	28 8:00pm - Family Puppy	29	30 10:30am - Family Dog