Cleveland's Source for Dog Training News and Information
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Congratulations to US!
On October 7th, Ed Dickson (owner of NCD) and Mari Towslee will be united in marriage in Rocky River, Ohio. Mari first came to North Coast Dogs for puppy class with her now 2-year old Lucy Mae (above left). Lucy then helped Ed find Alex (above right) several months later. Dogs can bring love to our lives in so many ways!
Please Note: North Coast Dogs' main location will be closed beginning at 4:00pm on Friday, October 6th and will reopen Monday, October 16th. However, classes on Monday and Tuesday evening at the main location will run as scheduled.
American Pet Idol Talent Competition - October 1st
Benefits S.A.F.E. (Safety for Animals and Families in Emergencies), for pets of domestic-violence victims.
2 p.m. Sunday, October 1st.
Behind University Suburban Health Center, 1611 South Green Road, Euclid.
Fee: $20, one pet and two people; $5, each additional pet; $5, a person without pet.
Call 216-297-0360.
ALL BREED DOG WALK AND COSTUME PARTY - Sunday, October 8th
One-mile walk and costume party to benefit the Greyhound Adoption of Ohio. Proceeds will raise money for the winter propane fuel bill at the adoption kennel.
When: 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8th
Where: Beartown Lakes Reservation, North Point Shelter, 18870 Quinn Road, Bainbridge Township.
Fee: $5, adults; Children under 13 and dogs are free.
For more information, call 216-382-4357.
Grand Opening of Avon Lake's Dog Park! - October 15th
This new park, located behind the city service building at 750 Avon-Belden Road, opened in September. A grand opening event is scheduled for 2:00pm on October 15th.
Please give it a try and let us know what you and your pooches think!
DOGTOBERFEST 2006! - Thursday, October 26th
Join us to celebrate Inn the Doghouse's 3rd Anniversary and North Coast Dogs' 1st Anniversary on Berea Road.
There will be whine & cheese and tricks & treats for dogs and their human companions, including a costume contest, our famous bobbing for hotdogs contest and much more!
Where: 10237 Berea Road, "H" and "J"
When: Thursday, October 26th from 7-9pm
RSVP: Sign the guestbook at www.innthedoghouse.com (please include number of guests and Yes or No in the comment box).
Donate Used Cellphones and Ink Jet Cartridges to the Sanctuary for Senior Dogs!
The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs is conducting a cellphone recycling fundraiser. Used cellphones may be tax deductible and will be recycled in accordance with EPA regulations or refurbished and sold. All proceeds will help The Sanctuary work to save the lives of abandoned senior dogs.
To recycle your used cellphones and ink jet cartridges or to learn more about the work of the Sanctuary, contact Deborah Workman at 216-485-9233 or visit their website at www.sanctuaryforseniordogs.org.
NCD Paw Print Partner Program
We are pleased to announce the North Coast Dogs Paw Print Partner Program. This program is designed to reward our regular customers of our retail store, giving discounts on retail items with the purchase of a Paw Print Partner membership.
A one-year Paw Print Partner membership card will be available for $10.00 beginning the third week of October. This card will entitle you to a 5% discount on any purchase up to $49.99 and a 10% discount on any purchase of $50.00 or more from our retail selections available at our main office at 10237 Berea Road in Cleveland.
The products on the shelves at North Coast Dogs have all been tested and approved by owner Ed Dickson's border collie, Alex. He has been happy to give his big paws up to the Natura line of foods (even allowing us to stock food for cats!), including Innova, California Natural, and Healthwise. Also available are many different interactive toys, biscuits and treats, Lupine collars and leashes, and most recently, the Bravo! line of raw food for both dogs and cats.
If you have any questions about the products we currently stock or would like brochures on the foods we carry, give us a call at (216)221-DOGS (3647) or send us an email.
(The Paw Print Partner Program discounts do not apply to training or photo sitting fees).
BOOK CLUB - UPDATE!
The North Coast Dogs' Book Club met on September 19th to discuss the second half of Patricia McConnell's book, "The Other End of the Leash". Thanks to everyone who came and took part in a fun and interesting talk!
On Tuesday, October 24th at 7:45pm, we will begin a new discussion on "Dogs Never Lie About Love" by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson. We'd love to see you here at our Lakewood/West Cleveland location!
If you would like more information please send an e-mail to mail@northcoastdogs.com. We'd love to see you on the 19th!
The Studio at NCD Gets Ready for the Holidays!
Just a quick note that The Studio will be offering PHOTO GREETING CARDS this upcoming holiday season! Stay tuned for details, and have your pooch (and even your whole family) on creative, professional holiday cards this year!
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As a dog trainer in Cleveland, the opportunity to advance my education through seminars and learning conferences always means expensive travel and hotel in addition to the cost of the conference itself. These opportunities come up a couple times a year and I have to pick and choose which event I can afford and would gain the most applicable knowledge by attending. With this in mind, I was very pleased to discover that a major opportunity is actually coming to Cleveland. ClickerExpo will be held in Beachwood this coming March 23rd through the 25th.
What is ClickerExpo and why should I care, you ask? This event is becoming known as a gathering of the “best of the best” in the training and learning world for a hard-core three-day series of seminars. What differentiates this event from many of the others is it’s not only learning in a classroom type atmosphere but is also hands on. You are encouraged to bring and work with your dog in the various lectures and learning labs.
As mentioned, the staff of ClickerExpo is the best of the best. Karen Pryor is the driving force behind this event, now in its fourth year. Karen is behavioral biologist, animal trainer, speaker, and author. She is considered a pioneer and one of the foremost innovators in the modern force free training revolution. Karen is author of many books. At the top of that list is a must read for any animal owner called “Don’t Shoot the Dog”. She has assembled a faculty of 15 experts to cover many different topics on the science of learning, working with aggressive behavior, working in the shelter environment and working with animals other than dogs (they have clicker trained cats, horses, birds, rats, etc.).
This group of experts includes Ken Ramirez, vice president for marine mammal programs and animal training at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and Steve White, who specializes in police K-9 training and scent work using clicker training. Steve’s “hot dog retrieval challenge” is a highlight. Yes, he will talk to you about how to get a dog to retrieve a hot dog without eating it. Also on staff, Emma Parsons, whose book “Click to Calm” walks you through how she used clicker training to work with her highly reactive Golden Retriever, Ben. This is a small sampling of the outstanding group assembled for three days of learning.
This event is for all experience levels; the tracks of learning include a foundation series for beginners, an intermediate series for those with experience, and an advance track for more intense topics. ClickerExpo is only held twice a year and is moved around the country so it won’t be a regular on the scene here in Cleveland. If you miss this one, there are no guarantees that it will be back and most certainly not for many years.
I can’t tell you how pleased I am to have an event of this nature coming to our own backyard. Early bird registration ends November 30th for a $50.00 discount. More information can be found out www.clickerexpo.com or by calling 800-472-5425.