Cleveland's Source for Dog Training News and Information
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WHO LET THE DOGS OUT… 6TH ANNUAL DOG DAY AFTERNOON - Saturday, September 9th
1:00-4:00 PM At Peterson Pool in Clague Park, located at the corner of Clague Road
and Hilliard Boulevard. Many prizes and surprises are in store on this special day
for the dogs. Last year over 300 canines participated, earning over $1400 for the Westlake Animal Shelter.
$2 donation at the pool for the Westlake Animal Shelter
AVON LAKE AND LOVE A STRAY'S 2006 DOG SWIM - Saturday, September 9th
Noon till 4:00 PM
Avon Lake Municipal Pool (all communities welcome)
3285O Electric Blvd., West of Rt 83 - next to Bleser Park
If your dog loves the water or likes to dress-up, don't miss this Pet-Perfect Party!! Proceeds will go to Love-a-stray, a non-profit Animal Rescue Organization. Contests, concession stand, trophies and dog lover items available to purchase.
More info: www.love-a-stray.petfinder.com or call 440-933-2014
WALK A HOUND, LOSE A POUND - Saturday, September 9th
9:00 AM-Noon
Cleveland Department of Public Health - 1925 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland OH 44114
1 mile and 3 mile routes
Tour of “Year of the Dog” sculptures, human and pet health, wellness and information fair and pet trick contest. The first 250 walkers will receive a goodie bag. All walkers will receive a Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound exercise guide. Registration is free. To register contact Tmccue@city.cleveland.oh.us or call 216-664-STEP.
DOG SWIM IN TWINSBURG - Sunday, September 10th
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon,
$2.00/dog
10260 Ravenna Rd., Twinsburg
Call 330-425-7161 for more info.
LAKEWOOD DOG PARK'S 2ND ANNUAL DOGGIE DIP SWIM - Monday, September 11th
Foster Pool in Lakewood Park
5:00 - 8:00 PM
Located at the intersection of Belle and Lake Avenues. Admission is a donation of $5.00 for one dog $8.00 for two. This has become the dog park's favorite event of the year! All funds raised go to the improvement and upkeep of Lakewood's Dog Park.
ROCKY RIVER WATER ZONE'S "PUPPY POOL PARTY" - Monday, September 11th
5:30-7:30 PM
All pooches and their people are invited!! Treat your dog to a refreshing dip in the outdoor pool! Dogs MUST enter pool area on a leash.
Donation: $2.00 to help support Rocky River's Canine Unit "Rylo" and "Blitz".
WALK A HOUND, LOSE A POUND - Saturday, September 23rd
9:00 AM-Noon
Lincoln Park in Tremont, Starkweather & West 14th
1 mile and 3 mile routes, pet trick contest, first 250 walkers will receive a goodie bag. All walkers will receive a Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound exercise guide. The first 250 walkers will receive a goodie bag. All walkers will receive a Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound exercise guide.
Registration is free. To register contact Tmccue@city.cleveland.oh.us or call 216-664-STEP.
HIKE-N-HAYRIDE - Sunday, September 24th
4:00-7:00PM
Carriage Trade Estates - Northfield Center, Ohio
$50.00 per person (plus dog) includes:
- Cookout with Sassafras Floats
- Museum Tour
- Hayride
- Hike
Final registration deadline: September 18th
For more information or to register, call Edie Kassing at (330) 467-2844.
HUSTLE FOR THE HOUNDS - Saturday, September 30th
A night of ballroom dancing to benefit The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs
7:00PM 'til the hounds come home!
All About Dancin'
2115 Freeman Ave., Cleveland, OH 44113
Ballroom dancing, group lessons, dance exhibitions, raffle prizes, good food, and more!
Advance tickets $20. For more information or to reserve your tickets, call Carmen at (440)449-5493.
Canine Massage Clinic
How To Massage Your Own Dog Clinic with Maria Duthie
Sunday, October 1st - 9am to 1pm
Join North Coast Dogs and Maria Duthie in a special seminar that will help you improve the physical well-being of your dog with the applied use of canine massage. During the clinic, you will learn basic canine anatomy, physiology and canine movement. The class covers 13 massage techniques and general massage routines.
About Maria...
Maria K. McManus Duthie completed her massage training through the Optissage program in Circleville Ohio. She has studied animal science at the University of Florida, exotic animal management at the Sante Fe Teaching Zoo program, and animal behavior at Indiana University.
She has owned horses for over twenty years and has worked as a stable manager, groomer, trainer, and exercise rider in a number of stables with a variety of disciplines. She was a zookeeper for four years during which time she wrote several papers on behavioral enrichment. It was while in this position she began to see the correlation between physical pain and behavioral problems first hand. She then began to study several forms of healing touch and behavior modification.
In addition to exotics, she studied dog, cat, and horse behavior. The combination of behavioral knowledge, anatomical knowledge, and massage techniques in addition to several years of practical experience allows Maria to work with animals on several levels. Annisage promotes healthier animals from the inside out.
Please Note: This clinic has a maximum of 8 working spots. There will be no limit on the number of auditor spaces. Auditing participants will NOT be permitted to bring a dog. Working Participant: $45 / Audit: $25
To register for this clinic, call us at (216) 221-DOGS(3647) or go to the "Classes" page on our website, www.northcoastdogs.com .
NEW!! NCD NOW CARRIES RAW!!
North Coast Dogs is happy to announce we are now carrying BRAVO! frozen raw food at our main Lakewood/West Cleveland location!
BRAVO! Blends are the backbone of the Bravo! product line. These ground mixes of meat, bone, vegetables and organ meat can form a foundation for your pet's food. They come in chicken, turkey, lamb, beef and pork to which fresh, Grade A, washed vegetables are added.
The chicken blends are made with Murray's chicken, which is antibiotic free and vegetarian. The beef blend is made from Australian- and New Zealand-raised, grass-fed and range-fed cattle while the lamb blend is made from New Zealand-raised, grass-fed and range-fed animals (PPCS). All Bravo! Blends are made in a USDA-inspected facility using only 100% USDA-inspected meats and bones.
BRAVO! Blends are available in 1-, 2-, 5-, and 10-lb tubes.
Please stop in or call us at (216)221-DOGS(3647) for current selections and pricing or for more information on the benefits of feeding raw. Information about Bravo! is also available online at www.bravorawdiet.com.
And Just For Fun...
Also in our freezer, a FUN frozen treat for your favorite pooch!
I.C. Spots are a yummy frozen beef-flavored "sundae treat" created especially for dogs. They are a hit with our Lucy and Alex, and we think your dogs will love them, too! Boxes of four sundae cups are $3.99 plus tax, available only at our main Lakewood/West Clevland location.
BOOK CLUB - UPDATE!
The North Coast Dogs' Book Club met on August 22nd to begin discussion 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, September 19th at 7:45pm, we will continue our discussion, focusing on the second half of the book (Chapters 6-10). We'd love to see you here at our Lakewood/West Cleveland location! We would also like to encourage everyone to bring any dog-related books you might suggest for future reading; we will then compile a list from which to select for October.
If you would like more information please send an e-mail to mail@northcoastdogs.com. We'd love to see you on the 19th!
NEW!! "LEVELS TRAINING" AT NORTH COAST DOGS!
North Coast Dogs proudly introduces "Levels Training" at our Mentor location beginning in September.
What is Levels Training?
North Coast Dogs' Levels Training is a 4-level obedience training course. Each level introduces new skills for your dog, while continuing to practice previous skills with an increasing number of distractions. Although each level has specific skill requirements which must be met prior to moving on to the next level, you and your dog progress through the levels at your own pace.
Registration consists of a 16 week training membership. Move through all four levels or choose to stay at a lower level. The choice is yours!
From there, each level will be offered at least twice/week for schedule flexibility.
Benefits of Levels Training:
- Orientation classes will start approximately every two weeks so there is little wait to enroll your dog in a class.
- All the dogs in each level are at a similar stage in training. This allows instructors to better address the needs of each dog.
- Work at your own skill level/pace for as long as necessary.
- Students can revisit a lower level at any time to brush up on previous skills.
- Dogs move in and out of each level throughout training, providing new dogs as distractions each week.
- Students can take time off if necessary.
Four Month Levels Training Membership: $260.00
Look for more information and signups on our website, or call us at (216)221-DOGS(3647).
"Mind Games " by Ed Dickson
I awoke early this particular weekend morning. Once my head cleared of the sleepy cobwebs, I leaped up to take a quick look out the window and see what the day had in store. The sun was shining amid a bright blue morning sky – excellent!. This meant nothing would stand in the way of the weekly meet-up for softball.
I have been playing baseball in some form since I was about 4 years old. My grandfather used to take my brothers and me down to Municipal Stadium for Indians’ games several times a year. Sure, the team was consistently bad back then, but as a wide-eyed youngster, I didn’t care. My brother and I would listen to the organist (yes, they actually had someone playing an organ) and play “Name that Tune”. He was older, so he would guess right most of the time but would occasionally give me hints and let me win. I would come home after these games tired and satisfied with the quality time spent with family and the spectacle of Major League Baseball. My eyes probably closed before my head even hit the pillow.
The next morning I would awake before the rest of the house or friends in the neighborhood. With no one else to play catch with, it was up to me to emulate the game that I had seen with my very own eyes the night before. I would get my glove and a ball and throw the ball across the yard just far enough to challenge myself to make the spectacular one handed catch! When my friends came around for the morning, one by one we would add people to teams and before you knew it, we had a full fledge pick up game of baseball going. This whole process would activate my creativity, mentally challenge me to learn the game, and physically tire me out. That evening, I was a tired, much better-behaved child.
We can say the same about dogs. The mental and physical stimulation that I have described above is equally if not more important for dogs on a daily basis. It’s up to us to provide it for them. Of course, physical stimulation can come in the form of regular walks, but what about mental stimulation? Let’s break it down into two categories. First, we have games that involve relationship building (“Name that Tune” and pick up games mentioned above). Second, we have games that teach independence (the yard game by myself). One of the obvious relationship games is fetch. Many dogs love this and it serves as a form of physical exercise. Add some mental exercise to it by making them work to get the fetch object thrown again. My current favorite is a “down stay” with a significant amount of distance. Once released, I throw the ball. You can get as many behaviors as your dog is willing to give before they will quit on the game. Make sure not to make it too difficult for them. It should be fun for both of you. Playing a fun game of hide and seek with your dog also serves a wonderful training exercise. With two people, you can have 1 person hold the dog with the leash while the other gets the dog revved up. When the dog is ready to play, you turn and walk away. Find a place to hide that your dog can find you. Clue them in as to where you are by making some fun noises. When they find you, get really happy and play with them while you lead them back and start the process over. If you have only one person, throw a toy that they really like and while they are retrieving, find your hiding place. Playing just these two games will help strengthen your coming when called and relationship with your dog. Coming back to you is a fun and exciting thing to do.
Games of independence generally revolve around food. These games are important to build a tolerance for being alone. Dogs are social animals that like to be part of group so being alone is generally not a choice they would make unless resting. There are many toys available to use. Kong toys and a Tricky Treat are just two examples. A well stuffed Kong can last a dog quite awhile depending on size and your stuffing ability. These can be used when putting the dog in the crate, to keep them busy when you have things to do or make it a game by stuffing some and hiding them around the house so they have will search for them. This last one feeds into the general nature of an animal as they will be “hunting” for their food. A Tricky Treat is a ball that is hollow. You put food in it and as the dog rolls it around (or, in some cases, throws it around) the food falls out. You can feed entire meals this way. With this the dog is having to work for food and won’t pestering you all the time for something to do.
These are just a few suggestions to challenge your dogs mind in creative ways. Of course, training sessions throughout the day are just as important. Your dogs are always learning, though, so building training in to all interactions has them always working for you.
Now, I’m off to the ball field!
Event Calendar
Notes in Blue are Lakewood Classes
Notes in Green are Mentor Classes
| September 2006 | ||||||
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| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
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1
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2
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3 |
4 LABOR DAY |
5 8:00pm - Found. for Agility (and More!) - FULL 8:00pm - Levels Orientation |
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7
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8
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9
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10 |
11 6:30pm - Competition Agility 8:00pm - Agility: Intro to Obstacles |
12 7:30pm -
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13 6:30pm - Family Puppy |
14 6:30pm - Levels Orientation 8:00pm - Family Dog
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15
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16 9:00am - Family Puppy 10:00am - Level 1 Class |
| 17 |
18 |
19 7:30pm -
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20
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21
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22
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23 10:30am - Family Puppy 10:00am - Level 1 Class |
| 24 | 25 | 26 6:30pm - Family Dog 6:30pm - 7:30pm - |
27
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28
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29
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30 10:00am - Level 1 Class 11:00am - Levels Orientation |
View printable version of this calendar. Sign up for a class online. Top of Page