Cleveland's Source for Dog Training News and Information
June 2003 is Canine Behavioral Health Month
Canine
Behavioral Health Month celebrates nonviolent reward-based training as an
essential part of the canine-human bond. North Coast Dogs is delighted
to be the first Cleveland training and behavior company to join this celebration.
We're planning lots of events in June to mark the occasion including our first ever APDT Sanctioned Rally Obedience Trial. And we're offering discounts on all our classes in June. That's especially good news because we're launching three new special 4-week classes in June for you and your dog!
Special Events and New Classes
Get ready for a full month of fun and education events at North Coast Dogs Lakewood Learning Center. It all kicks off with our inaugural cook out June 1st. Then every week we'll host an educational seminar or demonstration including "Why Dogs Do the Things Dogs Do," A "free-shaping" seminar and flyball and canine massage demonstrations.
Don't miss the crowning event of Canine Behavioral Health Month June 28th. This is our first ever Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) Sanctioned Rally Obedience Trail Level 1. Sign up now for this fun opportunity to earn an obedience title for your pet dog. Rally-O is dog obedience competition for the rest of us. Complete rules and explanations are available online at apdt.com. But we'd much rather you stop by and observe one of our classes!
And we're really looking forward to our new 4-week classes. Tricks and Fun is for exciting dogs who love to learn (or learn by getting into trouble). We'll build skills by teaching some cool tricks. Junior Dog Training is for kids 8-12 and their parents. And Family Dog Extra is a short refresher course for puppy grads or Family Dog Grads. These classes are already filling up so sign up now.
Skip ahead to our complete listing of Canine Behavioral health month events.
Discounts
Mention this notice when you sign up for class starting in June and receive an immediate $5 discount.
Get Involved
Many local veterinary clinics and dog care companies are getting involved with Canine Behavioral Health Month. Perhaps your vet, pet sitter, daycare operator or groomer would like more information about this month-long celebration. Wonderful! Please have them call 216-221-DOGS or e-mail Michael Baugh, CPDT.
Preventing Summertime Dog Bites
Every
year an estimated 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs. Most victims
are children. And most of the bites occur in the Summer months.
Becca Riker owns Happy Tails, a pet waste removal service in Cleveland. She was bitten on the job. It happened so fast she had almost no time to react. The picture (right) was taken 24 hours after the bite. Fortunately Becca recovered without permanent damage. Still, dog bites are very painful and the injuries can be very serious.
How can you help make sure your dog doesn't bite anyone? The best and simplest way is to make sure your dog doesn't have the opportunity. Safely confine and supervise your dog at all times. This is important advice for all of us. But it's absolutely essential for people who's dog has bitten before. Never set your dog up for a subsequent bite. You know the potential. Take precautions.
Another big part of prevention is knowing what triggers your dog. From your dog's point of view aggression is about conflict resolution. The conflict may be external. Some dogs have bitten over the possession of an object , food or their space for instance. Other conflicts may be internal. Some dogs bite because they are unfamiliar with certain people or even certain types of people (children and men are the most common targets). Most bites, however, are the result of a combination of conflicts manifesting at once. In the bite Becca suffered it was likely a combination of uncertainty over a new person being in he dog's yard (both internal and external).
Knowing exactly what sets your dog off plays a huge role in preventing bites. Even if your dog has never bitten you may have some clue as to what creates conflict in your dog. Perhaps your dog stiffens up or growls around his bone. Or maybe your dog barks and snarls at men on walks. Your dog is trying to tell you something. There is a conflict at hand. This is a trigger. Watch out. Never challenge a dog in conflict. A bite may follow. Instead you want to diffuse the situation as best you can and seek professional help.
When you identify triggers you are in a better position to protect those around you from a potential bite. You are also in a better position to begin training your dog out of aggressive behavior. That's where we come in. It is possible to train your dog to become more calm and friendly. North Coast Dogs trainers are well educated in the field of canine fear and aggression. We can help you protect your loved ones while improving your dog's behavior.
Evita: Aggression Training at Work
Evita the Yorkshire Terrier came to Max McDermott in January with some unruly behavior, the most disturbing of which was her propensity to bite. Almost immediately Max identified the trigger. Evita guarded her toys and just about anything else she could steal. She especially liked socks. Now Evita looks cute as a button. But when she was growling over a stolen sock it was a completely different story.
By March Evita was on a North Coast Dogs aggression training plan. Her follow up meeting was in late April and the progress was remarkable. Not only was Evita more willing to give up items, she was stealing less often and generally more relaxed.
Of course, Evita will always have to be watched. Training a dog to be friendly is a life-long process and dogs who have bitten in the past are always more likely than other dogs to bite in the future. But we have high hopes for Evita and the highest praise for her human companions.
Bad Boy Beagle Becomes "Mr. Social"
Congratulations
to Merlin who graduated Family Dog Class this month. He was certainly
one of the best behaved and beyond a doubt the coolest dog in class.
It's almost hard to believe he used to be an absolute screaming demon around other dogs. You see, Merlin's first class with North Coast Dogs was our Calming Class. This is an invitation only learning experience for dogs who act ugly around other dogs while on leash. Calming Class is 12 sessions with just 4 dogs and two instructors. We work slowly and carefully to help dogs get used to interacting around (even meeting) other dogs.
Calming Class fit the bill for Merlin. Now he's Mr. Social, mainstreamed into Family Dog Class and a graduate at the top of the pack!
Good Food for Good Behavior
She
is what she eats. Phoebe enjoys a bowl of Innova Dog Food (right).
There's been a great deal of talk recently about food and how it relates not only to canine health but also to behavior. You may have heard discussions about cancer and immune disorders in dogs being linked to poor quality dog foods. Low quality protein sources, filler and just plain gross stuff can't be good for our dogs. It's cause for concern.
What you may not know is that there is also good research pointing to correlations
between our dog's diet and behavior. One of the best known is Dr.
Nicholas Dodman's research that suggested low-protein diets decreased some
forms of canine aggression. Now James O'Heare hypothesizes
that it's not the amount of protein but the protein source that affects
behavior. The bottom line: a better quality diet can play an important
role in
improving the behavior of aggressive and hyperactive dogs.
We
recommend and carry Innova
Dog Food. It's considered in the mid range for protein content.
But more importantly it's made from high quality protein sources, human-grade
meat, poultry and fish. There's no corn or wheat. Instead, it
does contain fruit and vegetables. And best of all, Innova contains
no artificial flavors or preservatives.
The sad truth is, even the expensive premium brands of dog food sold in big pet stores are crammed full of corn, filler and meat by-products. Innova doesn't cost much more than those brands. And, because it's rich in quality ingredients, you can actually feed a little less of it.
Juno, Phoebe and Divot all eat Innova food. Michael even uses Innova for treats in class.
Give Innova a try. All our Innova Pet Food Products will be on sale in June. Pick up a bag and let us know what your pet thinks of it.
Happy Birthday Juno!
Many
thanks to so many people who remembered Juno on her 5th birthday April 6th.
They grow up so fast don't they? I can still remember when she was just a little poof ball. How soon she grew to an ornery adolescent dog, all teeth and attitude. Thank goodness you didn't know her then. She ate woodwork, socks and even a cell phone. And she pulled like a demon.
I'm so happy I found her "inner dog." Training was everything
for Juno. She worked so hard.
We worked together.
People still ask "how long does it take to train a dog?" I always answer "8-18 years, depending on how long your dog lives.
I wish she would live forever!
New Class for Puppy Grads!
North Coast Dogs Family Puppy graduates now have a class designed especially for them. We call it Family Dog Extra. This four week class is the perfect next logical step for adolescent and young adult dogs.
We used to recommend Family Puppy graduates take our 6-week Family Dog Class. That's still okay. But the Family Dog Extra is really much better. You attend all four weeks with your dog. So, it's hands-on learning every class session. And we've weeded out some of the repetition of information. Instead we focus in on honing skills, adding new skills and addressing the problems of doggie adolescence.
There's more good news. Family Dog Extra is also a good choice for Family Dog Class graduates who want a refresher course.
The 4-week Family Dog Extra class starts June 4th at 730 p.m. with Michael. Sign up today.
"Eggselent" Puppies
Our
second annual puppy Easter Egg hunt was a smashing success.
Here's the drill. Puppy-person teams hunt the Lakewood Learning center
for plastic Easter Eggs. Inside each egg is a simple instruction.
Perform the task with your puppy --
keep the egg. The team with the most eggs wins!
This year's winner was Petey with human companion, Julie Lutz. Of course, everyone's a winner. Each puppy got a healthy Easter Bunny snack and the people got come Easter Chocolate. Yum.
Left: puppies play off leash after hunt
Right: Petey and Julie Lutz
Special Thanks to Fox 8 News for putting us on TV!
Vacation Travel with you Dog
Family vacation time is here and what better family member to travel with than your dog.
For big dogs we recommend you travel by car or SUV with your dog secured in a crate. That's the safest place for your beloved canine companion if you're in an accident. Don't forget to keep yourself safe by buckling your seatbelt.
Big dogs traveling by air can be a scary proposition. First, most airlines don't allow big dogs on planes from May through September. It simply gets too hot on the tarmac and in the cargo area for it to be safe. But even in the cooler months cargo air travel for dogs can be very stressful. We don't recommend it. One exception may be Northwest Airlines which offers a priority pet travel service. It includes climate controlled and pressurize cargo transport for dogs as well as climate controlled shuttles. Northwest also employs staff at all its hubs specifically for pet travelers.
Small dogs can enjoy pampered air travel in the passenger cabin with mom and dad. All the major airlines except Southwest allow small pets in carriers onboard their planes in the passenger cabin. There are some considerations, however. Your dog's carrier must be no higher than 8" or 9" inches depending on the airline. That's so it can fit under the seat in front of you. And call ahead. Most airlines only allow a few pets on each flight. Your dog will have to meet health and vaccination requirements. No airlines allow very young puppies. In cabin fees range from $75 to $80 each way.
Make sure you maintain some of your dog's regular routines while in vacation. Structure and security reduce stress and make travel more enjoyable for everyone.
Brunswick Dog Park
The move is on now to build a dog park in Brunswick. Off-leash play areas have been a big hit on the east and west coast and in Chicago for years. Now they are popping up all over Northeast Ohio.
Organizers in Brunswick say they have a good initial response from city leaders. What they really want now is some community involvement. And the best news is, you don't have to be a Brunswick resident to participate. Join the fun marching in favor of the dog park in the Brunswick Old Fashioned Days Parade May 22nd.
Get in on the ground level of this exciting doggie project in Brunswick. Contact Cheryl Goumas for more details or visit the Brunswick Dog Park web site.
Attention Therapy Dogs!
If
you have a recently registered Therapy Dog but don't have a place to visit
we can help. Valerie Gustovich
is our new volunteer contact person for TDI certified dogs. She has
a growing list of places looking for therapy dog visits. Contact her
today.
New CGC / TDI Grads
Congratulations to our newest graduates. Each earned an AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate and Therapy Dogs International Certification.
Left: Kaki Brytwa with Francis
Right: Karen Bang with Bonnie
Canine Behavioral Health Month Calendar Highlights
June 1st, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. - North Coast Dogs Lakewood
Canine Behavioral Health Month Inaugural Cook Out. Celebrate this exciting month with some good food and good company. People only for this one. RSVP. Free.
June 4th, 7:30 p.m. - North Coast Dogs Lakewood
Family Dog Extra Class begins. Sign up for this class now. It's one of our new 4-week classes. Family Dog Extra will help you brush up on your training skills quickly and efficiently. This class is open to Family Dog and Family Puppy grads.
June 6th, 5:30 p.m. - North Coast Dogs Lakewood
Why Dogs Do the Things Dogs Do. This is a "don't miss" event celebrating canine behavior. Join us for an evening of learning about how dogs learn. We'll be covering the nuts and bolts of how you can train a dog almost anything. Plus we'll cover lots of information about problem behavior solving. There will even be time for questions and answers. RSVP please. People only for this one. $15 if you call and pay ahead. $20 at the door.
June 7th - Cleveland MetroBark
Breed Party for Weimaraners, German Short Haired Pointers
and Viszlas.
Big time fun and off-leash play. Contact Mindy
at MetroBark for details.
June 9th, 7:30 p.m. - North Coast Dogs Lakewood
Canine Massage Demo. This is a great way to become familiar with the art and science of canine massage. We'll have dogs on hand for demonstration and practice. Leave your canine companion at home. RSVP please. $5 if you pay ahead. $10 at the door.
June 10th - A Better Pet
Puppy Kindergarten and Puppy Next Step. North Coast Dogs is proud to recommend Rachel Friedman's A Better Pet LLC as an east side alternative for nonviolent reward-based clicker classes. Visit A Better Pet online for class start times and sign up information for this date.
June 14th, 4 p.m. - North Coast Dogs Lakewood
Flyball Demo. Once again we're on the cutting edge. North Coast Dogs and friends have been developing a flyball team and we're ready to show off our stuff (we hope!) Flyball is a rock-and-roll doggie sport you just have to see to believe. So, join us for a look-see and then decide if flyball is something you'd like to try with your dog. Classes start in July! RSVP. Free.
June 14th - Cleveland MetroBark
Indians Game! Leave your dog at MetroBark for fun and play while you enjoy the game in the MetroBark section at Jacob's field. "Tail"gate fun and refreshments before and during the game at MetroBark. Contact Mindy for reservations.
June 16th, 7:30 p.m. - North Coast Dogs Lakewood
Tricks and Fun Class Begins. Sign up now for this 4-week class. No pressure, no stress just fun, fun and more fun.
June 22nd , 4 p.m. - North Coast Dogs Lakewood
Free Shaping Demo. Learn how to train your dog "hands off" while developing and strengthening his imagination. We'll actually be teaching dogs how to be creative. This exciting style of clicker training is a joy to see. RSVP please. $5 if you pay ahead. $10 at the door.
June 26th - Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds
North Coast Dogs APDT Sanctioned Rally Obedience Trail. Come earn your first legs towards a Rally Obedience Title with your dog. Or just come to watch. Big fun either way. Details and show premium are available on our web site.
Canine Behavioral Health Month Calendar
Notes in purple are Lakewood Classes
Notes in Green are Brunswick Classes
| June 2003 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
1 1P Family Puppy 3P Cook Out |
2 | 3
|
4 6P Large Dog Park Class 730 Family Dog Extra Class |
5 6P Family Dog Class |
6 530P Why Dogs Do the Things Dogs Do |
7
|
8
|
9 6P Canine Massage Demo 730P Family Dog Class |
10 s |
11 6P Small Dog Park Class
|
12 6P Rally-1 Class 730P Large Dog Park Class |
13 6P Small Dog Park Class
|
14 9A Large Dog Park Class 4P Flyball Demo
|
15 3P Pet First Aid |
16 730P Tricks and Fun Class |
17
|
18 Noon Large Dog Park Class 6P Family Dog Class
|
19 6P Rally-2 Class 730P Family Puppy Class
|
20
|
21 Noon Agility Class 130P CGC Class 330P Canine Massage Class |
22 230P Family Dog Class 4P Free Shaping Demo
|
23 6P Family Dog Class
|
24 730P Family Puppy Class |
25 Noon Junior Dog Training Class |
26
|
27 730P Family Dog Class
|
28 All Day Rally Obedience Trail at fairgrounds
|
29 |
30 |
1
|
2 All Classes are listed by start date |
3 | 4 Lakewood Events are in PURPLE Brunswick Events are in GREEN |
5 |
View printable version of this calendar.
Sign up for a class online.
Gift Certificates
Don't forget that gift certificates are always available for our classes, in-home behavior modification and products. They are the perfect gift for any occasion. Please contact Jonathan Corrigan to purchase one today!
Feedback
We always want to hear your feedback. There are lots of ways to let us know how we are doing.