As I begin a new set of classes called "Reactive Rover" to help clients with hyper sensitive dogs (something I have been doing in private lessons for some time), I find myself explaining to owners that this is a personality type that requires not only training and desensitization, but maintenance as well. This is not a virus that can be cured with a round of antibiotics, but rather a personality type that needs regular "medication" to maintain balance and lessen anxiety. I am often greeted with disappointed frowns when I drop this bombshell. Don't we all wish we could change our dog's personality! But alas, they are who they are and while we can get them to grow and improve in the areas they are deficient, those old habits can come back easily (and rather quickly) because they fall more into line with their natural personality.

I come from two parents who would not consider themselves as extremely outgoing. While they do quite a bit of public speaking as they travel across the country instructing others on how to move livestock with their dogs, they would probably both agree that they are not the type of person to sign up for an Intro to Public Speaking Class in college "for fun". I undoubtedly inherited these traits, my mom likes to tell stories of my painful shyness as a child. So how did I become the type of person who would take Public Speaking as an elective (yes, I did that!)? Practice, desensitization, and practice! I started by giving a speech in high school at a Future Farmers of America speech contest after much prodding from my Agriculture teacher at the time. I then became an officer in just about every high school extra curricular I could (FFA, FCCLA, Yearbook, Student Council, FCA, etc.), and competed in just about every contest the FFA had to offer. While this ultimately led to a college degree in communications, I still struggle with my shyness when I haven't spoken in front of a group of people in awhile. Thankfully since I teach group classes, I constantly have the "maintenance" I need to keep my bashfulness at bay. So what does this have to do with your dog? If you have a dog who is reactive, they will always have those tendencies within them. In order to improve their behavior, it will take a certain period of time addressing the behaviors, then a lifetime of maintaining it. So what does "maintenance" look like?

  "Cena"- Cena is more than likely some sort of Labrador mix. It is anyone's guess considering I found her dumped on the side of a country road when she was bout 4 months old. Since the day I brought her home, she treated food as a luxury, inhaling whatever I put in front of her ( I would too if I was left out in the country to fend for myself when I was barely old enough to be weaned from my mother!). I quickly found that she had extreme dog aggression, especially when food was involved. She has never shown an inkling of aggression toward people but has been in some pretty serious dog fights.

We have spent many hours working on obedience, leadership, thinking instead of reacting, and self control. She is now 6 years old and is one of the best dogs I have ever had but she will always be in a state of "maintenance". When a dog makes her uncomfortable, she comes directly to me and asks me to intervene. However, she still does not get to meet any dogs that come to my facility for training or boarding (don’t worry, she prefers it that way!). She can now be around my other dogs when food is present, however I make sure I feed all my dogs separately. Finally, I do not fear running into other dogs when taking Cena for a walk, however, she will never be one of my Demo and Event Dogs (once again, she doesn't mind this decision!).  I also know that if I have not spent an adequate amount of quality time with her, her behavior will reflect that.

  "Tru"- This is my Cardigan Welsh Corgi and unlike my other two dogs, I actually got her as a puppy and know her complete history but don't think this makes her devoid of her own issues! You see, Corgis original purpose was to herd cattle.  As you can see Tru is what you might call vertically challenged, so how on earth can she get huge cattle to move? Well among other things, her voice! They bark to intimidate the livestock, which in turn creates a breed that as a whole tends to be quite, shall we say, VOCAL. From day one, Tru liked to talk about EVERYTHING. She barks, whines, growls, yodels, and a few things in between. While  her behavior has never been what I would call aggressive, she is a  higher anxiety, reactive dog. Tru feels especially vulnerable when greeting other dogs on leash. There was a time in her younger years that she would growl or even snap at other dogs when they made her uncomfortable.

Through lots of desensitization, self control exercises, and leadership activities Tru has learned one of my Golden Rules "If you cannot say anything nice, don't say anything at all". Tru now participates in most of my on leash greeting exercises in my puppy group classes. She does wonderfully at her "job" because she trusts me implicitly with her safety, knowing I will not put her in a situation that is not safe. She has also learned that when she does feel uncomfortable,  that is it okay to say politely that she does not want to greet a dog (by passing by them and ignoring them) and I respect that decision. She will always be a very excitable dog who needs continued work on self control. (Especially when she has been "off work" for awhile, like when she attends January classes after a long Christmas break!)  but she definitely gets compliments everywhere she goes, especially from people who know how stubborn Corgis can be!

  "Ziva"-As many of you know, I adopted Ziva almost a year ago (my, does time fly!) from Saving Death Row Dogs. She was found as a stray and no one came forward to claim her. When I took ownership of Ziva she had crate anxiety, separation anxiety, jumped fences, tried to bust out of crates, and growled at other dogs when they approached, just to name a few! We spent several weeks building her confidence and getting her comfortable with being alone and confined. We also practiced desensitization, self-control, patience, attention span, leadership exercises, and learning how to accept affection (it broke my heart that she didn't know how to process affection!). As she began to look to me for leadership and trusted me with her well-being, she began to gain confidence and developed quite an appetite for learning!
 
Nowadays my husband and I look at each other and shake our heads, wondering why anyone would not want the dog we have today but we definitely remember how much work it took (and still takes) to manage her personality.  She will always have tendencies toward higher anxiety. She will probably always need some supervision if she is in the yard during gunfire, fireworks, or thunder as she may have a relapse and jump the fence. She tends to get "wired" if I have had an extra dog boarding and she isn't getting the attention she is used to from me. She usually needs some extra training sessions if she has been getting a smaller piece of the pie of quality time. Despite her initial anxiety about greeting other dogs,  she is now one of the best dogs I have for dog to dog greetings on leash and off. She still has her moments of fragility but turns to me for encouragement and help in those situations instead of lashing out at the other dog.

  I hope in telling you about my own "maintenance dogs" it will help you understand what I mean when I say your dog cannot simply be "fixed" it needs to be maintained. I also hope it makes owners aware of the fact that our dogs will never be "perfect". As a matter of fact, when an owner says to me, "Well they aren't perfect yet, but…". I usually reply with, "Well good, because neither am I, and I wouldn't want them showing me up!".  We cannot change their personalities but we can help them face their fears and grow into better companions as well as lower their anxiety levels.  And finally, just as we have to continue to exercise to stay in shape, we need to continue training sessions, not just when we want to teach our dog something new, but also to keep the skills we have already taught them sharp.

  Okay, Okay, I know what an overused phrase right? But it's catchy and it really sums up the point I hope to make with today's blog entry. Very rarely do I find it necessary to step up on my soapbox in my blog. Usually you will find lost of helpful information on training and behavior but today I will be discussing an issue that is close to my heart. Therefore, I apologize in advance if I get too worked up writing this entry but I WILL NOT apologize for being passionate about this subject, the dogs deserve a voice. Thanks!

Fielding many calls about training and working with a local rescue group, I have experienced first hand how many "dog lovers" treat dogs like they are novelties that either fit into their household or face being returned to the shelter. Not only is this unfair to the dogs, it creates a very big problem for local shelters, especially no-kill facilities.

 Anytime one of my clients approach me about getting a new dog I do strongly suggest they consider adoption through the shelter or a local rescue however, the decision to get ANY dog by ANY means is a heavy one. It is likely that the first few years of your new friend's life is going to be more about what you do for it than what it does for you. You are committing to raising a hairy four legged child that will likely never develop past the equivalent of a 2 year old child (minus the speaking part!) for an average of 15 years. In order to create a companion you love spending time with, you will not be able to immediately enjoy wonderful behaviors, you will instead be putting in several months of hard work to mold and shape the companion you want your dog to be. I thoroughly enjoy planting a garden every year, however, I know it will take several months of hard work preparing the soil, planting the seeds, watering, weeding, etc. to be able to enjoy the bountiful harvest at the end of the summer. Do I wish I could plant a seed and come back the next day to fresh garden tomatoes? Sure! Unfortunately, that is not how gardening, or dog "raising" works…

  Stepping up on my soapbox, I hear many clients utter the phrase, "I am going to take you back!", some are only joking, some are quite serious! Unfortunately, surrendering dogs to the shelter, or a rescue, or returning a dog you adopted without giving them time to adjust and exploring ALL avenues of addressing the issues is rarely the best thing for the dog.

I once had a potential client tell me that their dog  got into the trash, stole things off the counters, and barked in it's crate and if they couldn't curb these behaviors, he would have to be returned to the shelter because he "just didn't fit into OUR household". (This particular dog was a stray for 7 months and had spent the next 5 months in the shelter and he was probably only about 14-16 months old! This means he developed these behaviors out of necessity to survive!) However, beyond his motives for the behavior is her reasoning. "He just doesn’t fit into OUR household". Excuse me, but a dog who dumpster dives and counter surfs will not fit into ANYONE'S household until someone takes the time to address the issues, unless of course you can find a dog owner who does not have a trash can…our counters…

  You see, it’s the idea that you can just take them to the shelter (or back to the shelter) and everything will be just fine that is the problem. Every time a dog is adopted out and returned, it gets more difficult to adopt, not only because it has never experienced true structure and routine, but also because not many potential adopters are willing to take on a dog who has already proven to be a "handful". To think that taking it to the shelter leads to it finding a wonderful home that it "fits in" is not very realistic.

According to the HSUS, between 6 and 8 million cats and dogs enter shelters each year and between 3 and 4 million cats and dogs are euthanized by shelters each year, this means only roughly HALF the dogs surrendered to shelters successfully find a new home.

 Most shelters do not have the room to take in all the dogs that are being surrendered across the country on a daily basis. When you adopt a dog from the shelter, thinking, " Oh I can just bring it back if it doesn't work out" you become part of the problem. Especially No-Kill organizations. When you adopt a dog, they happily fill that space or foster home with a new dog in need. When you come back a few days or weeks later saying that dog "doesn't fit", they are faced with a problem. Do they turn you away? Or do they take the dog in and make space by coming up with some other "reason" to empty a spot? What if your dog, who has failed at being adopted gets chosen as the one with "behavioral issues" and gets euthanized?

   If you are considering relinquishing your dog because he exhibits some behaviors you don't appreciate, would you be willing to take him to the shelter if they euthanized him in front of you when you got there? If not, then your dog's issues do not warrant surrender to the shelter. Yes, many dogs get adopted out to wonderful homes with owners who spend the time to address behaviors and teach the dog how to be the companion they want, but is it worth the risk you run when you surrender your dog?

If you have a dog that has you at your wit's end, please consider talking to a training professional first. Most will talk to you over the phone and give you some initial advice or may even offer free or low cost Assessment visits. If you cannot afford training, you can find lots of great information on the internet about dog training ( just be prepared to find a million different ideas to try!). We offer monthly training seminars that cover a wide variety of topics with a chance to talk to the trainer about your own dog! These seminars just require a $15 donation to Saving Death Row Dogs ( a local rescue). If you still don't think it is going to work for you to keep the dog, consider fostering the dog while looking for a new home. Saving Death Row Dogs is completely reliant on their foster network and cannot take a dog in unless it has a foster home for it. However, they can do Courtesy Listings for owners or you can apply to become a foster and foster your own dog while we try to place it in a new home.

Before adding a dog in your life, please commit to working through any problems it may have (after all they put up with yours!). If you cannot to commit to helping a dog become the companion you want, please reconsider getting a dog. If you know someone who is considering taking their dog to the shelter, feel free to pass along this article!

  Reactive Rover Classes- This is our current "baby" and boy am I excited about it! This new group class is designed for dogs who are overreactive around other dogs, but can be adapted for many triggers. Your dog may be reactive for several reasons, or a combination (Overexcited, Afraid, Overstimulated, Improperly Socialized, Bad Experiend, etc)

So what would a class full of reactive dogs look like? Well,the class is definitely set up very carefully, the dogs all have their own "pods" that are visual and physical barriers. The beginning of the class is about improving your relationship with your dog (building more trust and leadership from you), impulse control and focus. The dogs come out of their pod one at a time to "work" and will not begin working around another dog (a neutral dog) towards the end of the class.

I KNOW this is a class many dog owners in Topeka  desperately need and am thrilled to be offering it! If you think your dog might be in need of a Reactive Rover class, please contact me to set up an assessment!

  Intro to Dog Sports (Coming Summer 2013!)- Many of my clients are eager to take another class after they finish up their basic obedience classes but find it hard deciding which of my "extra curricular" classes they would enjoy most with their dog. So I am putting together a class that is going to introduce you to several different dog sports (showcasing one each week), to help you decide which sport you would like to spend an entire class focusing on! This class is definitely in the early planning stages but will *probably* include  Agility, Scent Work, Treiball, Flyball, and Rally. If this is a class that would interest you, please let me know, your input may be used as I plan the class!

  Level 2 Agility (Coming March 2013!)- For those of you who have taken my Intro to Agility class, you could call this your sequel! We will be spending a good amount of time mastering the entire process of the Teeter, getting professional at Weaving 6 poles, and solidifying your dog's contact obstacle behaviors. We will also begin sequencing obstacles and stretching that reward!

Puppy Agility- I am SO excited about this idea, what's more fun than cute little puppies doing Agility?! Although it is important to note that puppies are not going to be ready for ALL the demands agility brings to their still growing bodies, so we will be introducing them to some foundational ideas and NOT be getting them on very much agility equipment. These foundation skills will be taught in mini sessions after their puppy obedience classes. These skills will be much easier to instill at a young age and will help get them ready for an Intro to Agility class after their Intermediate lessons.
Even if you are not considering Agility training eventually, these mini sessions will help socialize your dog to noise and movement and build their confidence, what puppy wouldn't benefit from that?! This will be a session offered after my beginner/puppy classes. Owners can opt in for five 20 minute sessions after their puppy class each week for a one time cost of $21! Making the 7 week puppy class + 5 weeks of puppy agility $120. Please let me know when you sign up for your beginner class that you would like to be enrolled in Puppy Agility!

  Monthy Behavioral Seminars to benefit Saving Death Row Dogs- The second Saturday of every month I will be speaking on a training or behavior topic at a one hour seminar. The seminars are designed to help educate SDRD's current fosters and to help raise funds for this local rescue group. If you are a current SDRD foster, there is no cost for you to attend. Otherwise, the seminars are a $15 donation to SDRD. Here is a list of the topics I will be covering in the first half of the year:

Children's Education Seminars- We will be partnering with Saving Death Row Dogs to go into local schools and educate children on Dog Safety, the importance of Spaying/Neutering your pet, and Adoption.

  Also new in 2013, we now have a calendar up on our website of upcoming classes, seminars, and public events so check it out! We have also added an option to pay for your classes/lessons online via paypal.

Finally, we are now active on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest so keeping up with what we are offering has never been easier!

Let us know how we can help you and your best friend in 2013!

  As many of you know, I serve on the advisory board for a local rescue group called  Saving Death Row Dogs, we even adopted our latest dog from them (Ziva). I offer behavioral advice, training assessments, and monthly  training seminars for foster owners, adopters, and volunteers because I strongly believe that many dogs are homeless because of behavioral issues. I also volunteer as often as I can at their booths and events and try to spread the "Don't shop, adopt" mantra. However, invariably the answer I usually get from most of my clients is, "I would love to help but I already have a dog." (Makes sense, most people employing a dog trainer already have a dog, right?) So I decided to dedicate this week's entry to shed some light on other ways to help out local rescues. Most of my clients are not in a position to adopt a new member of the family but would love to help out pets not as fortunate as their own.

 Okay, Okay I know, if you cannot adopt a dog you CERTAINLY can't foster one right? Well, I had to include this section for those of you who might be considering adding a new family member. Why not foster? Every rescue is ALWAYS  in desperate need for qualified fosters as much as qualified adopters. Especially groups like Saving Death Row Dogs who rely completely on their foster network. What does this mean? They do not take dogs in unless they have a foster home for them. Yes,it takes a special kind of person to open up their home to an animal and then a few weeks or months later hand it over to its new owner. However, fosters make it possible to help many, many more animals than adopters alone. If you adopt a dog every 10-15 years, you can probably save 5 or 6 lives in your lifetime (which is certainly a wonderful contribution!). However, a foster home that is willing to temporarily house a homeless dog and get it ready for adoption  will save hundreds of lives!

  Another great way to help out pets in need is to simply volunteer. CAART (Capital Area Animal Response Team) does many wonderful things for the pet community including disaster relief but they also provide a service called Pet Food Pantry that can always use volunteers. Their mission is to provide a temporary pet food supply to owners who might otherwise be forced to surrender their pets due to financial hardship. In 2012 alone, the organization distributed 43,046 pounds of pet food and supplies. For more information on volunteering with Pet Food Pantry email [email protected], or call (785) 925-3678.

  Don't have much spare time? You can still help local rescue groups! Social media has changed the rescue game, in a good way! It only takes a second to hit the share button and send a picture to hundreds more computer screens and cell phones. You never know when your simple "share" can make the difference between life and death for an animal needing a forever home! Also consider simply talking to friends in person about adoptable dogs you have seen. Do you have any mass media ties? (Newspaper, Television, Magazine?) suggesting they do a story on one of these organizations can really help them get more donations as well!

If you are looking for a great cause to donate to, there are plenty of local pet organizations that can always use your help! P.A.N.T. (Pet Assistance Network of Topeka, inc.) is definitely a group worth supporting! Topeka is fortunate to have compassionate homeless shelters for individuals and families facing homelessness. But these shelters cannot accept pets, forcing owners to make difficult choices. Concerned volunteers formed Pet Assistance Network of Topeka, Inc. (PANT) to place these pets in licensed animal shelters until the owners’ lives improve and they can be reunited with their pets. To Donate to P.A.N.T, visit their website: http://www.topekapant.org/donations/

  Another great way to support groups financially is to purchase their fundraising items. Not only are you supporting a local animal welfare group, you will get some great merchandise at the same time so it's a win win! Saving Death Row Dogs created a calendar for fundraising purposes, each month displays lucky puppies that have been adopted through the rescue. If you are interested in purchasing a Calendar you can pick them up at Saving Death Row Dogs adoption booths at Petsmart every Saturday or contact me, I will have them available at my training classes.

  Another option for you is a company called Pics Saving Pets. This is truly a wonderful idea! There is a company based in Oklahoma that makes photo gifts and donates 50% of the proceeds to the animal charity YOU choose! Helping Hands Humane Society is one of the listed charities on their website .   http://www.picssavingpets.com/how_it_works.html

   This is wonderful for anyone who is creative or likes to plan and organize events.  Organize a fundraiser and donate the proceeds to a local animal charity! We have had several kids get in on the action! Whether it is something as simple as a Lemonade stand or bake sale or takes a lot of time like the two girls who sold home made toys and blankets at a booth at Fairlawn Plaza, every little bit helps more animals get the vet care they need and find the homes they have always dreamed about!

  Rescue groups are constantly networking with other rescue groups across the country to get homeless pets into foster homes or forever homes. This means many dogs need to be transported from one part of the country to another. Are you planning a family road trip? Consider contacting your local animal rescue groups to see if they might need a dog transported somewhere that is on your route already! Or if you are a real animal lover, maybe plan the vacation you were going to take anyways around a dog who needs a ride to his new forever home!

  Overpopulation is certainly not the ONLY issue in the topic of homeless pets but it is a big one. There are many reasons not to spay or neuter your pet, but not any good ones! It is better for their health, they will be a more enjoyable pet, you will not "accidentally" incur extra mouths to feed, the list goes on. Stepping off my soapbox, I know this procedure can be expensive. If you or someone you know is postponing spaying or neutering their animal because they cannot afford it. There is a wonderful organization in Topeka called  Critter Care that helps owners who want to do the right thing but do not have the funds. They would be a great organization to donate to as well! 

  Finally, please spread the word to other pet owners that if they are having behavioral issues with their dogs, there are resources out there to help! Many dogs get surrendered to shelters  and the owners never attempted to address the issues for their surrender. Some don't have the time or patience, others truly don't realize that many behavioral issues can be altered, changed, or at the very least managed.I offer monthly training seminars on various training topics, 100% of the proceeds donated to Saving Death Row Dogs. I am also offering
 FREE POTTY TRAINING SEMINARS EVERY SATURDAY IN JANUARY!
So if you know someone who has recently acquired  new puppy, please tell them about this free service. Also, there are several options in Topeka for Training Classes including myself, Happy Training, Petsmart, Petco and Helping Hands Humane Society, surely one of us has a class that fits your scheduling needs!

  So just because you already own a dog, don't have very much time, don't have very much money, or perhaps all of the above, don't  tell yourself you cannot help! There are many many ways to help local animal charities that most people do not realize or simply overlook. These groups do a wonderful service to the community. It is exhaustive, hard work that many times ends in heartbreak so please support these LOCAL groups!

Here are some helpful links to the organizations that I mentioned this week:

SDRD- http://savingdeathrowdogs.com/

CAART -http://shawneecaart.org/

PANT- http://www.topekapant.org/

HHHS- http://www.hhhstopeka.org/home0.aspx

Critter Care- http://www.crittercareoftopeka.com/

Many dogs start to exhibit bad behaviors simply because they are bored. I cannot tell you how many times I have had an owner call me about behavioral issues, I tell them they have a breed that is known for its high energy/drive and they reply, "Well he gets PLENTY of exercise, I have a big yard, you know!" Unfortunately, there are at least three things wrong with this statement. 1. A backyard may be less static than the inside of your house but it will still be a little like running on a treadmill for your dog (B-O-R-I-N-G). How would you like to stare at the same 4 walls all day long? 2. Even if your dog is content to chase his shadow around all day in his yard (which is not likely), your dog is ONLY getting physical exercise and not mental stimulation. 3. Exercise and Mental stimulation should be used as an opportunity to strengthen your bond with your dog, so unless your out in that yard running around with him, it doesn’t count. Since weather does not always permit playing outside, I have compiled a list of Brain Games that will help challenge your dog mentally.
 Trying to physically wear them out is only half the job!

Fetch
I know, I know, you already know this one right? However, I have a couple of new thoughts on this old game that challenges your dog mentally AND allows them to practice their self control. First, make them do a command to get you to throw it. For instance, ask them to sit, then toss the toy for them to retrieve. Each time ask for a different command to keep them guessing! You can really challenge them by seeing if they can Stay while the object is thrown and wait for you to release them to run after it. When they bring it back mix it up with them again, sometimes ask them to drop it, sometimes play a little tug with them (but ONLY if you have a reliable drop it command), and sometimes just let them happily prance around with it for a few minutes while you pet them. This way they won't associate you reaching for them with something being taken away. Toss the item out of sight or in a hard to reach place and see if they can retrieve it.

The Muffin Man's
Best Friend
Have a muffin tin? Have some tennis balls? Have some treats? Then you can play this game with your dog! Take a muffin tin, let your dog see you place a treat in each cup, then place a tennis ball on top of each treat in the muffin tin. Set it down and let your dog figure out how to get the tennis balls out. You can mix this game up by either using balls that have different shapes or textures or by only putting treats in some of the cups so the dog has to figure out which cups contain a prize! Credit for this game goes to Julie at Dog Day Afternoon, thanks Julie!

Hide and Seek
This game is a great way to mentally challenge them, physically wear them out, AND practice their "Come When Called" command! This game is better played with more than one person unless your dog can successfully do a Stay while you are out of sight. Person 1 is in the kitchen and person 2 is in the bedroom. Person 1 calls the dog, when he gets to them, he gets a treat! Person 2 calls the dog, while the dog is going to the bedroom, Person 1 switches from the kitchen to the living room. When Person 1 calls the dog back to him, the dog will run right to the kitchen and be amazed you disappeared! He will then have to use his eyes, ears, and nose to locate you. They LOVE this game! Of course while he is finding Person 1, Person 2 is finding a new hiding spot. You can slowly do more and more difficult hiding spots (the shower? In the closet? Under the bed?!) but you want your dog to understand the game first so they do not get easily discouraged when they cannot find you.

Shell Game
Take 3 Solo cups, the disposable pots your plants came in, or even party favor boxes. Teach your dog to "target" the box for a treat. Targeting usually means the dog either puts his paw on the box or touches it with his nose. Once you have him targeting the object for the reward. Place 3 boxes out with only one containing a treat and let him figure out only targeting the box with the treat in it will get him rewarded! This game gets him using his nose!

Homemade Pupsicle
 Next time you buy your pup a new bone, submerge it in chicken broth and put it in the freezer. Once it is frozen let your dog enjoy figuring out how to get to his new treasure (I guarantee he will love every bite)! Be sure to put the pupsicle in a bowl, let them work on it in their crate or outside in case it starts to melt! I wouldn't want to be responsible for
 someone's carpet permanently smelling
 like chicken broth! :)

Find it
Get your dog to using his nose in a way that doesn't lead him to the kitchen trash (that he does on his own!). Start by tossing out treats where he can see them and saying "Find it". Once he has the hang of the game, let him see you place the treat out of sight and say "Find it". Slowly build his confidence in going after something he cannot see, then gradually make the hiding spots more difficult. Once you feel your dog has good search confidence and is certain there is something to be found when you say "Find it", start hiding treats when the dog is out of the room and see if he can sniff those treats out!
For more nose games like Find it and
 the Shell Game, consider taking one of my
Scent Classes!

Tricks of the Trade
 So you have gone through basic obedience and you know you need to keep your pup's mind sharp by practicing his commands but you are getting a little tired of the same ole same ole curriculum ( and so is your dog!). Teaching your dog tricks opens up an endless array of possibilities! Right now I am working with a brilliant little dog who shall remain anonymous :). In three days he has learned Naptime, Beg, Spin, Shake, and Paws up! He learns so quickly that the only way to keep him challenged are games like the ones listed or learning new tricks! There are great tricks on Youtube as well as great books out there, check out our Pinterest board "Books we LOVE" for the Trick book we recommend or our "You Tube Inspiration" board for great tricks to keep your dog challenged! Also, look for us to be hosting Trick classes in the future!

 

Word of Warning
 In doing some research for this blog entry, I did come across some ideas that I was NOT too keen on. Some games you might see online can encourage behaviors that you may not want to encourage. For instance, taking an empty cereal box , putting treats in it,  sealing it up, and letting your dog rip it apart is encouraging destructive behavior. Or taking an old sock, putting treats in it and tying the end off can encourage your dog to raid your laundry basket. I would even be careful about making homemade puzzle games out of empty plastic containers. You may not be able to keep your dog out of your recycling bin! P.S. these are all real life stories owners have personally told me! Instead think of games like the muffin tin game that asks your dog to manipulate objects that are not necessarily "off limits" like tennis balls. I also saw some ideas that could be dangerous to your dog (like putting peanut butter inside of an old toilet paper tube) I don't know about you guys but I am pretty sure my dog would eat peanut butter flavored cardboard. Not only is that encouraging bad behavior, it is also allowing them to eat something they shouldn't which can cause at minimum and upset stomach, at maximum a costly trip to the vet!

So do your dogs a favor and try out some of the games a listed above, and before you know it  they will be thanking you for the fun and you will be thanking them for less bad behavior!

  Nature or Nurture? There is no end in sight to this debate. Are our dog's personalities determined by genetics or their environment? I believe realistically it is a mixture of both, however, I would like to share a few personality types that are many times created by the owners actions. Many times I have jokingly heard the question, "How much of this is actually the dog and how much of it is the owner?". Usually its about 80% the owner and 20% the dog! Here are a few personality types that can hinder training, what causes them, and how to manage them.  They can be genetic but are often caused by the dog's environment.

  Does your dog go through your house looking for things to get into? When in a new situation does he do the same? When he finds a novel item, does he automatically assume it is his to do with what he pleases?
If you said yes to the questions above, your dog may have an Opportunistic personality!

What causes it? Some breeds are naturally more curious than others (Terriers, for instance), making them more prone to this personality. However, many times this personality is fueled by a puppy not getting enough supervision. We may think it is cute when our tiny puppy runs into the living room from the kitchen with an  empty pop bottle out of the trash and tosses it around, but it is learning how to be opportunistic. Not only is this puppy developing the habit to take any opportunity that its presented with to amuse itself, it will actually go looking for things to pass the time! That puppy isn't so cute when he finds your shoe in the closet and decides to toss it around and play with it, is he? Unfortunately by letting them play unsupervised and not seeing the harm in allowing him to find his own amusements, we are setting ourselves (and our dogs) up for harder times ahead. 
How do we manage it? When you get a new dog, whether it be a puppy or an adult rescue, they will be developing their own picture of the world for the first 1-2 years they are with you. It is SO important at this time to not allow them to be unsupervised or leave things out you wouldn't want them to get into. Once they have developed their picture of the world, you can become more relaxed with your vigilance because once a picture is developed, it is much harder to change!

 Does your dog insist on being first at everything? Does he push you out of the way to get out the door first? Do you feel like he sits "on" you and not "with you"? Does he seem to put his own wants and needs ahead of yours? If you answered yes to any of the previous questions, you may have a selfish dog!

What causes it? Once again, some breeds can be genetically predisposed to this personality type, usually breeds that are fast learners, highly intelligent, and like to be in control of the situation. However, owners can be just as guilty as genetics. Think about it, when we bring home that new bundle of fur, its so darn cute we would give it anything it could ever ask for, before it even asks for it! We leave food out for it to eat whenever it wants, we feed it treats "just because" and we abandon crate training and let it sleep in our bed because it is obviously "emotionally scarring" to be in that crate with all the horrible crying they do while they are in it! Wow, I wish someone treated me like we treat our brand new puppies! All of their hearts desires without asking anything in return! How do children turn out that have been treated this way? Selfish. So do our dogs!
How do we manage it? Don't get me wrong folks, my dogs are S-P-O-I-L-E-D, however, they are spoiled in the ways I choose, not in the ways they demand. For more on this topic check out another blog I wrote:  How to Spoil Your Dog. You can still give your dog MOST everything he wants (the neighbor's cat is OUT OF THE QUESTION, right?). Just make sure he does something to earn it. It can be as simple as requiring him to sit in order to get petted, or sit to get the leash put on, or sit politely so you will open the door for him, (get the pattern? :p).

 Does your dog seem to be very strong willed? Does he always seem to outlast you on matters where you disagree? Is he so determined to get what he wants in a certain situation that he will turn down motivators that usually work (like food)? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might have a Perseverant dog!
What causes it? Some breeds are more prone to perseverance, once again it depends on the job they were originally bred to do. However, I have seen many, many owners unfortunately foster this personality type within their training program. When we talk about getting rid of behaviors that we don't like, we call it extinguishing behaviors. We remove the reward, the behavior goes away. Sounds simple enough, right? Unfortunately, we often experience what is called an Extinction Burst. When a behavior has worked for a dog in the past,  once you remove the reward, it WILL try the behavior harder before giving up on it. Some owners mistake this reaction as a sign that their training methods are lacking, not necessarily! It may mean the dog is showing its frustration at not getting rewarded. Some owners decide to give in at this moment, fearing they are making the behavior worse. Unfortunately, if this is you, you just taught your dog what perseverence is! "If I tell you to stop doing something that you really want to do, just try a little bit harder and then I will give in."
How do we manage it? Make sure you are always patient and consistent with your pup. When you decide to give something new a try, stick with it long enough to make sure it isn't working before giving up on it. Otherwise you run the risk of letting them think they won!

  Does your dog seem to be more fearful than curious about new situations? Does he tend to be anti-social and hide behind you in new social settings? Does he seem to need your constant reassurance to cope with new situations? If you answered yes to any of these questions, than your dog might be a Scaredy "Cat" (pardon the pun!).
What causes it? Many of the smaller breeds lean towards this personality type naturally. It's a dog eat dog world out there and they might as well be wearing Milkbone Underwear with as small as they are! It's no wonder that without the proper socialization and support from their owners they become menaces to society that are only comfortable in their owners arms (hence the name, "Armpit Piranhas"). However, is it more than just their size that can cause this type of personality? Absolutely, I have seen dogs as big as German Shepherds relegated to a glorified puddle on the floor because their owners made a very easy mistake to make. As humans, we tend to want to comfort something that is scared or worried. Unfortunately, many times dogs are confused by our coddling. They do not understand the words we are saying, only the our body language and tone. Our body language and tone minus the words, sounds a LOT like praise! Many times , even though we are simply trying to make them feel better, we are accidentally encouraging and fostering the emotions they are feeling!
 How do we manage it? Most important: TONS of early socialization, especially for the toy breeds. Group training classes, play groups, doggie day care, whatever it takes. While doing the socialization, make sure you are doing all you can to encourage them to face unfamiliar situations instead of hide from them (read: do NOT pick them up and coddle them every time they are worried unless the situation is unsafe for them!). NOTE: make sure the places you take them to are SAFE and provide STRUCTURED socialization. Taking them to an off leash park where they may get picked on by another dog will only teach them not to trust your judgment.

 Does your dog seem to get an idea in his head and demand it? When he plays with other dogs, does he ignore if the other dog signals that they need a break from play? If you had a treat in your hand that your dog wanted would he try to intimidate you into giving it to him? This personality profile deserves a special note: the label "Bully" personality in no way refers to any of the specific breeds that are commonly referred to as Bully Breeds (i.e. Pit bull, bullmastiff, mastiff, etc.) rather, it is meant to refer to the type of bully your child may experience at school.
What causes it? Some breeds which were originally bred for guardian or protection work tend to take on this personality type quite easily ( if you had a guard dog, you would probably want him to demand things be his way, right?). However, this personality can easily be fostered by rewarding this type of behavior. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen the following scenario in one of my classes: Owner is holding a treat in its hand getting ready to ask the dog to do something, trainer comes over to explain something, dog gets impatient and wants the treat, dog shoves his nose into owners hand, owner (who is preoccupied with what the trainer is saying) gives treat to the dog. Dog just got rewarded for Pushy, Bully-like behavior!
How do we manage it? Be careful not to reward your dog in instances where he DEMANDS to get something. Even if it would make life a lot easier in the moment, realize that by rewarding that you are creating an entire personality that will need to be addressed eventually. Watch your dog when he is playing with other dogs (or children) make sure he honors requests to take a break, don't expect the other dog to take care of it.

 Does your dog constantly nag you for attention? Is it impossible for your dog to entertain themselves? Do they seem to constantly need reassurance or physical contact with you? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your dog might have a needy personality!
What causes it? Many breeds that were bred for a job that required them to work side by side with a human 24/7 are prone to this type of personality. A needy personality can quickly morph into a case of separation anxiety. For more on separation anxiety, check out my previous blog: Separation Anxiety: What is it, what causes it, and what to do about it. Unfortunately, we can be guilty of fostering a needy personality unbeknownst to us. When we first bring home our new bundle of fur, its hard NOT to take it everywhere with us. It is so cute and cuddly that it is with us nearly 24/7. Fast forward to a few weeks down the road, our puppy isn't quite so small anymore and it's ACTIVE. It becomes much harder for us to take it with us so we leave it at home. What we don't realize is that, while we may have spent the first few weeks religiously working on potty training, sit, and come when your called, we  have not spent much time at all on separation. Another scenario I see a lot in this category is this: Owner is sitting in class trying to pay attention, dog starts to whine, owner puts hand on dog to stop the behavior, behavior stops! But the behavior only stops because the dog got what he wanted, ATTENTION! This response is misleading because while the behavior stops in the moment, you have actually unknowingly made the behavior stronger!
How do we manage it? Start off on the right foot with your new puppy, even though it is hard to part from that cutie, spend as much time crate training as you do with his other areas of training. It will teach him how to be alone and how to entertain himself. Trust me, you will thank me later!

  While it is true that some dogs seem more prone to certain types of behavior, we can choose to manage and minimize that personality or foster and grow it, make sure you make the right decisions with your dog!

  It is never easy saying goodbye to our four legged friends. Unfortunately, we will probably say goodbye to several during our time here on Earth. Whether it be from old age, illness or tragic accident, most of us have experienced the grief and sense of loss that losing a pet can bring. As a trainer who works with many pets, as well as a short time working at a Vet's office in college, I have been a part of many goodbyes and have a few tips I would like to share with anyone who may be going through this difficult time. Nothing is going to make it easier, but I hope these tips can help get you through.

   I know this may be difficult to hear, but most owners are  not ready to get a new dog immediately.  It has been my experience that owners need at least a few weeks to say goodbye and begin to grieve the loss of their pet before getting a replacement. The loneliness of your household may be difficult to bear but it is better to allow yourself time to grieve. A dog should NEVER be an impulse buy, even if you have the best of intentions.

   If you have a multi-dog household, it is best to be prepared for some behavior changes from your other dogs as a result of your loss. Not only are dogs emotionally attached to each other, they have a very complex social hierarchy that may be thrown a curveball by removing a piece of it. Especially if the dog that passed away was a leader to your other dogs. If the surviving dog has been a follower much of its life, than it will definitely need some time to adjust. You may even see some behavioral issues crop up that might completely surprise you. Chances are, the surviving dog was a follower because that's his natural personality. If the dog who passed away was his leader, he may be feeling like he has been put in charge of something he isn't capable of handling and that may lead him to over-react to situations that never bothered him before (he wasn't bothered before because he wasn't the dog in charge).

  When the time is right to get another dog, please consider adoption. First, decide what breeds you are interested in. Even if you get a mix breed, you should consider how both breeds would get along with your household and routine. Do you want the same kind of dog as you had? Or something different? Even if you have a certain breed in mind, there are breed rescues all over the country that would allow you to get the breed of dog you are interested in and still provide a life for a homeless animal. Not only are you giving the dog you adopt a second chance by adopting, you are making more room at that shelter/rescue for them to be able to take another dog in. That has the possibility of saving two lives!

  This is so important! No two dogs will EVER be the same. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard, "Well we have had (insert any breed here)'s all our life and NONE of them have been like this!" Every dog is an individual, while it is true that certain breeds CAN have similar personalities, it is not guaranteed. So if you decide to get the same breed, don't expect it to be "just like the last one". Also, many times when our dogs leave us, they are in the later stages of life and fit perfectly into our household and routines. It is pretty hard not to look back on our memories of our last dog with rose colored glasses, forgetting all the times they created extra work for us in the beginning. Getting a new dog is going to be A LOT of work, but it will all be worth it!

 Will Rogers once said "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." Thankfully we do not have to make that decision because Revelation 5:13 assures us that our wonderful wet nosed friends we have said goodbye to over the years are waiting for us in Heaven! I make it no secret that I believe in God and would like to share a scripture that has helped me say goodbye.  And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!" Revelation 5:13 
If I may, I would also like to share how I came to know this particular scripture because I think it’s a pretty amazing story. My mom, dad, aunt and uncle were visiting family friends in California. These friends live on a large ranch where they run cattle, have horses and dogs. My family was discussing our mutual love of animals when my Aunt Carmen voiced her concern about what happens to our animals after they pass away. Our family friends then gave her the scripture above and my Aunt has never forgotten it. The crazy thing about it is, a year or so later, my Grandparents decided to pay the same friends a visit. While they were there, my Aunt Carmen got a message on her machine from my Grandma asking her for the scripture. My Aunt was puzzled because she knew my Grandmother was visiting the very people that gave it to her in the first place, why wouldn't my grandmother ask them? As it turns out, neither our friends nor my parents (who were also there) have any recollection of this scripture being shared among them during that initial visit. My aunt and uncle are the only ones who remember! God works in mysterious ways...

  Nothing can make the process of losing your best friend go by faster. For me, the process never ends, from time to time I still tear up about some of the dogs I have said goodbye to over the years (Pepper the Corgi, Bronson the German Shepherd, and Stitch the Border Collie). However, it is my hope that my experience with saying goodbye and the tips I have given you can help in some way.

Over the next few months, I will be recruiting guest blog writers to cover other areas of the dog world. I hope to get owners, veterinarians, groomers, day care workers, rescue volunteers etc. to give me their perspective. My first guest writer, Taryn Temple, adopted a dog from the Ottawa Shelter a little over 2 years ago, named her Trinity, and promptly enrolled her in one of my group classes. I recently asked Taryn to write a short note about her experience going through training and getting to know each other better after adopting. Below is her perspective:

One of the most valuable decisions I made as a new dog owner was to start a basic obedience class less than a week after I brought my pup home. It wasn’t so much the tricks we learned (although Trinity sits so prettily now, and she’s adorable when she bows). What we learned in class was communication. She realized that the signals I made and the words I said had meaning. Also, I learned to read her body language so I could tell when she understood what I was asking her to do or when she was completely confused. Thus, from our first weeks together, we opened up lines of communication that we still use today. Instead of remaining two separate species with no idea how to “speak” to one another, we found a language of simple words and body signals we could both understand. 

The class we took used positive reinforcement to reward behaviors. I strongly and emphatically recommend this kind of training method! I never felt like I was punishing Trinity or making her afraid of me. She came to me as a shy rescue dog and I never betrayed her trust by yelling at her, hurting her, or “punishing” bad behavior. Not using punishment didn’t mean Trinity got away with everything or ran rampant through the house. We learned a strong “no” signal to indicate unwanted behavior. However, when Trinity changed the unwanted behavior into something acceptable, she received a reward for that choice.

The constant praise and treats brought Trinity slowly out of her shell. She started her first class terrified of men, but after a few months of positive reinforcement work her confidence grew so much that she would take treats out of the hands of clerks and male customers in pet stores. Not only that, but she became what I would call a “creative” dog. When we started learning a new signal she would show me all kinds of old and new behaviors (some helpful, some less so) in hopes that one of them would be the one I was asking for and would get her the reward. Even now when I get out the treats, Trinity runs the gamut of her tricks before I even ask her—it makes me giggle every time!

The process was not all rainbows and sunshine. The very first command was sit, and Trinity could not figure out what on earth I was asking her to do. I remember coming to my trainer in tears, certain that we would fail our first class. Thankfully I had a trainer that was willing to give us some extra time and try new methods to lead Trinity into the behavior. Finally Trinity understood what I wanted her to do and, voilá, a sit on command! Also, daily practice was necessary, which was difficult with my busy schedule. One week Trinity would know a command perfectly, the next it would be like I had never taught her at all. Plus sometimes she would do a trick at home, but then be so distracted in class she wouldn’t remember it. Still, the improvement in both of us from week to week was exciting to see. Despite occasional setbacks Trinity and I both enjoyed the mental stimulation and challenges of class.

I can say without a doubt that taking classes with my dog has enriched our lives together exponentially. Plus now I have a fantastic resource because my trainer is someone I can go to with questions if problems crop up in the future. Trinity and I can’t wait to take an agility class together soon and keep learning and having fun together! If you have a dog or will be getting a dog soon, enroll in a class together. You won’t regret it!

One of the most common answers you will hear me give dog owners is, "It depends". Of course this is usually followed by a lengthy explanation as to WHY and WHAT "it depends" on but unfortunately there are no set in stone answers with dog training. A method that works with one dog, may not work with another, a method that works with one behavior may not work for another behavior (with the same dog!), heck, a method may work with a behavior and then suddenly stop working because the dog has figured out how to make it work for them! Many owners will ask, " Is my dog really smart enough to figure that out?" Absolutely! That is why we must always be aware of the strategies we are using with our dogs and realizing when our program needs to be changed or modified to continue to see progress. Below are some of the most common scenarios where we may need to make a change in our training.

Unwanted behaviors- When we first begin addressing Unwanted behaviors such as barking, jumping or play biting, our first obstacle is teaching the puppy what behaviors we like and dislike. We do this in a series of 3 steps: 1. Address the Unwanted behavior, 2. Teach a better behavior to replace it, and 3. Reward the Good behavior. We are literally telling our puppies, "Don't do that, do this, I like it better". This works VERY well for the first few weeks of training. Once your pup has figured out what you like and what you don't, we should change our strategy a bit. Our method needs to be adjusted for two reasons: dogs are good at manipulating a situation to their advantage and humans tend to "grease the squeaky wheel". Once your puppy knows what behaviors you like and which you don't, you should then focus on catching your puppy BEFORE they exhibit the unwanted behavior. Otherwise, you run the risk of your puppy learning that the bad behavior is a necessary part of the sequence. For example, let's say you have been working VERY diligently on not allowing your puppy to jump up on you for attention. Every time he does jump, you address the bad behavior, give him a better behavior (sit) and reward him with your attention when he sits. Now imagine your puppy coming up to you while you are on the computer. He sits politely, proud how good he is being! Unfortunately, you fail to notice because you are engrossed in the glow of your computer screen. Frustrated and annoyed that his "correct" behavior didn't work, your puppy jumps in the middle of your work. You yell "No!" and then ask him to "Sit". Once he sits, you give him a pat on the head and say "Good, dog". Uh-oh! You just taught your pup that the bad behavior is necessary in order to get rewarded for the good behavior. He says to himself: "It doesn’t work if I simply choose to be good, I must be bad, then be good, to get rewarded".

Same behavior, different motive?- The reason behind our dog's behavior is the key to addressing it. Another area dog owners tend to get confused on is when the (seemingly)same behavior needs to be addressed two different ways based on the situation. Excessive barking is a perfect example of this. Sometimes dogs choose to bark at external stimuli (i.e. a squirrel), if this is the case, usually my advice is the three steps above, address the behavior (negative word), ask for a better behavior (in this case a "Watch me" command works great), then reward for the good behavior. However, there is another type of excessive barking called "Attention seeking" and it should be handled quite differently. If your dog  tends to stand and bark at you so you will pay attention to them they are attention seekers. In this particular case, a Watch me command would be a poor choice, it gives them exactly what they want, our attention. In this instance, it is actually better to ignore the barking ( I know that is difficult!) and try to focus on giving them attention when they are sitting quietly. So even though it seems to be the same behavior (barking) the motive behind the behavior may alter how we address it (Watch Me command vs. Ignoring the barking)

Perfect Puppy Syndrome- When puppies are weaned from their mother and placed in their new homes, they tend to be pretty dependant on their owners at first. At this young age, they rarely leave our side and may not even exhibit any unwanted behaviors. Many naïve dog owners think they have happened upon the perfect puppy! Unfortunately, this isn't usually the case. As the puppy gets older, it will become more sure of itself and is likely to start exhibiting unwanted behaviors much to the chagrin of their owner. When I teach a class, I always forewarn my puppy parents that most puppies do not reach their peak of independence until around 7 months old. Until this time (and even beyond this age) owners should not be at all surprised at new behaviors cropping up seemingly out of nowhere. In one of my puppy classes, I had an owner who failed to listen to my speech about how to address excessive barking because, in her words, her dog did not know how to bark. Well about half way through the class she took me aside frantically asking my advice on how to stop her puppy's new habit…barking! Her training program did not initially include a chapter on barking but as her puppy evolved, so did her training program!

Auto Pilot Dogs- When training your dog, another aspect that dog owners need to be aware of is the importance of varying OUR behavior during training exercises to make certain that our dog is learning concepts and developing habits, not just picking up on patterns that won't be a part of real life scenarios. For example, one exercise my clients do in class is set out a variety of items on the ground, walk past the items, and instruct the dog to either take the item or leave the item alone. I stress the importance of varying the exercise in a few different ways: vary which items are leave its (do not always make the toys "leave its" and the treats "take it" or they will eventually ignore the toys and scoop up all the treats), vary what order you put the items (if you walk past the items and always say "leave", "leave", "take" they will begin running past the first two items and taking the last before you are able to say anything), finally, vary what types of items you use (toys, treats, shoes, tissues, sticks,etc.). If you do not vary your behavior in the exercise, your dog will simply be learning the pattern of this "game" and not be listening to your commands. When you attempt to use the command in real life scenarios, they will not have the rules of the "game" to fall back on and will likely fail. Just be sure that no matter what command you are practicing, that you have varied YOUR behavior enough that they are learning the concept well enough to be able to apply it to any situation Otherwise you have a dog who is on auto pilot and not really listening and responding to commands but figuring out patterns.

Same breed, same personality?- I hear this one A LOT! "I just don't understand! The last dog we had was a (insert any breed here) and we NEVER had these issues with them. What's wrong with this dog?!" While it is true that most breeds have been selectively bred for certain personality characteristics, every dog is individual. I have one client who brings EVERY new dog she gets through my classes (even though she herself has been through the class several times already) and swears she learns something new every time. This actually is not surprising, there are certain underlying themes to dog training but understanding each dog is an individual experience. One of my biggest pet peeves (no pun intended!) is when a dog trainer has only one answer for an owner and if that doesn’t work, the dog is "defective" or "un-trainable". If one method does not work, you need to find a fresh way to look at the problem, even if your original method worked for your last (insert any breed here).

Because dog training is an activity that involves another living,breathing,thinking, and learning animal: As soon as you think you have it figured out, think again! I have been working with dogs for over 20 years and I still learn new things from every new dog that walks into one of my lessons. A good dog trainer (or dog owner) is constantly evolving their training regimen to accommodate how your training partner (your pup!) has changed or evolved.   

Due to the Holidays fast approaching, these will be the
LAST CLASSES UNTIL 2013!
So if your New Year's Resolution is a better behaved best friend why not get started early?

Puppy/Rookie
WEDNESDAY EVENING CLASSES 6-7 P.M.
Starting: November 7th
Will Meet the Following Wednesdays:
11/7
11/14
11/28
12/5
12/12
12/19
1/2
SATURDAY CLASSES 10-11 A.M.
Starting: December 1st
Will Meet the Following Saturdays:
12/1
12/8
12/15
12/22
1/5
1/12
1/19

Intermediate
SATURDAY CLASSES 11:30 A.M.-12:30 P.M. 
Starting: December 8th
 Will Meet the Following Saturdays:
12/8
12/12
12/22
1/5
1/12
1/19

Visit my Services page to enroll in a class!