Puzzle Me, Please

In the world of dog toys, there are literally thousands to choose from.  Plush, rubber, rope, firehose, rawhide, hooves, (and other less classy animal body parts!) . . . and the list goes on.  It can be a little overwhelming to think about narrowing it down to the type of toy that will provide the most benefit for your dog.

The toy with the most benefit is not always the same thing as the toy with the most fun.  My dog has TONS of fun with plush toys . . . and by TONS, I mean about 30 seconds no matter what the starting size of the toy.  But this brief and frenzied shredding of toy guts is not providing my crazy pup with any longer lasting benefits, such as the relaxation that comes after the stimulation of a mental challenge.  Like my pup Roo, many dogs thrive most with play that gives them an outlet for both their mental and physical energy.  (If you do want to consider a squeaky toy of some sort for your dog, here is a great resource on selecting an appropriate squeaky toy for your dog’s needs.)

For toys that provide both a mental and physical energy outlet, my favorite category of toys is food puzzles!  These toys provide an outlet for both parts of your dog that need attention - for the physical side, chasing a food puzzle around the floor is a great indoor outlet; for the mental component, figuring out how to get the food reward hidden or stuck inside the puzzle is much more challenging than ripping up a flimsy plush toy!

A few of my pup's favorite types of food puzzles! Kong Classics, Kong Wobbler, Orbee Snoop, and Trixie Puzzle Boxes.

Our go-to favorite is (and might always be) the Kong Classics. Coming in multiple sizes, rubber strengths, and shape variations, these toys are great for stuffing and very portable.  Our favorite way to use them is mixing peanut butter and yogurt and placing the freezer for a few hours.  This creates a cool treat that takes a while to work out!  The Kong Wobbler is another favorite - Roo gets at least one of his meals each day in this toy, and has to push it around (I put it in his crate to keep the crumbs contained) to get the kibble to fall out.  I highly recommend this version for dogs that are hyperactive around meal times!

One of the recent additions to our favorites list is the Orbee Snoop made by Planet Dog.  This soft rubber toy is also great for feeding kibble or small treats.  Roo knocks his around the house and enjoys this variation on his Kong Wobbler meal.  

For supervised play (I recommend supervising your dog whenever you introduce a new toy, but the following toys should involve a little extra oversight), puzzle boxes are a great way to mix it up for your dog!  These challenges involve pulling, pushing, knocking, and otherwise navigating a toy to get individual pieces (or jackpots here and there) out of the toy.  There are a lot of different types of these games.   A client recently gave me two Trixie Activity Boxes, so Roo got to give something new a try!  Here is his first introduction on video.  He loved the challenge!

Roo got to try out a Trixie Poker Box Food Puzzle for the first time this past week! Here are the highlights!

Whatever type of food puzzle you choose, introduce it to your dog in a way that makes their first attempt at the toy very reinforcing so they are excited to keep playing with it!  And if your dog doesn't like a particular type of puzzle, there are lots of different ones to try.  The most important thing to consider is what gives your dog the most benefit on top of some fun!

Happy puzzling! 

Check out Puzzle Me, Please Part 2 & Part 3 for more food puzzle recommendations!

Grumpy Growlers Class Wrap-Up

In December, we graduated two groups of dogs from our Grumpy Growlers Level 1 class - 11 dogs, labeled reactive or otherwise socially-challenged around other dogs, working together to have positive, intentional interactions in a controlled environment.    

The class environment is set up for a maximum of 6 dogs, and each dog has their own area divided by visual barriers to set them up for success.

Each dog came into the class with their own unique challenges - various triggers, different thresholds, and default level of reactions ranging from soft to loud.  Our first goal in the class was to make every dog as comfortable and relaxed as possible, so that they could have the best environment to learn and start to build positive associations between the presence of their triggers and good things happening.

Kipper focuses on his mom while practicing leash walking in the middle of the room.

Our second goal with this class, after they are feeling comfortable and starting to build up positive associations with the presence of other dogs, was to work on teaching the dogs positive behaviors to do (check in with their guardian, displacement sniffing, emergency u-turns, etc.) instead of the negative reactions (growling, lunging, barking, etc.), and to set up practice scenarios to put it all together.  Each dog and owner accomplished these goals so well, and it was exciting to see their progress.  Here are some pictures from Week 5 of the first class section, and there is a video from Week 6 of the second class section below!  

Amy Creaven of Trust Your Dog Training was the head trainer for this class, assisted by myself (SDT HT Amber) and SDT HT Charissa.  This was my first experience working with reactive dogs in a group setting, and I think I'm hooked.  Seeing the dogs and their guardians be so successful and having fun together (in a public setting - a novelty for many reactive dogs!) was my favorite part. 

Do you have a grumpy growler?  We have another class starting January 5th, 2017!  Click here for details!

Our second class rocks week 6!

Greeley Dogs, Fun Adventures Coming Your Way!

Bentley's Pet Stuff has invited us to hold classes at their Greeley store starting in January!  SDT Head Trainer Charissa will be heading up this project, and we are so excited to be able to offer a fun and positive training outlet to our dog friends in Greeley!

We are starting out with Puppy Basics and Family Dog foundation courses.  You can see full class descriptions and details here.  And we have been brainstorming about what could be on the agenda next, so stay tuned for more fun classes coming up!

In the mean time, if you know a Greeley dog that might enjoy a foundation class, send them our way!  Charissa is also offering private lessons in Greeley and surrounding areas as well, so if your dog might need a more customized training plan, we can help you with that too!  

See you in Greeley soon!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year . . . With a Well-Behaved Dog

The holidays are here!  Lots of fun and family and good food will be taking place over the next month, and everything is all hustle and bustle and cheer . . .

Until the dog counter-surfs and runs helter-skelter through the house with the pristine turkey and in-laws and cousins and aunts and uncles all join into a high-speed chase that jostles the perfectly-set table already brimming with food (sparkling cider splashes everywhere!), wakes up the baby (and the next-door neighbor's visiting grandmother), tips over the newly-decorated Christmas tree, sprains little Johnny's ankle (holiday ER trips are part of the family traditions, right?), and otherwise completely decimates the perfect Hallmark moment you had going.

That picture might be a little extreme, but you get the idea: your pup has the potential to either be a Christmas-card worthy gem or a complete moment-wrecker.  But with a little preparation, we can help our dogs keep towards the positive side of that scale!  Here are a few tips for a well-behaved dog this holiday season:

1. Prepare to give your dog plenty of exercise BEFORE the festivities begin.  Thanksgiving morning is a great time to get outside with your dog, even for just 20 minutes, before the relatives arrive!  If you can't do this, delegate: maybe one of your visiting nieces or nephews would be willing to spend 10 minutes playing ball with the dog in the backyard while dinner is cooking!  The more you keep your pup's mind and energy engaged in constructive outlets, the better behaved they will be!  We have holiday drop-in classes specifically for this reason!
    
2. Invest in some constructive activities for your dog, like food puzzles!  Some of our favorites are Kong (classic Kongs can be stuffed with peanut butter and yogurt and frozen ahead of time so they take longer to enjoy; Kong wobblers are a great way to give your dog their meals AND give them some extra brain activity too!), Orbee Snoop (another fun and interactive way to give your dog their meal!), and food mazes like these from Outward Hound.  Giving your pup something to do before they find a less constructive way to get their energy out is key!
    
3. Give your dog their own space and some structured quiet time throughout the festivities.  Lots of people, food smells, and other chaos can be overwhelming to your dog!  Giving them some chill time on their favorite mat or in their crate might be just what they need.
    
4. If you can foresee a situation where your dog is not going to be successful at doing the right thing, manage that situation to set your dog up for success.  If your dog is an excited greeter at the door, put them safely away in another room or crate before your relatives arrive.  The holiday rush isn't the time to start teaching a better greeting method!  If your dog is a habitual counter-surfer, make sure to manage their access to areas where food is being prepared or stored.  Dogs are opportunistic, and even if you have been making training progress, the holiday feast isn't where you want to put those skills to the ultimate test.  Use baby gates or other management tools to set your dog up for success!  If you have time to train a little bit here and there, reward your dog for settling on their bed just outside of the hub of activity.  Toss a treat (or a sample of turkey if you are feeling really generous!) every few minutes to reward your dog for having self-control in the face of all of that temptation! 
    
5. Remember that your dog is a dog!  It won't be perfect, just like your kid or your various relatives might get on your nerves on occasion!  But setting your pup up for success is the best way to get through the chaos in a positive, constructive way.

Another holiday tip: brush up on your knowledge of foods and plants that can be toxic to your pup!  The ASPCA Poison Control Center is a great resource!

Holiday Drop-Ins

Happy November!  It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is barely 3 weeks away!  With the busy holiday season rapidly approaching, it's important to keep your dog's brain and energy engaged in a positive direction.  That way, your pup can be on his best behavior when the in-laws come to visit and you have one less thing to worry about!  

Don't have the time to commit to one of our 6 week classes?  No problem!  Come take advantage of one of our four holiday drop in classes:

Family Dog - This one hour class focuses on good behavior in the home and getting ready to get out in the community for your dog or older puppy!  You and your dog will learn specific skills like sit, down, stay, come, loose leash walking, greeting people and dogs calmly, and more!  For dogs and puppies over 6 months of age.  Class dates are Thursdays, November 17, December 1, December 8, and December 15 at 10:30am.  Click here to register.

Leave It! & Park It! Games -  Come practice your dog's recall, leave it, and settle skills in an hour of fun and good practice for your dog!  What better way to burn off some puppy energy before your holiday party than with this hour-long class!  No prerequisites - great for dogs over 6 months of age.  Class dates are Wednesdays, December 7 and 14 at 5:30pm.  Click here to register.

Fun/Foundation Agility -  Are you and your dog interested in getting started in the fun dog sport of Agility?  This hour-long drop-in class is a great way to give it a try - and to give your dog a fun activity during the busy holiday season!  Prerequisites:  Dogs must have basic skills such as heel, sit, down, stay, and come.  Class dates are Mondays, December 12 and 19 at 6:45pm.  Click here to register.  NOTE: Must have a minimum of 4 students registered to hold these drop-ins.

Rally -  During the holiday season, come in for an hour and learn new skills with your dog!  This class is more than just practice time, and your instructor will be teaching a different Rally lesson each week.  Great for new or more experienced students.  Preregistration is REQUIRED so that the instructor can design an appropriate lesson/course for all participants!  Class dates are Mondays, November 28, December 5, and December 12 at 5:30pm.  Click here to register.  

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us!  Or if you are interested in starting off the New Year on the right paw, check out our January schedule.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

Harnesses are the New SEXY

This just in: trend-setting pit bulls everywhere have declared 2017 to be the "Year of the Harness".

Forget those metal collars that any-ole-dog can wear; the four-pawed fashion-conscious have determined that if one wants to be truly IN this year, then one must be sporting a jazzy harness.  And if you can pull it off with a bow tie, even better.   

Photo credit: Jasmine Beabien.  Used with permission.  All rights reserved.

Harnesses come in all styles and colors.  The four-legged fashion experts interviewed for this fashion extra raved about the Freedom Harness from 2 Hounds Design.  Their favorite feature? The variety of colors allowed them to pair the harness with their favorite flat collars, providing endless outfit combinations in order to best coordinate with their fashionable hoo-man counterparts.  

Photo credit: Jasmine Beaubien.  Used with permission.  All rights reserved.

Photo credit: Jasmine Beaubien.  Used with permission.  All rights reserved.

When asked whether harnesses diminished their "tough guy" images (traditionally promoted in the pit bull demographic by metal prong and choke collars), our fashion trend-setters practically laughed in our faces (with an excessive amount of happy tongue and drool).  

"We're lovers, not fighters," one bully pup quipped.  "Personally, I love that this harness allows me to look both tough and sexy - I mean, just look at how this shows off my pecs! - and like I know how to turn on the charm when the moment is right."  

Photo credit: Jasmine Beaubien.  Used with permission.  All rights reserved.

Of course, there are pitties who prefer other types of harnesses too.  Look how these PetSAFE Easy Walk harnesses show off the muscles, brawn, and sweet, sweet faces of these sexy beasts!  

Easy Walk Photos credit: Jordan Flagg.  Used with permission.  All rights reserved.

And there are lots of other reasons to love the front-clipping harnesses besides their good looks! We wrote all about that here and here.  

Is your four-pawed trend-setter ready to toss out the metal collars and don a sexy harness? We have a great chance for your pup to get their paws on the latest fashion, this Saturday, October 22nd at Pits on the Plaza in Loveland, Colorado!  Our Freedom Harness Exchange at this event allows you to trade in the outdated fashion (prong, choke, and electronic collars) for a modern tool that is effective AND sexy - the Freedom Harness!  

Is your sexy pup already sporting a trendy harness?  We want to see your pictures and bring more awareness to keep this fashion trend growing!  Find us on Instagram: @summitdogtraining & @harnessesarethenewsexy. Tag us in your pictures and use #harnessesarethenewsexy for a chance to be featured!

Thank-you to the following people and businesses who have made this movement possible so far:

Pits on the Plaza Event
Celebrating National Pit Bull Awareness Month!
Organizer: Jordan Flagg

Pit Bulls & Pin-Ups Photo Shoot
(Calendars will be available for purchase at Pits on the Plaza!)
Photography: Jasmine Beaubien
Costume Design: Charissa Beaubien
Hair & Makeup: Sam Smith & Jacque Buyck of The Parlour in Fort Collins
Human Models: Jordan, Charissa, Emma, Sydney, Kristen & Kristal
Pittie Models: Dogs available for adoption at the Humane Society of Weld County 
(Since the shoot some have been adopted! See the PitBulls & Pin-Ups calendar for more of their stories!)

Freedom Harness Exchange Sponsors
2 Hounds Design
Big Bully Sponsors: Bentley's Pet Stuff, Alpine Veterinary Hospital, Summit Dog Training,
Michael Everest & Susan Everest
Pocket PitBull Sponsors: Tailwaggers of Greeley

3 Steps to a Better Leash Walk

We’ve all been there – dog pulling us helter-skelter down the street, or stopping to sniff at every tree and bush.  Either way, uncomfortable and frustrating – for you and your dog!  Teaching polite leash walking skills is one of my favorite things to do, which is why we have a four-week class devoted to everything leash walking!  But even if you don’t have time to take a class, there are a few key things you could be doing at home to start creating a more peaceful walk for you and your dog!

1.     Check your equipment.

Sometimes a slight change of equipment can give you the extra energy you need to keep your dog checking in with you instead of charging through the environment.  For many dogs, we recommend a front-clip harness like the Freedom Harness by 2 Hounds Design (our favorite, and the only one we carry at our training facility), Easy Walk, Sense-Ation, and a few others.  For very determined pullers, a head halter (brands like PetSAFE’s Gentle Leader, Holt, etc.) is a great way to get started.  These tools serve to “take the edge off” of your dog’s pulling in a pain-free way so that you have enough energy to focus on rewarding them for the good leash walking behavior you want!  As for leashes, we recommend a 6 foot or shorter leash for the best walking experience.  Did you know that flexi-leads actually encourage pulling? 

2.     Charge up foundation behaviors inside first!

Before heading out on your walk, spend 2 minutes charging your dog’s focus behaviors on the inside of the door.  Say their name and reward with a treat when they turn their attention to you.  Repeat until your dog is defaulting to looking up to you after every reward!  Now take it outside.  In the front yard, again cue your dog’s name and wait for their correct response.  Reward (and put some extra excitement into it as well if your dog is prone to being very distracted!) and repeat.  Now that your dog’s name cue is charged up and ready to go, proceed on your walk, cueing their name and rewarding for good attention every so often.  Don’t forget to take your dog’s favorite treat with you on your walk to reward for extra great responses!

3.     Use your environment as the reward!

Do you have a dog that loves to sniff the grass, or chase squirrels up trees?  You can use these things as very powerful reinforcement for good focus behavior on walks.  Find the distraction you want to reward with (maybe your dog lets you know, “Hey, I would really, really like to go check out that mailbox over there!!!”), cue your dog to give a good behavior (like their name cue, or another self-control cue that they know REALLY well.  This isn’t the time to be teaching a new behavior.), then release your dog with a clear release word (“OK!”) and take them over to the distraction they were so eager to reach.  The chance to do their favorite activity just reinforced their good self-control behavior!  

We hope that you and your dog are able to put some of these tips into practice to increase your enjoyment of your walks together!  If you want to learn more tools for changing your walk from chaotic to peaceful, we have a class just for that!  Loose Leash Walking & Distraction Proofing starts up monthly or bi-monthly depending on interest.  The next one starts Thursday, October 27th at 7:00pm.  Details and registration info can be found here.

Freedom Harness Exchange @ Pits on the Plaza!

October is National Pit Bull Awareness Month, designated as such to highlight the positive stories, sweet faces, and sloppy kisses of this well-loved (but often misunderstood) demographic of the dog world.  To celebrate this occasion, and to raise awareness and camaraderie for pit bulls in the Northern Colorado area, Humane Society of Weld County volunteer Jordan Flagg is organizing Pits on the Plaza, to be held on October 22nd at Centerra in Loveland.  This event will feature training demos, fall fun for the pups like bobbing for hot dogs, and various vendors and educational displays.     

Carmelo is a natural model!  He has his own Instagram page (check it out here) and he's available for adoption through the Humane Society of Weld County!

One of the ways that Summit Dog Training is contributing to this event is through a Freedom Harness Exchange, where dog owners can surrender their prong, choke or electronic collars in exchange for a brand new Freedom No-Pull Harness. We believe that all dogs deserve a chance to walk without the threat of pain, regardless of breed, size, temperament, and past history.  At this event celebrating pit bulls, we are excited about the opportunity to get a positive, effective training tool like the Freedom Harness into the paws of the dogs who need it the most. 

Why Not Use Prong/Choke/Electronic Collars?

Although these tools might seem like a “quick fix” for some of your dog’s leash behavior issues, there are many reasons to find a different training alternative:

·      A dog walking “nicely” on an aversive training tool is only doing so to avoid punishment and pain, not because it is learning what you WANT it to do on a leash.  When you take this aversive tool away, the underlying behavior will still be an issue.

·      When your dog gets excited and pulls towards normal stimuli in your environment (think stranger, children, other dogs, skateboards, etc.) and then experiences pain, this can contribute to an association between that trigger and pain and build up a negative Conditioned Emotional Response to the trigger, potentially turning excitement into reactivity. 

·      Even when used “correctly,” prong and choke collars can cause physical damage to your dog, not just to their neck and skin, but also, less obviously, to their thyroid gland, trachea, eyes, and spinal cord.

·      There is no scientific research to support the claim that prong collars emulate the feeling (and results) of a mother grabbing a young pup around the neck in correction.  Additionally, there is plenty of scientific research to support training without the use of pain!  

Why Use a Freedom Harness (or Other Body Harness)?

The Freedom Harness is a dual-clip harness, with one leash connection at your dog’s chest and one martingale-style leash connection on your dog’s back.  Made with stainless steel hardware and four points of size adjustments for the best look and fit!  Other body harnesses that we recommend include PetSafe’s Easy Walk and Softouch Concepts’ SENSE-ation.

·      A harness minimizes strain on your dog’s neck (which protects your dog’s spine, trachea, thyroid gland, eyes, etc.)

·      A front-clip harness is useful for redirecting your dog’s pulling energy back in your direction so you can focus on teaching your dog the behavior you WANT while you are walking. 

·      A dual-clip harness (like the Freedom Harness) provides flexibility of use, so you can clip your leash in multiple configurations depending on what your dog needs most!

·      A harness is comfortable and, when used correctly, should not cause any skin irritation or sores.  The Freedom Harness even has a velvet underbelly strap for maximum comfort!

·      Harnesses are Sexy.  Step aside old-school prong collars, in 2016 all tough dogs are demanding harnesses to bolster their street cred. 

Ask Us!

This post is not about judging or condemning you if you have used an aversive tool in the past, or currently use one with your dog.  We just care about getting the word about regarding other options available for walking tools, which is why we are so excited about the Harness Exchange at the Pits on the Plaza event!  If you have more questions about this topic, please feel free to contact us and we’d love to discuss it with you further.

In the mean time, let’s get the word out about this event! 

·      If you have a pit bull, come check out Pits on the Plaza on October 22nd at Centerra in Loveland!  Share with your friends, tell the neighbors!  

·      If you have been using a prong, choke, or electronic collar and might be interested in giving something different a try, bring your old tool to the event and get your pup fitted for a sexy harness for FREE! 

And this event isn’t just for pit bulls either . . . all types of dogs could use some harness love!

Origins: Charissa

Written by Summit Dog Training Associate Trainer Charissa Beaubien

I grew up in the mountains of Salida, Colorado on my family’s farm with horses, chickens, cows, dogs, and cats. My best friend was a hybrid dog named Raydar. Raydar and I spent our childhood adventuring and exploring the Rockies together.

Charissa & Raydar playing dress up.

I think back on my childhood and realize that there were always dogs around; when I had Raydar, we also had four other dogs. I learned a lot about dog communication by watching our five (or more) dogs interact and figure out life together. We never owned leashes or groomed our dogs, the dogs slept inside and ate scraps mixed with what ever else was laying around. Our dogs were treated very well and all lived full long lives but they were always just dogs. They spent most of their day outside laying in the sun or protecting the cows, they also went on adventures when we would go hunting or out to chop wood. In town they followed us around the streets saying hello to other dogs or slept in the truck if we just had to run errands. I remember thinking it was weird that people didn’t take their dogs everywhere with them.

Left to Right: Chance, Honey, Raydar & Annie

I moved to Ohio during my teen years, and there began working professionally with animals in 2009 at a local humane society and soon discovered a passion for helping those in need. I remember this time in my life vividly as I started working at the shelter and soon discovered people treated their animals very differently then I had as a child. They would surrender their old dogs because they just purchased a new puppy. Or people would hurt and abuse their dogs because they were acting like any dog would. I also saw a lot of good people give loving homes to shelter dogs! 

While working at the shelter I was able to intern under a "balanced” trainer teaching classes and training the shelter dogs. In that time a skinny pit bull/hound mix named Dylon walked into my life. Dylon had been abandoned and tied to a tree so that his collar had become imbedded and he was diagnosed with acute renal failure due to stress. The shelter’s veterinary team was not optimistic. But Dylon chose me. There had been a handful of dogs I wanted to adopt from the shelter but alas this skinny boy wouldn’t leave me alone.  He went home with me as a foster dog were he recovered quickly, and soon after I adopted him. However healthy, Dylon had many behavioral hiccups such as separation anxiety, handling sensitivity, and lack of manners. I was unable to use force or intimidation with Dylon due to his injuries, and this prompted me to began researching positive training methods to use with him.

Meet Dylon!

While I was training under my mentor he told me these methods would never work and that I would never be a good trainer because I was a girl and thus I was not strong enough (mentally or physically) to make a dog respect me. This lit a fire under me to prove him wrong. I knew that by using love and empathy I could build a relationship with an animal and in this way I could teach them new things!  Dylon proved that trust was the key to building a lifelong relationship with me, that to this day is unbreakable.

Charissa and Dylon near Red Feather Lakes paddle boarding and looking for Ducks.

Charissa, Dylon, and boyfriend Tyler enjoying Moab’s Red Rock mountains

In 2013 I dedicated my career to progressive positive reinforcement marker-based training. I decided to take Karen Pryor’s Certified Training Partner course and graduated as a certified animal trainer in 2014. I am enthusiastic about continued education and public outreach. In 2015 I received a second animal training certification through CCPDT, becoming a Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed. I am currently working towards a Silver Certification in Low Stress Handling.

My current job is at the Humane Society of Weld County as the Behavior Technician, in addition to being the Associate Trainer at Summit Dog Training. I am working to develop the behavior department at the shelter and group classes for the animals in the shelter's care as well as the animals in the community. I also work at CSU as a Colorado State University lab instructor for the first year Veterinary Students teaching low stress handling.   

I spend my free time camping and hiking with Dylon and a new addition Arja, a Cornish Rex kitten, in beautiful Fort Collins, CO. My goal is to change myths about shelter dogs and express to owners that compassion, trust, empathy, and fun build lasting human animal bonds. I want to show people that we can allow our dogs to be dogs and that by doing so we are fulfilling their needs and creating behaviorally healthy canines. And that when someone tells you that you can’t, prove them wrong.

Dylan gets cozy on a mountain adventure as the night slows down.

Shelter Dog 101 - New Class!

Summit Dog Training Associate Trainer Charissa Beaubien KPA-CTP, CPDT-KA (read full bio here!) has a passion for helping shelter dogs transition smoothly into their forever homes.

Charissa with her own shelter pup, Dylon.

Through past shelter experience as well as in her current capacity as the Behavioral Technician for Humane Society of Weld County, Charissa has seen first hand how timely and applicable training advice can make the difference between a rescue dog staying with their adoptive family or being returned to the shelter.  In order to assist more rescue pups and their new families, we are adding a new class to the schedule: Shelter Dog 101.  This four week course is specifically designed for the needs of shelter dogs making the transition to "normal" life in a loving family.  Many shelter dogs come with challenges that other dogs don't always face, like separation anxiety, destructive chewing, potty training, and understanding polite play and social manners.  This course provides a way for new adoptive families to get support specifically for these issues, as well as get started bonding with their new shelter pup, in a fun and supportive class setting.  

Adopting a dog from a shelter is a wonderful choice, but can be a significant financial investment depending on the physical and mental health of the dog.  This class is a way for us to make training more accessible to adoptive families and get everyone started off on the right track!  If you are interested in the class, pick up a coupon from your dog's Northern Colorado rescue (we'll be distributing those very soon!) or send Charissa an email with a copy of your dog's adoption papers and we'll send you a coupon directly!