Summer Classes and Workshops! Filling fast! Enroll TODAY

Our Summer Schedule

Our Classes::

Manners 101: This is the foundation training for all ages. How are your dog's manners? This 8-week class covers basic commands including sit, come when called, and stay, among others. Skills covered include polite greetings, no begging, and no jumping, among others. This jam packed class is full of helpful information and participating in it will help you build a better relationship with your dog. It is just $160 for 8 weeks. It meets both Tuesdays and Saturdays. You can attend one day or both or alternate. It’s all up to you. Tuesdays 6-7pm and Saturdays 9:30-10:30am.


Skill Builder with the Experienced Handler: This class is ideal for the handler and dog with some experience under their collar that want to take their skills to the next level and improve their relationship. This group class covers relationship building skills. Many other things are covered, including improving your off-leash walking; come when called with intense distractions; distance work; advanced sits and downs and other commands; playing with the agility equipment. This wonderful class meets for 10 weeks. Fee is only $190. Limited to 8 handlers. Weds. 6-7pm, Saturdays 9:30-10:30am.


Therapy Dog Class: The focus of this class is on preparing the handler and dog for the therapy environment. This class is ideal for both the novice and experienced handler and will include field trips into the community to gain skills. Skills include working around medical equipment, loud noises, food, toys, and other distractions. Topics covered include stress and calming signals in dogs, infection control, medical ethics, general liability, and handling difficult visitation situations. This 12 week class is limited to 6 students. Fee is $ 210, Weds 7-8pm.

Agility for Beginner and Intermediate: This class will allow you to explore the fastest growing dog sport and take you and your dog’s skills to the next level. You and your dog will learn trust and teamwork as you progress in your skills with sequencing obstacles and learn the footwork needed to be successful in the sport of agility. Your dog will jump through tires, tunnels, and weave poles, walk up ramps and much more. This 5 week class is limited to 8 dogs. Fee is just $160. Meets on Thurs 6:45-7:45pm NOTE!! This class meets in SOUTH DEERFIELD. NOT FLORENCE Beginning Aug 4, 6:45-7:45! Only 3 spots remaining!!!!


Trick, Targets and Games Oh My!: This class will cover tricks such as roll over, play dead, wipe your nose and yes, READ! This is an on-going class and a collaborative effort type class. Class fee for 3 months is $150. Fridays 6:00-6:45 pm. Come join the fun! Open to all LEVELS & Dog Ages!!!!

Graduate Handling and Training: This class is for the most experienced handlers. It will focus on advanced skill building; ultimate distractions while maintaining focus; social skills and so much more. This wonderful class will explore a variety of training skills, theories and sports, including drill team, free style, Rally-O and agility. This class is open to students with the desire to improve and bond more with their dog, The fee is $600 for 6 months. Limited to 8 students. Meets on Sundays, 9:30-10:30am.

Off-Leash & Other Advanced Skills Extravaganza: This is truly an off –leash class. In fact, you will leave your leashes at the door. This class provides all the skills needed for off-leash handling and control. It is ideal for graduates of Graduate Handling or Experienced Handler. This full 12 week class is just $225 and meets on Sat 10:30-11:15 am. Beginning Aug 6, 2011 We meet in various locations in community. First class meets in Florence.


Workshops:

Canine Massage: discover the benefits and bonding of canine massage. This relaxing class teaches both beginning and advanced techniques. Ideal for all ages of dogs. Especially beneficial to shy and older dogs.

We are excited to welcome Linda Jackson back for another great workshop!

Aug 14 11:30-1, light snacks provided. FREE! our gift to you. Limited to 20 handlers.

Private massage sessions will also be available after the workshop for a small fee for both dogs and CHAIR massages for the humans. Just $25 for 20 glorious minutes... Of pure relaxation.

Linda Jackson, is a licensed acupuncturist with Master’s Degrees in both Education & Oriental Medicine. At The Centre for Acupuncture in Gt. Barrington, MA., she offers services in acupuncture, massage, herbal medicine to both people and their dogs. She also offers lifestyle coaching in exercise such as yoga & Qi Gong, meditation, breath and nutrition according to Oriental Medicine principles.

Linda has been in the holistic health field for over 30 years with an extensive background in holistic health, including Kripalu Center in Lenox, MA where she was a founding member, developer and instructor of programs in yoga, massage and health.
Linda has published, with co-author Jody Chiquoine, a popular book, "A Dog Lover’s Guide to Canine Massage". This book is a thorough workbook for dog lover’s to learn massage and stretching for their canine companions to keep them healthy and stress free. This book is a must for every dog owner and dog lover.

In her personal life, she continues her regular practice of meditation, yoga, Qi Gong and healthy lifestyle choices in order to continue to offer her services from personal experience. Linda’s interests are writing, photography and being outdoors as much as possible throughout the year. She enjoys kayaking, hiking, scuba diving and exploring nature with her dogs!

AKC Canine Good Citizenship Earning the CGC award will ensure that your dog is a well-respected member of your community. The Canine Good Citizen award is one of the first AKC certificates your dog can own and CGC provides an excellent foundation for all other training. Canine Good Citizen training is fun and useful. You’ll find that training for the CGC award will help you establish a closer bond with your dog. This workshop will include ample practice before the test at the conclusion of the workshop. Aug 20 11:00-1:00pm Fee is $35 (for current students just $20)

Focus, Control and Recall EVERYTIME™ On or Off Leash
This workshop is like two workshops in one. Learn to keep your dog's focus in any situation, including dog parks, around those pesky squirrels, learn come when called EVERYTIME ™and so much more. Fee is $55 and includes lunch and workbook. Limited to 5 students.
Sat Aug 27 11:00-2:00 Light refreshments served

Polite Greetings and Leash Walking Does your dog's pulling or jumping embarrass you? Or maybe you just want your arm back in its socket and the scratches on your legs to heal. Whatever your reasons for teaching your dog not to jump up during greetings, and to walk politely on leash, it's a great idea! Fee is $55
Sat Aug 27 2:15-4:15 Light refreshments served

All access pass is just $725, a savings of $225!

Is your dog making you jumping mad?....

First step is understanding....Before you begin to stop any behavior you should try to understand why it is happening. Jumping on humans to a dog is a friendly gesture. It says I am no threat, I want to be friendly with you. This lesson will give you the tools to change the behavior yet allowing your dog to achive the same goal.

The second step to stop dog jumping understands that you will also need to train yourself, and your family members and most common house guests. You (and they) need to be aware of how to react and how not to react to this behavior. The last thing you want to do is pull your dog down or yell at him

Lesson: How to stop the jumping
Fortunately the process of training a dog not to jump on people is relatively simple, although it can be time consuming. Naturally, you will start with yourself. You will have to teach them to “sit” before you can begin. Once your dog can “sit”, on command you are ready to begin. THIS BEGINS THE SECOND YOU WALK INTO THE HOUSE, EVERYDAY, AND EVERYTIME.
1. First remember when using the “SIT” command speaks firmly but without yelling.

2. SAY SIT (no more than 2 times) Show the dog treat in your hand if you need to. As your dog approaches you or a guest say “SIT” (guests should say SIT, the person the dog is greeting MUST be the one to say sit. NOT THE OWNER. )
TROBLESHOOTING: If you dog does not sit, repeat the command up to 2 times no more then if you still do not have a sit, show the treat and use the SIT lure hand motion to achieve the desired behavior.

3. Reward for the SIT, give a treat. REMEMBER to be careful not to give the treat until he is at a full sit for at least 5 seconds (count in your head).
If you give the treat too soon, he'll think it is being given for jumping so he'll simply repeat the behavior. Just the opposite of what we want! Remember your dog thinks he's being friendly not aggressive. He really thinks you will like this. So it is essential that he understands he is being rewarded for sitting and not jumping.

As we mentioned, this may take a little more time than most training procedures simply because to him, jumping is both friendly and natural. His instinct is to be friendly and to want to play. And he loves being rewarded for it. Give your dog plenty of play time, but not when he jumps up on you. It's hard not to cuddle, hug or laugh with him as he jumps when you come home. But you have to hold back. You may even like it, but if you give approval and affection for this behavior, he'll have a hard time understanding that strangers and guests will not feel the same.

Now you'll need the help of family members and frequent guests. They need to know that they should not play with him when he jumps, and they also should not push him off. Your dog will likely see this pushing off behavior as playing. Instead, they should stand still or move sideways. Your dog will learn not to jump. They probably already know Fido will jump of them when they arrive, so they need to know not to react to him. It won't be long before Fido understands not to jump.

We do realize that this will be difficult for one of two reasons. First the person being jumped on may be nervous. Or second, they may want to play with the dog. And this is where the training can bog down. It may be best to keep these people away until the training is complete. Doing otherwise will only serve to confuse your pet, which in turn, will slow the training down.

Don't confuse him and it will be relatively easy to stop dog jumping. Give him the sit command and reward him when he doesn't jump. The less confusion there is, the faster the training will go. If you are consistent, and everyone is doing the same thing, it will be pretty quick training. And once you stop a dog from jumping, you and your guests will be happier. Fido will be too.

Separation Anxiety VS. Looking For Something To Do

Separation Anxiety VS. Looking For Something To Do

Separation anxiety (S.A.) symptoms often resemble boredom behaviors, including chewing, dissecting, digging (if dogs are left outside), "accidents" in the house, and excessive vocalization. A close look at your lifestyle will determine if yours is a case of dog anxiety or dog boredom.

Some Dogs Struggle With Modern Lifestyles

According to Raymond and Lorna Coppinger, dogs evolved because humans have inadvertently or intentionally selected for "low flight distance" for millennia - those dogs that were most comfortable in close proximity to humans and their settlements were most likely to receive food from humans. Closeness to humans conferred a reproductive advantage for dogs through increased access to resources.

Traditionally, this arrangement worked well for dogs. Then and in many rural areas today, leashes or fences were few or non-existent. Dogs could roam off-leash, greeting other dogs, chasing squirrels, rabbits, deer, woodchucks, cats, and the occasional skunk or porcupine. Crashing happily through woods, fields, and streams, dogs exercised their bodies and all their senses. Many worked closely with their owners all day hunting, herding, carting, or guarding. These dogs would then return home exhausted, crash on the floor to happily receive belly rubs, and sleep until morning. Very few dogs living this type of lifestyle suffer from separation anxiety.

Automobile traffic makes this type of lifestyle dangerous for dogs now, and busy modern lifestyles and long working days make similar stimulations impractical and out of reach for most dog owners. This is a conflict of interests - what is in the best interest of the dog (plentiful mental and physical stimulation) conflicts with the owner's desire to relax after a long day.

Ask Not What Your Dog Can Do For You, But What You Are Doing For Your Dog

How much exercise does your dog get? How much daily training? How often do you play with her? How long are you separated each day? How often does she socialize with other dogs appropriately?

Many dogs have deficits in socialization (with humans and dogs), mental stimulation (training, toys, play), and/or physical stimulation (running, swimming, walking, hiking, playing). Make sure to provide your dog with an opportunity to engage in all three daily. If dogs are not provided with this stimulation, boredom digging, chewing, barking, will likely ensue. Fulfilling basic needs remedies behavior problems related to boredom.

Puppy Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety can take root in puppyhood - now is the time for prevention. It is always better to prevent than un-train; so provide your puppy with "stuff to do" in your absence (stuffed Kongs, a visit from a puppy walker to play/walk), and always remember to make entries and exits to the home very low key (these are good tips for adult dogs as well!). Practice separation as a behavior, starting with a small duration and gradually building as your dog is successful.

If you must say goodbye to your dog, do it well before you plan on leaving (at least a half hour in advance) and get it out of the way - remember that this is for your benefit - not your dog's; dramatic goodbyes will only teach her that separation is cause for stress. Wait for calm behavior before greeting your dog upon your return home, and keep the greetings quiet, relaxed.

Identifying Separation Anxiety In Dogs

If your dog's basic needs are being met and you still suspect separation anxiety, look for the following symptoms: extreme destruction of property or self (tearing walls apart, bloodying paws trying to escape from a crate, breaking or cracking of teeth trying to escape the house or enter if left outside, anorexia/inability to drink fluids when left alone, inability to be separated from you (even briefly, in another room) while you're at home, and anxiety behavior related to one specific individual in the household (dog is not relieved by the presence of other household members in the absence of the attachment figure). If you note these symptoms in your dog, consult with a behavioral professional for guidance.

Dog Separation Anxiety Solutions

Dog separation anxiety treatment should include desensitization and counter-conditioning to the attachment figure's absence as well as the environmental cues which predict her absence (grabbing keys, putting coat/shoes on, sunglasses, starting the car, etc.). For extreme cases, it is best to bring a veterinary behaviorist into the rehabilitation team, as some S.A. dogs can benefit from conventional or alternative medical treatments. For dogs with hormonal or neuro-chemical imbalances, desensitization and counter-conditioning may need to be accompanied by medication or supplementation. For these dogs, neither medical nor behavioral treatment will be successful without the other.

Courtesy of Dogster www.dogster.com