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Greetings from Lucky Dog in Jupiter.
Welcome, readers. Here's wishing everyone a warm and wonderful New Year full of happiness and good health!
In today's newsletter I am only listing the class names and dates of most of the classes. Be sure to click on the class name to be taken to the complete description, including instructor and fees. Please call or email if you have any questions. Complete contact information is listed below.
 The article this month is about doggy boredom busters. To stay happy and keep from developing bad habits, every dog should have a job, something to do to make life interesting and rewarding. Enriching your dog's life is what it's all about. Scroll down to read more.
Fetch a membership. Use our facility to practice and train when you want to. Join the club and make your dog a Lucky Dog!
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Agility Fun Runs are scheduled through March, 2009. Please go to our website for more info or check out the schedule below. The next one is Sunday, January 11th at 4:30 p.m. Email your name, and your dog's name, breed and jump height soon to sign up.
CLASSES:
There's help for your feisty fido or scaredy dog-- our
Reactive Dog Class. You will be happy to know that it is on the schedule for Wednesday, January 14, 2009 (pushed back one week). Please read more below. |
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Behavior ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have pushed this class back a week to give everyone time to signup after all of the end of year festivities!
Do you feel lost when your dog barks, growls or lunges at other dogs or people? This very special class is for all dogs that over-react in new situations or with new people or other dogs. They may become very stressed, anxious or shy, or they may become over excited and aggressive. This aggression is fear based and this behavior is appropriately called reactivity. If your dog can't calm down within a few seconds, he or she is probably a reactive dog. This class is about your dog learning relaxation and trust and overcoming fear and anxiety. The training methods used are based on the development of a working relationship with your dog. Understand what your reactive dog is doing, why he's doing it, and how to change it. Learn the tools to decrease the stress in your dog and teach him or her confidence and focus. Come work with your dog in a controlled, supportive environment with a small group of dog owners who understand your issues because they share them. Instill a conditioned emotional response, learn calming and management techniques, coping responses, and emergency escape exercises.
These are 6-week classes, held primarily indoors in a controlled environment, and then partially outdoors in a fenced area for the last two weeks. This class usually fills up quickly so please submit your registration form soon for a working spot (with your dog). There are auditing (without dog) spots also available.
The instructor is Dr. Lisa Radosta, a board certified veterinary behaviorist.
We are scheduling two classes. They both begin on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 and end on February 25th (no class on February 18th). The first one is from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and the second is from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Choose the weekly class that fits your schedule.
The week one class is for owners only (without dogs) and this night only begins at 7 pm for both groups.
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Obedience Classes
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Begins Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. and ends February 17th. This popular, basic obedience, focus and attention class is full but if there's enough interest, another one will be scheduled soon.
Begins Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 6 p.m. and ends on February 17th. This more advanced obedience class is geared towards those who want to improve their working relationship as well as those considering or practicing for competitive obedience.
Please also see Puppy Classes section for puppy obedience, manners, agility, and socialization classes. |
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If your pup is between 9 and 20 weeks by the start of class, you must sign up for this important socialization and training class!
Next class begins February 12th at 6 PM. There are only a few spaces left.
This class begins on March 12th at 6 PM and ends on April 2nd.
You and your pup will love this class! Next class begins on Monday, January 12, 2009 at 6 p.m. and ends on February 16th. Hurry! Class begins soon. |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Agility
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Agility Fun Runs
Scheduled:
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Gates open at 4:30 and first dog will be ready to run by 5:15 p.m. Crating is indoors in climate-controlled comfort. All levels (starting with Level II students) are welcome to practice this nested course (novice/open and excellent). After everyone runs the first course we will reverse it for another run. The lighting and footing are great. Fee: $10 per dog (2nd dog $5). Email us with your name, and your pet's name, breed, jump height, and level (novice or excellent). Space is limited.
At this Fun Run you can sign up for a Canine Therapeutic Massage with certified massage therapist Stevi Quick. Please email to let us know if you want to schedule. For more information, please go to our events page. Begins Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 7:30 p.m and ends February 19th. Learn the fun sport of agility. Your dog will also learn confidence and greater coordination while establishing a better working relationship with you. Novice Agility Next classes begin Monday, January 12, 2009 at at 7:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and ends February 16th.
You are welcome to drop in to this class (and the current class) and participate with your dog.
Next class begins on Monday, January 5, 2009 at 6 p.m. and ends on February 9th.
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News you can use! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Canine Therapeutic Massage You can also take advantage of a special service available at many of the Fun Runs -- canine therapeutic massage! Treat your best friend to a soothing massage from our certified pet massage therapist, Stevi Quick. Canine massage is part of a holistic approach to your pet's health care. It is a gentle and non-invasive therapy that can relieve or reduce pain, stress, and muscular tension, and strengthen muscles due to certain medical conditions and surgical procedures. Email to schedule a session. Stevi will be at Lucky Dog on January 11th beginning at 4:30, or you can call her at Harmony Animal Hospital at 561-746-5501, to schedule.
The Treasure Coast German Shepherd Dog Club has an AKC recognized local chapter that meets on the third Sunday of the month. The next meeting is January 18th. For more information contact the club president, Janet Desmond at 561-339-6549, or email her at danaeGSD@bellsouth.net.
Agility Trials- Fun to watch and compete!
Want to find all of the scheduled agility trials? This website (agilityevents.net) is great for finding agility competitions for all venues. Keep it handy. Also, thanks to Tracey Hanna, here is a pdf of Florida agility trials. |
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In other news...
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Join the Club! Fetch a Membership to Lucky Dog.
It's now better than ever-- prices have dropped! Use our facility whenever you want to (when there's no class or event) to practice, train, or just have fun with your dog. You will receive your Pooch Pass electronic access card with your paid membership. There are different membership options: obedience (use of the indoor space), agility (use of the outside field and equipment) or full membership that allows you to use the full space. You can choose to join for a month, a quarter, semi-annual, or the best savings, yearly membership. All memberships provide access to a restroom. Go to our website for complete information or get a membership packet and sign up.
Our Facility
Did you know that many of the classes are held in our air conditioned 1300 square foot training room so many classes are held rain or shine? This area has a 1/2" rubber floor for great traction and comfort. Our grass agility ring is fully fenced and well lit for night events. Both training areas are double gated/doored for safety. Some of our other amenities include a bathroom, water fountain, hose and pool for cooling down your dog, poop bag dispenser, and our new front patio for relaxing before or after a class.
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| Quick Links...
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Membership information, including new lower prices. Join the club and use our facility on your schedule!
Schedule: sign up for classes; get fee and instructor information.
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Featured Article
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Boredom Busters--Enrichment is the Key to a Happy Dog
NEW WAYS TO EAT, NEW SCENTS TO EXPLORE, NEW PUZZLES TO TACKLE
Increasing your dog's mental stimulation is simple and has countless benefits for both you and your dog. Environmental enrichment will help prevent boredom behaviors like excessive barking and inappropriate chewing, help manage problem behaviors as part of a comprehensive retraining program, and improve the quality of your dog's life! The suggestions in this pamphlet can also be helpful for feeding dogs who wolf down their food and for providing chew toys to dogs with allergies or restrictive diets.
SIGNS OF BOREDOM
Dog is destructive - destroys things indoors and/or outdoors.
Self-mutilation - dog excessively licks or chews its paws, legs or other body parts. They will often lick so much they create large open wounds.
Dog excessively mouths, barks, jumps, run the fence, paces or eats stools.
Dog has alone anxiety - exhibits destructive and/or excessive behaviors when left alone.
Dog is depressed - shows little or no interest in activities or interaction.
STEP ONE: STOP FEEDING YOUR DOG FROM A BOWL!
Your dog has a magic bowl. Food appears in it every day. No hunting. No foraging. No tracking. He just goes to his bowl and 'Poof!, there's the food. So, what does he do with all that extra time on his hands? Well, he has probably decided to eat your book or your shoes and start his own "barking" choir that isn't making a huge impression with the neighbors. So put the hunt back in the food for him! Well, sort of. Here are five ways to feed your dog, starting today!
1) Scatter food in your yard or home or hide small piles for your dog to find. Help him out in the beginning by showing him where it is.
2) Teach your dog to play catch for his food. Toss a piece of kibble or a treat right in front of your dog's nose. He'll probably watch it fall to the ground and then eat it. Keep working at it and he'll eventually catch it. I use this one at night when I want to watch TV and entertain my dogs at the same time.
3) Stuff a Kong - take your dog's regular kibble and mix in just enough peanut or almond butter, whipped cream cheese, or canned dog food to coat the kibble so it sticks together. Then, stuff it into one or two Kongs and serve! The peanut or almond butter ones can even be frozen first for an extra long lasting treat!
4) Use some of your dog's meal kibble for rewards during the day. Ask your dog for a behavior or trick and reward. Keep some at the front door to give to friends that come over. Your dog will soon learn to love the sight of new people. Not only is your dog working for his dinner, but there are no extra treats to make your dog gain weight!
5) Feed your dog a squirrel! Well, not a real squirrel. Premier Pets makes a toy called a Squirrel Dude that is similar to a Kong with small nubs that hold kibble and treats inside. You can also use their Kibble Ball. This is easy to fill because you don't have to mix the kibble with anything first. Just load it with some kibble and a few yummy treats and serve. You may need to cut the nubs down a little and I like to make sure there are some small pieces of treats that will fall out more easily than others so your dog will be rewarded frequently for his efforts!
6) Last but not least, make knotted toys out of rags. Take old margarine or yogurt containers and put yummy, smelly treats in them. Tie an old rag loosely around the container and encourage your dog to untie the knots and find the treats. This one must be supervised so your dog doesn't eat the rags or plastic containers. You should supervise your dog with Kongs and Squirrel Dudes until you are sure he can use them safely on his own. And, supervise or separate multiple dogs so you don't have any battles!
ADDITIONAL ARTICLES | |
