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Greetings!
Last time I wrote you, I was working to meet my book deadline. Made it! Now it's in the hands of my publisher. I'll keep you posted when it's ready to be published.
In July, assistant instructor Phyllis Beasley and I attended a seminar in Battle Ground, Indiana. It was conducted by my friend, extraordinary trainer Ken McCort, on the Differences Between Dogs and Wolves, and held at Wolf Park. The picture here is of my adopted wolf, Ayla -- I sponsor her through the Wolf Park Adopt-a-Wolf program. I first visited Wolf Park for a behavior seminar 11 years ago, it was wonderful to return again. I share details about our time at Wolf Park in this issue.
You'll also find information on an upcoming Team Training workshop for Pet Partners. In addition to holding the workshop for potential volunteers, we need people to help us with the screenings. And considering it's time for back to school, we hope you'll consider taking a class with your dog! Check out our September schedule.
I hope the close of your summer is a great one. Please give your dogs cookies from me! Teoti Anderson, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTPPawsitive Results, LLC
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Class Schedule
While the kids head back to school, why not your dog? Sign up for classes today. Learn how to register.
Friarsgate Park, Irmo
Class begins Tuesday, September 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Now taking registrations!Tri-City Leisure Center, West Columbia
Class begins Thursday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Just a few spots left! Tri-City Leisure Center, West Columbia Class begins Thursday, November 8 at 8:30 p.m. Now taking registrations!
We offer a variety of training packages in the convenience of your home. Choose from Puppy Head Start, Housetraining Help, Family Manners, Behavior, and Competitive Rally Coaching. Times not work for you? Check out our future schedule. |
Studies With Wolves
What makes dogs and wolves alike? What makes them different? This was the topic of the three-day seminar Phyllis and I attended at Wolf Park in Battle Ground, Indiana. Instructor Ken McCort covered a wide range of topics, including behavior, aggression, intentional thinking, the neurochemistry of motor patterns and more. Monty Sloan, wolf expert and Wolf Park photographer, also provided insight on wolf-dog hybrids. Wolf Park is an internationally renowned facility dedicated to behavior research, education and conservation, with the objective to improve the public's understanding of wolves and the value they provide to our environment. A 501(c3) nonprofit organization, Wolf Park draws researchers from all over the world. Currently, Wolf Park is home to 14 wolves, two coyotes, two foxes and a herd of bison. One of the perks of attending seminars at Wolf Park is the ability to interact with the captive wolves. We underwent a strict safety orientation before being allowed to enter the wolf enclosures, and staff hovered nearby at all times, giving us instructions. When Phyllis and I attended, we were also delighted that there were six 4-month-old wolf puppies!  | Lunis the 40-lb wolf puppy and Teoti. Photo by Monty Sloan.
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There are four adult wolves in the main pack. The puppies were removed from their mother, Dharma, at 10 days old to be socialized with humans. Pups are given 2,000 human hours in order to make them feel more comfortable with human interaction. This is critical for their long-term care. It is much easier to give shots and treat illnesses and injuries with wolves who are used to people! We were honored to be trusted to help socialize the wolf puppies and give them additional positive experiences with people. While the wolves are tame, they are clearly not domesticated. Wolves are wild animals instinctively wary of humans. It's only because of their intense human socialization that the wolves chose to approach us. And everything is on their terms! We had strict rules we needed to follow to safely interact with them. All the animals at Wolf Park are clicker trained! Wolf Park uses positive training techniques, which builds a wonderful relationship based on mutual respect. This was especially evident when the staff and volunteers cared for Kiri, who is 19 years old. Kiri allowed his caretakers to clean his eyes, spray him with insecticide and give him a quick checking over because he had a lifelong positive relationship of trust with them. In return, he got lots of treats. And while his aged legs may not work as well as they used to, there was nothing wrong with his appetite! It was so heartwarming to see such spirited life in the eyes of a senior wolf.  | |
Kiri, a 19-year-old wolf. When Kiri was young, he was black!
Wolves silver as they age.
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Continuing education is very important to me and the other trainers at Pawsitive Results. It's important we keep up with the latest information on behavior so we can better help our clients. We picked up tips for dealing with canine aggression and other issues, met some new friends and got wolf kisses. A great learning adventure at Wolf Park! |
Howling for More Info?
Wolf Park is not just for dog trainers! If you'd like more information on the wonderful research and conservation efforts of this organization, please visit www.wolfpark.org
You can also get more information on the photography of Monty Sloan at www.wolfphotography.com -- he has gorgeous prints for sale. Thanks to Monty for permission to use his photos! |
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Learn to Volunteer with Your Pet
Do you have a well-trained dog who loves strangers on sight? A super-friendly cat who would love nothing more than to sit on someone's lap? Consider volunteering with your pet to visit health care patients!
Prescription Paws, a Pet Partners affiliate group, will be holding a Team Training workshop Saturday, September 22 at Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina in Lexington. Pet Partners is the new name for Delta Society. It's the same quality program known internationally for its high standards, just a new name!
Your first step is to determine if you and your pet meet the program requirements. You can find them on the Prescription Paws website, along with information on how to register if you qualify.
The Team Training workshop is for people only. It teaches you how to safely and effectively visit patients. It covers animal safety, how to work with different populations, how to handle stressful situations and more. The workshop is only held locally once or twice a year, so if you've always wanted to learn how to volunteer with your pet, now's your chance! You and your pet could truly make a difference in the lives of patients in our community. |
Wanted: Screening Volunteers!
Prescription Paws will be holding screenings to evaluate potential teams for animal-assisted therapy and activities ("pet therapy"), and could use your help! If you can spare a morning or afternoon on Sunday, September 23 in Lexington, we need volunteers to help test teams.
No experience is necessary. You just need to be over age 18 and not afraid of or allergic to dogs or cats.
The screenings depict events that can happen during a real therapy visit. Volunteers pretend to be patients. We provide all the equipment and specific instruction on how to interact with potential teams.
If you have wanted to learn how to volunteer with your pet but don't think your pet is ready, this is a great way to learn more about the program. And it's fun!
If you can volunteer, please email teoti@getpawsitiveresults.com with your availability for the morning or afternoon shift. Thank you!
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Coming Soon: A New Website!
Pawsitive Results will soon be launching a new, improved website. We've redesigned our look, complete with a modern logo. We look forward to interacting with you more on the Web! 
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About Pawsitive Results, LLC Pawsitive Results, LLC offers reward-based group dog training classes in Irmo and West Columbia, SC., as well as private lessons. Owner Teoti Anderson is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and author who also gives popular workshops across the country to dog trainers and pet owners.
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