K9 Sports Camp - a Weekend Retreat for You and Your Dog!
September 27-29
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Sign up now and receive an unlimited month-long free pass to our private dog park! New for Fall: attend our K9 Sports Camp for adult handlers and dogs, where you can... - Try new activities like lure coursing, flyball, doga, K9 nose work, rally, agility, and more - Attend talks by experts on pet health and communication with our pets (a pet psychic will be participating!) - Learn about pet therapy and how to train for that rewarding volunteer activity - Make healthy and safe dog treats and toys to take home and enjoy | Let's sign up! |
Attend one, two, or all three days -- the retreat begins Friday, September 27 and continues through Sunday, September 29 at our beautiful New Hope Ranch located at 1321 W. New Hope Drive in Cedar Park. Sign up by midnight September 8 and receive an unlimited month-long pass to our private dog park!Breakfast, lunch, snacks and a t-shirt are included with registration. See our website for details on the schedule and registration.
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The Healing Power of Pets
Pet Therapy - Comfort for Alzheimer's patients and their loved ones
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Cyndi Lessard and therapy dog Logan regularly visit a number of sites in the Austin area, including memory care facilities. Cyndi shared this story about one of their visits: | Therapy dog Logan |
"John is at the end stages of Alzheimer's and doesn't respond to the outside world much at all anymore. He's usually staring straight ahead without expression, and needs much prompting to walk or eat. His wife was visiting one day when we arrived; she mentioned that he remembers Logan and asked us to stay until John came out.
They were helping him walk across the hallway very, very slowly when we approached, and he was staring straight ahead. The nurse unclenched his hand and rested it on Logan's back. John looked down and suddenly began smiling in recognition, nodding his head and patting Logan on the back.
John's wife started crying and the nurse was holding back tears, too. Logan just stood very still, wagging his tail for a full five minutes while John patted him and ruffed his neck. Then we moved next to him and walked, not quite as slowly this time, to take his seat for lunch."
Austin Dog Alliance pet therapy teams volunteer thousands of hours annually in the Austin area. You can support our programs with a tax-deductible donation.
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K9 Club - Autism Group Social Skills Program
Fall sessions begin September 17
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K9 Club - Group Social Skills program is an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program which builds social skills for kids on the autism spectrum. New this year, there are THREE programs, grouped by age: Ages 6-7, ages 8-10 (sold out, applications being taken for the wait list), and ages 11-14.
Classes are taught by a Special Education Teacher, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst from ABA Today who develops and measures individual goals for each student and our wonderful therapy dogs. K9 Club provides a FUN environment for kids who are motivated by dogs. Social skills including conversational skills, sportsmanship, classroom protocols, peer interactions and more are targeted during each class. An application and instructor approval are required prior to enrollment. Get more details on the program here.
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How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Summer Camp report by Alex Graf
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Alex Graf, one of our Austin Dog Alliance summer campers, wrote a report on the fun and activities (with dogs!) she experienced during summer camp.
Read her piece in the Graf Family News.
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Join the Bow Wow Buddy ClubJoin our sustainers circle - your donation changes lives
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Join the Bow Wow Buddy Club and support programs that change lives for struggling readers, the elderly in nursing homes, children challenged by autism, and dogs sitting in the shelter. You determine the amount you'd like to contribute each month and use our secure online system. All donations are processed automatically through a secure network. Club members receive a special pen and t-shirt when they initiate monthly giving. Members will be invited to a special members only event in the Spring. There are many ways to contribute, and many benefits to those served by our organization. See how your donations support the community and sustain our efforts. Read more on our Bow Wow Buddy Club Page.
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Name That .... Dog
Ask Austin - Training Tip
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Hey there! My name is Austin, and I'm the Austin Dog Alliance canine columnist. Who better to field questions about dogs than a fellow canine?
Today's letter comes from Round Rock:
"Dear Austin, when my dog Travis was a puppy, I'd call his name and he'd come running. Now, I can't even get him to look at me. Did he forget his name?!"
-Nameless in Round Rock.
Dear Nameless. Travis hasn't forgotten his name. You may have just inadvertently diluted its meaning.
People call their dog's name for numerous reasons; when they want them to come, when they want them to stop doing something, or to just say "Hi." This can be confusing to us because one word has so many meanings.
Name should mean one thing... "Look at me." When you say your dog's name, he or she should make eye contact with you. Then, you can follow with a command, such as "come."
You should also try and only use your pup's name in a positive manner. Training is positive, and so is "come" if it's paired with a treat or praise. If you use your dog's name to scold him, it can pair it with a negative emotion. Pick another word for "stop it."
Here's a good way to teach your dog the "name game." Hold a treat in your hand very close to your dog's nose. Make sure she's fixed on it. Move it slightly from side to side. Her gaze should follow your hand. Raise the treat up toward your eyes. Just before your dog's gaze catches yours, say her name. The instant she makes eye contact, click or mark the behavior, then give her a treat. Once she's caught on, try saying her name with the treat out of sight, and then reward her for making eye contact.
The name game is a core skill, and we teach it in Dog Manners 1. Practice the skill, and remember, you and everyone in your household should reserve the dog's name for making eye contact!
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Upcoming Events!
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Here's where we'll be this Fall:
October 26 Barktoberfest at Old Settler's Park in Round Rock. Stop by our booth and come watch our agility demo.
October 26/27 Texas Book Festival on the State Capitol grounds, downtown Austin. Stop by our booth and meet some of our therapy animals! November 2, Fable Fest - the Cedar Park Public Library Foundation's annual event at Milburn Park. See the links above for more information and updates about these events. See you there!
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Help End Canine Cancer
Groundbreaking study looking for participants
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What if your Golden Retriever could save others from cancer?
The Morris Animal Foundation is seeking participants in a groundbreaking study on cancer which will follow 3,000 Golden Retrievers.
The results are expected to benefit all breeds, and may benefit humans, too!
Read about the Morris Animal Foundation and learn more here.
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Mission |
Austin Dog Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our mission: To improve the health and well-being of individuals and families through programs incorporating the powerful connection between humans and dogs.
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Contact Us | Board of Directors
Board Chair
Founder and
Executive Director
Adoption Program
Pet Therapy Director
Training Director Volunteer Coordinator Pet Therapy Volunteer Coordinator
Foster/Adoption, PR
PR, Marketing
Youth Association
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