Happy New Year,

If you are like me, the holiday break and start of the New Year is a time for reflection and looking forward.  

If you have been an Austin Dog Alliance supporter for a long time, you will notice a reduction in events for 2014.  Since we are now fairly well known, we feel it's time to reduce our broader public exposure and instead focus on our core programming.  

One of the core programs that we do really, really well is dog training.  We now offer agility, fly ball, tricks, control unleashed, puppy power, dog manners, pet therapy, nose work, lure coursing and more.  Our post class surveys often have a 100% positive response to the question "Would you recommend this class to your friends?"  The revenue earned from our dog training program helps fund all our other mission related programs: including nursing home visits, Bow Wow Reading, Youth Association and the Autism program.  

If you enjoy spending time with your dog and other dog lovers, Austin Dog Alliance is the place for you!

In this day and age of an enormous amount of time spent looking at phones, tablets and computers, I encourage you to take some time to experience life LIVE!.  Sure, you could learn basic dog manners like sit and down from a YouTube video.  But in class, you meet other people, see and pet other dogs, spend time with your family, laugh, cheer and create your own live action.  

Sincerely,

Debi Krakar

Executive Director and Founder

Austin Dog Alliance

PS - Summer camp registration is now open.  Last year, we sold out EVERY session.  If your child wants to attend camp this summer, please don't wait too long to register.  New this year, a few special sessions just for kiddos ages 5 - 6.  Check it out.  

Control Unleashed (CU) is a new class offered at Austin Dog Alliance.  You may have heard of CU or some of its concepts, such as LAT (Look At That) or GMAB (Give Me a Break). This class is based on the book, "Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog" written by my good friend and colleague, Leslie McDevitt. 

Control Unleashed is for dogs with focus issues caused by excitement or stress; however, your dog does not need to have any particular 'issues' to benefit from Control Unleashed. The training games are fun and help with off leash control, so you can enjoy off leash time in Austin Dog Alliance's wonderful leash free park. It's a great way to take your training to the next level and help you develop a deeper bond with your dog. The concepts of CU can also benefit dogs who participate in therapy work.

Leslie McDevitt created the CU class for dogs in her club that were having difficulty participating in dog sports classes, such as Agility or Flyball. These dogs were not bad dogs but they often barked or lunged when it wasn't their turn or disconnected from their handler by running zoomies or going off to sniff. The CU program became so popular, she decided to write the book. The book and the CU program was immediately embraced by the dog sport and pet dog communities nationally and internationally. 

The concepts of CU are used for dogs who are reactive or aggressive towards other dogs, objects or people. BUT CU is not a reactive dog class. If you have a reactive dog or an aggressive dog, consider Reactive Dog Rehabilitation and / or take private lessons based on the Control Unleashed program.

If you have questions regarding Control Unleashed or whether the class is right for you or your dog, email me at  dawn@austindogalliance.org and I will be happy to address any questions you may have.

(Coming this spring, Control Unleashed: Puppy).