Greetings from the Executive Director | |
Happy New Year!
As we start a new year, you may notice some changes. Some of these changes are easy and obvious, some are been a bit more personal and painful. Here are some of the changes for 2015:
 The Dog Park is FREE and open to anyone who has vet records on file with us - Please enjoy the dog park before class, after class or anytime we are open. It's a beautiful slice of nature and we are honored to share it with you and your dog. K9 Club Autism for students 6 - 14 years old has been put on hold indefinitely - This one is painful for me because I believe in it and I have seen the results. However, financially, we can't seem to generate enough donations to cover the cost of providing the program. If we increase the fee to cover the cost, the program becomes too expensive for most families. We also have trouble finding enough students. On the flip side, our job skills program for adults with special needs is thriving. If we had never offered K9 Club for younger students, we would not have evolved into the job skills program.  The adoption program has undergone a major change - We are no longer going to pull dogs from the shelter for traditional pet adoptions. Our focus has shifted to Special Dogs for Special Needs and PTSD Service Dogs in the Hounds for Heroes program. The primary reason for this change is that our community is blessed with some very strong organizations that have been able to almost completely eliminate the need to euthanize a dog for lack of space in the shelter. These organizations focus on pet dog adoptions and they do it very well. Austin Dog Alliance is one of just a handful of organization in the State that can train and place PTSD Service Dogs. The demand for service dogs far exceeds the supply and we have the skills needed to help our veterans. We need to focus on programs that we do better than anyone else and programs where our talents have the most impact. So, although this change is painful, its the right decision.
New classes, instructors and class times - We are excited to welcome Laurel Carvell, Kathleen Reish and Megan Sartori to our training team. With the addition of new trainers, comes new classes and new class times. Train Your Own Service Dog, Learn to Take Your Dog Out and About, Tricks and Manners for Puppies have been added to the schedule. We are now offering daytime classes almost every day of the week. We have also added some late Saturday afternoon options. Click HERE to view the current class offerings. Renewed emphasis on customer service - Although our name is Austin DOG Alliance, the focus of our organization is not dogs, it's people. Dogs are the wonderful, amazing creatures that allow us to change lives. They are our partners in educating and healing. However, humans are the reason our organization exists. When you attend a training class with us, we will do our best to learn your name, listen to your concerns and teach you in a way that resonates with you. We will do our best to make you comfortable (free wi-fi, coffee, magazines, dog park) and to welcome your entire family. 
Wishing you a healthy and happy 2015.
Debi Krakar Founder and Executive Director |
Join Us in an Agility Class!
by Kathleen Reish | 
Have you gotten the chance to try out Austin Dog Alliance's beautiful agility field? If not, give your dog a treat and come join us in an agility class!
Agility instructors Kathleen, Gillian and Laurel are glad to have new dogs come and try out agility in their classes, and there are new classes beginning at the end of January. We have classes for beginners and for intermediate students. The only requirement is to have basic obedience skills or taken our Dog Manners 1 class.
Shelly Mattson, one of our current agility participants, says: "I think it is important for newbies or those interested in agility to know not to be intimidated, the class seems to work well for all ages, all types of dogs, and all levels of training. I would love to see more people realize how fun it is and how it's great for all ages/breeds and sign up!"
 The Austin Dog Alliance agility field features 10,500 square feet of fully fenced artificial turf designed specifically for use with dog sports. All equipment complies to AKC regulations.
Bonus: Agility students are eligible for unlimited practice sessions during open field times over the course of their six-week class.
If you have any questions regarding agility and which level is right for your dog, please email Kathleen at kathleen_reish@austindogalliance.org.
Come give it a try! Read more about Agility and other classes on our Dog Training page.
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January is National Train Your Dog Month!
Reserve your spot now for a group class or seminar |
 Start off your new year by forming a deeper bond with your four-legged friend. We have some exciting new group training classes for 2015, in addition to your favorites. Sign up for a variety of Agility or K9 Nose Work classes, as well as our new Out & About class, Dog Manners 1 & 2, Pet Therapy, Tricks, Reactive Dog Rehab, Puppy Manners, Train Your Own Service Dog and Advanced Pet Therapy Skills.
In January we'll also hold some of our most popular one-meeting classes and seminars, including our Pet Therapy seminar, Psychiatric Service Dog seminar, and several Puppy Power Hours. Our K9 Club Summer Camps for kids 5 - 15 sell out every year. It may be January, but it's not too early to make summer camp plans and reserve your spot!
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Let's go to class!
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We offer classes on weekdays, weeknights, and weekends - there's a class that will fit into your busy schedule! Training class revenues support our outreach programs. Thank You for training with Austin Dog Alliance!
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Q&A With Elizabeth Smith
Director, Hounds For Heroes program |
Elizabeth Smith (CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA) taught group classes and made special appearances at our summer camps for several years before focusing full time on other professional pursuits. In 2014, Elizabeth rejoined Austin Dog Alliance as Director, Hounds for Heroes program.
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Elizabeth Smith and her dogs Sydney & Cookie
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Q: Elizabeth, How long have you been involved in the world of dog behavior and training?
A: Many many years! I became involved with showing Bouvier des Flandres dogs in my 20's. Also during that time, I had taken several ethology courses in grad school. My interest in dogs and animal behavior has been one of the most consistent themes of my life.
Q: You rejoined Austin Dog Alliance in 2014 to become Director of Hounds For Heroes. What are you looking forward to in 2015 with regards to the program?
A: My role as Director of Hounds For Heroes is to grow the program so that we can meet the needs of many, many more veterans. The need is great and we have been touched deeply by the emails and phone calls from those who have received a service dog through Austin Dog Alliance. The life changing presence of our service dogs is truly remarkable. But it takes the generous help and commitment of many people to make it happen.
Q: When it comes to dog training and leading the Hounds for Heroes Program, what makes it so rewarding to you?
A: Training dogs is great fun for me. Helping people see how much fun training is, and how much their dogs enjoy it, means that these people will be more likely to have a rewarding relationship with their dogs.
Q: Why do you choose to be part of Austin Dog Alliance?
A: Coming back to Austin Dog Alliance after a three-year absence was like coming home. Not only is the new facility beautiful, from the well-planned and maintained landscaping to the spacious "hub" of the Welcome Center, but the thought that was given to every detail is mind-boggling. The real "hub" however is the group of people that have made this place happen. Yes, it is a lovely place to hang out. But the volunteers, staff, and students (both canine and human) are what makes Austin Dog Alliance special.
Q: What do you do with your extra time when you're not involved with ADA?
A: I spend much of my time outdoors when I am home. I live in Blue, Texas (about 50 miles east of Austin) which is a beautiful area to ride my bike. My life is made richer by the English Bulldogs who share my life, and a Clumber Spaniel. Chickens and canaries round out the flock.
Elizabeth, we're lucky to have you on the team, leading the Hounds For Heroes Program. Thanks for being part of Austin Dog Alliance!
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Hounds for Heroes: Meet Service-Dog-in-Training, Jenny
by Sheri Smith |
Sheri Smith is training Jenny for our Hounds for Heroes program. This is an update from Sheri as of December, 2014:
 Allow me to introduce you to Jenny, a yellow lab mix who is part of the Hounds For Heroes program at Austin Dog Alliance. When she came to me in mid-September, Jenny already had the sunny temperament and high drive of a service dog, but she didn't have any training at all. She knew to sit to get a treat, but she didn't really understand what "sit" meant, not to mention "down" or "stay". Taking her for a walk was a challenge, because she never learned how to walk on a leash, and was constantly running in front of me and tripping me when she wasn't pulling at the end of the leash.
After two and a half months of learning, Jenny has grown so much- and taught me so much too! People ask me "what can she do?" At home, she knows almost all the basic obedience commands like sit, down and stay, plus a lot of other things like touch, target, play bow, go to your mat, put your chin on me, get my back, walk backwards, and crawl, and we are working on a lot more than that. However, I
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Jenny at her first restaurant
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hesitate to list all these accomplishments because one of the things I have learned is that what she can do at home is not the same as what she can do when we are "out and about".
A big part of learning to be a service dog is getting exposed to lots of different situations, so that when the dog is working away from home she can still think and respond. As a trainer it is my responsibility to recognize that my dog is overwhelmed - not just "ignoring me", and understand that in new situations she often won't even be able to follow the simplest commands.
We got to go on our first restaurant outing this week, which was a big deal (see photo), and she did great! The restaurant staff was very friendly, offering Jenny water and sweeping the tempting cheese off the floor at the table next to ours. I've met so many people who come over and talk to me about Jenny, several of whom confide in me that they too suffer from crippling anxiety or PTSD.
I am so grateful to get to work with this amazing dog, who truly *needs* a job, and will thrive helping her new owner - which really isn't work for her at all!
Thank you, Sheri, for the amazing work you are doing with Jenny!
Your support of the Hounds for Heroes program helps provide a veteran with a service dog, a powerful tool in overcoming PTSD. Click to Donate Online From a Desktop - Includes the ability to designate the gift in memory or in honor of someone. Click to Donate With a Phone or Tablet. Text Hounds to 41444. Learn more about our Hounds For Heroes PTSD Service Dog Program here. Interested in participating as a foster or trainer for a service dog in training? Contact us to learn more.
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Pet Therapy Christmas Eve Visits
Dogs (and Volunteers) Making a Difference
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Tidings of Comfort & Joy
 | KEYE-TV News reporter Ashley Roberts
snapped this photo of Becket |
 | Therapy dog Buddy spreading
some cheer at The Clairmont |
We started visiting senior centers, assisted living, and rehab/nursing facilities on Christmas Eve in 2010. Our pet therapy teams, volunteers, and Youth Association members found it so rewarding (and so much fun) that we've been doing it ever since.
Planning begins in the fall to identify facilities, find sponsors, and secure gifts.
Next, "elves" spring into action, managing logistics and timing the gathering and wrapping of (almost 200!) gifts, working with sister nonprofits like Little Helping Hands, whose volunteers wrap gifts and create handmade greeting cards to attach to each and every package that is distributed.
At the same time, other volunteers and pet therapy teams sign up for visits throughout the city ... then there's gift pick up ... drop off ... Youth Association volunteers step in to help out ... and it all comes together on December 24.
My Fox Austin and KEYE news were there to witness the joy of this special event. See the Fox 7 video report here.
Thank you to Frost Bank for sponsoring the outreach effort and ensuring we had gifts for all those we visited.
THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this effort through donations or hands-on effort. There were many, many moving parts in this festive event! You pulled it off beautifully, leaving smiles on the faces of many.
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Thank You, Farm Credit Bank!
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Thank you Farm Credit Bank of Texas, and Scott Windham, for donating the use of your beautiful office space for animal-assisted therapy team evaluations in December.
We appreciate your generosity and continued support of our programs! |
| Looking Ahead... | 
This year we're participating in Amplify Austin, the 24-hr day of online giving focused on nonprofits in the greater Austin area, hosted by I Live Here, I Give Here. Last year, $5.7M was raised in 24 hours for 498 Austin area nonprofits. In 2015, the goal is even bigger!
Amplify Austin is scheduled for March 5-6. We're planning some fun events to kickoff the celebration of giving and raise funds for our Hounds For Heroes program, S+CORE Job Skills Training program, and Pet Therapy Outreach in our community.
Hoedown for the Hounds - Save the date for a boot stomping good time at our first annual Country Barn Dinner Dance Fundraiser. Generously hosted by Travassa Experiential Spa in Austin, this event is going to be a night to remember. The event will be 6:30 - 10 pm on Saturday, April 18th. Dinner, dancing, drinks and maybe even some country dancing lessons. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please contact us. Tickets will go on sale February 1. |
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| Mission | |
Austin Dog Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Our mission:
To improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and families through programs incorporating the powerful connection between dogs and humans.
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| Contact Us | Board of Directors
Board Chair
Founder and
Executive Director
Hounds for Heroes Program Director
Adoption Program
Pet Therapy Director
Volunteer & Event Coordinator
Pet Therapy Volunteer Coordinator
PR, Marketing
Youth Association
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