Greetings from the Executive Director | |
Greetings:
I don't know about you, but I am starting to get cabin fever. If you need to get out, here are some one day seminar suggestions to cheer you up until it gets warm again. Our facility is nice and bright and warm. Come join us!
- Train Your Own Service Dog Seminar - Wednesday, February 25 at 7 pm
- Dog Park 101 - Wednesday, March 4 at 7 pm
- Pet Therapy Seminar - Saturday, February 28 at 1:30 pm
- Terrific Tricks Seminar - Wednesday, February 18 at 7 pm
- Puppy Power Hour - Thursday, February 26 at 6:15 pm
In March, we have several agility classes starting. We also have a new class designed to help you learn how to take your dog to a wider variety of public settings, it's call Out and About and is listed under Dog Manners.
Stay warm,
Debi Krakar
Founder and Executive Director
PS - We are looking for sponsors for our Hoedown for Hounds Event on April 18th at Travaasa - Austin. Save the date, it is going to be a lot of fun. Contact me if you would like to learn more about sponsoring the event that will benefit our therapy, service dog and reading dog programs. |
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Group Training Classes - February
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 The weather will be nice before you know it, and outdoor patios and restaurants will be ready for well-behaved dogs as part of their clientele. Join us for a group training class in February to polish those manners and learn some new tricks!
New sessions beginning in February include Dog Manners 1 & 2, Puppy Manners, Pet Therapy Team Training, Tricks, and Advanced Skills for Pet Therapy.
Learn more about these classes as well as our next scheduled sessions of Out & About, Reactive Rehab, and Agility on our Dog Training page!
Revenues from training classes support our outreach programs, including pet therapy, Bow Wow Reading Dogs, and Hounds For Heroes. Thanks for training with Austin Dog Alliance!
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| Join us for Amplify Austin March 5-6! | 
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.
Join us to kick off the celebration of giving on Thursday, March 5 (5-7pm) at The Dig Pub in Cedar Park, and enjoy FREE appetizers as we start the fundraising. We'll wrap it all up with a grand finale party on Friday, March 6 (5-6:30pm) at BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse in Cedar Park.
Interested in supporting us as an individual fundraiser? Set up an individual fundraising page on Amplify Austin and help us "amplify" our fundraising on Amplify Austin Day! Attend a training session on creating a page, or see complete instructions in our training document here. Thanks for supporting Austin Dog Alliance! |
| Training Tips - The quest for the ultimate dog treat |
Q: My dog gets bored with my treats, or maybe he's getting full halfway through training class - what can I do?
 A: Just as "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", the value or tastiness of treats is in the eye (or nose) of your dog! In class, it's a good idea to have a variety of tasty and fragrant treats (A dog's sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times greater than ours, according to research performed at Florida State University, and appealing to your dog's sense of smell is a good strategy). Experiment to find out what your dog enjoys most. Some dogs love Cheerios, others want rotisserie chicken, and others crave salmon. You can always find high quality treats in our retail boutique, e.g., Zuke's Mini Naturals and Petsafe Liver Biscotti.
Want to use your own homemade treats? Some examples of high value treats include roasted chicken, tiny cubes of cheese or hot dog, or cheesy-tuna treats also known as "tuna/salmon brownies" (see the recipe in our June 2014 newsletter).
Another tip - keep the size of your treats very small in order to avoid your dog filling up too early in class and losing interest. A treat the size of a pea can be effective. Always consider the total food intake of your pet, and reduce their normal meal portions as appropriate when using treats for training. 
Concerned about giving your dog something too rich, causing gastrointestinal distress? One tip from veterinarian and dog expert Ian Dunbar - mix fragrant high value treats with a high quality grain-free kibble. Combine the two in a ziploc bag and let the aroma from the high value treats serve as a "marinade" and transfer to the kibble. The kibble is now a special treat, and there's less chance of richness overload.
Like humans, most dogs enjoy variety, so find what your dog likes and create your own "trail mix" to bring to class or use for a training session to keep your dog's interest. Happy training :) |
| Time to "Brush Up" on Your Pet's Dental Health! |
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February is National Pet Dental Health Month
 The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed problem in dogs and cats. Check your pet's breath -- bad breath is often the first sign of a problem. Dental disease can lead to painful infections of the mouth; in severe cases, bacteria from infected gums can spread to the bloodstream and result in life-threatening conditions. A Purdue University study of over 100,000 dogs showed a statistical link between dogs with gum disease and dogs with heart disease.
Home care and regular visits to the veterinarian are key for prevention of periodontal disease. Most veterinarians recommend that pet owners brush their pet's teeth regularly. The reality, however, is that the vast majority of us aren't successful at this formidable task.
Fortunately, there are products available to assist us in keeping our pet's teeth and gums in healthy condition. These include dental rinses/sprays, dental wipes, and chews/treats designed for canine dental care, in addition to pet toothpastes and toothbrushes.
The AVMA has produced a YouTube video for pet owners on the basics of pet dental care.
 | | Dental Health: How to Brush Your Pet's Teeth |
Additionally, in recognition of Pet Dental Health Month, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has created some tips to keep our pet's pearly whites in good shape with the 10 Steps To Your Dog's Dental Health.
The American Veterinary Medical Association reminds us that National Pet Dental Health Month is February, but dental health should be a regular ritual for all pet owners.
For specific recommendations for your pet, and for regular check-ups, visit your veterinarian. Your pet's health depends on it!
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| No Valentine Chocolates for the Pups, Please |
 February means Valentine's Day, and that usually means .... chocolates! While you may want to indulge and enjoy the best of Valentine's Day chocolates and sweets, please keep the chocolates out of the reach of your precious canine companions.
Chocolate can be toxic and even lethal to dogs, depending on the type of chocolate and the size of the dog. The level of toxicity and danger is highest with dark chocolate and baking chocolate, although milk chocolate can also be quite harmful.
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