Greetings!
Now that the unofficial end to summer (i.e. Labor Day) has passed, it's time to get into the game of fall. Football touches down this weekend, the kids are back in school and the foliage will soon start to fall into place. Now is also the perfect time to fine tune your dog's behavior.  Whether you have a puppy, adult or even a seasoned senior, we have a class for you. Start 'em off on the right paw with our series of classes designed for dogs of the same age (so you can share your classmates pain): Puppy Pre-School, Puppy Grade School or Middle Management. Already covered the basics? Take your dog's training a step further with Focus: Distraction Training for the Real World or Recall & Leash Manners.  We've also got some new tricks up our sleeve for our Trick your Dog class that will have your friends begging you to bring your dog to parties to show off. Daytime Dog returns to Oak Park for those who prefer training in the daylight, and a bonus: kids are welcome! Our Fall session begins in a few weeks, so sign up today to secure your spot. Don't see a class offered in your area yet? We'll come to you! Check out our in-home Private Training packages offered seven days a week to fit your schedule.Woofs,
The AnimalSense Gang
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More Options for Parents-to-BeWe have been educating parents-to-be about how to prepare their dog for baby's arrival for years at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Now, we're pleased to bring our Baby & Bowser program to NorthShore Evanston Hospital as well.  This two-hour seminar will help you put a plan in place to make sure your dog is well adjusted to the new sights and sounds of baby. As Trainer Erin Schneider points out in her latest blog, being prepared is key. Erin is due in just two weeks, so she's experiencing this first-hand right now! Visit NorthShore's website for information on the first class being offered on October 1st.
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Is Therapy Work a Fit for You?If you've wondered what it would take to get your dog into therapy work, our latest Google+ Hangout answers all of your questions. Our experienced therapy dog trainers discuss how to find the program that is the right fit for you and characteristics your dog needs to have in order to succeed. Watch it here.  | | Getting Started in Therapy Dog Work |
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Mac: From Grief to GoodAnimalSense loves our clients so much that we want to share their awesomeness with you. We're profiling them in our newsletters, on our website and through our social media channels. So, keep an eye out for your dog, who could be in the spotlight next!
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Mac Doing Therapy Work
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Meet McCormick, or "Mac". This Bernese Mountain Dog is the offspring of Best of Breed at the Westminster Dog Show last year. His mom Selina says that's as close as she'll ever get to fame, but we think they have a pretty amazing story to share:Mac's Berner sister unfortunately passed away last year. Both Mac and I were so sad. Mac stopped eating for awhile, and I ate too much! So I started training Mac to do therapy with me as a way of dealing with our grief. He passed the test to join Therapy Dogs International and we began a therapy dog program at Loyola Academy High School. He works with students to help create a stress-free environment for learning.
I've loved taking the Field Trip class because it helps me make sure I am continuing to practice his behaviors in a variety of settings. It has been enjoyable to meet the other class participants as well as the trainers, and ensures that Mac and I get some special time together each week!
I've enjoyed learning about the signs of stress to watch for in your dog because it's so important for me to know when Mac is feeling stressed-out in his therapy work. I have also found it valuable to learn how to set Mac up to be successful instead of just hoping for the best!
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