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ALIVE Rescue
Shelter Shiver
March 9, 2014
As you may know, the original January 5 date for the Shelter Shiver had to be rescheduled because there was so much ice at North Avenue Beach that no one could have safely reached the water
to take the plunge.
AnimalSense is a proud sponsor of this event, and we hope you'll join us on March 9! You can sign up for a full plunge, an ankle deep stroll, or "I'll just meet you at the bar afterwards" (the last one is a very popular option).
Sign up here
and get your shiver on!
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AnimalSense behavior consultant (and talented photographer) Lynn Brezina recently welcomed a new border collie puppy into her family. Because everyone (well, everyone we know) wants the inside scoop
on how a dog trainer raises her own dogs, we thought we'd share the experience with you via
a new weekend photo series called
The Dog Trainer's Puppy.
She really is (as Lynn puts it) "the cutest puppy in
the wuuuuurldah."
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Have you Heard?
AnimalSense has a
Mobile App!
You'll be able to:
-Reference training tips
-Contact our trainers -Get GPS directions -Sign up for classes -Get exclusive offers -And much more! Available in iTunes and Google Play.  
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Our Amazing
Pawtners
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Perhaps it's a little bit optimistic to
say that "spring is here" (or even that
"spring is coming"), but darn it we've been waiting a long time for better weather. We had a couple of warm days when the snow melted and the sun came out, and it felt really good! The better weather also meant that we were able to spend more time outside with our pups, and everyone (human
and canine) was pretty thrilled about that! You can see that our adorable little pal Lolli (pictured), available for adoption through
Be Fido's Friend, was very happy to hang out and catch some rays in the park earlier this week.
While you're waiting for good weather to arrive in earnest, why not sign up for one of our Spring 2014 classes and brush up on your outdoor skills with focus exercises or leash manners training? That way you'll be ready to rock when the temperatures rise.
Best wishes from the AnimalSense Gang!
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The Spring 2014 Classes Are Here!
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Jack hanging out on his mat before Pooch Academy in Old Town.
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We've been getting great feedback throughout the winter season on our five rolling admissions classes - Puppy Elementary, Pooch Academy, First Year Fido, Welcome Home, and It's Never Too Late - specially designed to help your pup gain a solid grasp of basic commands and good behavior. Not only can you start class whenever it's most convenient for you, your pup gets to practice new skills in a variety of real life situations, both inside and outside the home.
If you want to prepare for more outdoor activities with your dog, now is the time to sign up for a three week class like Leash Manners or Come Over Rover. If you want to do something a little bit different, or work on specific issues, check out our six week classes like Intro to Agility, Shy Dogs, and Big Dogs Rock. And remember - we have locations throughout Chicagoland, so no matter where you live we've got you covered!
The full Spring 2014 class schedule is here. If you have any questions
about classes, or you want to sign up, contact us by phone at 312.564.4570 or by email at train@animalsense.com.
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Junior Trainer Yvonne Feeney
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Yvonne with Kyle (left) and Sasha.
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Please join us in welcoming Yvonne Feeney to the AnimalSense family as a Junior Trainer! In a way, Yvonne has been part of our family since 2007, when she started training classes with her rescue dog, Sasha. Sasha earned her CGC and Yvonne developed a passion for learning about animal communication. Having previously tutored kids through Cabrini Green Youth Programs, Yvonne found her combined passion for educating and empowering inner-city youth and instilling compassion for companion animals through the Safe Humane Chicago programs. Now Sasha is an SHC Ambassador dog, and they both volunteer in the Lifetime Bonds Program at IYC-Chicago, where Yvonne is also on the Board of Directors.
Yvonne has worked at Northwestern University since 2000 and is the lab manager of a prostate cancer research lab at the Robert H. Lurie Cancer Research Center. She received her BA in Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is currently a CanineLink Academy student. She is married to Josh Feeney and they share their home with two cats and two dogs, Kyle and Sasha.
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A Movie for Dog Lovers
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Scene from Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog
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I stumbled upon a movie recently that turned out to be one of the better dog movies I've seen in a while. I had never heard of it before. It's a Japanese film called Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog.
I almost always find faults with dog movies because I can't help but focus on training techniques I don't quite agree with, behaviors that just seem to outlandish, or gross examples of anthropomorphism (attributing human characteristics to animals). And early on, I did have some issues with Quill.
There were schmaltzy scenes like one where Quill is dreaming about his first toy. Some of the training seemed really over-simplified. It looked like you could just tell a dog "this is a curb, you need to stop at a curb" and he would get it right away. But I stuck with the movie through these early scenes and ultimately found it be both entertaining and educational.
It is the story of a dog, but it is also the story of the breeder, the family that fostered him for a year, the trainer, and the blind father (and his family) where Quill eventually went to live (and work). The handler - the blind father - is initially very reluctant to "be pulled around by a mutt." But when Quill helps him buy a beer, he discovers the freedom that Quill can provide.
Along with learning a little about the process for training guide dogs, I also picked up some interesting facts I hadn't been aware of before. For example:
- The earliest known use of dogs as guide dogs is found on frescoes in the ruins of Pompeii.
- In Japan, English words are used for cues in dog training - to avoid confusing a dog if he heard the cues in everyday conversation.
- Beer cans are labeled in Braille in Japan.
Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog was produced in Japan in 2004 but not released in the United States until 2012. It is in Japanese with English subtitles, and is based on a true story. I give it three paws. You can check out the Quill trailer here.
- Senior Trainer Greg Raub
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