A dog school promotes mutual respect during the often trying baby and adolescent years.
By GRACE AGOSTIN
Published August 27, 2004
At Courteous Canine dog school, students know when they've misbehaved. Bark or not sit when told to, and they get a "time out" in their cage.
Most times, the short break does the trick.
Teaching puppy owners about time-outs is part of Courteous Canine's new obedience classes at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay on Armenia Avenue. The dog school started the free classes in the hopes that fewer people will return puppies to a shelter. Behavior is the No. 1 reason why owners relinquish their animals.
"If you can get them in when they're puppies, they're more spongier and absorb training," said Sonia Wilhide, a dog trainer for Courteous Canine in Lutz. "They're just like teenagers. They like to explore their boundaries. If we can talk to those new pet owners, it sets them up for success."
Puppy Parenting classes run from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. the last Saturday of every month, starting this week. Topics will range from how to walk your dog on a leash to how to get your puppy to use chew toys.
"People get these really cute little puppies, but they've never learned how to train them," Wilhide said.
Trainers will use puppies at the shelter to demonstrate lessons people can try at home. Dogs will not be allowed so that owners can concentrate.
Behavior problems usually occur between the ages of 6 months and 2 years, said Courteous Canine owner Angelica Steinker.
"When they're adopted, they're very cute. But sometimes it's a challenge to get the owner to stick it out until the puppy is 2," she said. "Certainly the Humane Society is doing what they can to educate people to help keep adolescent dogs."
Linda Baker, executive director of the Humane Society, said the Puppy Parenting class should reduce the number of unwanted pets. Since the shelter established a policy late last year of not accepting strays, employees have been able to spend more time training and caring for the animals. The classes will help build a long-term relationship between dog and owner, she said.
"We want these pets to be pets for life," Baker said. "We don't want them to become a revolving door in coming back to our shelter. Pets aren't disposable; they are for life, and we want owners to be aware of everything that goes with that."
Courteous Canine also offers six-week obedience classes for dogs ages 6 months to 2 years at the Humane Society and at Barks by the Bay, 1732 S Dale Mabry Highway. The cost is $79. Classes are limited to 10, and owners must register in advance.
Courteous Canine offers free Puppy Parenting classes for new or future dog owners the last Saturday of each month, starting this week, at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, 3607 N Armenia Ave. For information, call the Humane Society at 876-7138 or visit www.courteouscanine.com
