COURSES
Parenting Your Dog
Becoming a better canine parent will be the overriding goal of this five-week class. The class will be open to the public and new adopters will be strongly urged to attend. The class will revolve around parents learning canine obedience skills with a stress on creating a higher communication level with their canine. At the end of the class canines will have a good obedience foundation and parents will be encouraged to set the goal of their dog becoming an AKC Canine Good Citizen. Please email completed registration form (available here) at least one week prior to the first class to behaviorist@heartofthevalleyshelter.org, and bring proof of vaccinations (bordatella, rabies and distemper) as well as payment to the first class. Preregistration and payment is also available by phone (406-388-9399) or in person (Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter). For additional information specific to the class, please contact the instructor, Ben Donoghue at (406) 388-9399, ext. 122.
Dates Offered: Thursdays nights - March 25 through April 22 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m
May 6 – June 3 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
June 17 – July 15th 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Instructor: Ben Donoghue, Heart of the Valley Canine Behavior Consultant
Fee: Dogs adopted from HOV: $35/dog
Intact dogs: $75/dog
All other dogs: $65/dog
SEMINARS
MARCH
Pet First Aid
The pet first aid course is designed to give the pet lover, dog sport enthusiast or pet professional the necessary information and skills to stabilize an injured animal until qualified veterinarian care is accessed. Emphasis is placed on the prevention of illness and injury, the importance of early veterinary care and the appropriate restraining of an injured animal. Course content includes vital signs, AR, CPR, Heimlich, bandaging, shock, poisons, medical conditions triage (what constitutes an emergency situation).
Instructor: Crista DeJoia, DVM
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: March 23, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Outside the Litterbox – How to Prevent Problems
Nothing puts kitty in the proverbial doghouse like a urine spot on the carpet. Inappropriate elimination tops the list of problems feline behaviorists deal with, and it's the number one reason cats are surrendered to shelters or pounds. That's the bad news. The good news is that housesoiling problems can be prevented. Learn how these problems can be prevented and how do deal with problems that have already appeared.
Instructor: Kelly Haniuk, Heart of the Valley Feline Supervisor
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: March 30, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
APRIL
Breed About It - Dogs
Did you know that only 67% of dogs in the United States stay in one home for their entire lives and that the most common age of dogs surrendered to shelters is 1 to 3 years old? A major reason for these dismal statistics is the fact that many people don't really know what kind of dog would best suit their family and lifestyle. They don't know how to find a good breeder or how to pick a good rescue or shelter dog. This seminar covers everything you need to know to determine the size, breed and temperament of the dog that will best fit your family.
Breeds discussed on April 7th: Labrador Retriever and Jack Russell Terrier
Instructor: Ben Donoghue, Heart of the Valley Canine Behavior Consultant
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: The first Wednesday of every month, beginning on April 7
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Cats for Beginners
Getting your first cat or kitten can be a huge step for a "Cat Newbie." This seminar will help you in making that all-important decision of committing to a lifetime relationship. Whether you've just adopted your first cat, or are just thinking about getting one, this is the place to start.
Instructor: Beth Johnson, Heart of the Valley Feline Technician
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: April 20, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Breed All About It - Cats
Have you ever needed to find out just a small piece of information about a particular breed of cat? Maybe you just need to settle an argument, or satisfy a niggling question you've wondered about for awhile. Or maybe you've been to a cat show and fallen in love with a particular breed, and you're wondering how suitable it would be as a pet in your family. This seminar is just for you! Learn the special characteristics about different breeds each month.
Instructor: Kelly Haniuk, Heart of the Valley Feline Supervisor
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: April 27, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Pet Foods Today, Fact & Fiction
In this seminar we will focus on how to make good nutritional decisions for your pets, one that fit your finances and lifestyle without compromising your pet's health. We will be learning what the ingredient list really contains, debunk common myths, learn to feed our animals for what they are (which like it or not, is not people), discuss new trends like to feed grains or not to feed grains and why, and diet solutions for common problems like inflamed ears, urinary tract health, and poor teeth and gums.
How long is a puppy considered a puppy? Do you have an obligate carnivore living in your house or is your pet food a color that doesn't actually exist in nature? If you are puzzled by any of these questions, this is the seminar for you!
Instructor: Libby Mock, Companion Animal Dietician
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: April 28, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
MAY
What You Need to Know about Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD) and Elbow Dysplasia (ED) afflicts millions of dogs each year and can result in debilitating osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. It is estimated that more than 50% of some popular large breed dogs will show x-ray evidence of CHD and or ED. Many will suffer from osteoarthritis, pain, and lameness, costing owners and breeders millions of dollars in veterinary care, shortened work longevity, and reduced performance. Discussion will cover cause, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Instructor: Mark Albrecht, DVM
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: May 11, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Preparing your Dog for a New Baby
In this seminar, instructors will cover all aspects of preparing your dog for the pending arrival. What to do before baby comes, when baby comes home and after your child's arrival going right through those toddler years! Make this important transition an easy one for both you and your dog with the help of Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter
Instructor: Ben Donoghue, Heart of the Valley Canine Behavior Consultant
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: May 12, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Rabies – What you Need to Know
Films like “Old Yeller” and “Cujo” taught us that pets inflicted with rabies foam at the mouth and become madly aggressive, trying to bite anything — or anyone — that crosses their path. While not common, your pet could become infected with the rabies virus. If this happens, the death of your pet is imminent. The good news: you can take preventive measures to protect your pet — and the rest of your family. Learn how in this informative seminar.
Instructor: Dr. Crista DeJoia, DVM
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: May 25, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Breed Standards and Deleterious Trait Selection
There are greater than 350 recognized dog breeds in the world today. More than 450 known breed-specific inherited diseases have been identified, and these are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. This presentation will be a discussion of this problem, some important contributory and perpetuating factors to heritable disease in the dog, and steps that can be taken to help restore the health of these purebred dogs.
Instructor: Dr. Colin Bonnett, DVM
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: May 26th, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
JUNE
Cat Behavior 101
A large percentage of cat-related questions are those concerning cat behavior. Many so-called "behavioral problems" result from the cat owners simply not understanding what cats are trying to tell us. And often cats' behavioral "quirks" are their most endearing traits. In this seminar, learn how to understand your feline friend and build a better relationship for both of you!
Instructor: Kelly Haniuk, Heart of the Valley Feline Supervisor
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: June 1, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Clicker.....What?
What is clicker training? - ‘Clicker Training’ is a form of operant conditioning, the way in which animals (human kind too) interact with and learn from their environment. It is often referred to as 'communication instead of domination'. Simply put, an animal tends to repeat an action that has a positive consequence and tends not to repeat one that has a negative consequence. Trainers can take advantage of that natural tendency by providing positive reinforcement following an action that they want the animal to repeat. Clicker training is widely used in the dog, horse, and marine mammal training programs.
This 1 hour session will go over the basics of clicker training; getting started, appropriate use, fading the clicker and using verbal cues, and the long term benefits of clicker training. Open to all skill levels, semi interactive. This session is for human education, no dogs please.
Instructor: Nancy Tanner, CPDT-KA
Fee: $5/person
Date: June 22, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
|
