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 - September 9 - October 7 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
October 18 - November 21 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
APRIL
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. This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
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. This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
Breeds discussed on April 27th: Siamese, Persians, and Abyssinians
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! This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
Instructor: Libby Mock, Companion Animal Dietician
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: April 28, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
MAY
Zen and the Art of Canine Rehabilitation
People suffering from various injuries are often advised to visit a physical therapist. For years it has been common knowledge, that physical therapy is helpful in decreasing the discomfort associated with injuries. The same is applicable to animals, especially to dogs, horses and cats. Injured animals require a number of treatment plans, one of which is animal physical rehabilitation. Attend this seminar to learn more about animal physical rehabilitation as a developing field and how it is helping to improve the lives of animals. This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
Instructor: Jennifer Hill PT-CCRP
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: May 4, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
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. This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
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 This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
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. This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
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. This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
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! This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
Instructor: Kelly Haniuk, Heart of the Valley Feline Supervisor
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: June 1, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Responsible Pet Owners, Wildlife and Traps
No one wants to see a dog caught in a trap intended for wildlife, but it occasionally happens. Much of Montana’s communities are adjacent to prime wildlife habitat. Trappers are drawn to these areas, as are dog walkers, snow machine riders and hikers. Some residents close to these areas allow dogs to roam free, and pets sometimes wind up in traps. In this seminar learn about the different varieties of traps that are used, and observe a demonstration of how to open them up, how the locks function on snares, diagrams of traps and what a set might look like. This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
Instructor: Mike Ross, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: June 8, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Think Dog Pro – Dog Behavior & Handling for Law Enforcement, Animal Control Officers and Professionals Who May Encounter Dogs of Unknown Temperament
National speaker Troy Kechely will be presenting his Think Dog Pro seminar on June 12, 2010. Designed specifically for professionals who interact with dogs of unknown temperament this is a must attend class for Animal Control, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Parcel Delivery Workers, Shelter Workers, Veterinary Staff, Boarding Kennel Staff and Rescue Groups. The course will cover the following: Canine Behavior and Communications, Bite Avoidance, Bite Injury Investigation and Safe Handling Practices. This course is limited to 30 individuals and counts for eight hours POST credits in Montana and Idaho for Law Enforcement and Animal Control Officers. This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
Instructor: Troy Kechely – Think Dog Consulting
Fee: $50 / person
Date: June 12, 2010
Time: 8:30 am through 5:00 pm
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 This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
Instructor: Ben Donoghue, Heart of the Valley Canine Behavior Consultant
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: June 15, 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 or cats please.
Instructor: Nancy Tanner, CPDT-KA
Fee: $5/person
Date: June 22, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Living with the Wild Things
Wildlife and humans live in close contact with each other every day. Living with Wildlife offers suggestions on how to deal with wildlife when it enters our neighborhood, backyard, and even our home. In this seminar you will learn about common challenges with different animals, the damage they can cause, control tactics, and much more. This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
Instructor: Kevin Frey, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: June 23, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Hiking with Wolves
For a growing number of people living close to wilderness areas, dangerous wolf encounters and pets being lost to wolves, are an increasing cause of concern. Would you know what to do if you encountered a wolf while hiking in Montana’s backcountry? If you think you know but aren’t sure or if you don’t know, plan to attend this seminar and learn about hiking with wolves. This session is for human education, no dogs or cats please.
Instructor: Mike Ross, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks
Fee: Free, but donations encouraged
Date: June 30, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m.
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