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 Carolark
600 Eagleson Road
Kanata, Ontario
K2M 1H4 
 

 Phone:
 (613) 591-3277

 Fax: 
 (613) 591-0419

 Toll Free:  
1-877-763-6664

 e-mail: 
carolark@igs.net

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THE CAROLARK TIMES

Winter 2007   

Welcome to the second edition of the Carolark Times.  The intent of the newsletter is to provide information and educational articles for you and your pet.  Please feel free to share your suggestions or send an email to carolark@igs.net for training articles or questions on dog behaviour.  
 

International Positive Dog Trainers Association – Oct. 2007

The International Positive Dog Trainers Association (IPDTA) held its annual conference Oct 21–22, 2007 in Kitchener, Ont.  Speakers included Dr. Stanley Coren, Kellie Snider from North Texas University and Carolyn Clark.

Carolyn’s presentation topic was Behaviour Theory Made Easy.   This is the second time that Carolyn has been a speaker at the annual IPDTA conference.
 

Reward and Recognition

Every year the IPDTA acknowledges individuals and groups who have contributed to the betterment of dogs and their people.  Nominations are received and members vote for recipients.

This award demonstrates Carolark’s commitment to training people and pets.  The Centre of Applied Canine Behaviour is dedicated to helping owners enjoy that special relationship that can exist between owner and dog.  As part of its Mission Statement Carolark provides the best training possible for people and their dogs, emphasizing a positive people/pet relationship in an atmosphere of care, friendliness, professionalism and respect for our clients, their dogs and ourselves.
 

Introducing the Carolark Team

In each edition we will introduce you to members of the Carolark team.

Your first point of contact at Carolark is with our office team.

Audrey MacDonald is our Administrator and Registrar.  Audrey’s chocolate Labrador pal, Toby, sometimes accompanies her to work.   When not at work at the Centre, Audrey has a private practice as a certified Reflexologist. 

Jo-Ann Steele shares office duties part time and teaches many of our daytime classes as well as the Thursday 6:30 p.m. Good Manners 1 class.  Jo-Ann’s three Shelties, Emma, Jenny and Tina keep her household busy.

Our teaching staff includes Instructors, Senior Trainers, Assistants and Apprentices.  We also have Volunteers on board.  In this and newsletters to come we will introduce you to our teaching staff.

This month we introduce our puppy people.

Cathie Buchanan teaches puppy classes on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings.  Cathie began assisting at Puppy Classes back in the days of rental space at the Glen Cairn Community Centre and Belll High School.  She has been teaching classes since our opening here in 1992.    Cathie raised her Labrador, Casey, for his whole lifetime following Carolark protocols.  Now taking over Casey’s role is 3 year old black Labrador, Piper. 

Janet MacLachlan shares the teaching and assists Cathie on Wednesday evenings.    Janet actually began helping out at advanced classes in 1994.  In the last few years though, Janet has been spending more and more time with the puppies.  Her buddy, Australian Shepherd Finnigan, usually accompanies Janet to class.  In her spare time Janet works with Finnigan in agility, rally-o and some herding and she spends her work week as the Associate CEO with the Canadian Public Health Association. 

Carolyn Clark also teaches and assists with puppy classes, mainly on Sundays.  

Janet with the lovely Finnigan

We are very proud of our team.  We are all committed to the best interests of people and their pets.  "If there is a better way we will find it."

Anniversaries September to December 2007

Congratulations and thank you to

Suan Chew, Senior Trainer – 6 years
Sandy Leach, Instructor – 5 years
Judy Miller, Instructor – 15 years
Helen Brown, Volunteer – 1 year
 

Holiday Gift Season Is Upon Us …

Consider a visit to Carolark for the latest in canine books, DVDs and training equipment.  These would make lovely gifts for your canine friends. 

A gift certificate toward one of the classes that are offered at Carolark makes a great gift.  If your family or friends are getting a puppy a gift certificate for puppy class would be invaluable.  Or you may want to enroll in one of the 3 levels available at Carolark:  Level 1 Basic Good Manners class, attend Level 2 Good Manners and More, or participate in Level 3, the Advanced Training.

Please call the Centre at 591-3277 or visit in person at 600 Eagleson Rd., Kanata to make your holiday gift purchase.

Holiday and Seasonal Safety Tips

Visit www.doggonesafe.com

Christmas plants such as holly and poinsettia are poisonous to dogs. Keep these plants well out of your dog’s reach.

Do not introduce a new dog or puppy into your home during the holiday season. When a dog is adopted into a new environment, it needs lots of attention. Holidays do not permit the time to make a new dog or puppy feel secure. Remember, puppies aren’t toys. They are a lifetime commitment. If you wish, give an IOU or gift that represents the dog or puppy. This can be a collar, leash or food bowl.

Don’t place lights on the lower branches of your Christmas tree. They can become hot and burn your dog.

Puppies may chew on electrical cords. Be sure to place cords where your dog can’t get near them. Dogs can be electrocuted or shocked if they chew on electrical cords.

If you purchase holiday gifts or treats for your dog, examine them thoroughly. Rawhide treats and small plastic balls or toys can be choking hazards.

Avoid using glass ornaments. They will cut your dog’s mouth and paws if broken.

Never leave your dog unattended if he can get to your Christmas tree.  Sharp needles on both artificial and live trees cannot be digested and can cause a wide range of problems if swallowed.

Your dog’s intestines can become blocked or circulation can be cut off if tinsel is swallowed. It’s best to avoid using tinsel when dogs are present in your home.

Never use edible ornaments to decorate your tree. Dogs may knock the tree over in order to get to the treats.

Keep all candy and treats out of your dog’s reach. Chocolate, alcohol and marshmallows are toxic for dogs.

Keep to a normal schedule as much as possible during the holiday season. This will prevent your dog from becoming overly stressed. Dogs that are stressed often suffer from behavioral issues.
 

Winter Health Tips

Wind chill causes colder conditions than what is read on a thermometer. Dogs shouldn’t be left outside for long periods of time. Even a half hour in frigid temperatures can cause problems. Be sure to keep a sharp eye on your dog’s body temperature and never leave him in the yard for more than 10 minutes when temperatures dip below freezing.

Always be sure your dog has adequate shelter where it will be warm and dry. Be sure that he isn’t lying in a drafty area. Place his bed, blanket or pillow on tile and wood floors to give him a warm place to sleep.

Groom your canine companion on a regular basis. A coat that is well maintained is well insulated. Shorthaired dogs and those with coarse coats get cold easily. Consider purchasing a blanket, coat or sweater to keep your dog warm.

Trim excess hair from footpads and toes of longhaired dogs. This makes it easier to remove ice and snow. Be careful not to injure your dog’s foot when trimming hair.

If you own a working dog, or if your canine companion spends hours outdoors, feed it extra calories. In winter, dogs need extra energy to regulate body temperature. Extra food provides necessary nutrients to see your dog through the most frigid days.

If your dog gets wet when out in inclement weather, towel or blow-dry his coat. Be sure to dry his paws well to prevent footpads from cracking. If your canine companion’s footpad becomes dry, moisten it with petroleum jelly.

Use caution if you and your dog are walking, playing or working around frozen creeks, rivers, lakes or streams. If your dog jumps or slips into frigid water, his body temperature will drop quickly. Dogs can die from hypothermia, just as humans can.

Never leave your dog alone in a vehicle. If the engine is off, he can die from hypothermia. If the engine is left running, he can be overcome with carbon monoxide fumes.

Anti freeze that leaks onto driveways and roads smells and tastes good to dogs. However, it is highly poisonous and can be lethal to your canine companion if ingested.

Like humans, dogs are more likely to experience health problems in winter. If your dog is listless, lethargic or experiences symptoms of illness, such as coughing, take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Woodstoves, fireplaces and portable heaters can cause severe burns to your canine companion. Be sure your dog stays away from all heat sources.

Follow these tips for keeping your dog healthy this winter season!!
 

Sit to Greet People

If you will be entertaining guests over the holidays, please read the article below prepared by Judy Miller.  These suggestions will help Fido be the perfect host or hostess.

Sitting to greet people is essential polite behaviour for any dog. Not many people, either friends or strangers, enjoy being jumped on by your dog. Dogs jumping up can damage clothes, cause bruises and may frighten someone who is fearful of dogs. Even young puppies can be frightening to some people and at the least are annoying when jumping up.

Start now to insist that your dog always sits when people approach you on your walk. People on the street have no idea how to stop your dog from jumping up, and it should not be their responsibility. Be aware, and manage the situation yourself.

When you first see people approaching (when they are still at least 2 houses away), get the dog to Sit, let the leash form a loop from your hand to the ground and up to the dog's collar. Hang on to the leash, and stand on it at the spot where the leash touches the ground. He can continue to sit comfortably, but will not be able to jump up.

• this gets the dog under control as the people approach
• if the dog bounces up, he will self-correct
• give the dog a behaviour to do - "Sit" and reward him for doing that - if he is still learning, give lots of rewards for keeping in Sit position
• keep your attention on the dog during this exercise. Greet the people, but focus on the dog and his Sitting
• keep it short and sweet - tell the dog "All done" and prepare to walk on
• when you carry on with your walk, pass by the other people with the dog on the "outside" so that you are acting as a barrier between the dog and other people - again preventing jumping up. If you must stand and talk, move the dog away, so that he cannot jump up. Sometimes people insist that they like the puppy to jump up and say hi - they love the puppy smell, he's cute, they had this breed of dog when they were young .....

Be firm and tell them something like "Right now I'm training him to sit so that when we have visitors he won't jump up on them - could you help? I'll get him sitting and then you can pat him".
 

BRAGS

Many Rally O students of Carolark earned CARO titles in 2007; here are a few:
 

Dian McTaggart and loving companion Sabrina Suede - Excellent CL March 2007

Sabrina Suede Rally Excellent CL
 

Florence Cheung and loving companion Fanta  -   Excellent July 2007 

Fanta with his Excellent Ribbons
 

Cassey Montgomery and loving companion Lily - Novice July 2007

Louise and loving companion Topaz - Versatility Oct 2007

Congratulations to the above teams on your success!   And a special thanks to Judy Miller for her support and guidance.
 

Carolyn and the team at Carolark wish you a very happy holiday season.  We look forward to training with you and your canine companion in the new year. 

Best Wishes for 2008!

Upcoming Events

New for 2008!

A TTouch workshop is scheduled for Jan. 19th and 26th, 2008.  TTouch is a gentle respectful and effective approach to the care and training of your companion animal.  It is a great way to spend time with your dog and improve the relationship with your canine friend.  Please call to reserve at 613-591-3277 toll free 1-877-763-6664.
 

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CARO Rally Obedience Trial

Hosted by:  M & M – 03 Feb 2008
Trial #:  T08-004 - 4 Novice Runs
Judges: Judy Miller & Darlene McCuaig
Email:  berners3@rogers.com
 

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Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers

Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers 12th Annual Educational Conference, AGM and Market Place will be held on April 18th – 20th, 2008 at the Travelodge in Ottawa, Ont.

The conference theme is A Capital Idea … Exploring the Relationship With Pets. The conference is designed for all people who care about pets.

We are honoured to present the following Keynote Speakers:  Bob Bailey, Philly Hennessey, Phil Arkow, Don Hanson, Dr. Simon Gadbois, and Dr. Jesus Rosales-Ruiz.

Workshop Presenters include:  Anne Douglas, Joan Orr, Jacinthe Bouchard, Patrice Robert, Dr. Beltran DVM, Dr. Alison Seely DVM, Edie Jane Eaton TTouch, and Dee Ganley.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at the Travelodge at no extra cost.

A narrated bus tour of the city and a visit to the RCMP stables are included. For conference rates and to download a registration form visit www.cappdt.ca

Editor:  Dian McTaggart
December 2007
 

  If you missed the Fall 2007 Newsletter, you can read it here

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