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One Great Day, TWO Great Workshops: Maddening to Maturity and I’ve Got Your Back

MADDENING TO MATURITY

Do you wonder where your once wonderful puppy went? And why have they turned into a sometimes maddening, unpredictable, maybe even out of control adolescent?

Relax — you’re not alone. More than a few puppy class stars have gone on to be champion butt heads as teenagers!

For many dog owners, their dog's adolescence can be problematic. Even with a great start in puppyhood, many dogs hit adolescence and become frustrating, unruly, and simply maddening in some ways. While puzzling to many owners, this is a natural but poorly understood stage of development.

• Did you know that adolescence begins around 20 weeks of age?

• That a year old dog is roughly the equivalent of a 14 year human?

• That adulthood in the dog begins at 2-4 years of age?

• That the most annoying teenage dogs are often geniuses?

As dogs shift into adolescence starting around 20 weeks, new behaviors begin to appear. At first, we may just think they are a bit distracted or didn’t hear us. What the heck is going on, and what can you do about it?

Whether you are raising your first teenage dog or have ridden this rollercoaster before, first time owner or a seasoned pro, this workshop provides a deeper understanding of this amazing phase of canine development. This is also excellent for shelter and rescue workers looking to better work with and place adolescent dogs, or trainers looking to better work with and help their clients.

You will walk away with practical advice on helping any teenage dog grow into a wonderful adult dog. The kind of adult dog that makes people say, “Oh, I wish I had a dog just like that!” while you smile and wonder if they knew him as a teenager.

I’VE GOT YOUR BACK

Do you wish you and your dog could just enjoy life instead of worrying about strangers, barking, lunging, wanting to run away, or even acting aggressively? Above all, would you like to know why does your dog act like this, and how to help?

There is a confusing assortment of dog training advice out there. Use lots of treats. Don’t use treats. Don’t let them get away with it. Let them grow out of it. How do you know what to try? How do you know if it’s working?

This workshop will provide practical advice to help you help your dog. While we do not have any magic wands, you’ll learn:

• How anxiety and fear affect learning

• The contributions of temperament and experience

• What are the triggers, thresholds and recovery time

Helping a fearful, anxious, shy or reactive dog is not just about teaching obedience or doling out a lot of cheese. While we do teach skills and are generous with rewards, there is so much more:

• Recognizing your dog’s preferences, limits, triggers and resilience

• Being your dog’s support system – how your actions, body language & responses create safety and clarity for your dog

• RCT Skills to build confidence, self regulation and connection

• Creating the right size world for your dog

• Adjusting expectations to meet your dog’s reality

Above all, this workshop – like everything Suzanne teaches – will help you strengthen your relationship, build trust and help your dog (and you!) gain new confidence. Or give you skills to help others work with their shy or fearful dogs. Practical tips help you make the meaningful changes that support your dog and help shape the right size world, one that is comfortable and free from distress or overwhelm.

Date: Sunday, November 29

Time: |Maddening to Maturity| 9am to Noon  |I’ve Got Your Back| 1:30pm to 5pm

Cost: $90.00 for the individual workshops or $170 for both. Generous discounts are available for Shelter/Rescue staff and volunteers!

Instructor: Suzanne Clothier

To register: Click Here to Enroll!