Michelle and I enjoyed our first seminar with a power point presentation on sat 11/14/09 at the Cottage Grove Middle School. We set it up this past summer and it came out well. Very colorful and informative, I found it much easier to follow than the overhead transparencies that we used to use. Certainly more entertaining for our students. Michelle chose some fabulous photos to accompany the outline. Since the seminars are 4+ hours long, she is co-teaching with me now, which gives me a necessary break during a few places in presentation. She adds a fresh twist to the presentation.
Our students were very attentive and engaged in the presentation, which makes it all the more fun for me. We had with us a little malteese named Lambeau which I describe in detail in the next blog. ("Interview...") He is a very sweet, easy going fellow and did a perfect job for us. He was also very endearing to the students. It was a blessing to have him with us.
After the intstructional portion on The Innate Make-up of a Dog, and a description of THE WALK, we took the class outside to put it into practice. I demonstrated how a structured walk should look and feel. Michelle was out there with her roller blades on to demonstrate how to move dogs along faster, thus draining more nervous energy from them. Most dogs love to go faster than we can move while we are walking, even if it is at a fast pace. Then each student tried it. We also put Lambeau through the paces on obedience commands. First with treats, then without. Treats have their place, however, they are generally overused, misused and unhealthy, so we encourage our students to use them as a temporary method, only unless absolutely necessary, or for a proper reward.
After lunch, we spent time going over the optimum collar and leash for them. We have a table of all various types of each, so the student can get a visual on what we are talking about.
Then to the part every body came for: Dogs Issues and their Appropriate Corrections. After that we settled in for a good Q & A session, so I could address the problems each student was having with their dog. When our students arrive, they are usually in dire staits with their dog(s). I admire and appreciate their candor as they share their challenges and dilema's and seek to remedy them. That takes alot of courage and determination.
In this particular setting it was just Lamlbeau with us. In other areas that we instruct, however, the students are usually allowed to bring their dogs as long as they are able keep them in the car until the handling portion, which we do outside -weather providing.
Michelle and I are available for speaking and teaching engagements besides the seminars that we teach through the Community Ed's. Currently we are teaching in Prescott, Red Wing, Inver Grove and Cottage Grove/Woodbury area. Please contact us at info@WalksandWags.biz if you are interested in having us speak to your group. As you will see on the services and rates page in our web site, we also do also 1 on 1 sessions at your home, both for puppies as well as adult dogs. http://www.walksandwags.biz/.
~Candiss DelCastillo
Walks & Wags Pet Service
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