As most people have figured out by now, I think training is vital for adopted dogs. I took my own (recently adopted) dog Fiona to "doggie school" even though I've been to many classes with my other dogs and written a book that includes training information.
Why?
Because both dogs and humans benefit from training. Countless surveys have shown that people who train their adopted dogs are more likely to keep them. Every day, dogs are turned in to shelters and rescues because of simple behavior issues that could be solved by training.
That's why I'm excited about our upcoming teleseminar with Steven Appelbaum, which will be Tuesday June 22 at 1 pm (Pacific). Steven is the President and Director of Animal Behavior College (or ABC) which offers a Certified Dog Trainer Instructor program and Certified Veterinary Assistant program.
During the teleseminar we'll be talking about how you can set up training classes for your adopters. We'll talk about why training is important and things you need to think about in setting up your own program.
Steven has a unique perspective on animal training. Originally, he started a successful training company which secured a contract to supply dog training classes to Petco stores. However, he couldn't find enough trainers who could pass his entrance exams. To solve the problem, he started ABC to "train the trainers." So if you are one of the 250,000 people who took a dog obedience class at Petco between 1994 and January 31, 2004, you’re one of Steven’s clients, and if you’ve hired an ABC Certified Trainer anywhere in North America, you’re working with one of his students.
In addition to being great for the dogs and humans who attend, classes can be a great "friend-raiser" and even a mini-fundraiser. You have an "event" to promote for PR purposes, and if you do a good job, people tell their friends about you. Done well, classes can generate some great "word of mouth" marketing for your organization.