New Dog Training Classes at San Diego Humane Society

Calling all canines and pet parents! January is “National Train Your Dog Month,” which celebrates the importance of giving dogs the structure and routine they thrive on, through positive reinforcement training. Start the New Year off on the right paw with new and enlightening dog training classes, now available at San Diego Humane Society. Whether you have a spry puppy, active adolescent or seasoned senior, classes are available for all skill levels to help you and your pet better understand one
another.

“Positive reinforcement training yields a multitude of benefits for both you and your dog. It’s the most effective and humane way to help your dog understand what you expect from them. And, equally as important, it teaches them what they can expect from you in return – like treats, praise and belly rubs,” says Shauna Romero, Community Training Coordinator at San Diego Humane Society. “This mutual understanding creates a well-behaved pet and also builds a healthier, happier bond between you and your dog.”

Class offerings:

• K9 Nose Work Classes (Scent Detection Training): Provide an outlet for your dog’s energy and natural drive!  This class will help to engage your dog’s mind, build confidence, provide exercise and create training opportunities, all while giving pet owners the chance to learn and understand the unique qualities of your dog.
• Marvelous Manners: An introductory-level course that addresses training areas of immediate concern to dog owners. Course topics include: Loose leash walking, coming when called, greeting without jumping, settle down (calmness in the home), wait for permission, and many more!
• Superb Skills: This training class will build on the skills learned in “Marvelous Manners,” focusing on differentiating verbal cues from hand signals, as well as adding distance and duration to all behaviors learned in Marvelous Manners.
• Reliable Rovers: This training class is designed to challenge both you and your dog. Lessons will focus on strengthening behaviors learned in “Superb Skills” by increasing distance, duration, and distractions. Students will play specialized games that help ensure reliability in a variety of situations.
• Shy Dog: An introductory-level course designed for dogs that are overwhelmed by their environment. This class focuses on building trust between you and your dog, as well as boosting your dog's confidence through positive reinforcement training.
• Puppy Preschool: This class is designed to meet the training and socialization needs of pups that are 8-18 weeks of age. Owners and their pups learn to adapt to new people, dogs, environments, and experiences.
• Urban Canine: Designed for students and their dogs, this class provides the tools necessary to be able to practice the skills learned in training classes out in real life situations. This class is for students who have graduated from a formal obedience class and will be held in a different public location each week.

For more information and a full calendar of training classes, visit: http://www.sdhumane.org/what-we-do/programs/dog-training/

About San Diego Humane Society
Serving San Diego County since 1880, San Diego Humane Society’s scope of social responsibility goes beyond adopting animals. San Diego Humane Society offers San Diegans a wide range of programs and services that strengthen the human-animal bond, prevent cruelty/neglect, provide medical care, educate the community on the humane treatment of animals and provide safety net services for all pet families needing assistance with keeping their pets.

As one of San Diego’s oldest nonprofit organizations, San Diego Humane Society has campuses located in Escondido, Oceanside, and San Diego as well as adoption centers inside Petco stores throughout San Diego County. San Diego Humane Society is supported solely through contributions, grants, bequests, investments, proceeds from the Muttique retail store and small fees for services. For more information or to view our current animals available for adoption; please visit www.sdhumane.org<http://www.sdhumane.org/>.