free workshops

Sessions will be held at one of the following locations:

Potomac Community Center (PCC)
11315 Falls Road in Potomac, MD 20854. Click here for a map.

Wheaton Community Center (WCC)
11711 Georgia Avenue in Wheaton, MD 20902. Click here for a map.

This workshop will teach you new ways to help your dog get his “minimal daily requirement” of physical and mental activity. Learn how to exercise your dog, even when it's too cold for long walks; what to do for indoor activities when your dog is stuck inside; and where to find the BEST toys to challenge your dog and chews to occupy him. The speaker is Jules Nye, CPDT (www.sitstayandplay.com).

Pam Wanveer (www.WoodsideTTouch.com) will discuss and demonstrate TTouch, a method using body work, wraps and confidence exercises to reduce stress in dogs. TTouch can help the reactive dog, overly aroused by what's going on around him; the aging dog, suffering from the pain of arthritis or other ailments; the overwhelmed dog, adapting to a new home after living in a shelter; the fearful dog, panicking when his owners leave the house or when he hears thunder. Come learn some techniques to help your dog relax his body and calm his emotions. Please leave your dog at home. Demo dogs will be available for practice.

Does your dog chew on furniture? Jump on guests?  Not come when called?  Or bark incessantly?  You may not think of these as training issues, but they are. Training should help your dog understand what behaviors you want and teach alternatives to the behaviors you don't want. The training process should also be enjoyable, so your dog will always want to listen.  Jules Nye,  CPDT (www.sitstayandplay.com) will show you how to teach your dog realistic techniques for everyday problems.

Working With Your Deaf or Blind Dog, 3:15 – 4:15pm

After a fifteen minute break, Jules will help those of you with blind or deaf dogs apply these principles to your dog's special needs.

To help your anxious dog, you first have to understand that when your dog is anxious, he isn't thinking; he's reacting. Whether your dog spent time in a shelter, is afraid of storms, guards resources, is destructive when left alone, or acts aggressively toward other dogs or people, Dr. E. Kathryn Meyer, VMD (www.VeterinaryBehaviorClinic.com) can help you understand the nature of anxiety and what that means for helping your anxious dog.

Some dogs are just more difficult to motivate - you know, the dog that stays when you want to go; looks the other way when you call; or thinks “leave it” is an invitation to roll in it. It may be that your dog needs more consistent training, but there are also some dogs that are truly more difficult to train. Dog trainer Michelle Mange (www.rightstartmaryland.com) has a particular affection for these dogs. She has two of her own. Come hear her secrets to training the difficult dog.