Your Dog’s Friend sponsors a series of free workshops throughout the year. Please register with your name, number attending, phone number, and name of workshop(s) by emailing us.

These workshops are all held at the Potomac Community Center, 11315 Falls Rd. (map).

Although we love dogs, please leave yours at home. Demo dogs are the only dogs allowed at the workshops.

Summer Workshops:

$50 check to Sundown Ridge to cover materials

Learn how to give temporary care to your dog or cat in an emergency from a Red Cross certified instructor. Topics covered include: normal breathing, pulse rates, temperatures; CPR; rescue breathing; choking; controlled bleeding; capturing and restraining a sick or injured pet; illnesses and injuries. No pets are allowed at the class. Manikins and stuffed animals are used for practice. Maximum of 13 students. Instructor: Lynne Bettinger, Sundown Ridge

Is your dog chewing, digging, barking, jumping, nipping or soiling your house?  Learn strategies to deal with these and other problems.  Plus you will be able to apply these same basic methods as new issues arise.  Speaker: Jennifer Lund, CPDT, www.see-spot-sit.com.

Fall Workshops:

It’s normal for dogs to bark from time to time, but continual barking can be a real problem – for you, your neighbors, and your dog. Our speaker will explain how barking can be a symptom of other problems that need addressing.  She will go over the reasons that dogs bark, give you suggestions for dealing with these issues, and show you how to teach your dog a “quiet” cue. Speaker: Hedda Garland, www.schoolofdogs.com

If you have a dog that “doesn’t listen”, you have plenty of company. Most dogs aren’t actually stubborn; we just speak different languages. Our speaker will help you understand why your dog is ignoring you, and she’ll give you tips on motivating and communicating with your dog.  Speaker: Michelle Mange, www.rightstartmaryland.com

If your dog growls or lunges at other dogs or strangers, you know the nightmare of walking your dog around the neighborhood, going to the vet's office, or watching your dog threaten others through your window.  Would you like to know why it happens?  How to predict when it will happen?  And what you can do about it?  Join us for two hours, and leave with ideas to help your reactive dog.  Speaker: Jules Nye, CPDT; www.sitstayandplay.com

Most dogs from shelters and rescues make wonderful pets, but they may also have unexpected issues. Our speaker, who has spent years training shelter dogs, can help you better understand and work with your adopted dog. You will learn how to recognize your dog’s stress signals and build your dog’s trust and confidence.  She will also explain how your dog can learn new habits (and "un-learn" old ones). Speaker: Liz Marsden, CPDT, www.thelogicaldog.com

We know how much you care about your dog.  You want him to exercise, play, and get along with others. That’s why so many of you go to the dog park or join dog play groups.  Dog trainer Robin Bennett, author of Off-Leash Dog Play, will help you understand what you’re seeing  when your dogs play. Learn about polite and rude greetings, breed-specific play styles, common social gestures, and emotional states.  You’ll never look at dog play the same way again.  Speaker: Robin Bennett, CPDT; www.allaboutdogsinc.com

Toys are more than play for your dog.  There are interactive toys that provide mental stimulation and allow your dog to occupy himself; chew toys that tempt your dog away from the furniture; chase toys that help satisfy your dog's prey drive; tug toys that let dogs exercise hard-wired behaviors of tugging and ripping.  Most important to the typical dog owner is that a dog's behavior will improve when he uses his brain and energy in play.  And you thought toys were just for fun!  We will have toys on display. Speakers: Tracy Kinnahan, Pro Feed of Rockville, and Tatiana Toczko, www.WatchListenLearnLLC.com