January is National Train Your Dog Month, where dog owners are encouraged to make an effort to partake in training and socialization with their canines.
On January 29, The Family Companion will be hosting an all-day, free event in observance of National Train Your Dog Month. The event will take place at Animal Outfitters and will feature several presentations, a chance to consult with dog-training experts and a canine good citizen test. There will also be refreshments for people and pets, a pet trivia game and door prizes.
“The day will include a combination of educational presentations and interactive hands-on activities sure to be enjoyed by both two-legged and four-legged attendees,” said Marcia Rafter Ritchie, The Family Companion’s behavior training director. “We hope everyone that stops by will leave with a better knowledge and understanding of positive methods of dog training–and a few treats too.”
The presentations will begin at 10 a.m. and will run until 5 p.m. Each one will last for one hour and will cover the following topics:
· Dog Bite Prevention
· Leash Reactive Dogs
· Pet First Aid
· Choosing the Right Pet
· Pet Therapy Programs
· Your Senior Companion
· Adolescent Behavior
Some of the presentations will be interactive, having owners work with the dogs. In some instances, children will be able to role-play in order to learn techniques on how to be safe around their dogs. Some of the presentations will be more formal and will feature a question-and-answer session after the discussion.
“We feel it’s very important to spread the word, as trained dogs and educated owners increase the likelihood of a successful union,” said Ritchie. “This will help assure the dog will become a valued member of the family instead of being relinquished to a shelter, or worse.”
Animal Outfitters is located at 986 Elmwood Avenue, between Potomac and Bidwell Parkway. For more information, visit the website at www.thefamilycompanion.com, email thefamilycompanion@me.com, or call 716-592-0802.