Community Corner
Dog Obedience Class Offered
Haddam-Killingworth Recreation Department offers opportunity to work with expert
Update: Classes are now scheduled to begin Thursday, March 24
For nearly a decade, Marian Smith has been teaching "Canine Encounters – Dog Obedience" through the Haddam-Killingworth Recreation Department. If Smith's name sounds familiar, she is also the Animal Control Officer for Killingworth.
Canine Encounters is "not about doing tricks or frilly things,” Smith says. Instead, “We do very basic obedience which makes a dog a pleasure to live with, a dog who can live with the family (not a dog that lives around the family), a dog that’s included in everyday life. We’re basically looking for a well-mannered dog,” she explains.
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“We’re not looking for a dog that can get you a beer from the refrigerator,” Smith quips and adds, “What we want is a dog that can be around company, a dog that can be in the yard, can be non-aggressive, can come when called, and has some manners as far as begging. We have a zero aggression tolerance.”
The foundation for all problems is “a lack of understanding, communication and a relationship with their dog.”
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Once resolved, she can get into the specific behavioral problems, the most common of which are: “the dog doesn’t walk nice on a leash, the dog jumps, the dog steals things, the dog doesn’t come when called or runs away when the door is open, the dog that doesn’t get along with the other dog or the cat or the youngster,” Smith says.
“We want a dog that you can take to the woods, take off the leash and be with you. A dog that can be in your yard.”
It depends on the dog and the person and the environment, but it’s nice to have “a dog that doesn’t need an invisible fence or barrier fence, a dog that can sit in the car when you do a few errands and not terrorize anyone who walks by it or eats the interior of your car!”
Canine Encounters' top dog was trained at the Canine Education Center in Newington, also teaches dog obedience through Madison Beach & Recreation, and has had dogs "forever".
The easiest to train, she finds, are Standard Poodles, followed by Border Collies and German Shepards. “They’re all very easy," Smith adds.
She emphasizes the person-dog relationship.
“Once in a blue moon it’s just not a good match. It’s a very good person with very good intentions and a very wonderful dog and they just don’t go together. Whether it’s lifestyle or breed temperament and characteristics – whatever the case may be they just don’t work each other.”
Smith also does behavioral consultations “where you have a specific issue and you want it resolved asap – you’re not a group person or into a class,” she explains.
The classes are all positive reinforcement. “They’re not on gadgets, we don’t do clickers, we don’t throw the obedience chains, we don’t put harsh collars on. There’s nothing harsh at all.”
“It’s all very positive reinforcement and no stress.”
Once the owner is stressed out or has a deadline “or their expectations are off the Richter Scale or they send them with a child who isn’t interested in doing it, then it doesn’t work,” she says.
“We try to make it real lighthearted and real fun.”
Session one of Canine Encounters – Dog Obedience will be held from March 17 through April 28. Session two runs from May 19 through June 30.
For additional information on the class as well as registration information, please visit www.hkrec.com