Happy Holidays

from The Cooperative Dog 

Pet Safety First In This Holiday Season

With the holidays come risks for pets in particular. Many family gatherings are interrupted each year with the need to seek emergency medical care for dogs and cats as a result of ingesting holiday foods, decorations and more. Preparing ahead and knowing where the nearest 24 hour animal medical center is located  is critical. 

Pets escape and become lost more easily with an increase in the number of visitors to our homes. Having recent photos and ready made flyers are helpful in finding lost pets but one of the most useful tools of all may be to microchip your pet.

Salty streets and frozen snow cover can cause horrific pain for dogs. They pick up their feet because the snow melt products BURN. It gets worse as the years go by.  It's a good idea to acclimate your dog to foot protecting booties  such as  Pawz.  Alternatively, you can  use protective salves such as Musher's Wax. 

If you're having lots of visitors, please remove your dog from group settings if he or she gets stressed. It's always important to supervise your dogs around new people and never leave them alone with a child of any age. Let your pet holiday safety motto be 'better safe than sorry'! 

May your holidays be happy and safe!

Vera

Winter Offerings

Don't let winter put your dog's education on hold! Indoor training classes with The Cooperative Dog provide stimulation without handler or dog having to endure the elements. The following group dog training classes are available at No Bones About It in Brookline: Puppy Foundation, Adolescent Dog, Good Dog, Introduction to Nose Work, Introduction to Odor, and  Tricks & Games.

Several special topic/short session Dog Training Tune-Ups include my old standby trio of Bombproof Stays, Reliable Recalls and Leash Walking 101. Others to be added include No Jumping! and Fading Food Rewards.

I also teach several weekday, weeknight  and Saturday classes at  Especially for Pets in Newton . To sign up for a class with me, check out the schedule then call 617-964-7387 ! 

As always, I am available to work privately with you and your dog in your home, neighborhood, vet office, dog park ... in short, anywhere and everywhere you go with your dog because 'they're learning when you're not teaching'!  Packages of three, six or more privates sessions give you the one on one attention to help you and your dog to be a better team! If you're travelling, I also offer my alternative to sending your dog away to board and train in a kennel. For more info on my  'Stay Home N Train' personal training option! Call me at 617-803-4086!*

* Please call me from the phone you wish me to call so I can hit redial...  I'm on the road all day travelling throughout Greater Boston, the Metro West & South Areas.

I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season!

Vera

Vera E. Wilkinson CDBC, CPDT                                      The Cooperative Dog                                                                         617-803-4086

Practical training for every day life... offering group dog training classes for dogs of all ages; private in-home dog training and problem behavior resolution through in-home behavior consultations.