After attending this library event, I am thinking of telling my master, Richard, to get me a library card.
[NOTE: Trainer Lynda Kitson presentation text is linked at the bottom of Fermo’s description.]
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Last night, Tuesday, August 20, my master, Richard, and I attended a dog training session with about 30 other dogs. It was held in the grassy knoll area behind the George Ashe Public Library in Pickering. The Pickering Library partnered with the City of Pickering Animal Services for this outstanding.
The event started early after all of us dogs had our suppers and did our walks. Good that we ate light because there were endless dog treats throughout the presentation.
Head trainer, great work
The dog trainer for this event was Lynda Kitson of Who’s Walking Who Dog Training in Ajax ( LINK ). Kitson had all the leashed dogs station themselves beside little pylons in a huge circle with her barking commands and explaining the material in the center.
Excited dogs but calmed with Kitson’s words
A couple of the dogs were a little overexcited, not like me. They were barking a bit and lunging a little. I was quiet, calm, cool and collected, but what would you expect from a senior citizen Scottie? I’m 12 years old, so I have seen a lot of this kind of training stuff. I have to brag: I’ve won ribbons, one for best tail waggers in puppy school, but I digress.
Lynda started the presentation by explaining why some of the dogs were so overly excited, and as she talked, those guys quieted down to a dog. It was surprising to see but gratifying because their owners were likely getting anxious too.
Content of the training session
Lynda talked about breeds and their traits, common dog behaviour and misbehaviour, training methods and how they have changed over the years, dog foods and treats, and finally, the dog training events of the evening began. [For those who may not have heard everything Kitson said, there is a PDF summary being sent to all the attendees, the human ones.]
Kitson’s goal for the training session
All five dog training routines had the same two things in common: positive reinforcement with treats and no dog-calling commands. Lynda’s point in the latter training was to teach both master and dog to be aware of and engaged with each other. Easy for humans but harder for us; as Lynda emphasized, dogs have the intellectual capacity of a two or 3-year-old child. That’s an insult to me, I have to say. I think I’m a lot brighter than that, though she claims we have a limited vocabulary of maybe 150 words. Don’t go puttin’ us down. Our limitations depend on our owners and how we are treated and trained.
Positive training, positive results
However, I have to give Lynda credit. She showed each dog owner that every dog there could easily do what was being taught and done with eagerness and enthusiasm. Of course, she used me as her model trainee more than any other dog there. I know why!
Many different dogs were attending, some pure breeds and others mixed breeds, but all of the dogs found the event productive, positive and a learning experience. I can only hope the masters, many of them couples, learned as much as we did.
The sporadic rain showers didn’t put a damper on any of us, dogs or masters. We all learned a lot, enjoyed the endless nibbles and had a fun time.
Compliments and kudos to the presenters & organizers
Kudos to Lindsey Narraway, head of the City of Pickering Animal Services, for arranging this great event. All of us dogs, along with the masters, thank her and the Pickering Library for such a terrific event for guys who don’t even have library cards, us dogs.
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