Beth has been an American Kennel Club (AKC) certified Canine Good Citizen evaluator since the program began. Our course offers CGC-specific work to help the dog-handler team successfully test for the Canine Good Citizen Certification on the last day of class. We further develop the basic cues of attention, stay, loose-leash walking and coming when called - adding distractions and increasing length of exercises. All dogs, mixed breeds and pure bred, at least 4 months of age are welcomed to attend. Graduation from Foundation, or similar type class, is beneficial but not mandatory. The CGC Test Exercises are: Accept a stranger, sit for petting, appearance & grooming, walk on a loose lead, walk through a crowd, sit, down and stay, come when called, proper reaction to another dog, proper reaction to distraction and supervised separation. This is an 8 week group class - limited to 6 dog/handler teams.Please bring your dog to all AKC CGC classes.

Beth is a Therapy Dogs International, Incorporated (TDI,Inc) certified evaluator, member of the TDI, Inc. since 1988, member (and licensed evaluator) for Delta Society with her Guinea Pig Pet Partners since 2004, and the Program Administrator for Pets Uplifting People Society - a visiting pets / animal assisted activities organization. Beth is very active in Therapy Dogs / Visiting Emotional Therapy / Animal Assisted Activities / Animal Assisted Therapy in Central Delaware and multiple sites in Maryland.

Our eight-week Therapy Dogs In Training Course has been developed for the dog & handler team who are ready to expand on their basic obedience skills with the goal of passing the Therapy Dog evaluation, registering with a visiting pet organization and beginning team visitation as a volunteer. The first night of class, we will evaluate each team to understand their strengths, weaknesses and the appropriateness of this class. In addition to working on perfecting the basics, our class will show you how to teach your dog to seek & accept appropriate interaction with strangers, ignore temptations on the floor, become accustom to unusual noises, medical equipment and other need to know items when visiting facilities. Therapy Teams will learn appropriate interaction with other teams while brushing up on their already known cues of sit & down, stay, come when called, and loose leash walking. We present & discuss pet visitation guidelines, general facility requirements, patients’ rights, community volunteerism, personal commitments, safety & protection of your therapy pet, and your responsibilities as a volunteer. The course includes booklets, handouts and both the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) & the Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (TDI) evaluations. This course is limited to 6 dog/handler teams.Please bring your dog to all Therapy Dog classes.

Workshops

Tellington TTouch Bodywork Workshops

Beth is one of a hand-full of Level-2 Certified Tellington Method Practitioners in America. The positive and gentle method of Tellington Method is easy to learn and often produces significant changes, even with the most difficult behavior problems. By introducing a combination of touches, lifts and strokes, Beth teaches you how to induce a state of relaxation, increase body awareness and build confidence in your pet. Tellington Method can deepen the bond between you and your companion. It offers a positive approach to training which emphasizes cooperation and partnership, promoting optional performance and health without fear or force. Recognized worldwide, this systematic method is easy to learn and brings quick lasting results. TTouch can help with cases of excessive barking, chewing, leash pulling, jumping up, aggressive behavior, shyness, fearfulness, car sickness, excitability, nervousness, and problems with aging as well as deepen the bond between you and your pet. Learn how you can apply TTouch to eliminate inappropriate behaviors, assist with recovery from your pet's injury and illness, or just enhance the quality of your animal's life.

Beth is available for lectures, private consultations and workshops. Please click here to learn more.

As a certified American Safety and Health Institute instructor, Beth is able to offer this 5-hour First Aid workshop which will help you learn how to provide immediate care needed by injured or ill pets, as temporary assistance, until competent Veterinary care is available. When properly applied, first aid can save your pet’s life, reduce recovery time and be the difference between temporary and lifelong disability. This program concentrates on basic first aid and is not intended to replace Veterinary care, but rather to instruct owners on how to minimize the impact of trauma after injury and help save their pet’s life prior to reaching the Veterinarian. In addition to basic emergency care (scene safety, initial assessment, etc.) we will cover types of injuries (tissue, muscle and bone), common illnesses and other potential hazards. Workshop attendees will view video tapes offering vivid coverage of the care injured dogs and cats need. Each participant will receive their own American Safety and Health Institute Pet First Aid Student Book along with educational handouts and the opportunity to practice their newly learned skills in class, under supervision. The benefits of pet travel kits, suggestions for first aid kits, and other pet safety information will also be presented.

Private Consultations

Beth has a limited number of Private Consultations available for those who would enjoy specialized attention. These consultations last 2-3 hours - at your home or barn. Based on her findings, Beth will suggest, and teach you and your family members, a workable course of action. We keep in touch via email or telephone. When necessary, an additional home visit is used. Beth utilizes Caring Touch to help inducing relaxation while increasing body awareness to assist in building self-confidence, foundation training, proper use of positive reinforcement, desensitization and classical counter conditioning are methods introduced and used to recognize and reduce triggers that invoke inappropriate behavior from the animal. Positive reinforcement is also taught with Clicker work and appropriately timed praise. Emphasis is placed on developing the handler’s training skills by way of the best use of positive reinforcement to encourage appropriate actions while eliminating inappropriate behaviors. Please click PositivePups@comcast.net or TTouch@comcast.net to email Beth for more information or to discuss your animal's behavior.

2008 AKC Canine Good Citizen & Therapy Dogs International Evaluation Schedule