Workshops
preparing families with dogs for life with baby
Having a baby is a life changing experience for everyone involved, including the family dog. Dogs & Storks is the first national program that offers positive, practical, and fun solutions to help families with dogs prepare for baby before baby arrives.
If your dog has never spent significant time around babies, toddlers, and children, don’t wait until baby comes home to discover potential problems. Preparing ahead decreases stress and increases success!
Our two hour presentation workshop covers:
- Preparing your dog before baby arrives
- Introducing your dog after baby arrives
- Reading your dog’s body language and recognizing signs of stress
- Creating a safe environment for everyone
Workshop fee is $25.00. Maximum of two people may attend per registrant. Workshop includes an informational booklet. Please do not bring your dog to the workshop.
Dogs & Storks Workshop in Springfield: Saturday, May 18th at 10:00 am.
Click here to register.
the dog and baby connection workshop
Highly recommended for families and caregivers of children between the ages of three months and three years, The Dog and Baby Connection is a perfect follow-up for those who attended a Dogs and Storks workshop. The goal of the Dog and Baby Connection is to position dogs for success as the family grows and, at the same time, keep children safe.
As babies hit developmental milestones, this can cause changes to the family dynamics. We will specifically address these developmental milestones and how they may impact the family dog. In this two hour workshop we will cover:
- Specific ways to include dogs in daily baby routines in a safe and comfortable manner.
- Realistic expectations of both baby and dog.
- Identifying common hot spots in homes between dogs and toddlers.
- Educating parents and caregivers on different types of supervision and offering solutions for safety.
Workshop fee is $25.00. Maximum of two people may attend per registrant. Workshop includes an informational booklet. Please do not bring your dog to the workshop.
The Dog and Baby Connection Workshop in Springfield: Saturday, May 18th at 1:00 pm.
Click here to register.
pet first aid and cpr workshop
Could you save your pet’s life? Learn how to save your pet’s life with simple, proven first aid techniques. Learn what to do if your pet is bleeding, choking, suffering from heat stroke, in shock, or has a broken bone. Your pet is worth way more than the small investment in time and money to save his life in the event of an emergency.
Completion of the Pet First Aid and CPR Workshop includes:
- Pet Saver Handbook
- Pet CPR and First Aid Certificate
- Most importantly – the peace of mind that only comes with the knowledge that you could save your pet’s life in an emergency.
Our workshop is taught by a certified American Red Cross and Pet Tech Pet First Aid and CPR instructor.
Workshop fee is $65.00
Pet First Aid and CPR Workshop in Springfield: Sunday, June 30th at 11:00 am
Click here to register.
There will be lots of material to cover so please bring your lunch and a beverage.
Senior petizen
Part of being a caring, conscientious, responsible and loving caretaker includes helping your pet into his golden years.” Medically speaking, old age for pets is considered a condition and not an illness or disease. There are many preventative measures that you can do now to increase the quality and quantity of your companion animal’s life as he becomes a senior petizen. This course will teach you to create a lifestyle for your pet that minimizes the risk of illness, injury and disease and, at the same time, maximizes the quality of his life and your relationship with him.
2 hour workshop, fee is $30.00
Senior Petizen: Sunday, June 30th 9:00 am. Click here to register.
pet Dental care
A pet whose teeth have not been brushed in three years is equivalent to a human without dental care for 20 years! Imagine what your mouth would look like and smell like if you didn’t have any dental care for the first 20 years of your life. This course will teach you how to properly care for your pet’s teeth, how to recognize the signs of periodontal disease, the four stages of periodontal disease, and what you should do if you suspect your pet has periodontal disease.
This is a great class to help maintain your pet’s dental health and to live up to 30% longer.
1 hour workshop, fee is $20.00
Dental Care: Sunday, June 30th 4:30 pm. Click here to register.
pet health workshop package
Register for all three workshops- Senior Petizen, Pet First Aid and CPR, and the Dental Care workshop for just $99. Click here to register.
pit bull parenting workshop
No breed has ever been more misunderstood or maligned than the American Pit Bull Terrier. Even those who have similar looking breeds such as American Bulldogs, American Staffordshire Terriers, and any mix with the above mentioned breeds, faces the same public scrutiny and discrimination.
In order to start changing the public’s perception, we need to help our bully breeds be the best they can be. The goal of the Pit Bull Parenting Workshop is to educate families on training, exercise, and home management for this highly intelligent and athletic canine so they may be good ambassadors for their breed.
Some of the topics we will cover:
- Establishing leadership using positive reinforcement.
- Utilizing life rewards.
- Games and impulse control training.
- Children and bully breeds.
- What is management and how to set it up for success.
- Reading your dog’s arousal level and re-directing his energy into acceptable outlets.
Please do not bring your dog to the workshop.
The Pit Bull Parenting Workshop in Springfield: Monday, April 22nd at 6:00 pm.
Workshop fee is $25.00, and a maximum of 2 participants may attend per registration. Please do not bring your dog to the workshop. REGISTER NOW.
art of shaping and band workshop
Participants and their dogs will learn the skills of shaping dog behavior through the use of a reward marker signal and small food rewards. They will apply these skills towards teaching their dogs how to paint their own picture. In the 2nd part of this workshop participants will use their shaping skills to teach their dog how to play a musical instrument.
This workshop is FREE and runs 2 hours in length. Please bring your dog hungry and plenty of small tasty food rewards.
Art of Shaping and Band Workshop: Saturday, November 17th at 1:00 pm
Please register by calling 413-781-4000 x129 or by email.
pho-dog-graphy
Participants will learn how to not only teach their dogs to stay still for a photograph, but how to get their dogs to look in the right direction and take a good picture. In addition, a professional photographer will be on hand to teach the humans how to sharpen their own picture taking skills.
This workshop is FREE and runs 2 hours in length. Please bring your dog hungry and plenty of small tasty food rewards.
Pho-Dog-Graphy: Monday, December 17th at 6:00 pm
Please register by calling 413-781-4000 x129 or by email.
fundraising with your canine, 1 and 2
In part 1, participants will learn how to teach their dogs to collect donations while holding a basket in their mouth. In part 2, dogs will learn how to fetch a donation from a person's hand and put it in a collection jar.
This workshop is FREE and runs 2 hours in length. Please bring your dog hungry and plenty of small tasty food rewards. All dogs must be friendly and comfortable with people they don't know.
Fundraising with Your Canine, 1 and 2: Saturday, December 15th at 1:00 pm
Please register by calling 413-781-4000 x129 or by
cat behavior workshop- saturday november 10th from 1-4:30p.m.
Presented by certified cat behavior consultant, Elise Gouge, MPH
litterbox issues- how to create a lifelong relationship between the litterbox and your cat
Learn how to help your cat to love his litterbox. You will leave knowing what cats like and don't like with litterboxes, why they don't use a box, and what you can do to change all of that.
Litterbox Issues: Date TBA
Click here to register.
Receive a $10 discount by registering for all three workshops by clicking here.
krazy kitties!- how to keep high energy cats from destroying you and your house
This one-hour mini-seminar is for cat caregivers who are at their wits' end with how to deal with their cat's energy. We will discuss cat schedules, exercise, discipline, and how to get your cat under control.
Krazy Kitties: Date TBA
Click here to register.
Receive a $10 discount by registering for all three workshops by clicking here.
claws & Paws- having your cat and dog get along
Proper introduction techniques, as well as solutions for the common issues that come up between cats and dogs. We will cover barking, chasing, scratching, and other problems pet caregivers encounter.
Claws & Paws: Date TBA
Click here to register.
Receive a $10 discount by registering for all three workshops by clicking here.
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