Weekly Taming Tip

Each week we'll share a Taming Tip for you, your family and your friends to do with your dog(s)! These tips will help teach your dog real world manners in a fun way. Leave us a comment and tell us how it went!

Taming Tip #12:

Help your dog be polite and friendly this week!  Stand or sit in front of your dog and hold your hand towards his nose as if giving a treat, when your dog's nose touches your hand to investigate, say "hello" then click and treat! Put your hand behind your back and repeat. Everytime your dog's nose touches your hand, give him a reward and cue "hello". Practice with friends and family members. After your dog sits and says "hello"  he can have a treat and be petted!! Have fun!!

TTouch

Our first TTouch class was a success!  Victoria shared some basic TTouch principles and then taught us two different touches to use on our dogs.  By the end of class we had some relaxed and happy dogs!

Victoria demonstating with her "dog"

The whole family can participate in TTouch!

Debbie learning just the right motion to help Luke relax

Keegan is watching to make sure Lynda is getting this down right!

Victoria demonstrating the ear touch

Cooper relaxin'

Chris doing an ear touch on Happy

Luke's chillin'

Keegan says this class is a HIT!

A very happy Happy!

Cooper is all chilled out!

Interesting in seeing more TTouch pictures?  Click the following link:  I wanna see them ALL!

NEW CLASS: Fitness with Fido

Obesity has become a major public health threat, 26.5% of adults living in Tarrant County and 27.1% of adults living in Parker County are considered obese. At the same time, obesity among dogs is also increasing. It is estimated that 25-44% of dogs are clinically obese. Research has shown that increased weight contributes to a large number of medical conditions for both people and their pets.

Taming the Wild Side is teaming up with a certified personal trainer to create a workout program where you and your dog can exercise together! When people and dogs exercise together, both can lose weight and keep it off. You will get healthier, your dog will get healthier and best of all you'll have fun doing it!




Fanchee and Charlie

A native Texan and lifelong pet parent, Fanchee has been working in the fitness industry for the past ten years. Sharing outdoor group exercise with fellow pet parents and her Bischon, Charlie, is an exciting opportunity! Fanchee, a Certified Personal Trainer, and Terri, a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner,will lead you and your dog through an exercise routine and doggy obedience exercises that will help you meet your exercise goals.

Date: May 7th - June 18th

Time: 9:00 am - 10:00 am

Location: Pecan Valley Park, located off of Winscott Road in Benbrook

Cost: $150 for a 6 week class

Equipment: Easy to eat treats for your dog, water for you and your dog, water bowl, 6 ft leash

To sign up for this class, please visit the following link: Fitness with Fido Sign Up

NEW CLASS: Therapy Dog

Do you think your dog can make a difference in someone else's life?  Maybe Therapy Dog is for you!  This class is for those who would like to learn more about pet therapy, and will help you and your dog develop the skills needed to become a successful Therapy Dog Team.  You will learn how to have control of your dog while visiting a facility, including a reliable "sit", "down" and "stay" with a few added tips and tricks to help in special situations.  Many of the skills that you will need to be a successful team build on the foundation of basic obedience that your dog already knows and some skills may be brand new to you and your dog.  In this class, we will teach obedience with distractions, and help build confidence so that petting from a stranger, clumsy petting, group petting and loud noises will be less stressful for your dog.  We will practice role playing a visit, loose leash walking with increasing distractions, and how to read your dog's body language.  This class includes three field trips at various locations to practice the new skills we have learned.  You will be able to practice these skills in class, but homework will be assigned to help build your relationship with your dog into a partnership.

Date:  May 5th - June 23rd

Time:  7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Location:  Taming the Wild Side Training Facility

Cost:  $150 for an eight week class.  Cash or checks only please.

Equipment:  Easy to eat treats for your dog, water, water bowl, six foot leash

To sign up for this class, please click the following link:  Therapy Dog Sign Up

NEW CLASS: Puppy I

Six week course in which puppies will learn sit, down, leave it, recalls off of distractions and loose leash walking. You will also learn crate training, teaching your puppy bite inhibition and getting them comfortable being handled. Puppies will be able to socialize and play with other puppies. This is very important towards good manners as they grow through adolescence. We will also teach targeting exercises and confidence building exercises.

Please Note: This class will be limited to 6 puppies. This class is only open to puppies 8 to 16 weeks old. Proof of vaccinations will be required - please bring your vaccination records to the first class session.

Date: Friday, May 6th - June 10th

Time: 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: Taming the Wild Side Training Facility

Cost: $100 for a six week class. Cash or checks only please.

Equipment: Easy to eat treats for your dog, water, water bowl.

To sign up for this class, please click the following link:  Puppy I Sign Up

Weekly Taming Tip

Each week we'll share a Taming Tip for you, your family and your friends to do with your dog(s)! These tips will help teach your dog real world manners in a fun way. Leave us a comment and tell us how it went!

Taming Tip #11:

This week introduce your dog to at least five new people!  As people approach, have your dog sit, and then the person they are saying hello to can pet them.  Reward your dog with a treat for sitting and being nice.  If your dog is a little timid when meeting strangers, have the person give them a treat and then they can pet your dog under their chin, if your dog is comfortable.

NEW CLASS: Puppy II

Puppy II is a six-week course that builds on the skills learned in Puppy I. Exercises are now taught using low-level distractions working our way to control with high-level distractions. Puppies will now be entering adolescence. This class is designed to help you manage adolescent behavior.

Date: May 3rd - June 7th

Time: 6:00 - 7:00 pm

Location: Taming the Wild Side Training Facility

Cost: $100 for a 6 week class. Cash or checks only please.

Equipment: Easy to eat treats for your dog, water, water bowl.

Prerequisite: Puppy I

NOTE: This class will be limited to 6 dogs.

To sign up for this class, please click the following link:  Puppy II (Tuesday Evenings)

TTouch - New Day and Time!

Do you have a dog that gets nervous around other dogs, sounds, and / or people? TTouch is a very important technique to learn and use! Our class starts soon, reserve your spot now!

To sign up for our TTouch class, click the following link:  Sign me up!

TTouch is a system of precise finger and hand movements combined with guided movement exercises that provide us with gentle, yet powerful techniques to affect the body mind functioning in animals. These touches help to release stress, increase body awareness, promote trust and allow an animal to be handled with less stress. TTouch also enhances focus and concentration which allows learning to take place. TTouch can also be used to help animals deal with noise phobias, separation anxiety, reactivity, aging as well as recovery from injury, trauma, illness and surgery.

Date:  Tuesday, April 26, 2011 - June 7, 2011

Time:  7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Cost:  $150 for a six week session

Location:  Taming the Wild Side Training Facility

Instructor:  Victoria Severns

NOTE:  This class is limited to 6 dogs.

To sign up for this class, please click the following link:  TTouch

To view Victoria's bio, please click the following link:  Victoria Severns

NEW CLASS: Beginner Family Dog

A six week course designed for the family companion. Family dogs will learn basic cues (sit, down, stay, leave it, come, and mat training) through targeting, shaping and fun and games!

Date: May 1st - June 26th

Time: 2:30 - 3:30 pm

Location: Taming the Wild Side Training Facility

Cost: $100 for 6 sessions. Cash or checks only please.

Equipment: Easy to eat treats for your dog, water, water bowl, 6 ft. leash, flat collar

NOTE: This class will be limited to 6 dogs.

To sign up for this class, please click the following link:  Beginner Family Dog Sign Up

NEW CLASS: Puppy II

Puppy II Class is a six-week course that builds on the skills learned in Puppy I Class. Exercises are now taught using low-level distractions working our way to control with high-level distractions. Puppies will now be entering adolescence. This class is designed to help you manage adolescent behavior.

Date:  April 17th - June 12th

Time:  4:30 - 5:30 pm

Location:  Taming the Wild Side Training Facility

Cost: $100 for a 6 week class. Cash or checks only please.

Equipment: Easy to eat treats for your dog, water, water bowl.

Prerequisite: Puppy I

NOTE: This class will be limited to 6 dogs.

To sign up for this class, please click the following link:  Puppy II Class Sign Up

Hike - Elk Mountain

Saturday is the big day! Join us on our day hike at Elk Mountain. With the weather heating up it might be our last hike until the fall. Get your hiking fix, and see all your Wild Side buddies before the summer heat wave!  Here are all the details one last time ...

Date:  April 16, 2011
Time:  7:30 a.m.

Pack your lunch and join us for a day hike at Elk Mountain!  Elk Mountain is located in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge approximately 25 miles northwest of Lawton, Oklahoma.  The hike will go to the top of Elk Mountain by way of a well-maintained, but steep and rocky trail (about 1.5 miles). At the top, we will eat lunch, explore the boulder fields, relax and enjoy the panoramic views of the wildlife refuge. Afterwards, we'll descend to the trailhead and make the trek back home.

To sign up for this hike, please visit the following link:  Hike - Elk Mountain

Weekly Taming Tip

Each week we'll share a Taming Tip for you, your family and your friends to do with your dog(s)! These tips will help teach your dog real world manners in a fun way. Leave us a comment and tell us how it went!

Taming Tip #10:

Take your dog and sit outside on your front or back porch, or go to a park and sit on a bench or just on the grass.  Relax with your dog and every time your dog gets quiet when distractions appear, click and give him a treat.  If your dog is focused on a distraction, patiently wait, and when he turns and looks at you click and give him a treat for checking in with you!

Weekly Taming Tip

Each week we'll share a Taming Tip for you, your family and your friends to do with your dog(s)! These tips will help teach your dog real world manners in a fun way. Leave us a comment and tell us how it went!

Taming Tip #9:

It's a great time to walk your dog outside! Practice good manners with your dog on your walk! Have your dog sit before visiting with others, sit before entering or leaving buildings and most important have them sit at curbs before crossing the street. Now ... get out there and enjoy your dog!!!