New Class Locations and New Schedules

As of December 1, 2011, we will no longer be working out of our buiiding on Arch Street in Fremont.  We have opted to make some big changes in how we serve dogs and their families!

Our group classes will be held at Bark Avenue Pet Boutique (Front Street, Fremont, Ohio), Fortunate Fido (Royalton Road, Columbia Station, Ohio), and Heavenly Days (2604 Chase Road, Adrian, Michigan), as well as special classes at other facilities in Northern Ohio and Southern Michigan (to be announced).

Private sessions will be held at various locations, including the option of having us come to your house.  Our goal continues to be to give you the best value for your money as well as setting both you and your dog up for maximum success.

Because we are working with a variety of different schedules, our class schedule is going to be a little different.  As classes are scheduled, we will post on the website, on Facebook, on Twitter, and through our newsletter.

We look forward to this new phase in our life!!!

ClickerExpo 2010 was Laurie and Daisy's first ClickerExpo.  It was such a great experience, Laurie and friend/colleague Annie vowed to make it an annual trip whenever they could drive to the location.  (We LOVE having our dogs with us and working in the labs!) 

In 2011, ClickerExpo was in Chicago.  Laurie and Annie attended and enjoyed both the sessions and the great Chicago food.  Laurie attended many sessions and labs related to competition dog training with Cecelie Koste to bring back lots of information for our competition students/classes (excellent ideas about efficient reinforcement).  A stand-out favorite was the lab on training secondary reinforcers with Ken Ramirez.

At the 2010 ClickerExpo, one session that stands out in Laurie's mind is the Lab on Data Driven Training.  It was a wonderful Lab, but the best part was working with a marine mammal trainer from the Shedd Aquarium and a horse trainer from Pennsylvania!  It was awesome to get a completely different point of view.  (Photo during Data Driven Training Lab below left.  Daisy waiting to go into a session below right.)
Companions on a Journey.
In April 2010, Ken was privileged to attend BlogPaws 2010 in Columbus, Ohio.  While he was there he networked with pet people from all over the country who use the internet in one way, shape or form.  He heard some great speakers and learned a lot about how we can use the internet to better communicate.  While it isn't possible to attend BlogPaws 2011, we are hoping we will both be able to go to a future BlogPaws event to reconnect with our old friends and make some new ones.
***Press Release***

Dog Trainer Laurie Buchele, CPDT-KA
Certified by New Program to Promote Training and Increase Public Access for Dogs

The Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) Program seeks to improve the lives of dogs and their owners and nationwide.

Fremont, Ohio – (July 1, 2011) – Laurie Buchele, CPDT-KA was recently certified as an Evaluator in the new Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) program. Laurie Buchele is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers and provides dog and people friendly dog training using scientifically proven positive reinforcement training methods at Buchele’s K-9 Service, LLC, 116 N. Arch Street, Fremont, Ohio.

C.L.A.S.S. is an educational program designed to promote training focusing on the use of positive reinforcement and to strengthen relationships between humans and their canine companions. The mission of C.L.A.S.S. is to promote positive relationships through positive training methods. This approach both develops and safeguards harmonious relationships by maintaining trust and mutual respect.

Developed by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), the C.L.A.S.S. program is designed to benefit pet owners and their canine companions, dog trainers and others who work with dogs, animal shelters, and the community overall. In a series of real-life activities through which an owner accompanies his dog, C.L.A.S.S. Evaluators will assess a dog/owner team’s core training skills, with options to test advanced training skills. There are three C.L.A.S.S. levels: the Bachelor’s (B.A.), Master’s (M.A.), and Doctorate (Ph.D.). Successfully completing each C.L.A.S.S. level is like earning an academic degree in real-life skills with your dog.

The Objectives of C.L.A.S.S. are to:
•Promote reward-based training
•Strengthen dog/owner relationships through shared activity and fun, positive training
•Encourage dog owners to participate in ongoing training and activities with their dogs
•Value the real-life skills of dog/owner teams
•Educate pet owners in dog behavior

C.L.A.S.S. Evaluators are Full and Professional Level APDT members. Evaluators administer C.L.A.S.S. assessments and score performances of teams, and provide feedback to teams on how to improve their training skills. In order to become an Evaluator for the program, a Full or Professional level APDT member must pass a series of online tests on their training knowledge and on the rules of the program, train a minimum number of hours per year to qualify, and receive regular training on program updates.

To learn more about C.L.A.S.S., visit the program web site at www.mydoghasclass.com. To learn more about Laurie Buchele, visit her website at www.buchelesk9service.com.


* * * *

The APDT is a professional educational organization of trainers who are committed to becoming better trainers through using positive, dog friendly methods based on sound scientific principles. With over 5,000 members worldwide, the APDT provides professional dog trainers with a respected and concerted voice. The APDT promotes caring relationships between dogs and people and works to increase public awareness of dog-friendly training techniques. For more information, visit the web site at www.apdt.com.
Press Release

Test Scores Received 12/5/2011! 

Laurie sat for the Certified Behavior Consultant -- Canine exam in November, 2011.  The results were released this week and Laurie is among the newly certified Behavior Consultants!!!!

There are only three ways to be CERTIFIED in Canine Behavior -- one is to be a Veterinarian with a concentration/specialty in Behavior, another is to have a Doctorate Degree in Animal Behavior, and the third is to apply for and take the Certified Behavior Consultant -- Canine exam.  The requirements to be eligible to sit for the test are extensive: 

1. Five hundred (500) hours in canine behavior consulting on fear, phobias, compulsive behaviors, anxiety and aggression within the previous five (5) years OR a Master’s Degree or Doctorate in psychology, social work, a biological sciences field, or a life sciences field with three hundred (300) hours in canine behavior consulting on fear, phobias, compulsive behaviors, anxiety and aggression within the previous three (3) years.

2. The CCPDT behavior log documenting the hours required above.

3. A total of five (5) references dated no earlier than six (6) months prior to the examination date.

Required references are as follows:
 One (1) from a veterinarian.
 One (1) from a canine behavior consulting client.
 One (1) from a colleague in the canine training and behavior profession.
 Two (2) additional references from any of the categories above.

4. Completion and filing of an application for the Certification Examination for Behavior Consultants - Canine - Knowledge Assessed.

5. Transcript from Master’s Degree or Doctorate as defined above if applicable.

6. Signing and filing The CCPDT Code of Ethics.

Once her application was accepted, Laurie spent about a year studying and the last three months studying very intensely to be ready for the exam.  The reading list is extensive and the material is varied and very in-depth. 

We appreciate all the support we received during this stressful time and we are proud and happy to share our success with all of you.

For more information about Laurie's certifications, please go to www.ccpdt.org.