GET IN THE AGILITY GROOVE WITH YOUR DOG

At Morris K9 Campus, we are gearing up for an excellent season of agility. We hope you are as pumped as we are! We took the time to highlight some of our new professional agility instructors so you can get to know them a little better. Their years of experience and expertise will provide our students with a wealth of knowledge. Each instructor will be teaching a number of agility classes in various performance levels

Nicole Fischer has been competing in agility for 10 years. Her second standard poodle, Ruse, at just three years old is close to both his MACH and his ADCH. Nicole and Ruse qualified to compete in all classes at the 2011 USDAA National Championships and are qualified for the 2012 AKC National Championships. Ruse earned his CD and CDX obedience titles at age two in a minimal number of trials and with a placement for each leg, including 1st place, four times. Nicole has also been a professional agility photographer for six years. She will be teaching the following TUESDAY classes:
BEGINNER FOUNDATION AGILITY
2/7/12 - 3/27/12
10:00AM - 11:00AM Click here to enroll.

Skills and Drills - Level 3
2/7/2012 - 3/27/2012
11:00AM - 12:00PM Click here to enroll.

Course Strategy - Level 4
2/7/2012 - 3/27/2012
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM  Click here to enroll.

Diane Lange has been in involved in dog performance sports for over twenty years. Her first American Eskimo and Novice A dog, Delilah, became the first Utility Dog Excellent in the breed. She was a consistent placement contender at Regional Obedience Championships and earned a variety of Agility titles in AKC and NADAC. Her next Eskie, Breyer, started in the Conformation Ring, then progressed into Obedience, earning a Utility Title. Her third Eskie, Chase, was found on the streets of lower Manhattan. Despite being untrained, blind in one eye and bundled with "rescue" issues Chase cheerfully earned Agility titles in AKC, NADAC and USDAA. Her current dog, Morgan, a Norwegian Buhund, is working on a variety of Master titles in both AKC and USDAA Agility.

Jim Epperly has been an agility instructor and professional dog trainer for seven years. In 2006, he began competing with his seven-year-old Yellow Lab, Boo Boo. In 2010 he began competing with his Jack Russell, Willy, and agility became his favorite activity. Jim currently competes in AKC Agility with his Jack Russell and will soon start competing with his adopted one-year-old Great Pyrenese, Dallas. In 2009, Epperly was voted favorite Agility Instructor for the Tri-State area in Tails Magazine. His goal as an Agility Instructor is to use positive reinforcement and fun techniques to keep both dogs and students happy and having fun. Jim will be teaching the following THURSDAY classes:
BEGINNER FOUNDATION AGILITY
2/16/12 - 3/22/12 (Only 6 weeks)
9:00AM - 10:00AM  Click here to enroll.

Improving Contact Behaviors - Level 3
2/16/2012 - 3/22/2012 
10:00AM - 11:00AM Click here to enroll.

Skills and Drills - Level 3
2/16/2012 - 3/22/2012
11:00AM - 12:00PM  Click here to enroll.

Mary-Anne Gross brings a sharp eye, years of experience, creativity, and a sense of fun to her classes. She enjoys the challenge of solving a variety of problems and helping dog/handler teams realize their potential. An avid student of animal behavior and operant ("clicker") training, she takes a special interest in bringing out the best in shy or fearful dogs. Her own dogs have earned over 130 titles in AKC, CPE, NADAC, USDAA and ASCA agility venues, and her Shelties Bryce and Jayda were among the first 10 dogs from NJ to earn a CPE C-ATCH. Today, Mary-Anne competes primarily in AKC, CPE and NADAC at the Masters/L5-C/Elite levels. Mary-Anne will be teaching the following FRIDAY classes:
BEGINNER FOUNDATION AGILITY
2/3/12 - 3/23/12
1:00PM - 2:00PM Click here to enroll.

Level 3 - Novice Prep
2/3/2012 - 3/23/2012
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM  Click here to enroll.

Agility Games - Level 4
2/3/2012 - 3/23/2012
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Click here to enroll.

Agility Fear/Motivation - Level 3
2/3/2012 - 3/23/2012
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM   Click here to enroll.

For a complete schedule of all our agility class offerings, click here.

WINTER WORKOUTS WITH YOUR DOG

January is in full swing and the bitter cold has sunk in. It would be a lot easier to keep our resolutions of staying healthy and happy if the New Year began in May. The only thing January motivates anyone to do is hibernate under a fleece blanket while shoving comfort food into their mouth!

Thank goodness for having a dog! Their constant want and need for exercise is not affected by the drop in temperature and aside from work, can be the only reason we venture outdoors and get our muscles moving in the frigid air! The regular daily walk can quickly turn mundane and be hindered by icy patches and a sun that sets too quickly. Read on for winter workout alternatives that will get both you and your canine moving and having fun!

Snowshoeing

When a thick blanket of snow has settled, rent snowshoes and take to the trails with your pooch in tow! Where your boots may sink, your snowshoes will tread with ease. You can burn 400 to 1000 calories in an hour depending on how fast you walk and what gear you carry according to Michele Borboa, MS. If you don't own a pair of snowshoes, sporting stores like REI will let you rent them.

Photo Courtesy of PhotoBobil



Skijoring

If you have a working dog with lots of energy and you want to try something completely different, try skijoring. Skijoring is a winter sport that consists of a cross-country skier being pulled by a horse or a dog. You can have one, two or three dogs pull you. As the handler, you wear a harness with a metal ring that attaches to your dog. This is a great option for dog owners with Alaskan Malamutes, Huskies, Chinooks and other sled dog breeds.

Agility

If you prefer the warmth of the indoors, check out agility! Agility works your dog physically and mentally. It increases your bond with your dog since you must have great communication with your canine in order to navigate the course successfully. Running around the agility course is a great way for you to burn major calories as well. To make sure you can keep up with your dog, Morris K9 Campus is offering a unique day of fitness training for handlers only that will be instructed by a Nike SPARQ certified trainer on 2/26/12 from 1PM - 4PM. The philosophies and techniques of the Nike SPARQ Program will be implemented to improve your speed, power, agility, reaction and quickness.

Canine Treadmill
Though the canine treadmill is not technically a workout you and your dog can do together, it is a great fitness alternative for Fido in the winter. Rather than shiver in the cold air or worry about icy patches you may slip on, the canine treadmill lets you safely and warmly exercise your dog in the comfort of Morris K9 Campus. You can either exercise your dog on our treadmill yourself, or drop your dog off at Morris K9 Campus and we will work your pooch out for you!

IT'S NATIONAL TRAIN YOUR DOG MONTH!

APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) has dedicated the month of January to dog training since people tend to get puppies or new dogs around the holidays. By making January National Train Your Dog Month, new dog owners are encouraged to take responsibility for furry household members by training them. It is crucial to train your dog when he or she is still a puppy or when you first introduce a new adult dog to your household. This important step should start from the beginning in order to set a standard for your dog and help curb issues that may later form into habits as a result of improper training or lack thereof.

Some people give up on their dogs when they develop behavioral issues or continue a bad habit. They dump their dog off at the shelter as a lost cause and wipe their hands clean of the issue. What these owners don’t realize is that this sad outcome could have been avoided with proper and dedicated training.

If you choose to be a dog owner, you owe it to your dog!

Here are some resources to help you with your dog training so that you can "bring out the best in your best friend!"

Errorless Housetraining (for any age) Free Workshop - Click Here To Enroll
- Presented by: Robin Lash CPDT-KA
Saturday, 1/21/12, 5:30PM – 6:30PM
If your dog or puppy needs help with housebreaking, this free training workshop is for you! No dogs please. This seminar is for the humans!

Robin Lash, CPDT-KA

Stay - Click Here To Enroll
- Presented by: Robin Lash CPDT-KA
Sunday, 2/5/12, 2:30PM – 4:30PM
This workshop is great for any dog young or old. This workshop starts out with training basic impulse control and works up to reinforcing stay in a more true-to-life environment. By the end you will have a better understanding of how to motivate and train your dog to stay so that you can reach your goal of having a dog that stays anywhere and anytime!

The Bark Stops Here - Click Here To Enroll
Sunday, 2/5/12, 11:00AM – 1:30PM
This class is broken into two parts. The first part will be humans only and will identify the bark, recognize the triggers, and work on managing and systematically changing the behavior. The second part of the class will work with your dog to utilize the techniques we previously learned and will put together a behavior modification plan.
What You Need: crate, hungry dog, high value toy, three different kinds of treats.

Think your dog can't be trained? 
Click on this link to learn about 5 dog training myths!

Thank you ADPT, it's high time we had a month devoted to this cause!

WHAT IS CANINE INFLUENZA?

Basic Facts
Canine influenza, commonly called the dog flu, is an upper respiratory infection that can spread very quickly amongst dogs. It is a relatively new ailment within the canine community and is caused by strains of the influenza virus A, including the equine virus (subtype H3N8).

History
The first known recorded outbreak within the canine community occurred in 2004, at a Florida horse racing track where Greyhounds raced. It was not previously known that the equine virus could spread to dogs. As a result, since the disease is relatively new, dogs have no natural immunities to the virus and are extremely susceptible to it if they come in contact with anything or anyone that has been near the virus.

Symptoms
A dog that contracts the Canine Influenza virus (CIV) may have one or more of the following symptoms:
-Dry, hacking cough

-Sneezing

-Greenish discharge from the nose

-Oozy eyes

-Fever

-Loss of appetite and energy

Prevention
Just as your dog received the Bordatella vaccination to prevent canine cough (which is like the common cold), you should consider the canine influenza vaccination for your dog in order to be protected from the virus. Though the vaccination is not 100% effective, it does significantly reduce your dog’s chances of getting sick. The vaccine must be given in two separate doses with a two-week break between the first and second dose. Afterwards, the vaccination must be administered annually. If your dog shows signs of CIV, take your dog to the vet but keep him or her separate from other dogs. If you will be near other dogs, make sure to wash your clothes and hands before interacting with other canines and their owners. Humans cannot become infected from the canine virus but they can transmit it to other dogs.

How Serious is the Dog Flu?
According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “the number of dogs infected with this disease that die is very small.” Some dogs have mild symptoms while more severe cases can result in pneumonia. Puppies, older dogs and dogs with compromised immune systems are most at risk.

If you have any questions about CIV and the vaccination, talk to your veterinarian. To make it easy for your dog to receive the vaccination, Morris K9 Campus is providing a Canine Influenza Clinic on Monday, 1/23/12, from 5–8PM and on Monday, 2/6/12, also from 5-8PM. It is $25 per vaccination.

Please call us at 973-252-5100 or e-mail us at info@morrisk9campus.com to RSVP to attend the clinic.