Friends 4 Life: New Dog Owner Training and Support
About Friends for Life
‘Friends for Life' is a training and support program designed to help build a life-long friendship between new owners and their dogs. The program is made up of a series of training workshops, help booklets and a new owner advice and support line, which can all assist owners in creating a harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship with their new companion dog.
For more information on the Friends for Life program or to access our new owner advice and support line, phone the Education Division on (07) 5509 9047 and ask to speak to New Owner Support Coordinator.
You can also email us at friendsforlife@awlqld.com.au for advice over email.
Friends for Life: Dog Training Workshops
About the Workshops
The Friends for Life workshops are designed to create a better understanding between the owner and their dog by teaching owners how to address common behavioural problems in dogs. Participants are encouraged to include family members in the workshops and owners are asked to bring their dogs to the Manners Training workshops in order to gain the most benefit out of the training sessions.
The four workshops are held over the course of one Thursday and three Saturdays each month. In order for owners and their dogs to gain the most benifit out of the Friends for Life workshops, it is recommended that participants enrol in all four workshops. Please note that dogs must be healthy, have up-to-date vaccinations and be of sound temperament in order to participate in the Friends for Life workshops.
Outcomes of Workshops
The learning outcomes for course participants include;
-
Understanding of basic canine behaviour for building a mutually beneficial friendship between owner and dog
-
Knowledge of common behavioural issues in dogs and how to tackle problem behaviours particular to their own dog/s
-
Knowledge of and practical skills in basic dog manners training and socialization
Overview of Workshops
Workshop 1: Understanding your dog and helping your dog understand you
During this workshop, our dog trainer helps dog owners to understand what motivates their dogs and what are the most common causes of behaviour problems in dogs. During the workshop, participants will also gain an understanding of the methods and philosophy of positive, reward based dog training and what they can expect in the following Manners Training workshops.
Participants will also have the opportunity to share behavioural problems specific to their own dogs and discuss methods for managing these behaviours with an AWL Dog Trainer in preparation for the Manners Training workshops. For this first workshop, participants attend WITHOUT their dog and we strongly encourage as many family members (who have regular contact with the dog) as possible to attend.
Workshop 2: Manners Training - Part A
Workshop 1: Understanding your dog and helping your dog understand you
During this workshop, our dog trainer helps dog owners to understand what motivates their dogs and what are the most common causes of behaviour problems in dogs. During the workshop, participants will also gain an understanding of the methods and philosophy of positive, reward based dog training and what they can expect in the following Manners Training workshops.
Participants will also have the opportunity to share behavioural problems specific to their own dogs and discuss methods for managing these behaviours with an AWL Dog Trainer in preparation for the Manners Training workshops. For this first workshop, participants attend WITHOUT their dog and we strongly encourage as many family members (who have regular contact with the dog) as possible to attend.
Workshop 2: Manners Training - Part A
This workshop is designed as an introduction to basic manners training for dogs (and their owners!). This is a hands-on instructional workshop and participants are required to BRING THEIR DOGS as well as encouraged to bring family members, in order to gain the most out of the session. Bookings and pre-prepayment are essential to secure your place.
Maximum number of dogs per workshop: 8
This workshop is designed as an introduction to basic manners training for dogs (and their owners!). This is a hands-on instructional workshop and participants are required to BRING THEIR DOGS as well as encouraged to bring family members, in order to gain the most out of the session. Bookings and pre-prepayment are essential to secure your place.
Maximum number of dogs per workshop: 8
Workshop 3: Manners Training - Part B
This workshop is open to participants of Manners Training Part A and extends skills taught previously as well as teaching added behaviours. As with Part A, this is a hands-on instructional workshop and participants are required to BRING THEIR DOGS and are encouraged to bring family members, in order to gain the most out of the session.
Maximum number of dogs per workshop: 8
Workshop 3: Manners Training - Part B
This workshop is open to participants of Manners Training Part A and extends skills taught previously as well as teaching added behaviours. As with Part A, this is a hands-on instructional workshop and participants are required to BRING THEIR DOGS and are encouraged to bring family members, in order to gain the most out of the session.
Maximum number of dogs per workshop: 8
Workshop 4: Manners Training - Part C
This workshop solidifies the skills taught in the previous two manners training workshops. As with workshops A and B, this is a hands-on instructional workshop and participants are required to BRING THEIR DOGS and are encouraged to bring family members, in order to gain the most out of the session.
Maximum number of dogs per workshop: 8
Workshop fees and bookings
Workshop 1 is free of charge for all dog owners and their family members
Workshops 2, 3 & 4 are $11.00 each and must be paid in advance
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL - Due to the fact that we take a limited number of dogs in each workshop, places are filled very fast. Call Bek, our Friends for Life Coordinator in the AWL Education Division on (07) 5509 9047 to book your place. You can also download the Registration Form and Payment Form and post or fax to the Education Division (details on form).
Download the Friends for Life Workshop Timetable for workshop times and dates.
Helpful Resources
Caring Responsibly for your Dog DVD
This introductory video is packed with everything new dog owners need to know about providing a caring and responsible home for their new pet. Click on the link below to watch online now!
Friends for Life Help Booklets
As part of the Program, the AWL has produced a series of Friends for Life help booklets. Written by a qualified dog trainer with many years instructional and teaching experience, these booklets give information and advice on how to tackle common behavioural problems. Click on the titles below to download that booklet in PDF format. If you wish to order a hardcopy of any of these booklets, contact the Education Division and we can post your chosen booklet/s. Following are the titles in the Help Booklet series:
1) Yikes! My Pup Bites 2) Jumping Dogs
3) Fun Backyards: Enrichment for Dogs 4) Digging Dogs
5) Barking Dogs 6) Demolition Dogs
7) Follow the Leader: Developing Leadership 8) Handfeeding and Training
9) My Dog won’t Come Back 10) Hyper Dog
11) Walking with a Loose Leash 12) Separation Anxiety
13) Problems with Other Dogs 14) The Dog Park: Things to Know Before you Go
15) Housetraining 16) The Excited Wee
17) Puppy Pre-school: Benifits for you and your Pup 18) Good Games; Bad Games
19) How to Play with your Dog 20) Intelligent Diversions and Creative Play
21) Kids and Dogs 22) Door Dashers and Gate Crashers
Helpful Online Articles
The following articles are just a handful of the quality online articles that can be downloaded for free from the websites listed in our Helpful Links section:
Recycled Love: Choosing your Dog from a Shelter
Recycled Love: Adopting a Shelter Dog
The Value of Training your Dog
The Importance of a Right Relationship
Bring the Dog In: Reasons to Bring your Dog Indoors
Recommended Books & DVDs
We recommend the following books and DVDs, which support the AWL's positive, reward-based training philosophy:
The Ultimate Puppy Tool-kit, by Premier Pet Products - available from www.cleardogtraining.com.au
The following resources are all available to order from the Wag School Books website www.wagschoolbooks.com.au
Puppy Kindergarten (DVD), by Corally Burmaster
Family Friendly Dog Training: A Six Week Program for You and Your Dog, by Patricia B McConnell & Aimee Moore
Puppy Primer, by Patricia B McConnell & Aimee Moore
How to be Leader of the Pack, by Patricia B McConnell
Way to Go! How to Housetrain a Dog of Any Age, by Patricia B McConnell & Karen London
76 Ways to Get Your Dog to do What You Want, by Suzanne Hetts
Dr Dunbar's Good Little Dog Book, by Dr Ian Dunbar
Feeling Outnumbered: How to Manage and Enjoy a Multi-dog Household, by Patricia B McConnell
Good Dog: Kids teach Kids about Dog Behaviour and Training, by Evelyn Pang and Hilary Louie
Living with Kids and Dogs, by Colleen Pelar
Helpful Links
We recommend the the following websites, which offer a wealth of useful information and employ positive traininig philosophies:
For Dog Training and Behaviour
www.dogstardaily.com Everything about dog behaviour and training
www.pethealth.com.au Dr Cam Day's fantastic online resource for pet health, training and behaviour
www.helpingfido.com Behaviour and training tips
www.cleardogtraining.com Information about training and behaviour
www.getsmartdogs.com.au Information about training and behaviour
www.livingwithkidsanddogs.com For parents - how to stay sane with a household of kids and dogs!
www.urbanhound.com Want to ask a behavioural question online? Great advice at this site!
YouTube is also a very useful resource for dog training tips - Look for reward-based training videos; AVIOD videos which employ methods using 'choke chains', hitting or yelling at the dog or using physical force. This is a good place to start: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnIgCMiztR0&feature=PlayList&p=023C455D31DBF148&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1
For Info about Finding your Perfect Dog
www.wheredopuppiescomefrom.com.au Find out why buying from a pet shelter or reputable breeder is better than buying from a pet shop
www.dogtime.com All about adopting dogs, with access to a free newsletter full of useful training tips!
http://dogtime.com/matchup/start An online survey to help find the right dog for your lifestyle
www.aspca.org/adoption/adoption-tips/ A list of all the things you need to think about before bringing home a new dog!
For Info about General Dog Care
www.dogslife.com.au Webpage for Dogs Life Magazine
www.dogstardaily.com Download the free book 'After you get your puppy', an excellent resource for new puppy owners!
Other Useful Sites
www.dogtree.com.au Want to arrange dog play dates and dog sitting in your area? Check out this website, which offers a service that helps connect dog owners in your community