Purdue News
Purdue News
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May 14, 2003 Dogs needed for summer behavior, training courseWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A canine course is seeking dogs to participate in behavior and training practicums at Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine. "Behavior and training problems in dogs are very common," said Julie Shaw, DOGS! Course coordinator. "The DOGS! Course practicums are an excellent opportunity for participants to apply knowledge they have learned in a classroom setting to a real-life situation. It also is an excellent controlled socialization and training experience for the volunteer dogs." This is the fifth year the Animal Behavior Clinic has offered the DOGS! Course: Principles and Techniques of Behavior Modification for veterinary professionals and dog trainers. There is no fee for dogs to participate, and owners can watch students working with their dogs. Twenty dogs that have no previous training are needed for the June 5 practicum. The session is from 8:45 a.m. to noon at Purdue. For this practicum, dogs should not have major behavior problems, but may have training issues such as jumping, pulling on the leash and not coming when called. The June 7 and 8 practicum is accepting 20 dogs with behavior problems. Selected dogs will be needed from 2:45-6 p.m. on June 7 and 8:45 a.m. to noon on June 8. Behavior issues that may be considered for this practicum are anxiety to specific people, objects, animals or sounds; aggression toward other dogs or people; handling issues or procedures such as touching paws or trimming nails; and compulsive disorders. Behavior issues that cannot be considered for the practicum are separation anxiety, territorial aggression and global fear, or a fear of everything. "Dog owners need to understand that we are not making a diagnosis or creating an individual treatment plan for their dogs," Shaw said. "In this practicum we are teaching students how to apply general behavior modification techniques which will help the animal cope with their behavior issues." A form, available online at https://www.vet.purdue.edu/animalbehavior/pages/dogs/volunteer_dogs.htm, must be completed for a dog to be selected for the sessions. All volunteer dogs' vaccinations must be up to date, including the bordatella (kennel cough) vaccine. Writer: Amy Patterson-Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu Source: Julie Shaw, (765) 494-8154, shawjk@purdue.edu. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu Related Web sites:
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