www.cockerrescue.comShorewood Cocker Rescue, Inc.

Summer 2008

A number of different places such as kennel clubs, pet stores, humane societies, park districts etc., offer a variety oftraining classes for your dog. The names for the classes offered can vary from one facility to the next, as can age andvaccination requirements for your dog. The most important thing to remember is that training should be a positiveexperience and fun for both of you. The two most common types of training styles:

Leash/collar training is most commonly used especiallywhen participating in group training with other people and dogs.The use of a collar and leash is the main form used for commu-nicating with and controlling the dog. Reward training involves using a lure such as a toy or treatto manipulate the dog into a desired position on it’s own withoutphysically touching the dog. Once the dog gets in that desiredposition it is immediately rewarded with a “good boy” or “goodgirl” and a treat. This type of training is most used for one on onesessions in your home or back yard. The two styles can be combined when taking a variety of dif-ferent classes with your dog. A leash and collar is used to con-trol and communicate with your dog, but rewards such as treatsand verbal praise are given for performing desired behaviors.

Training Styles . . . . .

Obedience training can facilitate an easier transition into your home and daily routine for your adopted cocker.In many cases, adopters have no experience with obedience training and what possibilities exist throughtraining their cocker. The benefits are many.

Sit, come, stay, down, and walking on a leash are basic obedience commands which allow your cockerto be accepted in many social circles and environments. The knowledge of these commands allows peopleto welcome your dog and relieves apprehension.

Obedience training also helps to solidify the bond between you and your cocker.It is a great way to establish yourself as the “alpha” or your dogs pack leader. Yourcocker may have never known this social hierarchy, as many rescue dogs arebounced from one home to another or kept outside the family circle. Training yourdog will instill confidence, self-esteem and a sense of order. Another benefit of obedience training is that it provides a physical and mentaloutlet for your dog. Cockers are highly social and intelligent dogs with a greatdesire to please. Training gives your dog purpose and helps them to feel “useful”,thereby avoiding boredom and its inherent problems. The fun that obedience training can provide you and your dog is immeasurable.It is important to find a training program that utilizes positive motivational methods.This will enable both of you to enjoy the company of other dog owners and dogs. Shorewood recommends obedience training to all of its adopters for all of thereasons enumerated. Obedience training really does make a difference in thelives of both you and your cocker.

Benefits Of Obedience TrainingBy: Jodine Nitz

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Clicker training is a form or reward training. A clicker is asmall inexpensive device that you can purchase at a petstore. When it is pressed, it makes a sound. When yourdog performs a desired behavior you click the tool and im-mediately reward your dog with a treat for performing thatbehavior. Clicker training is highly effective for teaching dogsto do complicated maneuvers or tricks by breaking themdown step by step. This is also an effective method forovercoming undesired behaviors that your dog may have.The dog is rewarded for demonstrating good behaviors sothat it replaces the bad behavior for the good. Clickers arenot used in group training sessions because every personwould be required to have a clicker and they would be goingoff at different times, confusing the dogs attending.

By: Deb Kent

The mission of Shorewood Cocker Rescue, Inc. is to assist homeless Cockers find permanent homes withresponsible, loving families. We spay or neuter all Cockers prior to placement and check references on all adopters.We make every effort to carefully match each Cocker with the right family to maximize the adoption's success."

SCR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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The term obedience training can cause trepidation for any dog owner who does not know what a class entails.The thought of attending an obedience class can be daunting. Don’t fret! Obedience classes are informative,instructive, and they can be fun. We have tried to provide a basic understanding of obedience training for ouradopters in this issue. Classes are relatively inexpensive to attend and well worth the investment of time andmoney. The benefits are many and there is no better way to bond with your new family member. Everyone comesaway a winner! Shorewood recommends attending an obedience class with your dog. The warm weather beckons us to spend more time outdoors, but the temperatures can take a toll on both you andyour dog. Please, act sensibly and take the proper precautions to ensure that both of you remain hydrated. Keepin mind that seniors may not be able to tolerate the heat for more than a few minutes no matter what time of day.

Shorewood continues their commitment to seniors by rescuing them when others turn away. As part of that commitment, seniorsare once again celebrated in the summer issue. It is gratifying to see that our adopters are proud of their seniors and so much in lovewith them. Please, consider adding one of our senior dogs to your family. At no other time has the need for foster homes been greater. Like many other rescues, Shorewood has felt the impact the housingcrisis. We have taken cockers from too many families who have lost their homes. The situation is real and it is heartbreaking for thefamilies, dogs and volunteers involved. Many tears have been shed by all. Never before in our history, have we found ourselves calledupon too not only rescue dogs, but to give comfort and solace to humans in crisis. We carry on, dedicated to our mission, with theknowledge that we are doing our very best. But, we turn cockers away almost daily, because we do not have available foster homes inwhich to place them. For the love of the breed and for your fellow man, please, give serious consideration to fostering a cocker forShorewood. The rewards that will come back to you are manifold. Shorewood continues to hold adoption events in Janesville and Lake Geneva, Wi., Downers Grove, Il., and Rochester, Mn., in theupcoming months so that potential adopters may have the opportunity to meet our dogs. Adoptions are first come, first serve anddisappointments do occur. Approved applicants who do attend an adoption event, generally have a better chance of getting a particulardog compared to a potential adopter who has not filled out an application and been approved. For that reason, it is recommended thatthose interested in adopting a dog from Shorewood submit an application online, prior to attending an event, so that if you do fall in lovewith a particular dog, you increase your chances of getting that dog. However, SCR does reserve the right to deny an approvedapplicant a particular dog if that adoption does not serve the best interest of the dog. The 5th Annual Wigglebutt Walk, is scheduled for September 6th at Brightondale Park, in Kansasville, Wi. Your generous supportof this event is greatly appreciated as our financial burden is growing every year. The revenue generated from the Wigglebutt Walkenables SCR to continue helping homeless cockers. Every individuals support really does matter to Shorewood!! This year promisesto be the best walk yet. We have some exciting new prizes, including two round trip airline tickets for travel in the continental U.S.compliments of Southwest Airlines. Also, new this year is the Hunting Instinct Test. We look forward to seeing you and your trustycocker companion there. Until then, have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Mattie

Spencer

Captain

SENIOR

SPOTLIGHT

LizzieTaffy

Patches

Theseseniors

are waiting for their

forever home.

Adoptinga senior

is awonderful experience.

Adopted

Adopted

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What Class Is Right For Your Dog?

Obedience Classes are conducted to help train you as well as any puppy or dogso that you can have a harmonious life together. These classes are veryimportant for any dog, especially puppies and young dogs. There are three levelsof obedience training.

Basic Obedience, also referred to puppy classes or puppy kindergarten. Thisclass is intended for puppies between the ages of 10 to 20 weeks, but is also goodfor an older dog who has not had any type of obedience training or needs help withsocial skills. The objective of this class is to teach the dog social skills so that itknows how to behave socially with others dogs and people. Some control exercises are taught along with some basicobedience commands such as sit, come and leave it. The instructor can provide helpful information about curbing undes-ired behaviors. Frequently, puppy playtime, where the dogs run and play with each other is incorporated into this class.This class usually meets once a week for 6 to 8 weeks.

Intermediate Obedience classes are intended for puppies 20 weeks or older who have completed a basic class or forolder dogs who have little, if any, obedience training. The dogs are taught to walk properly on a leash, heel, sit, sit stay,down, down stay, come when called, right and left turns, and figure eight’s. To get the most of the class, you will need towork with your dog on a daily basis in between class sessions. The class assembles once a week, usually for 8 weeks.On the final night of class, the dogs are tested and you are able to assess how far your dog and the other dogs attendingclass have progressed You will be amazed. Dogs who successfully complete the test are usually awarded a certificate.

Canine Good Citizenship or CGC Class is another type of intermediate class offered. All the commands and taskswhich are covered in intermediate obedience apply to this class as well. Additional tasks are included in CGC classes andthey include: sitting nicely for petting, accepting a friendly stranger and an exam performed by a vet or cooperating with agroomer, walking through a crowd, mannerly reactions to other dogs, maintaining supervised separation, and obeying yourcommands with a wide variety of distractions. Testing is performed the last night of class. If your dog passes the test, itis awarded a CGC certificate.

Advanced Obedience class is for those adult dogs who have taken and passed at least one training class prior toenrollment. All the intermediate skills are gone over in greater detail at the beginning of the class. Your dog is then taughtto follow and complete commands with hand signals. Once that has been accomplished, your dog is taught to walkbeside you without a leash, to stay beside you at all times, and to pay attention to you and avoid distractions. Working withyour dog on a daily basis in between classes is essential in order to get the most out of the class. The length of the classvaries, but it generally meets once a week. Once a dog has passed this training class, it can go on to compete forobedience titles.

Confirmation Classes are conducted for show quality puppies and dogs who will compete at dog shows to winChampionship Titles.

By: Deb Kent

A Dog’s SoulEvery dog must have a soulSomewhere deep insideWhere all his hurts and grievancesAre buried with his pride.

Where he decides the good and bad,The wrong way from the right,And where his judgement carefullyIs hidden room our sight.

He’ll love, tho’ he is unloved,And he’ll serve tho’ badly used,And one kind word will wipe awayThe times when he’s abused.

Altho’ his heart may break in twoHis love will still be whole,because God gave to every dogAn understanding Soul!

A dog must have a secret placeWhere every thought abides,A sort of close acquaintance thatHe trusts in and confides.

And when accused unjustly forHimself, he cannot speak,Rebuked, He finds within his soulThe comfort he must seek.

(Author Unknown)

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Kip was adopted October 25, 2007 by Marty and LindaSorensen of Lombard, Illinois. “We were a bit unsure abouthis social skills when we first rescued him and brought himhome”, said Linda. To the Sorensen’s, Kip appeared to havesome training but he would not come when called, he waspossessive with chew toys, counter-surfed, pulled hard onthe leash and was a bit aggressive toward other dogs andpeople when on a walk. After assessing Kip’s behavior, the Sorensen’s made thedecision to enroll Kip in an obedience class. For nine weeksKip and Marty attended class at the Naperville VFW taughtby Frank Brader of Haus von Brader Dog Obedience Train-ing. “We never thought Kip would be able to do all the thingsthe demo dogs did the first class.” Marty and Linda were unsure how to address some ofKip’s behavior problems, let alone which one to correct first.“Frank taught us the reward based way to get him to obeyand behave.” For fifteen minutes, twice a day, Kip and Martydid their homework as required. “You spend a lot of timereinforcing the lessons during training and it’s an ongoingthing every day when classes are over. Being consistentand using the same commands to train Kip were the keys tohis progress”, Marty and Linda explained. “Spending that much time together working and playingforms a very strong bond”, said Linda. “Kip and Marty arebest buds, and Kip only has eyes for Marty when he is in theroom, with an occasional glance for me.” After graduating, the Sorensen’s say that Kip is now wellsocialized, obedient and not easily distracted. Kip knowsall the basics, come, sit, stay, lay. His counter-surfing hasceased. Kip heels well and no longer pulls when on the leashand is no longer displays any aggression towards other dogsor people.

Sam and Patti Hamilton of Hanover Park, Illinois whoadopted Randy on March 27, 2008 have had similar resultsafter he attended and graduated from Petco’s obedienceclass. “He is good with sit, stay, wait and come. He is stillworking on possessiveness with chew toys and pulls on theleash but he is getting better”, said Patti Hamilton. “We are confident that Kip will listen and that he will notbe aggressive with other people and pets”, said Marty andLinda. “Who would believe that Kip would be able to stay ina down position with live rabbits in the room? We didn’t!Now we know he really wants to please. He is a very smartboy and wonderful in every way.”

Training Makes A

By: Jodine Nitz

Help your dog shine. Attend obedience training.

Kipand

Marty in

class

Kip,Martyand

Frankthe

trainer at

graduation

Kipstayswhilebunnyplays

RandyandPatti

Hamilton at

graduation

DifferenceShorewood Alumni

Kip and Randy