Humane Society to hold free dog training clinic

St. Augustine Humane Society holding free dog training clinic

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – St. Augustine Humane Society will hold a free dog training clinic for dog owners on Saturday, June 15 from 11 am until 12 pm at the non-profit's location, 1665 Old Moultrie Road in St.Augustine, Fla. Certified dog trainer Julie Parker will provide instruction, materials and a Q&A entitled, "Who's Walking Who". 

Some of the topics to be covered include correcting behaviors with dogs that pull on the leash and charge ahead along with avoiding the tug of war that can occur between owners and their dogs and other undesirable dog behaviors. The event is also designed to promote the pleasure of taking a walk with a dog as an enjoyable experience.

Parker will be working with her dogs at the Humane Society clinic for the demonstration and will feature training equipment and training suggestions.

"Walking your dog is one of the most important activities you can do with your dog. It is the foundation of your relationship," said Parker. "At least 90 percent of the bonding we do with our dogs is on the walk. If we don't exercise our dogs by walking them, we may continue to see behavior problems. Because of this, many people will relinquish their dogs to a shelter," she said. "Pet owners may experience undesirable behaviors with dogs that are rescued or adopted, so we hope to alleviate some of these challenges by promoting responsible pet ownership through education and training," she said. 

According to Carolyn Smith, St. Augustine Humane Society's Operations Director, the purpose of the clinic is to prevent dogs from entering or returning to shelters and rescue organizations while helping to eliminate overcrowding and lowering the euthanasia rate. 

Pet owners are invited to attend the event without their dogs. For more information, call 904-829-2737 or 904-471-5579. Visit the website for more information at www.staugustinehumanesociety.org.