2012 TRAINING CALENDAR
HANDLER WORKSHOP
Check back for our next workshop.
READING EDUCATION ASSISTANCE DOG TRAINING SCHEDULED!
The Hudson Valley Visiting Pet Program will host a Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D. ®) training workshop on Saturday, April 21st from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm at the Tolstoy Foundation, 104 Lake Street in Valley Cottage, New York. Risa Hoag will be the instructor for the class. Individuals who wish to work with their animal to help children learn to read are encouraged to attend this program. Librarians, school teachers and school administrative staff who want to learn more about the program and how it could enhance the reading curriculum in their library or school, are also encouraged to attend. This workshop is for humans only; training for pets is done separately and the program accepts dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and even horses.
R.E.A.D. was developed in 1999 by Intermountain Therapy Animals in Salt Lake City Utah to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors. This unique educational approach was first introduced on CBS’s “60 Minutes” more than 20 years ago.
Today there are more than 20 R.E.A.D. team in the Hudson Valley Visiting Pet Program and several area elementary schools have regular R.E.A.D. teams who work with children on a weekly basis in Orange, Rockland and Bergen counties. The teams do this work on a volunteer basis and are not paid for their services which translates into a free literacy program for schools who are selected to participate.
Teachers know that learning to read is often less about intellectual limitation than about overcoming fears. Animals are ideal reading companions because they help increase relaxation and lower blood pressure; listen attentively; do not judge, laugh or criticize; allow children to proceed at their own pace; and are less intimidating than classmates, teachers, parents, or tutors. Often the child’s dread of reading is replaced by eager anticipation facilitating learning. While the child is primarily reading to the dog, the handler provides support if necessary.
"This is an incredibly exciting program. We watch boys and girls come into the library nervous and apprehensive until they begin to read to the dogs, then their demeanor changes and they leave with a sense of accomplishment and a big smile on their faces," states Risa B. Hoag, one of only 48 licensed R.E.A.D. Instructors in the United States and a member of the Hudson Valley Visiting Pet Program. "I have stood in the library with moms who begin to cry as they tell me that their child has never wanted to read and this was the only program that was able to motivate them," states Hoag.
Members of the Hudson Valley Visiting Pet Program have been visiting nursing homes, assisted living residences, day programs, schools, libraries, and hospitals since 1993. The group is also an affiliate of Reading Education Assistance Dogs which operates in 49 states and three countries with over 2000 teams.
To attend the April workshop people should download the registration form from the organization's website at www.HudsonValleyVisitingPets.com. For more information about Hudson Valley Visiting Pets and the other work they do and facilities they visit, or to register for the workshop, visit www.HudsonValleyVisitingPets.com or contact Dolores Schaub at 845-267-8795, or email Dolores@HudsonValleyVisitingPets.com .
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Obedience Training
If you feel you and your dog could benefit from some basic obedience training or would like a refresher course, please see the link on the left to see a list of trainers associated with our group.
Upcoming Training Classes with Stacey Samela.
Stacey Samela, A Few Good Dogs, New York and New Jersey
Email AFewGoodDogs@aol.com
Phone 845-365-3655
DOG OBEDIENCE LEVEL I - 6:45PM $105 (SR CIT $99) Learn how to communicate with your dog to get quick, reliable responses to basic obedience commands. Dogs learn to sit, stay, come, walk on a leash without pulling and greet people without jumping up. The most humane and up to date positive clicker training methods will be used.
Instructor STACEY SAMELA
Mon 6:45 pm - 7:30 pm 6 sess. start March 12
Hubbard Gym No class: 4/9
Leave your pet at home 1st class.
DOG OBEDIENCE LEVEL I - 7:30PM $105 (SR CIT $99) Learn how to communicate with your dog to get quick, reliable responses to basic obedience commands. Dogs learn to sit, stay, come, walk on a leash without pulling and greet people without jumping up. The most humane and up to date positive clicker training methods will be used.
Instructor STACEY SAMELA
Mon 7:30 pm - 8:15 pm 6 sess. start March 12
Hubbard Gym No class: 4/9
Leave your pet at home 1st class.
THERAPY DOG BEGINNER - $105 (SR CIT $99) This course is for dogs that have mastered basic obedience skills and want to get ready to make therapy visits. Information will be given about both the national and local therapy animal groups. You will learn how to get your dog's attention quickly around distractions, the 3 parts of a successful visit and handling your dog safely around other dogs and people. Practice evaluations will be performed so you can determine what you and your dog need to work on.
Instructor STACEY SAMELA
Mon 8:15 pm - 9:00 pm 6 sess. start March 12
Hubbard Gym No class: 4/9
Leave your pet at home 1st class.
MAN’S BEST FRIEND - No aggressive or reactive dogs (growls or barks) will be allowed. A questionnaire will be emailed; it must be returned prior to 1st class. Bring vaccination records to 1st class. One person per dog; children must be supervised.
Do not bring dog to 1st class.