Dog Behaviorists Share Tips with P2C Dog Walkers

Paws 2 Consider owner, Juliana Green, believes every dog is an individual with a special story, personality, and temperament. With that in mind, she brought P2C’s pet sitters to the dog behavior expert, Candy Oppman, owner of Bark University in Mundelein, for an evening of special training. Helping with the night of coaching, was Kseniya Tsipis, a certified trainer at Bark U.

 

Candy had two special “assistants” at the training. Red, one of Kseniya’s own dogs, and a graduate of Bark U, demonstrated the benefits of the positive training techniques used at Bark U. He was a rescue that had come with some challenges. Kseniya has done an incredible job with him. Red is now confident, calm, inquisitive, and a really sweet boy. He gently welcomed each P2C participant with a soft paw greeting or gentle nudge.

The second canine “assistant” was Thia, a rescue that has been placed in the capable hands of Bark U. Candy’s understanding and training will help Thia overcome her fearful personality, so she can find a loving forever home. Candy believes every dog with behavioral challenges has a chance at redemption. That’s why she and Kseniya offer special help to rescue organizations that have taken in difficult dogs.

Candy and Kseniya started the evening sharing special techniques that will be helpful to the P2C dog walkers. These included a novel way to tie a slip-lead leash so it can be used as a harness, tips for talking with overly-zealous delivery drivers so dogs can remain calm, safety measures in case a stray dog or coyote approaches during a walk, and how to re-direct the mind of a dog that pulls on its leash. Candy and Kseniya then took questions from P2C walkers, who shared some specific pet sitting scenarios.  

Juliana will continue to bring innovative training to her pet sitters so clients of Paws 2 Consider can feel confident that the person caring for their pet is knowledgeable, and that they have the skills needed to make sure each visit is a fun and safe experience.

 

Thanks to Candy Oppman and Kseniya Tsipis of Bark U for their great advice!