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Letter of the Month  click here to read! |
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The Monadnock Humane Society offers a wide variety of classes through the Monadnock Canine Academy. Come learn from professional instructors in a climate controlled, state-of-the-art facility. Our training center features new, non-slip sport flooring, providing a safe surface for you and your dog.
Find out what pet owners have said about
past classes Meet our Qualified Training Staff!
Here are a few words on MHS classes and instruction from past students:
Denise
Rockwood Mazzola Denise
is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She was one of
the first 500 people in the United States to earn the distinction
of being a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, tested through the APDT. This
certification is recertified every 3 years with a minimum of 30 continuing
education hours. Rachel Brostrom - Trainer, Agility, Rally, Obedience, Manners  Rachel has been training and showing dogs for over 15 years. She is a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a Certified Canine Good Citizen evaluator through the American Kennel Club. She has a love for training and teaching, and a strong competitive spirit. Well before the agility craze hit the dog world, Rachel earned obedience titles with her two Australian Shepherds and enjoyed the challenges of competing as a Junior in both ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) and the 4-H dog program. Nine years ago, Rachel and her husband took in a sweet Australian Shepherd, Abby, into their home, and the rest is history! Abby, after earning many agility titles, is enjoying a life on the couch! Now, fully addicted to dog training, three more furry friends have been added to the Brostrom household. Kobe and Maximus (Aussie and Corgi, respectively) are currently competing in several venues and have shown fantastic versatility. Both dogs have earned their AKC CD (Companion Dog) title, rally titles in both AKC and APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), herding titles in AKC, ASCA and AHBA (The American Herding Breed Association), and agility titles in AKC, ASCA, USDAA, NADAC and CPE. The most recent addition has been Libby, also an Australian Shepherd. Libby has been shown in conformation and recently earned her Canine Good Citizen certificate. She is showing great promise in agility, obedience and in the herding arena. Rachel has a Bachelors Degree in Biology and Secondary Education, and a Masters degree in Education. She has been a high school science teacher for nearly ten years and finds that her teaching and training experience work hand-in-hand: teenagers are a lot like dogs in their need of positive reinforcement, clear boundaries and consistency in training. Through teaching and training, Rachel hopes to help people enjoy and enrich their relationships with their dogs. Continuing Education: · John Rodgerson-Aggression and Competition Obedience April 2005 · AKC Rally Seminar August 2005 Suzan Cluff - Trainer  Suzan began her association with MHS with the adoption of her dog Henry, a Treeing Walker hound mix in February 2003 and subsequent required Good Manners class at the Monadnock Canine Academy. That class, promoting positive reinforcement, was fun, informative, and packed full with new information. Years earlier, as the owner of an English setter mix and Beagle/Collie mix Suzan had "dropped out" of obedience classes where harsh "corrections" and choke collars were required. The required classes at MHS really set Suzan on a new journey in life. Henry's adoption opened the door to a rewarding experience with the Foster Family program at MHS. As a Foster Family Suzan's household was called upon to give dogs a temporary home when needed. This need arose for a variety of reasons, medical, behavioral, or just to give the dog a break from the shelter environment. In each case positive reinforcement training, learned in MCA classes, was implemented with the Foster dogs. One Blue Tick Coonhound pup in particular named Marvin, who had been literally starving, flourished in this environment. Using all positive reinforcement methods of dog training, Marvin gained confidence in a home environment and learned basic good manners, which helped him to be successful in his adoptive home. Suzan's affiliation with the Monadnock Humane Society Foster Program confirmed that with a commitment to positive reinforcement training a multiple dog household could be quite manageable! She now has 3 dogs; Henry a 4 year Treeing Walker Hound/Cattle dog mix, Daisy a 3year Blue Tick Coonhound/Cattle dog mix, and Annie a 2 year Beagle/Brittany Spaniel mix. All are rescues, all are hound mixes and Annie in fact was a foster dog from MHS who ended up staying, actually Suzan wouldn't let her go! That very first required Good Manners class inspired a curiosity and interest in dog behavior and an enthusiasm for training. Suzan graduated from the Monadnock Trainer's Academy in April 2006, with the certification of CAP1 of the Competency Assessment Program for clicker trainers. After graduation Suzan worked as an assistant to Head Trainer Denise Mazzola in Puppy Kindergarten and Good Manners classes. Suzan believes in the science and "art" of positive reinforcement training. Continuing Education: · Puppy Kindergarten · Good Manners with all three dogs · Reliable Rover · Reliable Rover II · Roaming Rover · Pre-Agility · Beginner Agility · Advanced Beginner Agility Ben Cluff - Trainer  Ben is a lifelong dog owner. He and his wife currently own 3 dogs; Henry a 4 year Treeing Walker Hound/Cattle dog mix, Daisy a 3year Blue Tick Coonhound/Cattle dog mix, and Annie a 2 year Beagle/Brittany Spaniel mix. Henry and Annie were adopted from the Monadnock Humane Society. Annie was a foster dog that Ben's wife, Sue just couldn't let go! At the time of adoption, Henry was required to attend a Good Manners class at MHS because of his high energy. Ben admits he was a bit skeptical about classes because years ago he had stopped taking classes when he was instructed to "jerk harder on the leash." By the end of the six week Good Manners class at MHS, Ben was won over to the ways of operant conditioning and classical conditioning. "The difference in Henry after just six weeks was amazing. He was focused and ready to learn." Through these adoptions, Ben and his wife, Sue, became an integral part of MHS's foster care program. They have taken into their home shy, nervous and anxious dogs. By using positive reinforcement to teach them basic manners they have watched these dogs emerge into more confident, less anxious dogs. "When the dog understands that they are controlling the consequences, through operant conditioning, and that the consequences are equivalent to $100 bills, they just blossom." It was through these adoptions that Ben became acquainted with the Monadnock Canine Academy. Positive reinforcement training philosophy is of particular interest to him. Ben enjoys teaching people how to teach their dogs how to learn. He feels this learning experience, for human and canine alike, should be fun and in the end, enhance that special relationship between people and their dogs. Ben graduated from the Monadnock Trainer's Academy in April 2006, with the certification of CAP1 of the Competency Assessment Program for clicker trainers. After graduation Ben worked as an assistant to Head Trainer Denise Mazzola and Tiffany Barrow Rogers, in Puppy Kindergarten and Good Manners classes. Ben holds a B.A. in Sociology from UMass/Amherst and a Master of Public Administration from American International College. Continuing Education: · Puppy Kindergarten · Good Manners with all three dogs · Reliable Rover · Reliable Rover II · Roaming Rover · Pre-Agility · Beginner Agility · Advanced Beginner Agility Maggie Sergeant - Trainer, Agility Instructor  Maggie has trained dogs in good manners for 7 years and has instructed agility for 2 years for MHS and Canine Agility Training Society, (CATS). She and Sam, her 6 year old rescue dog from MHS, have competed in agility for the past 4.5 years and are competing on the master level in three agility venues, USDAA, NADAC, and CPE. Maggie and Sam are certified by Therapy Dogs International to provide therapy work at James M. Faulkner Elementary School in Stoddard. They went through a series of classes at the Monadnock Humane Society to prepare for their therapy work. They took their TDI test at MHS and successfully passed. For the past six years, Maggie and her husband have assisted MHS by providing a foster home for dogs. Maggie opens up her home to puppies that are too young for adoption, and dogs that have heartworm; but by far her favorite foster dogs are the shy dogs that she works with like Tom. Tom was a Treeing Walking Coonhound who came into the shelter with his brother, Huck. Huck responded well to the shelter, but Tom was a nervous wreck. Maggie took him home for a month. By using positive reinforcement and lots of patience Maggie was able to teach Tom basic manners which helped build his confidence. Tom returned to the shelter to be adopted to his forever home a much more confident, happy dog. Maggie has also completed the Red Cross First Aid for Pets class. Maggie lives in Alstead with her husband and two rescue dogs. Her second dog is Winnie, aged 4, who is the one foster dog she could not let go. Due to health concerns, Winnie does not compete in sports, but enjoys hanging out at home being the jester for the family. Maggie teaches second and third grade at James M. Faulkner Elementary school and has found that many of the techniques that make her a good teacher help with training dogs as well. "Education of any kind should be fun and rewarding. If you enjoy what you are learning, the retention of information and enthusiasm is higher." During classes, Maggie focuses on dogs and handlers enjoying themselves as well as fine-tuning communication between team members. Maggie has a BS in Elementary Education from Keene State College and has a Master in Art of Teaching (MAT) from Marlboro College, VT. Continuing Education · 2005 - Mary Jo Lavin agility seminar · 2004 - Debi Hutchinson agility seminar · 2004 - Mary Ellen Barry agility seminar · 2003 - Barb DeMascio agility seminar · 2003 - T Touch Training Carol Stephens - Trainer, Agility Instructor  Carol Stephens teaches Puppy Agility, Pre-Agility, Beginners Agility and Advanced Beginners Agility. She has been teaching Agility for over eight years for the Canine Agility Training Society, (CATS) based at MHS, and partnering in agility training with MHS. Her involvement with the agility world includes being a principle with an agility magazine, Dog and Handler and doing graphics for Clean Run publications. Carol attends as many seminars within the New England area as she can, continues to take regular agility classes, and is a current competitor in the Agility World. She is training and starting her second Agility dog, Lizzie, a 4 year old Small Munsterlander. Her first agility dog, Toots, an English Springer Spaniel had reached the Elite classes in NADAC, as well as the Open classes in AKC and Masters classes in USDAA at the time that she was diagnosed with cancer at age 7. Although she considers her present dog to be a work in progress, they are quickly rising through the levels in the CPE venue. Carol's methods of teaching the new agility enthusiast, or the person who just wants to try something fun to do with their dog is based on understanding your dog; helping your dog clearly understand what you are asking him/her to do and forging a stronger bond between human and their canine companion. When humans and canines have a strong bond, they are less likely to be surrendered to the shelter. Emphasis is always on positive training methods and having a good time. Each team is given individual care as needed, the goal being to have each team reach a stronger relationship through learning to work and play together in a relaxed atmosphere. The reward is to see the new agility dog become more confident and responsive to both the handler and the world in which it lives. Continuing Education: · Jim Mills 2006 · Mary Jo Lavin 2005 · Mary Ellen Berry 2004, 2005 · BarbDeMascio 2003 · Shirley Jones 2000 Private
behavioral consults available by appointment. Class schedule and times subject to change and/or cancellation. |
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