I mentioned in a post last week about another opportunity to volunteer with Our Companions.
It’s Canine College!
I know what you’re thinking. What the heck is Canine College?
Canine College is a learning program for volunteers who want to be a dog trainer!!
OC offers low-cost training programs for people who want to train their dogs with positive reinforcement. The college requires observation of the training classes as well as monthly meetings, where we will be discussing books we have read. Since the current class is already into their fourth week, I won’t be starting until the end of January or the beginning of February.
I haven’t decided yet if I want to take Delilah for an eight week course first or just jump right in.
There are other areas where the Canine College volunteers work, I could be at the sanctuary walking dogs, or assisting with training, helping temperament test dogs, or handling dogs at adoption events.
I have to admit, I hesitated a bit when the possibility of being bitten arose. The trainer mentioned she’d lost volunteers when bites were brought up, and wanted to know if it was a problem for anyone, I almost raised my hand but no-one else did and I didn’t want to be the only wimp there. 🙂
So there you have it, my big news.
Do you have any news you’d like to share?
Jodi that sounds like so much fun, I would love to do something like that one day.
My dream job would be to own my own training facility one day, although that wouldn’t really be like a job more like a doggie party everyday 😉
What a wonderful opportunity to make a real difference. Our shelter is always so grateful for any volunteer that will take the time to come work on basic obedience. Well behaved dogs are so much easier to adopt! I know you`ll be GREAT!
Sounds like a wonderful opportunity Jodi. Do I have any news? Well, my blog will be six months old tomorrow! 🙂
Sounds great. Most honest trainers will fess up to being bitten a time or two. I think it goes with the territory. 😉
THAT will be grrrrreat… see if you can find some of those GLOVES that peeps who dive with SHARKS wear. BaaaaWaaaaah.
Very cool Jodi – have fun with it! I’m a little afraid of getting bitten myself, which is one of the reasons I never pursued dog training. (I’m so interested in behavior I had looked into at one point.) Another thing that held me back is I’m not a great “salesperson” and can’t even get friends and family to take my advice…it seems most people I know would rather take the quick fix correction method than take the time to try positive reinforcement, so I couldn’t see how I’d get many students. 🙂
If I could get a job just training dogs (like in a shelter) without having to train their owners too, I’d jump on it!
That’s fantastic! What a terrific program. I’d love to participate in something like that, though I am totally intimidated at the thought of training a dog other than my own. While I love working with dogs, my shyness holds me back from working that closely with people. The idea of standing in front of a room instructing people is terrifying. But it never hurts to have the information, right?
Good for you! I can’t wait to hear how it goes. I wouldn’t worry too much about dog bites. They happen, but are amazingly rare, even in a shelter environment.
That’s a great thing to do! When you’re done, please come to my house and get Our Best Friend to STOP BARKING!