Talkin Pets

-The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) offers five fast tips for owners who plan on bringing Fido to the office-

(Greenville, SC) – As thousands of dog owners prepare to bring four-legged friends to the office during Pet Sitters International’s Take Your Dog to Work Day® Friday, June 22, APDT, a professional organization of more than 6,000 dog trainers, offers tips to keep in mind for the safety of everyone in the office. In addition, pet owners looking for qualified training programs are encouraged to use the APDT’s extensive resources to find the best trainers in their area for everyday safety.

“Not only should pets be properly trained before being brought to the workplace, but preparing the office beforehand is also important,” said Mychelle Blake, APDT Executive Director. “‘Take Your Dog to Work Day’ also serves as a great reminder for pet owners to ensure their dogs are trained correctly to help avoid unwanted behaviors such as biting or barking in unfamiliar environments. Whether bringing home puppies or older dogs, we encourage owners to enroll in our C.L.A.S.S.® program to successfully train dogs using positive methods.”

These easy-to-follow tips will help owners remain safe and courteous during Take Your Dog To Work Day:

· Ask yourself:

a. Is my dog happy and relaxed around all kinds of people or other dogs?

b. Is my dog fearful or anxious in new places?

c. Is my dog well house-trained and well mannered?

If you answered ‘no’ to any of the above, please reconsider bringing your dog to work.

· Talk to your co-workers and/or post a note in the break room letting them know your dog will be visiting on Friday.

· Contact your vet to ensure your dog is up-to-date on rabies and other vaccines.

· Ensure your pet is well-groomed, bathed, and parasite-free (fleas, ticks, mites, etc).

· Download signage to hang on your door on Friday, to let co-workers know there is a dog in the office. (See www.takeyourdog.com)

According to the American Pet Product Association, 2011/2012 National Pet Owners Survey, three percent of dog owners (equating to 1.4 million people) take their dogs to work regularly and also bring their pets on routine errands more than twice a week. With increased public and professional exposure, it’s essential dogs are well-trained and safe toward others, which is why the APDT has developed it’s educational program, Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.). The proactive program encourages owners to use positive reinforcement techniques to train dogs for “real life skills” while helping build stronger relationships with pets and features three training levels. Assessed skills in each level vary in the amount of difficulty before pets ‘graduate.’ In addition, owners can also search an online database for certified C.L.A.S.S. trainers and instructors across the country.

For more information on C.L.A.S.S. visit www.mydoghasclass.com. For more information on the APDT visit www.apdt.com or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . To learn more about Take Your Dog To Work Day, visit www.takeyourdog.com.

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About APDT:

Founded in 1993, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) is a professional organization of more than 6,000 trainers who are committed to becoming better trainers through education. APDT’s primary mission is to represent and advance the dog training profession through education and advocacy while increasing public awareness of dog friendly training techniques. http://www.apdt.com

About Take Your Dog to Work Day®

First celebrated in 1999, Pet Sitters International's Take Your Dog To Work Day® (TYDTWDay®) was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs. This annual event asks pet lovers to celebrate the humane-canine bond and promote pet adoption by encouraging their employers to support TYDTWDay. Employers are encouraged to open their workplace to employees' four-legged friends on this one special day. http://www.takeyourdog.com/index.php