Teaching dogs and kids new tricks in how to get along

Sparta - There is a special relationship between children and dogs. However, like any relationship, it doesn’t come without some risks. The Pet Centre, located at 9 Main St. in Sparta, is bringing in a specialist in child/dog relationships to teach children and parents how to pick up on the signals and body language of dogs. Jennifer Shryock, a certified dog behavior consultant, will lead a day-long series of presentations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 29. The event is open to the public free of charge. Shryock, is vice president of Doggone Safe, a non-profit organization offering educational programs to increase child safety around dogs and to provide support for dog-bite victims. The presentation is designed to educate children and parents on dog behavior, signals and clues as a way to prevent dog bites. The program uses games, activities, role-play and skits to motivate the children to learn. Large poster-sized pictures replace real dogs during the sessions to eliminate distractions or fears. “Despite 12,000 years of living with dogs, they remain largely misunderstood by humans,” reads part of an introductory paragraph on the Doggone Safe Web site. “When a dog bites, we interpret this in human terms. In most cases the bite is a normal dog behavior. The dog that bites is not necessarily a mean dog or a bad dog — he is just a dog. To prevent dog bites we need to understand what motivates the dog to bite and reduce risk through modification of both human and dog behavior.” During Saturday’s presentation, in a game called “Doggone Crazy,” children will become “dog detectives” and gather clues to learn about dogs’ body language. The game is also available for purchase. In another game created by Doggone Safe, “Be a Tree,” the children will learn how to pretend to be dead if a dog is ready to attack, and how to act around excitable dogs. “The program is ideal for any child,” said Shyrock. “When approaching a strange dog and its owner, many parents have taught their children to ask the owner ‘Is your dog safe’ or ‘Does he bite?’ How often do we allow our kids to trust a stranger? Why is this any different? Owners don’t want to say no, therefore the child is put in a potentially dangerous situation. “I want parents and children to learn the subtle cues before they hear the growl,” explained Shyrock. Unfortunately, people tend to be reactive rather than proactive. We want to get this information out there because everyone thinks their dog won’t bite.” Pet owners can also take part in a two-hour class, “Dogs & Storks,” which is geared toward new and expectant families with dogs. “(This class) is recommended for parents, caretakers, grandparents — anyone who cares for an infant in the presence of a dog,” said Shyrock. The fee for this class is $60 per family. The program will review topics such as dog body language, dog senses, and preparing the pet for a new baby in the family. Wendy Gould, who owns the Pet Centre, said she is offering these classes because she has noticed a need for better education of pet owners on the behavior and needs of their home pets. “I have been hearing more and more stories about dog bites and children,” said Gould. “Some parents are not teaching their kids how to behave around animals or the owners are not being responsible. It is an issue, which is why I’m offering this free program. I want it to be not just a pet store, but also to educate the community.” Space is limited. For information or to register, call 973-729-6833.