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March 13,
2008
For Immediate Release:
“Spring Break Can Be Dog Days"
An entire week off from school and homework is
a rite of Spring most children anticipate with glee. They make plans
and play dates, often forgetting about the wet, black nose pressed
to the window as they ride by on bikes and skateboards. Dog trainer
Amy Robinson knows the dog often gets the short end of the stick
during Spring break. “Including the dog in some family activities
and social time can be very rewarding, and help to teach the kids
responsibility lessons,” says Robinson, creator of the “Drool
School” DVD for kids and dogs. Robinson’s tips for including Fido in
the fun:
1. Get moving: Round up the kids and the dog and take a walk
sans cell phones and music players. This is physically and mentally
stimulating for the dog, and a great opportunity to connect with the
kids
2. A walk in the park: Get out of your neighborhood and see
some new sights (and smells). Check out local parks that allow
leashed dogs and get a fresh outlook. Park districts will have
nature trails suitable for walking your dog.
3. Take your dog
to lunch: In Florida, March is sidewalk café weather. Many
forward-thinking municipalities are now allowing dogs at outdoor
eateries, where your dog can sit at your feet and await a tidbit.
4.
Teach some tricks: Local libraries have books on dog care, training
and teaching easy tricks. Kids don’t want to do dog chores, but
teaching a trick doesn’t seem like work. Both the kids and the dog
will enjoy the sense of accomplishment.
Contact Amy at (772) 696-2032
or e-mail at
amy@droolschool.com
September
28, 2007
“Drool School” earns Parents’
Choice Award
“Drool School”, a family dog-training guide from Vero Beach dog trainer Amy
Robinson, has earned the “Recommended” award from the Parents’
Choice Foundation. “It is so important for kids and dogs to coexist
safely”, says Robinson. “I’m thrilled that the Parents’ Choice
Foundation has recognized “Drool
School” as a valuable tool for families”
Reviewer Ann Oldenburg for Parents’ Choice
writes: “In the 45-minute video, she offers valuable tips to parents
in teaching kids how to act around dogs. Anyone watching the video
could easily try what she recommends to accomplish basic dog
training, and that’s sure to lead to a happier life for owner and
dog”. The Parents’ Choice Foundation is the nation’s oldest,
nonprofit guide to children’s media and toys. According to their
website, a good DVD should entertain and teach, stimulate
imagination, and lead a child to reading.
Safety for kids and dogs is an increasing
concern for parents. The Center for Disease Control reports that
odds are 3.2 to 1 that a bite victim is a child and 70% of those
bites are to the face.
“Family dogs can be reliable and productive family members if
properly prepared,” according to Robinson.
“Dogs will respect a leader, so we teach parents how to lead
and make training fun for the kids so they’ll stay involved.”
Amy Robinson has been training dogs since 1989,
and has lived in Vero Beach
since 2000, where she does private dog training and teaches classes.
The DVD is available at The Barkery in downtown
Ft.
Pierce, the Vero Beach Book
Center, and through her
website, www.droolschool.com.
Contact Amy at (772) 696-2032
or e-mail at
amy@droolschool.com
October 22,
2007
Pet Picks for a Safe
Halloween
Halloween can be loads of fun for the whole
family, but pets need to be considered. Every year, parents are
warned to protect and supervise their children but sometimes
families forget to safeguard pets on this noisy and unpredictable
night. Dog trainer Amy Robinson, author of “Drool School”
award-winning DVD for kids and dogs, has some tips to keep pets and
kids safe and happy.
Dogs- All that doorbell ringing and funny-looking children can
really agitate even a well-mannered dog. Your dog should not be
allowed access to the door during this active time. Dogs are often
frightened by the strange costumes and chants of “Trick or Treat”.
Some dogs will react with fear and try to dart out the door and look
for a place to hide. A loose dog can become lost at night very
quickly and find his way to a busy street.
Cats- Many people have cats that go outside on a daily basis, often
at night when cats are most active. While this is not an ideal
situation for a cat, Halloween makes it especially dangerous for
your cat to be out. Keep your cat indoors not just on Halloween, but
the day before as well. Pranksters have been known to steal cats for
their own sinister purposes, putting your cat right in harm's way.
If your cat is unaccustomed to being indoors for a long period, try
making a nice, homey area for your cat in a bedroom or other area
you can close. A porch is a possibility is it locks. Spend time in
that area with your cat, using toys and treats to interact in a
positive way, so your cat doesn't feel trapped. Keep a clean litter
box in the room, and allow the cat access to looking out the window.
The two days of confinement may be an inconvenience, but could very
well save your cat's life.
Kids and Dogs- Trick or treaters need to be told to keep on the
sidewalks and avoid cutting across lawns and through unfenced yards.
Many people have underground fencing and a dog could be outside,
ready to defend his perceived territory. Just about any dog
witnessing a bunch of strangely dressed kids running through the
yard is going to react to that. Most bite victims are children and
the dog involved is usually the family dog or a dog known to the
child. To the dog, kids look very different on Halloween when it is
dark, and a preventable biting incident could occur. Once kids
arrive home with their bounty, remind them not to share with the dog
or cat. Chocolate can be deadly for dogs and cats may play with and
ingest harmful wrappers. Put the uneaten candy away in a secure
location where curious pets can’t reach it.
June 21,
2007
For Immediate Release:
Fear of Fireworks? Keep Your Dog Safe and
Relaxed on July 4th
For most of us, the Fourth of
July holiday brings up happy memories of barbeques, family
get-togethers and best of all, fireworks. While we may enjoy this
noisy holiday, many of our dogs are traumatized by the
fireworks. Dog trainer Amy Robinson has first-hand experience with
fear responses in dogs. “It is very common for dogs to be fearful of
noises from sources unknown to the dog, such as cars backfiring,
thunder and especially fireworks. In fact, rather than getting used
to noises over time, as dogs age, the fear usually increases.”
It can be a pitiful sight: your dog worried and cowering from the
fireworks noise, but Robinson advises refraining from comforting
him. “Our natural response is to pet and soothe our dogs, but from
the dog’s point of view, it is interpreted as approval of his fear
reaction.” Robinson suggests ignoring the noise completely, because
your dog is a good study of body language and will be watching your
reaction closely. “My dog, Bella, was always afraid of any popping
noise, such as fireworks make, so we would draw the blinds, put on
soft music, and talk normally to put her more at ease.” Robinson
tells clients to give your dog a safe and secure hiding place, such
as an interior bathroom with no windows or a walk-in closet, but
leave the door open so the dog doesn’t feel too isolated.
If you are heading out to a backyard barbeque, resist the temptation
to bring your dog. “People start blowing off their firecrackers in
the early afternoon, and sometimes the day before, so you are almost
certain to have a frightened dog on your hands. Instead, counsels
Robinson, take your dog out well before dark for a quality walk, and
make them comfortable for the night.
Press Release
May 7, 2007
Contact Amy Robinson (772) 696-2032
www.droolschool.com
Or Vero Beach Book Center (772) 569-6650
Vero Beach Book Center Hosts Kids and Dogs Expert Amy L. Robinson
Nationally recognized and certified dog trainer Amy Robinson will be
appearing at the Vero Beach Book Center on May 12th at 2:00PM. “The
Book Center is delighted to host an interactive program from the
creator of “Drool School” said Cynthia Grabenbauer of the Vero Beach
Book Center. Robinson will bring a puppy and an adult dog to
demonstrate training and safe practices hands-on. “It will be
interactive” confirms Robinson. “Kids will get a chance to try some
training techniques and learn the right ways to approach, pet and
play with a dog.” Bite prevention will also be addressed, with
practical tips for parents to help keep their children safe. The
program will follow the training and safety tips from her new DVD,
“Drool School”, which was filmed and produced entirely in Vero
Beach.
The Vero Beach Book Center is located at 2145 Indian River Boulevard
in Vero Beach. The DVD “Drool School” is available for purchase at
the Book Center for $23.95 plus tax.
May 6, 2007
Dog Trainer Teaches Kids and Dogs to Be Safe; Behave
contact Amy Robinson at (772) 696-2032
www.droolschool.com
email: dogtraininginfo@yahoo.com
Most of us remember growing up with a dog in the family. Childhood
dogs played the role of babysitter, guard dog, dress-up mannequin,
ottoman, confidant, and all-around angel, complete with glowing
halo. Perhaps we remember only the best about our early years with
the family dog, and forget about that time the dog used his teeth to
express his displeasure when we tried to taste his food while he was
eating. You may be surprised to learn that kids are the most
frequent dog bite victims, with boys aged five through nine most at
risk (Center for Disease Control). Certified Pet Dog Trainer Amy
Robinson specializes in helping families enhance their relationship
with their dog, and shares some tips:
Read the body language- You recognize when your kids are
over-stimulated and primed for the Mother-Of-All-Tantrums. Keep an
eye on your dog for similar signs. Is she very wide-eyed and panting
rapidly? Constantly circling the children, or even bumping them with
her head or shoulder? Jumping up and grabbing at sleeves? Use
diplomacy and re-directing skills to turn the dog’s attention away
from the kids and back to you. Put the leash on the dog and allow
her to watch the kids play a game she would normally interrupt. When
she tries to get in the middle, just say, “Come” and bend your
knees, extend your hand outward holding a tasty treat, and take two
steps backward. This body language is a clear invitation to your dog
to come straight to you. Offer the prize and praise the dog. You
have successfully rehearsed the dog to perform a preferred behavior,
and turned the dog’s focus back to you. With practice, you’ll soon
see your dog glance over her shoulder at you instead of going to the
kids.
Play with a purpose- When kids and dogs get together outdoors, play
can really escalate. As a parent, you can keep it from getting out
of hand by coordinating a game they can play together. Try the old
Red Light, Green Light, with a twist. Give one of the children a
large, plush toy to carry. Keep your dog on a leash and hold a
couple of tasty treats in your free hand. Yell “Green Light” and
have the kids start running slowly. Now ask your dog to sit by
putting that treat directly in front of his nose, and lifting
slightly up and back over his head. You may need to help him further
by cupping your hand behind his tail. Once he sits, give the treat
and release him by saying, “OK”. Now yell “Red Light” so the kids
stop, and allow your dog to “find” the child with the plush toy, and
have the child drop it on the ground for your dog to claim. Big
praise all around! Now try it again, asking the kids to run a little
faster. Give the plush toy to a different child, and do it all over.
After 3 or 4 repetitions, your dog will have satisfied his chasing
urge safely, and the kids will have spent some of their excess
energy. The dog sees you are in control, and begins to look to you
for guidance in stimulating situations. The kids learn that when the
dog is chasing them, they need to freeze. Offer a prize for the
fastest freeze when you yell “Red Light” to get your point across.
Teach your children well- Preschoolers are not too young to learn
how and when to approach and pet the dog. Bites occur usually as a
result of hugging or grabbing the dog for a kiss, or invading the
dog’s space while eating or sleeping. Many young children approach
dogs in an exuberant manner, wanting to hug them or hold the dog’s
head in both hands and ask for a kiss. As cute as this may seem to
humans, dogs see only a gross invasion of their space and no means
of escape. Children are the most frequent bite victims, and it is
often due to this kind of over-the-top greeting. The good news is,
your preschoolers can learn how and when to approach and pet the
dog. Hold your child’s hand and have him imitate you. Reach out with
a flat hand, staying at least two feet away from the dog, giving him
the option to close the distance and complete the greeting in a
relaxed manner. Now touch the dog under the chin and on the
shoulder, and encourage your child to pet in these places in slow
motion, gently praising your dog for remaining calm. Children go
right for the top of the dog’s head. This is a dominant move that
will cause most dogs to turn and sniff or mouth the hand, startling
your child into a hasty retreat. Once you’ve shown your children the
preferred places to pet, have them point to their own shoulders and
under their chins to demonstrate how to pet the dog. Again, the dog
sees you are in control and enjoys the interaction. Give your dog
his own sanctuary in which to eat and sleep, and make those areas
off limits to the kids.
As a parent, you can help manage the situation and improve the
relationship between your children and your dog. The beautiful thing
about dogs is they crave your leadership, and are looking for
instructions. Show the dog what to do, and he’ll be happy to oblige.
At the same time, the dog will recognize if you are not in charge of
your kids (a petulant child yelling “No” at you is the dog’s first
clue). Get a little alone time with the dog to reinforce simple
commands like “Come” and “Watch”. These two commands will be your
“go to” commands to redirect the dog away from the kids and bring
him back to you.
Younger children sometimes have a “just push play” button in their
heads when, during certain times of the day, chaos reigns. The same
can be true of your dog. Owners will nervously describe their dogs
as “just going crazy”, usually after the family is through with
dinner. If your dog rips around the house like a missile, tail
tucked and tongue flapping, you are not alone. Those cartoon-like
scrambles represent a joyful outburst, and are perfectly healthy.
From the dog’s point of view, it’s perfect timing: the family “pack”
is together and well fed, and now it’s playtime. Think of the public
television specials you’ve seen on wolves or coyotes, and how
playful they get after the hunt is over and all have eaten. You can
coordinate this desire to play with the establishment of a new
family tradition: taking a short walk after dinner. Leave the
dishes, cell phones and I-pods behind and give each other, the dog
included, your undivided attention. This has mental and physical
health benefits for the human members of the family (older kids may
gripe at first, but will thank you years later for this memory), and
the dog has satisfied at least some of that rowdy play urge. A
20-minute walk can be a great way to reconnect with family members
and get some light exercise before the nightly plop in front of the
TV.
When kids and dogs get together outdoors, play can really escalate.
As a parent, you can keep it from getting out of hand by
coordinating a game they can play together. Try the old Red Light,
Green Light, with a twist. Give one of the children a large, plush
toy to carry. Keep your dog on a leash and hold a couple of tasty
treats in your free hand. Yell “Green Light” and have the kids start
running slowly. Now ask your dog to sit by putting that treat
directly in front of his nose, and lifting slightly up and back over
his head. You may need to help him further by cupping your hand
behind his tail. Once he sits, give the treat and release him by
saying, “OK”. Now yell “Red Light” so the kids stop, and allow your
dog to “find” the child with the plush toy, and have the child drop
it on the ground for your dog to claim. Big praise all around! Now
try it again, asking the kids to run a little faster. Give the plush
toy to a different child, and do it all over. After 3 or 4
repetitions, your dog will have satisfied his chasing urge safely,
and the kids will have spent some of their excess energy. The dog
sees you are in control, and begins to look to you for guidance in
stimulating situations. The kids learn that when the dog is chasing
them, they need to freeze. Offer a prize for the fastest freeze when
you yell “Red Light” to get your point across.
Another way to discourage chasing and nipping behavior is to
re-direct the dog using the Come command. Put the leash on the dog
and allow her to watch the kids play a game she would normally
interrupt. When she tries to get in the middle, just say, “Come” and
bend your knees, extend your hand outward holding a treat or
fabulous toy, and take two steps backward. This body language is a
clear invitation to your dog to come straight to you. Offer the
prize and repeat this a few times. You’ll soon see your dog glance
over her shoulder at you instead of going to the kids. Again, you
have conditioned her to check with you before she acts
inappropriately. Now try the “Watch” command to achieve the same
re-directing goal. Just show the dog a tasty treat in your hand,
then bring that hand up to your face, stand up straight and point to
your nose, cheerfully saying “Watch”. Praise must be timed for eye
contact, and then the treat is offered. Look for opportunities to
interrupt undesirable behavior with “Watch” or “Come”, and praise
and treat the dog for turning her attention back to you.
We’ve all seen the hypnotizing images of idyllic scenes in both
print and television advertising of dog and child peacefully resting
together, or the dog dutifully watching over playing toddlers.
Chances are, you are seeing something a bit less perfect and more
like real life. Many young children approach dogs in an exuberant
manner, wanting to hug them or hold the dog’s head in both hands and
ask for a kiss. As cute as this may seem to humans, dogs see only a
gross invasion of their space and no means of escape. Children are
the most frequent bite victims, and it is often due to this kind of
over-the-top greeting. The good news is, your preschoolers can learn
how and when to approach and pet the dog. Hold your child’s hand and
have him imitate you. Reach out with a flat hand, staying at least
two feet away from the dog, giving him the option to close the
distance and complete the greeting in a relaxed manner. Now touch
the dog under the chin and on the shoulder, and encourage your child
to pet in these places in slow motion, gently praising your dog for
remaining calm. Children go right for the top of the dog’s head.
This is a dominant move that will cause most dogs to turn and sniff
or mouth the hand, startling your child into a hasty retreat. Once
you’ve shown your children the preferred places to pet, have them
point to their own shoulders and under their chins to demonstrate
how to pet the dog. Again, the dog sees you are in control and
enjoys the interaction. Give your dog his own sanctuary in which to
eat and sleep, and make those areas off limits to the kids.
Dogs crave leadership and can learn to look to you for guidance
around the kids, instead of making inappropriate decisions. Set up
situations you can work through and rehearse the good behavior you’d
like your dog to exhibit.
With some practice, you will create those beautiful moments between
your children and your dog that sweeten your early childhood
memories.
November 13, 2006
Fido Helps Families Burn Fat
Families have an unlikely personal trainer to
help them fight fat this holiday season: their dog. A recent study
by the University of Victoria, BC indicates that dog owners burn
more calories and get nearly double the exercise than non-dog
owners. Dog trainer Amy Robinson agrees, and has released a new DVD
entitled “Drool School”
designed to get parents and kids off the couch. “Instead of
delegating the dog’s care and training into chores, families can
share duties and enjoy some quality time together, getting physical
and mental exercise at the same time,” says Robinson. “Families can
see direct health benefits from interacting with their dog. Spending
time walking and playing productively with the dog promotes family
togetherness and burns calories.”
In addition to increased exercise, playing with
the family dog can help kids and parents connect. Robinson outlines
games the family can play with the dog to encourage good canine
behavior while developing memory and coordination skills in the
children. “Kids as young as four can begin to play interactive games
with the dog with parent’s help, and older kids can gain confidence
by giving simple commands and teaching tricks. “Once the dog knows a
cute trick, kids will show off for their parents and siblings,
getting everyone together having fun.”
Teaching commands and playing games with the
dog can have the effect of better behavior in the dog as well as the
child. Dogs that know basic commands are better companions around
the children and their friends. Children develop patience and learn
responsibility walking and playing with the dog and stay active in
the process.
Contact: Amy Robinson at (772)
696-2032
e-mail at
amy@droolschool.com
or
dogtraininginfo@yahoo.com
Previous
Press Release
July 26, 2006
New DVD Highlights Safe Play and Good Manners
for the Family Dog
Nationally recognized dog trainer Amy Robinson
has released a new DVD entitled “Drool School”, a family dog
training guide featuring children aged 3 to 13. “Often parents will
get a dog for the kids, but end up doing all of the care and
training when the dog’s newness wears off,” said Robinson. “Drool
School" is a fun guide to get kids and dogs together safely and
productively”. Comedic, real-life situations are depicted and
practical solutions are shown. Kid-friendly graphics and original
animation were created for entertainment and to highlight important
points.
Parents are increasingly concerned about news
reports of children involved in dog attacks. The Center for Disease
Control reports that odds are 3.2 to 1 that a bite victim is a child
and 70% of those bites are to the face. “Family dogs can be
productive and reliable family members if properly prepared,”
according to Robinson. “Dogs will respect a leader, so we teach
parents how to lead and make training fun for the kids so they’ll
stay involved.”
The DVD extra scene documents Robinson’s
experience in Mississippi with pet rescue after Hurricane Katrina.
She spent a week in Hattiesburg at a facility run by the Humane
Society of the United States caring for and socializing dogs in
100-plus degree heat. “It was the hardest work I’ve ever done, and
also the most important.” Robinson was impressed by the scope of the
operation, which held 900 dogs and 150 cats at peak occupancy, along
with 20 horses, a pig and a goat. “People would show up looking for
their lost pets and tell us the most harrowing stories,” she said.
“The will to live was so strong in these people and their animals,
they just didn’t give up. It was a great lesson”.
Amy Robinson has been training dogs since 1989,
and founded A Dog’s Life training school in Chicago. She has been
featured on PBS, WGN Morning News, NBC 5 News, in the San Francisco
Chronicle and in Business Week magazine. She now resides in Vero
Beach, Florida, where she does private dog training and teaches
classes at all levels.
The DVD is available through her website,
www.droolschool.com.
Suggested interview questions for Amy:
Q. What should parents do to try and keep their
kids safe around the dog?
A. Supervision is key. Even if your kids are
polite with the dog, their visiting friends may not be. If the dog
respects the parent as a leader, the parent will be in a better
position to re-direct any inappropriate behavior.
Q. Do you recommend certain breeds of dogs for
families with children?
A. Each dog is an individual, so there is no
perfect breed. If a dog comes from a breeder, it is ideal to meet
both the puppy’s parents first, as you’ll get a good idea of the
puppy’s personality by meeting the parents. Shelter dogs can really
make great family pets. Most shelters do a good job of matching dogs
with families and carefully test the temperament of their dogs. Once
the dog comes into the home, making rules and guidelines for kids
and teaching the dog manners and basic commands will go a long way
toward having a reliable pet.
Q. Is there one command that is more important
than all the rest?
A. Yes, the Come command. This simple
direction can turn your dog’s attention away from naughty behavior
and bring him right back to you. If the kids are running and
playing in the yard and the dog begins to chase, kids can get
frightened. The parent can call the dog back with Come and diffuse
the situation.
Q. What prompted you to focus on kids and dogs?
A. When my clients see me bringing out good
behavior in their dogs, they often say, “Will you train my
kids, too?” It’s great to see kids’ eyes light up when they can
successfully get the dog to work for them.
Q. Was it hard to get the kids to act
naturally?
A. Kids and dogs are a natural combination, so
they enjoyed being together. We used “real” kids, not actors, so
the challenging part was getting the training points across in a fun
and upbeat way to keep their attention. Basically, I set up a
situation, like allowing a puppy to jump up on a child, a common
problem, and worked the dog and child through the solution together,
very much like a kids and dogs reality show.
Q. What part of the filming did kids enjoy
most?
A. Teaching tricks. Dogs need to know a few
basic commands to learn tricks, so kids learn to give commands
successfully and gain confidence by seeing the dog work for them.
Once the dog knows a cute trick, kids will show off to their parents
and their friends.
Hurricane Katrina pet rescue
questions:
Q. What were conditions like in Mississippi
after Hurricane Katrina?
A. We were at a large fairgrounds facility in
Hattiesburg leased by the Humane Society of the United States. It
was one of two large holding facilities for animals picked up from
the floodwaters and destroyed building and homes on the coast. It
was like a small city, with Red Cross workers, timber cutters and
army and National Guard staging areas. The heat was terrible, but
everyone was motivated by our mission.
Q. What was your day like there?
A. Our work days were about 15 hours. We had to
start feeding, watering and taking dogs for walks before the sun
rose, because daytime temperatures were 100 and above. In the hot
midday hours we kept them in the barns and set up supplies like
fans, ice in coolers, set up cages for the incoming, acted as
veterinary assistants, scrounged supplies for special needs dogs,
helped people locate their lost pets and then at 5:00 started over
with feeding, watering and walking.
Q. Were there many happy reunions of lost pets
with their owners?
A. That was the best part. One day, I say two
friendly, young rottweilers in a stall together. I looked at their
chart and it said they were found in Pass Christian, one of the
hardest hit communities. As I was petting one of them on the neck, I
felt something under the collar. It was a piece of duct tape with a
smudged phone number. I alerted the supervisor, who asked me to
call and try to find the owner. It took a couple of days, because
people did not have working phones and no internet access, but I
located a relative who got word to the owners. They called me on my
cell phone the next day, and came from Memphis where they had
evacuated to claim their overjoyed dogs. Whenever a reunion
happened, a cowbell was rung and volunteers would come running to
see which pet was going home. That made it all worthwhile.
Q. How many dogs were you taking care of
yourself?
A. I was responsible for one row in my barn, so
about 100 dogs
Q. Were the dogs traumatized?
A. A few were, but most were friendly and happy
to have care and attention. Two dogs came in as a pair and were so
frightened; they would not move and had to be carried in and out of
their stall. When they were in their barn stall together, they
huddled close and were very depressed. It took us 4 days to cheer
them up enough so they would walk outside and relieve themselves.
Q. Were donations coming in?
A. Donations were generous and timely. The
HSUS did a great job of securing all the supplies we needed like
cages, food, medicine and they even hired a catering truck to feed
the volunteers. They also set up a misting tent to help us cool off
on the worst days. Private donations were appreciated, too. A local
fencing company came and set up four large, fenced in play areas for
the dogs. This greatly improved morale of both the dogs and the
volunteers. It was great to see the dogs relaxing and playing
again.
Amy’s Hurricane Katrina pet rescue journal and
photos can be viewed at her website,
www.droolschool.com |
