PAWSITIVE PERFORMANCE DOG TRAINING FACILITY IS CLOSING

After four great years of working with you and your dogs, we will be closing. Our current lease ends on October 15, and the final classes that we offer end before Labor Day. Our lease operating costs have risen so that continuation of classes at our current site is no longer viable. We have been unable to find an alternative location that meets our financial needs and allows us a reasonable work/life balance, so we have decided to close. But check our website occasionally as we may eventually find a location that is a better fit. For now, Becky will continue to act as a Rally judge in APDT and AKC venues (that is what will remain of PPDT), and we will continue to show Rosie, Emma and Bonnie in the area, so we will see you around. And who knows - we may pop up again somewhere else when the time and location are right, so keep in touch (we will keep the website).

We have seen literally thousands of new faces (human and canine) and hope that we have made a difference in the way that people in our community train their dogs. Many of you were positive trainers when you started with us, and you became better trainers. Others learned, just as we did about ten years ago, that positive training is a much more effective way to train than the "traditional" aversive-based methods - and you end up with a great relationship with your dog too! We hope that when dog trainers refer to "traditional" training 30 years from now, they will be talking about positive reinforcement-based methods.

We owe a special thanks to our quality instructors (past and present) and good friends who have helped make PPDT a success: Karen and Jim Click (Puppy), Linda Chiaramonte (Family Dog, Rally), Susan Wagner (Puppy, Family Dog), Jennifer Carra (Family Dog), Lynn Hostetler (Agility), Mary Lou Krippner (Agility), Lisa Haidle (Agility, Family Dog, Rally) and Nancy Reyes (Family Dog, Agility). A great-big THANKS to all of you for teaching humans how to teach their dogs the right way!

CLOSING SALE

We will be selling training and office equipment that we will no longer need on a first-come-first-served basis. Be sure to check this web page for available items, or just take a look at what's available when you stop by for class. Or just contact us with questions about available items and we'll tell you what we have.

OTHER TRAINING ALTERNATIVES

Linda Chiaramonte, Downers Grove (will travel to your home)

Linda has been consistently rated as one of our very best instructors, and has taught Family Dog and Rally classes for many years. She also offers private lessons and is great working with individuals and their dogs in a private setting on specific training issues. The best way to contact Linda for training assistance is to send her an email at linda@northroman.com.

For Your Canine, Schiller Park

This training establishment is run by our former Family Dog and Agility instructor, Nancy Reyes. Nancy has many years of dog training and received high rating from students who took her classes at PPDT. She can be reached at 847-671-6844 or through her website at www.foryourcanine.com. Classes include puppy, obedience and agility, and she offers other interesting choices such as canine freestyle.

BlazN K9 Agility, West Chicago, Peotone, others

BlazN K9 Agility, which is run by Sherry Kluever who has been on the USA Agility World team with her dog Ransom, is our choice for competition agility (Becky takes both group classes and private lessons from Sherry). She is one of the nicest people that we know in the agility world, and is extremely knowledgeable about dogs. She is also a great teacher of people. In addition to Ransom, Sherry has two other great dogs that are her pets and companions. You can contact Sherry at 815-382-7011 and through her website at www.sherrykluever.com.

Paw Law Dog Training Acadamy, Roselle

This training establishment is run by Jan Hicks, a Certified Pet Dog Trainer and someone who we met while playing flyball with our dogs. Jan is a positive trainer and can be reached at 847-888-4725. Her classes are listed on her website at www.pawlaw.com, with everything from puppy and obedience through beginning agility and (yes!) flyball.

PETsMART

PETsMART dog training classes are based on positive reinforcement and have been designed with the assistance of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. We know that some people do not like "training in dog food aisles," but many of their stores have very separate training areas. And the instructors can make a big difference too. One great PETsMART instructor who we know through our animal assisted therapy work is Donna Angeleri, who works at the Darien Store (630-271-1223).

Narnia Pet Behavior, Training, & Consulting, Naperville, IL

Narnia specializes in non-competitive dog training and private pet counseling for behavior problems with dogs, cats, and birds. Narnia has been in business for over 12 years and helped over 6000 clients. Over 25 classes are typically offered each week. Classes utilize gentle, non-aggressive techniques and emphasize socialization with people and other dogs. Their website is www.narniapets.com and they can be reached at 630-904-0895.

ASSOCIATION OF PET DOG TRAINERS (APDT)

The APDT is a great resource to find positive dog trainers. Their website is www.apdt.com.