Training classes have begun for the new year.

Beginner Agility starts Monday Feb 23rd 6:45pm-7:45pm. Introduction to agility equipment and clicker training.

Second Level Obedience starts Wednesday March 11th from 6:45pm-7:45pm. Increased distraction work for those dogs ready to be challenged. A basic understanding of sit, down, stay, and heel required.

Beginner Obedience starts in early April (exact date TBA). An introduction to the basic commands (sit, down, stay, and come). Dogs also learn practical skills like walking politely on leash and greeting strangers.

Each training course includes 6 weeks of classes for just $80.00.

Sign up at Gulliver's or call 860-1144 to add your name to the sign up list.

I hope everyone's holiday was a happy and safe one. Some of our owners have requested that I post some safety tips on the blog to help keep our pooches safe through the new year.

Remember to be safe while traveling with your pet. The front seat can be a dangerous place for your dog. Most of today's vehicles are equipped with airbags that can harm an unrestrained dog during a collision.

To keep your dog safe at home during these snowy months please remember to shovel accumulated snow away from fences. The piling up snow can allow our dogs to more easily escape their fenced enclosures. This could result in a dog becoming lost or injured.

If anyone would like to contact me with other tips that might be of interest to other owners feel free to email me with the contact form on the blog page. Please remember that the email is checked frequently, but not daily. Any time sensitive messages, such as making reservations for your dogs should be called into Gulliver's at 860-1144.

Happy Thanksgiving from all the Gulliver's staff. We hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday.

The pups at Gulliver's celebrated Halloween with a day of pirate fun. Some dogs came dressed in costume to celebrate Halloween and all the dogs played pirate games.

Hunting for buried treasure is a fun pirate game that you can play at home with your dog. This game involves hiding a tasty treat under one of three objects. For our pirate game a treat was hidden under one of four small traffic cones decorated with treasure chests. The dogs were encouraged to find the treasure under the correct cone. It can be fun to teach your dog to paw at the hidden treat or to sit infront of the container with the treat.

Thanks to the hard work of the Gulliver's staff a new pirate ship play structure has been added to the yard.

The dogs were excited to explore their new pirate ship and it didn't take long for chase games to commence in, on, and around the structure. Some of the dogs have even decided that the bow of the boat is a great place for a nap.

Check out the new pictures of the pirate ship in the Big Yard section of the Photo Gallery.

Adding a new puppy to your home is an exciting experience. Puppies bring new energy to any environment and before you know it those cute, fluffy pups will grow into mature dogs. Watching those pups grow can be very rewarding, but caring for a puppy can be at times challenging. Here are some helpful hints to help you along the way.

1. When choosing a puppy to add to your family make sure to do some research about the different breeds that interest you. When choosing a breed consider your lifestyle and if you can meet the needs of that particular breed.

2. Puppies need socialization. Introduce your puppy to a variety of people and environments when they are young to help them be confident adult dogs. Make sure your puppy has had vaccination boosters before introducing him/her to other dogs.

3. Start basic obedience training early. Young puppies can learn basic skills early, just remember to keep the training sessions short. Puppies have a very short attention spans and trying to do too much, too quickly will likely frustrate you and your puppy.

4. Be the leader of your pack. Set rules and boundaries in your home and enforce them. Be consistant with your training.

5. Make sure your puppy gets plenty of exercise. Exercise helps combat boredom and problem behaviors.

The fall training classes have begun and the basic obedience has brought together a fun mix of dogs of different ages and abilities. The purpose of the basic obedience is to give the owners instruction on how to teach their dogs the basic skills needed for a well mannered pooch.

The class meets one hour Monday evenings for six weeks. During that time the handlers are given instruction on training their dogs to obey basic commands. At the end of each session the handlers are provided with homework activities to work on with their dogs.

Working with the dogs outside of class is very important. Both dog and handler improve through practice and those who train with their dog in short daily sessions will achieve greater success.

The group class time is structured to provide a stimulating environment for the dogs to put their practice to practical use. As the dogs improve their skills the class is adjusted to increase challenges while maintaining a fun learning environment.

Those who have never had the opportunity to attend a training class with their dog should look into it. It is a fun way for you and your dog to spend time together.