WHEN THE SIMPLIEST OF TASKS ARE OUT OF REACH, A TRAINED SERVICE ANIMAL IS THE ANSWER.

WHEN THE SIMPLIEST OF TASKS ARE OUT OF REACH, A TRAINED SERVICE ANIMAL IS THE ANSWER.

Service dogs assist in everyday tasks. Training centers like GOLDSTAR are working everyday to ensure service animals are up for the task of object retrieval, balance assistance, opening and closing doors and much more.

Sunday May 7, 2017, animals from GOLDSTAR Service Dog Center will be returning to the VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital to get their annual checkup with Dr. Robert Swinger of Animal Eye Guys.

People Love Stories about Animals - Especially Happy Stories!!!

GREAT VISUALS - VALUABLE INFORMATION!!

WHO/WHAT:

VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital (VCAHAH) and Animal Eye Guys (AEG) of South Florida will be providing free eye exams to qualified South Florida working dogs on Sunday, May 7, from 10:00am -3:00pm.

High profile patients include:

GOLDSTAR Service Dogs – specially trained service dogs for mobility assistance, companion dogs for PTSD, anxiety, slight autism, and other mental assistance.

These complimentary exams will be provided by Dr. Robert Swinger, D.V.M., Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.

The exams are being offered as part of the ACVO National Service Dog Eye Exam program. Now in its 10th year, the program offers free eye exams for service animals during the month of May by 250 board certified veterinary ophthalmologists from around the United States (including Puerto Rico) and Canada.

Since the program launched in 2008, nearly 16,000 service animals have been examined.  In addition to dogs, other service animals including horses and even a service donkey named Henry have received free sight saving exams. 

WHERE/WHEN:

VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital

2864 Hollywood Boulevard

Hollywood, FL 33020

954.920.3556

Sunday, May 7, 2017

10:00 am -3:00 pm

GOLDSTAR Service Dog Center mobility assistance animals and companion dogs.

HOW:

On-site media contact is Linda Ream. Contact her at linda.ream@vca.com/954.319.0365(C)

MORE INFORMATION:

About VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital

VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital has earned a solid reputation for offering the very best in veterinary medicine as well as the latest technological advances and therapies. Founded in 1947, VCA HAH features 21 veterinarians and more than 100 highly trained technical and support staff members. For more information, please visit http://www.VCAhollywood.com or call 954-826-8871

About GOLDSTAR Service Dog Center

GOLDSTAR Service Dog Center is a licensed dog training facility located in Pahrump, NV specializing in the training of service dogs for mobility assistance. This includes training with a mobility harness for help in keeping balance and walking, object retrieval, opening and closing doors, walking next to a wheelchair/walker, etc. GOLDSTAR also trains companion dogs for PTSD, anxiety, slight autism, and other mental assistance. For more information about GOLDSTAR Service Dog Center visit: http://www.goldstarservicedogs.com/servicedogs.html or contact them directly @702-610-9504 / email: goldstarservicedogcenter@gmail.com.

About the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists

The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists® is an approved veterinary specialty organization of the American Board of Veterinary Specialties, and is recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association.  Its mission is “to advance the quality of veterinary medicine through certification of veterinarians who demonstrate excellence as specialists in veterinary ophthalmology.” To become board certified, a candidate must complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, a one-year internship, a three year approved residency and pass a series of credentials and examinations.

  

Media Contacts

Linda Ream, VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital: linda.ream@vca.com /954.319.0365 (C)

K9 Officer First Aid Training!!!!!!!!

After nearly 70 years of caring for the pets in South Florida, VCA Hollywood has developed strong relationships with our community. These relationships have transcended the doctor:patient bond and established us a solid resource for best pet care. This bond is no more epitomized than with our law enforcement community. For decades we have cared for our state and local police K9 officers for wellness and emergency care. This week, we offered these same officers an opportunity to take care into their own hands with our annual K9 Officer First Aid Training.


Thirty officers from area K9 Units joined us to bone up on their canine care with Leah S, LVT. Leah has offered this training at least once a year to our officers and teaches them to adapt their knowledge of human emergency care to pet care. These Officers learn and practice taking vitals, doing CPR and emergency wound management.

The men where all ears to understand the best practices for caring for their K9 partners.

This year, through a grant for the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) special, customized emergency kits were purchased for each officer ensuring they will have everything they need if their partner is injured in the line of duty.

We are grateful for the service these officers perform and proud to be a part of their continued safety.

Basic Types of Training

Common Types of Training

This blog will tell you about the basic types of dog training and some of the tools commonly used.

Dominance Based Training

Dominance based training sets its foundation in punishment.  Many of these techniques require your dog to submit to you and cause you to challenge bad behavior verbally or physically. Tools that are commonly used in dominance based training are prong, choke, or shock collars.  These tools work by inflicting pain on your dog so that they will not want to continue to do a certain behavior.  Below are different types and versions of prong collars.  Although one is made of metal and the other is plastic both collars work the same way, by causing pain and negative experience. 

Positive Reinforcement Based Training

This training sets its foundation in rewarding good behavior while ignoring bad behavior.  Common tools used in this training technique are treats, verbal praise, and clicker training.  Clicker training helps reinforce positive behavior quickly while giving your dog an auditory clue that they are doing the desired behavior.  Below is an examples of a clickers used in dog training

 

 “Balanced” Based Training

Many trainers are now calling themselves balanced trainers, which means they ae using a combination of positive and negative techniques.  Balance type trainers use a combination of tools used in other types of training. 

What to Look for in a Trainer

Look for a trainer that uses force free based training.  This will help your develop a positive relationship with your dog and will help prevent your dog from becoming fearful, anxious, or withdrawn.  Although balanced trainers may seem “balanced” they still have a foundation that is based in fear and can have negative effects on your dog.   Some people feel that Positive reinforcement based training lacks discipline yet by ignoring bad behaviors you are in fact telling your dog that those behaviors are not acceptable and will not gain your physical or verbal attention. 

Look at your potential new trainer’s education or credentials.  If you are not sure about an organization do some research on the organization do see what type of training they teach.

Choose a trainer that involves you and your family in training.  Board and train programs can sound appealing but separate you from the training and bonding with your pet.

Where to look for recommendations?

Your veterinarian – Many veterinarians are aware of local trainers and behaviorist that they researched and approve of.  

 Do your own online research – Look at your prospective new trainer’s website, youtube, or google profiles.  See if they are demonstrating the techniques, tools, and methods that will have a positive impact on your pet’s training and well-being. 

What your TV may be Teaching You

In the past 10 years dog training shows on TV have gained popularity.  Although they may have an entertainment value some of these shows demonstrate harmful techniques that could put you, your family, your friends, and your pet at risk.  Remember training your pet and reinforcing your positive behavior can take time, work, and consistency.

 Kristi Medearis

Need additional resources?

Check out the following websites and their approved trainers.

American College of Veterinary Behaviorist

http://www.dacvb.org/

American Society of Veterinary Behavior

 http://avsabonline.org/