CONNOQUENESSING TWP — The Butler Dog Training Association will continue to teach dog owners new tricks at its new location at 1017 Evans City Road.

The 35-year-old group moved last fall from an old school building at 318 Mitchell Hill Road to its new home in the former McDonald Plumbing building. The group will have an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday to show off its new home and offer demonstrations and information about its classes and competitions.

It was a long overdue move, according to Nancy Kieffer, director of training for the association.

“There were no bathrooms and no running water” at its old quarters, Kieffer said.

President Betty Scarnato said, “The association has 80 members, all of them have dogs, but they aren't all helping to teach the public.”

Georgia Slater, association member and chairman of the building committee, said the association has nine instructors, members certified to offer training classes to other owners and their dogs.

Slater said, “You have to be a member in good standing for at least two years, observe classes and assist in several classes, as well as participate in seminars and workshops” before being granted the title of instructor.

Kieffer said the group offers its classes to the public.

“We have a puppy class and basic manners and obedience levels I and II,” she said.

“The puppy class lasts for six weeks, one night a week. It's for dogs from 8 to 20 weeks old,” she said.

Classes are limited to 12 owners and their dogs.

“It's not so much teaching an old dog new tricks, it's whether we can teach an old owner new tricks,” said Kieffer.

Slater said dog training begins with training the dog owner.

“A dog knows what it wants to do,” she said.

“We give the handler understanding of why the dog is doing what it is doing.

“We train the handler to work with the dog. We give you the skills you will need to have for a lifetime of training your dog,” said Slater.

“Our classes are taught with qualified and experienced instructors using positive training methods,” said Kieffer.

Kieffer said any breed of dog can be trained through a combination of “treats, toys and praise.”

The association does not use choke or pinch collars in its training.

“When you give them (dogs) motivation, they will love you more,” said Scarnato.

Slater said even after completing a class, owners need to work with their dogs every day, if only for a few minutes, to reinforce the training.

The nonprofit group also promotes responsible dog ownership by conducting Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog International testing with evaluators who are members of the association.

The American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen program is recognized as the gold standard for dog behavior. Dogs must pass the 10-step test to earn a certificate and the official AKC CGC title.

Slater said association members and their dogs also take part in competitions that test dogs' agility and obedience.

Scarnato said the group's April 30-May 1 AKC Obedience Trials at Cooper Hall in Saxonburg's Roebling Park is expected to draw 120 competitors.

BDTA members also present dog safety presentations at elementary schools and to Boy and Girl Scouts, YMCA and 4-H groups as part of the canine ambassador program.

For more information about the Butler Dog Training Association, visit www.butlerdogtraining.com.

For obedience class information, call 724-285-9910 or 724-287-3933 or e-mail: dogpawscs@zoominternet.net or swinters@zoominternet.net

For agility class information, call 724-504-0935 or e-mail: lindy53@zoominternet.net.