Class Act
SUMMIT TWP — The old Summit Elementary School building looks abandoned, but nearby, in the back of a minivan, Merry, a Labrador retriever, watches patiently as the others arrive and as her owners, Robert and Dawn Ecklund, prepare for class.
It's the fifth week of the Butler Dog Training Association beginner's class.
Next to the building, a row of lawn chairs lines the outside of a fence.
Inside the building are two rooms, used during bad weather. In the center of one of the rooms sit three items: a wheelchair, a cane and a walker.
Photographs, fliers and achievements cover every wall.
Dogs also come to this training facility for advanced training to become therapy dogs.
Many dogs that pass through the association's programs comfort the elderly at nursing homes, the sick at hospitals and the mentally handicapped.
Instructor Robert Ecklund said the association brings therapy dogs on Christmas morning to the residents at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Ecklund said it's not pleasant for the residents to be in a nursing home on Christmas Day. So he said he loves seeing their bright smiles as the dogs greet them.
Other dogs at training develop into canine ambassadors, a program run by the American Kennel Club. These dogs are used to educate students, scouts and other public groups.
Ecklund and his wife, Dawn, also an instructor, finish their preparations and walk outside to greet the dogs and owners.
The class starts with a basic exercise. One at a time, a pet-owner duo approaches the fence gate, each dog sitting before entering.
“They have to sit going in and out of the gate,” Dawn said.
Then the owner hands the leash to Robert and stands at the opposite end. When ready, the owner calls the dog, Robert releases the leash and the dog sprints. The dogs get praise and a treat when they reach their owners — most owners carry the treats in a small fanny-pack like pouch.
All the dogs reached their owners, except a large, light-haired Great Pyrenees, named Bear, who seems more interested in the grass and the sky.
Robert said the praise and treat interactions improve the odds of success. The trainer is responsible for practicing the learned techniques and continuing training after the class concludes.“We try to build a bond between the dog and the handler,” Robert said.Attention is another top priority Robert teaches the owners. Many touch their noses, use clickers or shout the dog's name, but all work on getting the dog's attention to the owner's face and keeping it.Robert and Dawn test the dogs' concentration by using toys and movement as distractions, parading the dogs between, around and through a line of toys.Robert and Dawn then brush the dogs. They brush ears, paws, legs and backs to acclimate the dogs to the action.Veterinarians will have an easier time examining a trained dog, Robert said. Dawn added that it's beneficial for therapy dog training because dogs need to be trained not to lash out when unexpectedly touched.After practicing the brushing, it's Merry's turn to shine. She demonstrates walking over strange surfaces and the “place” technique, which establishes an area that the dog must go to calm down.While practicing the place technique, individual pairs are sent inside the building, one at a time, to do a quick walk through the items commonly used by elderly patients.Similar to the idea behind training with a brush, Robert said getting the dogs used to these items will make them more comfortable around them later.After each dog has its turn inside, they are greeted by different obstacles scattered in the fenced area.Some dogs seem fearless. Others struggle to place a paw on the first obstacle, a large, upturned pot. The tiniest of the bunch, Hunter, a Bichon-poodle mix, sits on top of it without a whimper.Each dog seems to have its own fear of a particular obstacle. Molly, a Labrador, refuses to budge at the long, foldable tunnel. Her owner, Roxanne Yoho, 58, of Butler calls to her while Robert gives her a slight push, but the dog avoids the entrance altogether. Molly apparently is claustrophobic.“I know it sounds weird,” Yoho said. “I've never seen a dog that's claustrophobic.”Molly even avoids hallways. She backs out slowly when she wanders into one. Yoho said Molly also has an issue with slick surfaces.Molly has made great progress, Yoho said, and she is confident Molly eventually will become a hunting dog for her husband and a therapy dog for the seniors at Paramount Senior Living at Cranberry, Mars, where Yoho works.“I'm very pleased; she's very smart.”The obstacle course ends the session. Robert tells owners to keep working with their dogs at home.“Timing is everything in training,” he said.
Robert and Dawn pack up. The owners and dogs return to their own cars. Some linger and socialize, and help stack chairs.Howard Houstan, 31, of Butler loosely holds the leash on his German shepherd, Vayda. The dog stays close to Houstan and his wife, Elycia, who is pregnant.Houstan said the temperament of German shepherds and their willingness to protect are why they picked Vayda.“She's good with kids,” he said. “We wanted her to be a family dog.”Houstan participates in the training, while his wife, Elycia, watches and listens so she can implement the same rules and techniques at home. The trainers advise that only one person be the trainer, but Elycia's presence ensures a consistency for Vayda at home.“Having the dog listen to us is the end-game,” Houstan said. “Her needing to listen to us is a big deal.”Soon everyone is gone. The lot is empty. The sun is setting. But even in the waning light, the place seems a bit brighter.
<br />
