Posts Tagged ‘responsible pet partnership’

The companionship of a pet enriches our lives. Studies have shown that the presence of a pet in your life can lower your blood pressure and reduce stress. Studies also show that the number one cause of pet euthanasia is the direct result of behavior problems that lead to surrendering of the pet. Our goal at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic and Wellness Center is to prevent behavior problems before they happen through early training, socialization, education, and bonding of the pet to the members of the adoptive family. This desire culminated in the Responsible Pet Partnership program (for kittens and puppies), available at Broad Ripple Animal Clinic, as well as the creation of Bark Tutor School for Dogs.

We are very pleased with the progress we’ve seen since opening Bark Tutor School for Dogs. Students benefit from individualized training, group classes and socialization, while their families learn how to get the responses they want from their dogs. Clients have been so pleased with the relationships they’ve been able to develop with their dogs that they are asking for more!

Later this month, we will be expanding our classes to include three new group classes that focus on enhancing you and your family’s relationship with your dog. The first class is Bark Tutor Kids Club. This class is designed specifically for kids between the ages of 5 and 12. The class will be similar to our obedience classes, but will allow things to be slowed down for younger family members. The class will also cover topics that relate to building bonds between kids and dogs, and preventing problems: handling exercise, how to play properly, bite prevention and more. All students must be accompanied by an adult. The Bark Tutor Kids Club will be meeting Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

Therapy Dog Preparation is a class that more and more people are interested in pursuing, especially after they’ve experienced success with their dog’s training. This class is designed to prepare the dog and his handler for work as a therapy dog. There are many types of therapy work a dog can do, and many people are interested in enhancing the lives of others who can’t have a pet in their lives due to assisted living, hospitalization, etc. Bark Tutor’s Therapy Dog Preparation class does not certify nor does it guarantee that a dog will be certified, as each therapy facility has their own set of requirements. At the end of 8 weeks, we will facilitate evaluations with a Delta Society Evaluator for our students. All dogs enrolling in Therapy Dog Prep must have a Canine Good Citizen, which Bark Tutor also offers. This class will be meeting on Thursday evenings at 7:45pm with a 6-dog limited enrollment.

Rally O is an exciting new dog sport. We feel it’s the ideal sport for dogs and their families who have enjoyed the training process and want to continue working with their dog in a fun, learning environment. Follow this link to view video examples of Rally O at http://tinyurl.com/p7u7at. The beginner Rally class will be on Sundays at 2:00pm, with a strict 6-dog maximum enrollment. All dogs enrolling in Rally O must have completed level 3 skills at Bark Tutor and have a Canine Good Citizen.

For more information about the programs available at Bark Tutor School for Dogs, visit our website at www.barktutor.com or call the school directly at 317.259.8336.

A new puppy or kitten can be a wonderful addition to any family. There are many things to consider when you bring your new puppy or kitten home. Naturally, you’ll want a veterinarian to check things over and make sure your little one is healthy.

Just like children, growing puppies and kittens need to be seen every 3-4 weeks by a veterinarian until they are approximately 4-5 months of age. Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination at each visit, develop a customized vaccination schedule and address any medical issues as they arise.

Additionally, we have found other important areas that need consideration with a new puppy or kitten: behavior, training and socialization. With this in mind, BRAC developed the Responsible Pet Partnership (RPP) program in 2007. This program addresses everything you might need to learn about your new puppy or kitten’s behavioral changes, basic training issues, and socialization within your family and with other animals. The RPP program is a series of three visits with our Director of Behavior Services, Brad Phifer, CPDT or one of our Registered Veterinary Technicians, Blythe Swanger, RVT or Amber Taylor, RVT, who all have an interest and specialized training in pet behavior.

These appointments are designed to fit easily into your schedule between your regular veterinarian visits. They are 30 minutes in length and are one-on-one sessions with you and your pet. To thank you for completing the RPP program, BRAC will reward you with a complimentary spay or neuter for your new puppy or kitten (This offer is valid only for clients who have an established client-patient-doctor relationship at the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic or the Broad Ripple Animal Wellness Center. Puppies and kittens must be 12 weeks old or less when they enroll in the program.) The cost of the program is only $40.00 per visit (for a total of $120.00). Your complimentary spay or neuter includes pre-anesthetic bloodwork, a pre-anesthetic examination, anesthetic induction and monitoring, IV catheter and fluid therapy, and post-operative pain management. This package is valued at up to $350.00, which is a savings to you of more than $200.00 when you complete the RPP program. Laparoscopic spay is now available for an additional cost. For more information, or to schedule your new puppy or kitten to see one of our veterinarians, please call us at 317.257.5334.