Obedience Training Puppies and Adult Dogs

HOME	TOUR	PET PORTALS	ORDER Rx
VETERINARY SERVICES	BOARDING	GROOMING	OBEDIENCE
PHYSICAL THERAPY	DIETS & SUPPLIES	STAFF	DIRECTIONS
CONTACT US	EMAIL	JOB POSTINGS	EDUCATIONAL LINKS

HOME

TOUR

PET PORTALS

ORDER Rx

VETERINARY SERVICES

BOARDING

GROOMING

OBEDIENCE

PHYSICAL THERAPY

DIETS & SUPPLIES

STAFF

DIRECTIONS

JOB POSTINGS

EDUCATIONAL LINKS

Hospital Logo

Canine Rehabilitation

Employee of the Month

Log into your pet's personalized pet portal for up-to-date vaccine, medication and food purchase and medical information and more!

What past attendees have to say, (Woof), about us...

ABOUT THE TRAINERS:

Dianne McCorry has joined Countryside as our resident dog behavior trainer. Dianne is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer (CPDT ) and a Canine Good Citizen Evaluator (CGC), with experience working with dogs of all ages and temperments. Dianne came to the dog training world after a career of teaching technology in public education grades K-12 and in higher education at Wellesley College and Bentley College. In addition to teaching dog obedience classes, Dianne volunteers at both the Lowell Humane Dianne McCorry and Hershey Society and at the MSPCA at Nevins Farm and especially enjoys working with some of the more difficult dogs in order to help them become more adoptable. She and her husband own Hershey, a rescued Chocolate Labrador Retriever with whom she has done a lot of work in overcoming his reactivity and a rescued calico cat named Boo. Dianne holds a Masters Degree in Education, and is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

Dianne is currently assisted by Countryside Animal Care Specialist, Stephanie Frost. Stephanie has been with Countryside for almost 5 years and has a great interest and passion for dog training. She is kind, understanding and has many years experience caring for dogs.

Stephanie Frost, a Countryside employee since 2004, joined our dog behavior training team in 2008. Stephanie first became interested in behavior training 7 years ago when she adopted Jack Daniels, her Jack Russell Terrier. Jack had a behavior issue where he was reactive to other dogs, and Stephanie knew she needed to learn how to appropriately manage Jack’s behavior. Her research into canine behavior helped her manage Jack’s issues, and sparked her interest in learning more about dog behavior training. Stephanie started as a training assistant, and has become a full behavior trainer.

Stephanie began her work with animals at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst as an Animal Science major. She has worked with many species of animals during her career. In addition to domestic pets and livestock, Stephanie spent two summers as an intern at the New England Aquarium in the Rescue and Rehabilitation department where she raised orphaned or injured harbor, grey and hooded seals to be released back into the wild. She also completed an internship in the aquarium’s Veterinary Services department, where she worked with a variety of fish, reptile, marine mammal and avian species.

Stephanie also owns a number of pet rats where she has used her animal behavior knowledge to teach them a variety of tricks.

Stephanie is an active member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT).

WHAT PAST ATTENDEES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT US, "Woof!"...

Below are some comments from past training class end-of-session evaluations. These evaluations are filled out by our clients when they finish a course here at Countryside with Dianne. We are very proud to share them with you.

"Classes are well structured."

"Instructions were well documented and demonstrated by Dianne."

"The results were better than we had hoped."

"Dianne was very patient, listened and really understood each owner/dog situation."

"Class was a great learning experience for owners as well as dogs."

"Dianne and Stephanie's love for dogs and enthusiasm is infectious."

"Excellent experience for the whole family."

Also a young Golden Retriever, Holly, whose owners reported that prior to taking Puppy Kindergarten and later Level 2 Behavior Traning here at Countryside with Dianne, whenever they'd walk in the woods, if Holly saw a deer she would take off after it and completely ignore any commands to stay. Holly's pet-parent has now reported that Holly recently saw 3 deer in the woods and was ready to run after them, but stayed as the owner instructed. They are thrilled with the results.

WHAT IS COUNTRYSIDE'S TRAINING PHILOSOPHY?

At Countryside we believe in a gentle, caring approach to dog behavior training. In our classes, our certified instructor, Dianne McCorry, and Steph Frost, use positive reinforcement in the form of treats and praise to teach the fundamentals of obedience to your dog of any age. Behavior training is a process that should start when the dog arrives home and should continue through its lifetime. It is essential to condition your dog to the rules and boundaries of your home and family life and that begins with training the owners of the dog. Dog owners have an obligation to be responsible for their dog's behavior and well-being. At Countryside, we help owners to learn the necessary skills to teach their dogs to be Canine Good Citizens. Dianne is a certified Canine Good Citizen Evaluator and can evaluate your dog that has had CGC training here or elsewhere. Our methods promote a positive bond between the family members and the dog. We believe that puppies should begin their training as early as possible and old dogs can learn training commands.

Our trainers create a positive example for both you and your dog with their passion for teaching, embracing new courses to help better acclimate your dog with your involvement.

There are many training programs available, and many different methods. We offer a method we feel educates the owner as well as the pet while providing a solid foundation for a happy, healthy relationship throughout your dog's lifetime.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Signing up is easy. During our business hours, call our office or stop in. The Client Relation Specialists at the front desk will give you a form to sign up for the class. On the form specify which class you plan to attend. Or click here for a .pdf version of the form that will open in Adobe acrobat for you to print out and fill out at home and mail in with your class fee.

WHEN DO I PAY?

Payment for each session is taken in advance at the time your completed enrollment form is turned into the front office.

WHERE ARE THE CLASSES HELD?

Classes are held upstairs in our hospital's 1000 sq. ft. training room.

WHERE DO I CHECK IN?

Each night you come in to attend your class, come through the front entrance of the hospital and check in at the retail desk on the right side of the building. An animal care specialist will direct you from there.

WHICH CLASS IS BEST FOR MY DOG?

Puppy kindergarten is for the dog 8 - 18 weeks that has no prior obedience training.

Level I Behavior Training (formerly beginner behavior training) is for dogs over 5 months old without Puppy Kindergarten experience or any other formal training.

Level 2 Behavior Training (formerly graduate puppy) classes are for dogs over 5 months old with prior basic training experience. Your dog should know the basic commands prior to attending class. Your dog's prior training experience can be from another facility if you are new to our program. If you would like to join a Level 2 Behavior Training Class, but are unsure if your dog qualifies, call our office at (978) 256 -9555 and ask for Joan Bartlett or Mary Martin. Or email the senior instructor Dianne McCorry at dmccorry@cvhonline.com. Clickers are optional and are provided for the pet owner to keep free of charge.

Ask us about AKC Canine Good Citizenship Certification and the AKC new S.T.A.R. Puppy program. Advanced training often can be used as a refresher course in basic training methods for both an owner and his/her dog.

WHAT WILL MY DOG LEARN?

All training is done with repetitive positive reinforcement.

Puppies will learn attention skills, come when called, sit, down & stand, healing on lead, stays, individual problem solving (housebreaking, nipping, jumping etc.).

In Level I Behavior Training (for dogs over 5 months of age that have had no prior obedience training) dogs will learn attention skills, come when called, sit, down & stand stays, loose leash walking, individual problem solving (jumping, biting, barking, etc.)

In Level 2 Behavior Training (for dogs who are over 5 months old and have attended a prior obedience training course), owners will reinforce the basic commands their dog has learned from a prior obedience course either Puppy Kindergarten or Level I Obedience, and combines them with verbal and optional clicker commands. It is important to follow up Puppy Kindergarten or Level I Behavior Training with a second course to truly reinforce those commands you have learned to give your dog and have a fully enhanced training program. Also to make the class even more fun, Dianne and Steph throw in a few tricks to teach your dog that will really impress your friends!

WHAT ABOUT KIDS ATTENDING CLASSES?

Puppy K: Children who have not reached their 4th birthday are not permitted to attend training classes. Children who are 4 years and older are welcome to attend and participate in training with the direction of the instructor, but there must be an adult present for each child who has not reached their 6th birthday. All children must be supervised by an adult and may continue to attend at the discretion of the instructor or the office manager.

Levels 1 & 2: Children who are 12 years to 18 years of age may attend and participate in the training process with adult supervision and with the direction and discretion of the instructor. Children under 12 years of age may attend, but may not participate in the training during class and must remain in their seats. There must be an additional adult present for each child attending who has not reached their 6th birthday. All children must be supervised by an adult and may continue to attend at the discretion of the instructor or the office manager.

CLASS START DATES 2010 (7 week sessions)

Click here to sign up!