University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, October 31, 1979
'5
Cleo, a bassett hound puppy, is not in the mood to learn canine manners despite coaxing by his owner Gail VanLoenen. Cleo is in the puppy class at the Lawrence Kernel Club's obedience school.
Canine College
Photos by Barb Kinney Story by Kate Pound
A Doberman pincher dog inquisitively sniffs at a chowchow pup.
Linda Decelles commands her dog Sugarbear, an akita, into a show stance.
A miniature colle patiently awaits his owner's return.
By KATE POUND Staff Renorter
Vaguely resembling a tank with turl, one of the students greeted a visitor to the Lawrence Kennel Club's obedience class with a deen, room-filling "Woof!"
"Oh, don't worry. Sugarbear just has to say hello to everyone," Sugarbear's owner, Linda Decceles said.
"How can you tell that's hello and not 'get the hell out of here'?" the startled visitor replied.
Sugarbeer, an akita dog, bounded off to join her fellow classmates, who ranged from powder puff-sized Poodles to gangly Husky pups.
More than 80 dogs that came for classes during the evening were receiving training in the canine discipline to teach canine manners and skills to both owners and pets, said Karen Pelton, a dog trainer.
Many of the pet owners are students from University of Kansas, Felton said. The team's staff teach their pets to the classes because often students have ill-mannered pets that cannot be handled properly.
"We want the public and pet owners to be aware that dogs can be trained and can be fun," Felton said. "We want owners to become friends with their dogs."
The classes begin with the puppy section. Dogs from two to six months old are taught the basics of obedience, Felton said. Their parents teach them how to eat and the stores to own a well-behaved pet.
"Often, the dogs end up at the pound, but if the students learn that their dogs can behave, they can keep them," she said.
Around a ring made of rubber mats, the puppies and their owners walked. Stops were frequent, as pups passed to explore, rest and wrestle with their neighbors. Two husky pups took turns helping each other on the floor and chewing ears.
Dolores Justus led her Schnauzer pup, Baron, around the ring while maneuvering her wheelchair.
"He's the first dog I've ever had, and I
wanted to make sure he grew up well-mannered," Justus said.
Against the wall, a Chow pup, Skarre, watched her classmates. She seemed oblivious to the attention of the human world. A few hours later, she hought haughtily resembling a barrel with its horns.
In another ring, the novice I class, ganny, three-quarters grown dogs went through heeling and sitting exercises. Like children, they trained and played, ignoring their teacher.
In the center ring, a jubilant Great Dane pup lept into his owner's arms after having successfully completed a task.
Praise and petting are the training tools of the Kensal Club, Felton said. Instructors are required to complete several lessons on teaching to teach and all use affection as a reward.
"Good boy! Good fellow!" the owner lavishly praised his pet.
An advanced level Shelie sat anxiously in his owner's feet. When finally given the chance to fight, she slapped a barricade and retrieved a stick. He turned, left back over the barricade. He turned, right back over the barricade.
"That's the way baby," the woman whispered to her pet as it affectionately licked her face. "That's my good dog."
A labrador retriever is "dog tired" after an evening at obedience school.