Canine Pupils Face Dog Days Of Summer School

Published: Jun 13, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Melanie Villafana of DogGone Solutions is teaching new tricks to dogs young, old and in between.

She's leading a Puppy Kindergarten for pets 6 months and younger and obedience classes for dogs older than 6 months at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park off Wilderness Park Road. The six-week classes are held rain or shine on Saturday mornings for $95 per student.

Kindergartners learn socialization skills, pup-to-pup and pup-to-person. A social puppy is less likely to have aggression problems later in life. Owners are learning how to desensitize their pooches to things they can't avoid, such as grooming, bathing and vacuum cleaner noise.

The obedience course stresses establishing a pack order, effectively commanding a canine and issuing basic commands such as sit, stay and heel.

Additional Puppy Kindergarten and obedience classes begin July 21 and Sept. 15. Register online at www. doggonesolutions.com; call (727) 834-3474; or sign up by mail. For information, call (813) 760-6684.

A staff report