4/28/12
Fresh Air Dogs will be participating in the Piscataquis Regional YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 28th from 1-4 pm in Dover-Foxcroft. We will be highlighting our “Pat a Pet Therapy Dog” program and promoting “Kids & Dogs: Safety First!” We will teach kids how to greet a dog, how to respect a dog’s space (by learning to hear its nonverbal communication), and how to avoid a stray dog, and what to do when they see a group of loose dogs. To read the Bangor Daily News article about this event, click
here.
In the meantime, click
here for a great little video, “Become a Dog Listener!” to watch with your kids and help them learn how to be safe around dogs (published by AKC Canine Partners and the American Kennel Club). For a downloadable version of the activity guide that accompanies this safety program, click
here.
Fresh Air Dogs – Your dog’s favorite place to learn, play and stay!
Fresh Air Dogs
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4/15/12
Our next Puppy Play Group will start on Sunday, April 15th — it will be held on four consecutive Sunday afternoons from 3-4 pm, the cost is $40 (or $10/Sunday). Along with giving puppies, 4 months and younger, a chance to play and socialize, we will be providing Training ABC’s to the dog owners. All puppies must be up-to-date on their immunizations and flea/parasite free. Pre-registration is required by calling 564-2604. In the meantime, we are available for one-on-one consultations with you and your pup, give us a call to schedule an appointment. Let us help you to get off on the right paw! WOOF!
Benefits of Early Puppy Training as early as 7-8 weeks of age and before the age of 16 Weeks: Fresh Air Dogs encourages you to begin training your puppy as early as possible; early training helps you teach your puppy good habits, rather than have to retrain or break bad habits when the puppy becomes the adolescent dog at several months of age. It is always easier to teach good manners early on, than to undo an unwanted habit or manner. You ARE always training your puppy, whether you know it or not, so … why not teach good habits as soon as possible? Aside from socialization and preventing unwanted behaviors, our Puppy Play Group is fun and will enhance your relationship with your new pup.
Often times, owners are discouraged from enrolling in an early puppy class, because of infectious diseases or encouraged to not allow the puppy to “go anywhere.” At Fresh Air Dogs, your puppy will be able to play with other pups in our home or in our outdoor play area (floors are tile/concrete and regularly cleaned and disinfected). We pride ourselves in feeling comfortable we are able to provide you and your puppy with a safe environment for teaching your puppy. We are often asked about the vaccinations, and feel it is important to have all the facts before new owners make critical decisions regarding their new puppy’s safety, health and well being. Click HERE for an open letter from noted Veterinary Behaviorist R.K. Anderson DVM; read the letter, share and discuss with your veterinarian and make an informed decision for the well being of your new puppy.
Fresh Air Dogs – Your dog’s favorite place to learn, play and stay!
Fresh Air Dogs
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If your dog is over 4 months old, check out our next Basic Training Class which starts on Sunday, April 15th — it will be held on four consecutive Sunday afternoons from 4-5 pm, the cost is $80 (or $20/Sunday).
You are already training your dog every minute of every day, whether you know it or now! We will help you to recognize when you are rewarding, thus increasing, bad behavior and give you a few new techniques which will encourage good behaviors in your dog. We’ll cover all the basics (walking nicely on a loose leash, Sit, Down, Wait, Stay, Come, etc.) which will help your pup to be a more polite member of your family.
All dogs must be up-to-date on their immunizations and flea/parasite free. Pre-registration is required by calling 564-2604. In the meantime, we are available for one-on-one consultations with you and your dog, give us a call to schedule an appointment. Let us help you to get off on the right paw! WOOF!
Fresh Air Dogs – Your dog’s favorite place to learn, play and stay!
Fresh Air Dogs
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1/9/12
Russell and I are putting together a schedule for various types of classes and workshops we will be offering in 2012. If you are interested in participating in an upcoming class with your dog as a new student, or coming back for a Free Refresher Course; or, if you are looking for a workshop on a particular subject, just give us a call — 564-2604 — or send us e-mail — Cynthia@FreshAirDogs.com — and we’ll put you on the list and contact you when the dates have been determined.
We offer group lessons, private lessons, socialization, we even do home visits! How can we help you?
Fresh Air Dogs – Your dog’s favorite place to learn, play and stay!
1/8/12
Train the Trainers! Russell and Cynthia travel to sunny Orlando, Florida for “What Not to Err: Training Mistakes that Create Headaches for Dogs” with Kathy Sdao, M.A., an Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. 
Course description: There’s no shortage of dog-training advice available to our clients. Websites, books, television, dog advocates and well-intentioned friends offer suggestions for basic training and for solving behavior problems. We’ll review ten errors, both general and technical, common to dog-friendly trainers. Topics include ineffective cues, backward sequences, poisoned reinforcers, misunderstood training transitions and more. Understanding how to avoid or resolve these issues will make training fairer for our dogs and more fun for everyone. Kathy also presents “Plenty in Life is Free: An Alternative to Rank-based Training Models.” Much modern dog training has evolved from older methods laden with physical coercion. Though the dog-training profession has made enormous strides in improving methodology over the past two decades, remnants of that dominance-based paradigm are still common. From the hackneyed advice that owners should be “alpha in their pack,” to the emphasis on leadership, to the ubiquity of “Nothing in Life is Free” (NILIF) protocols, the concept of hierarchy is integral to many trainers. Though this framework can sometimes lead to helpful training procedures, the explanations often go beyond a straight-forward scientific perspective by integrating superfluous concepts such as rank and deprivation. We’ll consider an alternative framework that provides a more equitable approach to effective training.
Kathy Sdao, M.A., ACAAB has spent the past 25 years as a full-time animal trainer, first with marine mammals and now with dogs and their people. As a graduate student at the University of Hawaii in the 1980′s, she was part of a research team that trained dolphins to solve complex cognitive puzzles. She received a master’s degree in experimental psychology and was then hired by the United States Navy (Department of Defense) to train dolphins for applied open-ocean tasks. After that job, Kathy spent five years as a marine-mammal trainer at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma Washington. There she expanded her training skills by working with beluga whales, walruses, porpoises, sea lions, otters and polar bears. After leaving the zoo world, Kathy and a colleague created Tacoma’s first dog-daycare facility, Puget Hound Daycare, where Kathy first began teaching clicker-training classes for pet owners.
Since selling Puget Hound more than a decade ago, Kathy has traveled across the United States, Canada and Europe, and to Japan and Mexico, teaching students about the science of animal training. She enjoys sharing her passion for the incredible power of clicker training, experienced over years of working with many species.
Kathy currently owns Bright Spot Dog Training. Services include consulting with families about their challenging dogs, teaching private lessons to dogs and their owners, and coaching novices and professionals to cross over to positive-reinforcement training. In addition, she has trained animal actors, written for The Clicker Journal and for MSN’s dog-themed website, consulted with Guide Dogs for the Blind and for Susquehanna Service Dogs, served as a subject-matter expert for the Delta Society’s “Service Dog Education System” and taught at the “Instructor Training Course” for Dogs of Course. And, in one of her sillier moments, Kathy appeared as the “Way Cool Scientist” on an episode of the television show Bill Nye the Science Guy. Kathy is proud to be one of the original faculty members for Karen Pryor’s long-running ClickerExpos and has taught at eighteen of these conferences since 2003. FMI, go to Kathy’s website.
Fresh Air Dogs – Your dog’s favorite place to learn, play and stay!
1/7/12
Train the Trainers! Russell and Cynthia travel to sunny Orlando, Florida for “DOG TALK: An Up-to-the-Minute Update on Canine Communication” with Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., CAAB. 
Course description: What do we know about how and what dogs communicate? What are dogs “saying” when they raise their tails, dilate their pupils or mark over the urine of another? An all-new exploration of visual, acoustic and chemical communication in dogs. Learn what researchers know about “intraspecific” communication (dog to dog), watch lots of new videos to enhance our ability to “read” dogs, discuss our ability to categorize the acoustic and visual signals of dogs and elaborate on the training implications of new research findings in canine behavior.
Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., CAAB, is an Ethologist and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist who has consulted with cat and dog lovers for over twenty-two years. She combines a thorough understanding of the science of behavior with years of practical, applied experience. Her nationally syndicated radio show, Calling All Pets, played in over 110 cities for fourteen years and her television show Petline played on Animal Planet for two and a half years. She is the behavior columnist for The Bark magazine (“the New Yorker of Dog Magazines”) and is Adjunct Associate Professor in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, teaching “The Biology and Philosophy of Human/Animal Relationships.” Dr. McConnell is a much sought after speaker and seminar presenter, speaking to training organizations, veterinary conferences, academic meetings and animal shelters around the world about dog and cat behavior, and on science-based and humane solutions to serious behavioral problems. She is the author of thirteen books on training and behavioral problems, as well as the critically acclaimed books The Other End of the Leash (translated now into 14 languages), For the Love of a Dog and Tales of Two Species. Patricia lives with her Border Collie Willie, her cat Sushi and a very spoiled flock of sheep, and suffers from separation anxiety when she leaves them. For more information, go to Trisha’s website, facebook page, or visit her blog.
1/1/12
Our first two years in business (2010 and 2011) have been so successful, and it looks like 2012 is going to be busier than ever! So … what does Russell do to help out? He decided to retire early from his State of Maine Maintenance Coordinator position and join Fresh Air Dogs full-time! YEAH !!! Here’s an article written about his career with the State of Maine.
Allagash employees all knew: Russ’ll fix it
By Matthew LaRoche, Special to the BDN, 11/30/2011
Russell Scott, who is retiring at the end of December, comes from a long line of dedicated Allagash Wilderness Waterway employees. His grandfather, Helon Taylor, was hand-picked by Gov. Percival Baxter as the first supervisor of Baxter State Park. His father was Myrle Scott, who managed several parks and is a past supervisor of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
Russell grew up in state parks, wonderful places such as Baxter, Lily Bay, and Mt. Blue. It was only natural for him to start work as a part-time employee at Mt. Blue State Park in 1969. After graduating from high school, he signed on for a four-year hitch with Uncle Sam in the U.S. Air Force. He spent a few years working at Bass Shoe before returning to the park system for a career that will end with 31 years of state service.
Russell has held many different positions within the park system but will be remembered by most as maintenance coordinator for the Allagash Wilderness Waterway and the Penobscot River Corridor and Lily Bay and Peaks-Kenny state parks. As maintenance coordinator, he is in charge of most major repair projects at these parks.
Russell and his counterparts in the northern region would oftentimes get together and come to the Allagash to install a new roof on a ranger station, jack up a camp or install a solar system at one of the facilities.
When something breaks up on the waterway and it needs more than a minor repair, someone will shout out, “Russ’ll fix-it!”
Fixing boats, outboard motors and snowmobiles became Russell’s specialty by necessity. Hauling a boat and motor out to town from the Allagash is expensive and time consuming.
Before a boat was hauled out out, Russell usually would take a look at it. Most of the time, he would fix the problem without needing to take it out for repair. This has saved the park system thousands of dollars over the last few years.
A few winters ago, Russell and I were given the task of going up to the top of Allagash Mountain to take down the solar panels and remove the batteries from the site. It sounds easy enough, but things can — and did — go wrong on this particular adventure.
We left Greenville early in the morning headed for Allagash Lake. We drove snowmobiles to the camp, built a fire, had lunch and started up the trail by snowmobile. We got within a couple hundred yards of the summit and snowshoed the rest of the way up. All went well during the dismantling process, and we soon had the tow sled loaded with four very large batteries, four solar panels and our tools.
Before we headed down the mountain, I tied a rope to the bumper of my snowmobile to help hold back the heavily laden tow sled. Well, once we got started down the mountain, it became very obvious that we were out of control.
As we gained speed, I thought to myself, “Holy crap! I wish I hadn’t tied that rope on my bumper.” I was getting hauled down that hill faster and faster, and I couldn’t do anything about it.
Russell was driving the snowmobile hitched to the tow sled, and he was having the ride of his life down the side of Allagash Mountain. Just as it seemed that our ride was going to end in a terrible crash, I saw Russell lay his sled down on its side. He came to a stop just before the trail took another steep decline. My sled came to a stop a few feet from the back of the tow sled. That was close
After the adrenaline rush dissipated, we came to our senses and unloaded half the batteries. This made for two rather uneventful trips up and down the mountain with the batteries and other equipment.
We spent the night at Allagash Lake in a nice, toasty-warm ranger camp, playing cribbage. Project completed.
Russell says that he has been blessed with great supervisors, co-workers and mentors over his career. When he heads off on a trip to the Allagash or some other distant place to fix something, his wife, Cynthia, jokes, “Are you going off to spend the week with your other family?”
That’s how it is with the people who live and work at Maine State Parks.
In his retirement, Russell plans to help his wife with her home-based business, Fresh Air Dogs. Russell and Cynthia both love dogs, and Russell will continue teaching dog obedience classes part-time. He also will continue fixing things from his home in Guilford.
Russell promised me, however, that he would come up to the AWW and volunteer when he feels the need to get away for a few days.
Thank you, Russell, for a job well done.
Matthew LaRoche is superintendent of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway
bangordailynews.com/2011/11/30/outdoors/allagash-employees-all-knew-russ%E2%80%99ll-fix-it/
Here are some pictures of Russell, his family, friends and co-workers taken over the years! Enjoy!
11/12/11
Saturday, November 12, 2011 — 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Do you have a special picture for your 2011 Holiday Cards yet? Here’s an idea … Diane Parola, Calidoodle PhoDOGraphy, will be setting up her photo studio once again at Fresh Air Dogs. Diane and her trusted assistant, Ramona, work magic getting just the right shot of your pup! You’ll be amazed! Be sure to check out Diane’s website to see many of the terrific pix she has taken!
The fee is $10 for one 5×7 and four wallet-size photos, more sizes are available upon request. There is no sitting fee for this photo shoot! The first primp session will begin at 8:45 am and the last sitting will be scheduled for 11:45 a.m. To schedule a time for your pup’s photo shoot, please call Cynthia at Fresh Air Dogs, 564-2604.
A good time will be had by all !!! WOOF!
Calidoodoe Phodography
Diane Parola, PhoDOGrapher
207.924.6401
djparola326@gmail.com
www.CalidoodlePhoDOGraphy.com
Fresh Air Dogs
251 Wharff Road, Guilford
Russell & Cynthia Scott, Owners/Trainers
207.564.2604
Cynthia@FreshAirDogs.com
www.FreshAirDogs.com
www.Facebook.com/FreshAirDogs
Fresh Air Dogs – Your dog’s favorite place to learn, play and stay!
9/12/11
In this 5-week Basic Dog Obedience Class, you will learn how to train your dog to heel (walk calmly on a loose leash beside you), sit, stand, stay, come when called, and more! Dogs will learn helpful behaviors such as wait and leave it, and stop unwanted behaviors like jumping and barking. This is an ideal training class for dogs of any age; new puppies will get off on the right paw and you’ll create more of a bond between you and your dog. This skills learned in this class will prepare dogs for obedience competition, AKC Good Citizen Test and Therapy Dog Certification. Certificates are awarded at the last class on October 17th.
Dogs must be current with immunizations. Instructors: Russell and Cynthia Scott have been training puppies and dogs of all ages (and their owners) since 1978 and are the owners of Fresh Air Dogs in Guilford. FMI or to pre-register, call 564-2604.
Classes will be held on 5 Monday evenings from 6-7 pm, starting Monday, September 12th (no class on Columbus Day, October 10th — last class October 17th). Previous students may return for a 4-week FREE REFRESHER COURSE starting September 19th.
The cost for this class is $85. Location: PVAEC Gymasium, 48 Morton Avenue, Dover-Foxcroft, Maine.
This course is affiliated with PVAEC – Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative. Directions and online registration is available by clicking HERE.
Fresh Air Dogs – Your dog’s favorite place to learn, play and stay!
9/10/11
Saturday, September 10, 2011 — 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Do you have a special picture for your 2011 Holiday Cards yet? Here’s an idea … Diane Parola, Calidoodle PhoDOGraphy, will be setting up her photo studio once again at Fresh Air Dogs. Diane and her trusted assistant, Ramona, work magic getting just the right shot of your pup! You’ll be amazed! Be sure to check out Diane’s website to see many of the terrific pix she has taken!
Michelle Lazore, Ruff Kuts Grooming, will be on hand to provide your pup with a pre-photosession-primp, and will have your pup looking picture-perfect in no time!
The fee is $10 for one 5×7 and four wallet-size photos, more sizes are available upon request. There is no sitting fee for this photo shoot! The first primp session will begin at 8:45 am and the last sitting will be scheduled for 11:45 a.m. To schedule a time for your pup’s photo shoot, please call Cynthia at Fresh Air Dogs, 564-2604.
A good time will be had by all !!! WOOF!
Calidoodoe Phodography
Diane Parola, PhoDOGrapher
207.924.6401
djparola326@gmail.com
www.CalidoodlePhoDOGraphy.com
Ruff Kuts Grooming
16 Bushey Road, Greenville
Michelle Lazore, Groomer
207.695.3939
mtkatahdin1993@yahoo.com
www.facebook.com/RuffKutsGrooming
Fresh Air Dogs
251 Wharff Road, Guilford
Russell & Cynthia Scott, Owners/Trainers
207.564.2604
Cynthia@FreshAirDogs.com
www.FreshAirDogs.com
www.Facebook.com/FreshAirDogs
Fresh Air Dogs – Your dog’s favorite place to learn, play and stay!
6/26/11
Date: Sunday, June 26, 2011 — Mark Your Calendar!!!
Time: 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Place: Fresh Air Dogs
Cost: $40
Do you work with animals? Own an animal? Love animals? Just one tip you learn in this 4-hour course may save the life of a beloved pet, yours or someone elses! Bobby Silcott, ACO (Animal Control Officer) from Naples and Founder of The Maine POM (Pet Oxygen Mask) Project will be here as we host the American Red Cross Pet First Aid/CPR Certification class. The class (which covers both dogs and cats) is limited to the first 12 people registered. The cost for the class is $40, which includes an American Red Cross First Aid Book, DVD and certification.
All attendees must register in advance; class size is 6 minimum, 12 maximum. If we have more than 12 people, we may hold a morning class as well from 8am to 12 noon. Due to the limited space, payment for the 1/2 of class will be required at the time of registration to hold your spot with the remainder due day of the class. To pre-register, contact Cynthia Scott at 207.564.2604 or E-mail Cynthia@FreshAirDogs.com.Payment (cash or $20 checks made payable to THE MAINE POM PROJECT) can be sent to Fresh Air Dogs, 251 Wharff Road, Guilford ME 04443.
Upon completion of this course, you will receive an American Red Cross First Aid Certificate with the date you completed the course; there is NO expiration date, so this certification is good for life!
All proceeds benefit the The Maine POM Project whose mission to equip all Maine rescues with POMs. Learn more about The Maine POM Project on Facebook.
Need directions? Don’t rely on your GPS, it’ll lead you astray, trust me! Click this link for directions to Fresh Air Dogs.
Fresh Air Dogs – Your dog’s favorite place to learn, play and stay!
6/19/11
In this 5-week Basic Dog Obedience Class, you will learn how to train your dog to heel (walk calmly on a loose leash beside you), sit, stand, stay, come when called, and more! Dogs will learn helpful behaviors such as wait and leave it, and stop unwanted behaviors like jumping and barking. This is an ideal training class for dogs of any age; new puppies will get off on the right paw and you’ll create more of a bond between you and your dog. This skills learned in this class will prepare dogs for obedience competition, AKC Good Citizen Test and Therapy Dog Certification. Certificates are awarded at the last class.
Dogs must be current with immunizations. Instructors: Russell and Cynthia Scott have been training puppies and dogs of all ages (and their owners) since 1978 and are the owners of Fresh Air Dogs in Guilford. FMI call 564-2604.
Classes will be held on 5 Sundays evenings from 6-7 pm, starting June 19th.
The cost for this class is $85. Location: Fresh Air Dogs, 251 Wharff Road, Guilford.
Fresh Air Dogs – Your dog’s favorite place to learn, play and stay!
