The Colorado State Parks Board voted unanimously July 15th to create designated dog off-leash areas at Chatfield and Cherry Creek State Parks.

After the Colorado State Parks staff presentation on the preferred alternative for each park, the board listened to public comments. Board president Bill Kane praised the park staff for their work, including the extensive public outreach process.

The preferred alternatives were developed by park staff after analysis of studies and user surveys conducted between 2006 and 2008, and with input from interagency stakeholders, user stakeholders and public comments collected at 14 meetings. The plans reflect concerns from dog owners about acreage, water access, separation from other park users and dog waste disposal.

The two dog off-leash areas at Chatfield State Park and Cherry Creek State Park are the largest designated dog off-leash areas in the metropolitan area. The fenced dog off-leash area at Chatfield State Park will be approximately 69 acres. Two separate areas for hunting dog trainers to use through a permit system will add an additional 19.3 acres for a total of 88.3 acres. The fenced dog off-leash area at Cherry Creek State Park will be approximately 107 acres.

The designated off-leash areas respond to a requirement by the land owner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to develop plans for fenced dog exercise areas to ensure responsible and sustainable use of the land and water.

We all struggle at one time or another with getting our dog(s) to come when called – the first time.  My friend and business associate, Ana Melara of Training with Grace (www.trainingwithgrace.com), works with owners and dogs on this very issue everyday.  She recently wrote a great little article with very useful tips, which appeared in her weekly email newsletter.  Since receiving this newsletter last week, I have been using tip #1 with my dog park dogs every trip and have been getting better results than usual.  And at home my family has started using tip #6 — the girls love it!

I have known Ana for years on a personal and professional level and know she is an outstanding trainer.  I have witnessed incredible results with clients from her private training sessions and group classes.  Hope you will check out her website and consider signing up for her newsletter, which is always chock full of great information.  Her company is called Training with Grace (www.trainingwithgrace.com).

Thanks,
Sara W. Nepomuceno
Denver Hound Hikers

Graaaaaacie, COME!!
by Ana Melara, CPDT-KA

A very common reason for people calling us for help is that they cannot get their dog to come to them.  Some people say their dog has selective hearing.  At Training With Grace, we believe that coming when called is NOT a suggestion.  It’s a skill that all dogs must have, solid.

What do you expect when you call your dog?  Running in the other direction?  A long game of chase?  How have you trained your dog?  With lots of yelling?  Inconsistent rewards?  Why do you call your dog?  Because he has done something naughty?  Because you don’t want him to roll in dead squirrel?

Here are some helpful tips to get your dog to come when you call him or her:

1 – Only call your dog for good things. Don’t call your dog when you’re going to do something that the dog thinks is yucky.  Nail clipping and baths come to mind right away.  If you are going to do something that the dog perceives as icky, you should go to the dog instead.

2 – When you call your dog, always use the same command and make it sing-songy and happy. It’s much nicer to come when someone is calling you with a smiling, happy voice than with a hard gruff tone.  Even better when there is a reward at the end.

3 – Every time you call and your dog does show up, give your dog a jackpot of wonderfully delicious reinforcers like little bits of cheese, roast beef, beef jerkey, or chicken. Whatever the reinforcer is, make it awesome and use at least 15 little pieces in a row.  It should be more amazing than what they left behind.

4 – In a public setting or in an area that is not secure, use a long-line. Have a family member or a friend hold the line while you happily call your dog and run away from her.  When she arrives, be sure to deliver your spectacular reinforcers.

5 – Practice often and in various contexts and situations. Don’t always call your dog from the kitchen.  Call them into the back yard, into the living-room, into the hallway and into the office.  Vary the when and where.

6 – If you have multiple family members in your household, play ping-pong puppy. Everyone takes a great big handful of kibble mixed with treats and each of you choose a different spot to call from.  Each person takes a turn calling the dog.  Every time the dog shows up, jackpot!

We hope this is helpful.  For further instruction, ask us about our Total Recall class (www.trainingwithgrace.com).  Your dog will thank you for it.