Sympawtico Dog Training

Dogville Goes to the Dogs

Living with dogs is a huge responsibility! Dogs need food, water, a bed, leashes, and collars. But dogs need so much more than that, too. They also need things like vaccines, city licenses, training, social time, fresh air, and exercise. Where would you need to go to get these things for your dog?

Look at the map of Downtown Dogville below. Downtown Dogville has three main roads. Can you find them? Along those roads are various buildings. Do you see the Library on the map? The Library is on the north side of Terrier Terrace, and on the west side of Poodle Parkway. You could also say that’s the northwest corner of Terrier Terrace and Poodle Parkway. Use the rosette to help you find it.

The Library is a terrific place to start - even before you get a dog - so that you can learn about all the things you need to do to become a good companion for your new four-legged friend. In our area we have the Johnson County Library, the Kansas City Public Library, and the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library, just to name a few! You can find great books at all our libraries to help you learn more about living well with your pet.

Once you have located the Dogville Library, see if you can find these other important places in Dogville:

The Dog Training School is on the Southwest corner of Terrier Terrace and Bulldog Boulevard. This is where you would enroll your dog in training classes or private lessons to help him learn to be a good member of your family.
The Veterinary Clinic is on the Northeast corner of Terrier Terrace and Poodle Parkway. Your dog's veterinarian will help him to stay healthy by vaccinating him and keeping track of his overall health.
The Park is South of Terrier Terrace between Bulldog Boulevard and Poodle Parkway. Taking your dog to the park often helps to prevent problem behaviors brought on by boredom, and it also helps to ensure that both your dog and you get adequate exercise.
The Doggy Daycare is on the Southeast corner of Terrier Terrace and Poodle Parkway. Doggy Daycare is another great way to ensure your dog gets exercise and stays out of trouble - and it helps to meet his social needs, too.
And City Hall is on the Northeast corner of Terrier Terrace and Bulldog Boulevard. Make sure you visit City Hall to register your dog and get his City License!

Think you've identified all the right buildings? Now let's color them! Download your own map to color here:

Dogville Map

Color the buildings these colors:

Color the Library blue.
Color the Dog Training School yellow.
Color the Veterinary Clinic red.
Color the Park green.
Color the Doggy Daycare purple.
And color City Hall orange

The coloring directions are on the map as well.

Household Dangers Activity Sheet

Household Dangers Word Search

Danger!

Puppies can get into lots of trouble, even inside their own homes. If you live with a pup or even an older dog, it’s important to puppy-proof your house to make sure your four-legged friend grows up healthy and happy.

Keep food, and especially chocolate and coffee, in tightly-closed containers, and place those containers behind closed doors so that your dog isn’t tempted to counter-surf. Sugar-free gum, even in small amounts can be toxic to dogs, so keep it away from your puppy, even after you’ve chewed it and thrown it away. Speaking of toxic: household chemicals such as cleaning products and bug spray are extremely dangerous to you and your dog, so stay away from those! Many children’s toys have small parts that can choke your puppy or make him sick, and magnets and batteries are especially dangerous if your dog swallows them. Make sure that power cords for electronic items and appliances are hidden behind furniture where your dog can’t chew on them. Use candles only in areas where your pup isn’t allowed. And of course, watch out for open doors which might tempt your four-legged friend to run outside if he becomes excited or scared.

Search the chart below and find all of the dangerous things that might make your home unsafe for your puppy!

Think you found all the words? Download the activity sheet and answer key here:

Which Puzzle Pooch do you want to greet?

Puzzle Pooch Activities

Puzzle Pooch falls to pieces when he meets new people. Sometimes he is excited and friendly. But other times, he gets worried or even angry when people approach. How can you tell? By watching his body language, of course!

Humans and dogs are different creatures from different cultures, and they speak different languages, too. Most human communication is built on a language of words. Dogs, on the other hand, communicate almost entirely with body language.

When you encounter a dog, it's important to look at his posture and muscle tension, the position of his tail, and his facial expression - how he holds his ears, eyes, and mouth - to really understand what he's trying to tell you. Like a puzzle, each of those pieces of body language fits together to make a complete picture of how that dog is feeling at that moment and what he might be inclined to do next.

Let's look at some examples:

	Puzzle Pooch is Friendly Look at Puzzle Pooch's body: he's nice and relaxed. His tail looks relaxed, too, and if you watch closely, you may even see a happy wiggle! Puzzle Pooch's facial expression also looks friendly: he has floppy ears, soft eyes, and a relaxed, open mouth. What should I do if I meet this dog? Ask M.A.Y. I.: M.= Move slowly. A.= Ask an adult for permission before approaching. Y.= Yes? Go ahead! I.= Introduce yourself by letting him sniff you.
	Puzzle Pooch is Worried Poor Puzzle Pooch! He looks worried today. Look how tense his body is: he wants to get away. His tail is tucked tightly under his body, and his face tells you he's feeling anxious: his ears are pinned back, his eyes are wide, and his mouth is clamped shut. What should I do if I meet this dog? Be S.A.F.E.: S.= Scared dogs may bite. A.= Allow him to come to you if he wants to. F.= Forget about petting him. E.= Easy does it! Move slowly and speak quietly.
	Puzzle Pooch is Angry What's up with Puzzle Pooch? He looks so angry - he's leaning forward and his muscles look tight. His tail is held high, and when it moves, it's like a tick-tock clock! I don't see any happy wiggles. His face looks angry, too: his ears are stiff, his eyes look hard, and I can see his teeth. Yikes! What should I do if I meet this dog? Get A.W.A.Y.: A.= Angry dogs are dangerous! W.= Watch the dog as you leave the area. A.= Avoid making eye contact. Y.= Yell calmly (don't scream) for help.

Think you're a Puzzle Pooch expert? Download Puzzle Pooch activity sheets here:

Puzzle Pooch is A-Maze-ing!

Sniff Out Words with Puzzle Pooch

Having a Cross Word with Puzzle Pooch

Parents and Teachers: Activity sheets are suitable for kindergarten through sixth grade students. Want to bring Puzzle Pooch to your school, club, or home? Contact Suezanne to schedule a visit!

Craft and Service Projects

There are many rescue organizations and shelters in the Kansas City area, and they help dogs find homes with adoptive families. The workers and volunteers who care for dogs awaiting new families work very hard just to meet the basic needs of the many, many dogs in their charge. You can help them and help the dogs by gathering your friends together and completing the projects listed below.

How to Make a Doggy Bandanna
How to Make a Braided Fleece Toy
How to Make Fleece Blankets for Dogs

When you have finished each project, donate your creations to your favorite rescue organization or shelter.

If you don't have a favorite rescue or shelter, try one of these:

Mastiff Hope -
Helping to Heal the Biggest of Hearts

Bandannas Craft Project Instructions

How to Make a Doggy Bandanna

Sometimes dressing the dogs up a little can help them make a better impression on people who see them at shelters or adoption fairs. Let’s get started with our craft and service projects by making bandannas to help dogs in our local rescues and shelters look cute and friendly so that they can find their “forever homes” faster.

Supplies needed:

A quantity of inexpensive cotton calico fabric (can be obtained from any fabric store, most craft stores, and also some discount stores). Plan for ¼ yard per child, which will allow for approximately 2 medium sized bandannas per child.

Pinking shears – one pair will suffice, but the process will be quicker with multiple pairs.

Instructions for adult helpers:

Using the pinking shears, cut the cloth into 18” and/or 36” squares (doesn’t need to be perfect – just close enough that the children can then fold the fabric on the diagonal and cut into triangles).

18” squares will fit most small to medium sized dogs (and can be folded to fit toy dogs) and 36” squares will fit most large dogs.

For very large dogs (for instance if you wanted to donate the bandannas to Mastiff Hope) use the full width of fabric (usually 45”) and cut 45” in length to make your square.

Give each child a square of fabric (let them choose their fabrics if you have several colors or patterns), and then put pinking shears on each table for the children to share (or help each child do the cutting if you only have one pair).

Show the children how to fold their squares neatly in half and press down firmly on the fold to make a crease.

Then, supervise them as they cut on the fold line (you can also draw lines using any long, straight edge like a yardstick or even a piece of cardboard, plus either a pencil or chalk, neither of which will show easily once the cloth is cut).

Encourage the children to try out their bandannas: on themselves, their friends, a stuffed animal, or even your own dog – and take plenty of pictures.

When you donate the bandannas to the organization of your choice, ask them to take pictures of the dogs wearing the bandannas so that the kids can see the results of their philanthropy (and they can compare these photos to their own pictures, too – might make for a nice scrapbook later on!).

You can also download a copy of these instructions here:

Braided Fleece Toys Craft Project Instructions

How to Make a Braided Fleece Toy

Dogs in shelters and foster homes need toys and playtime to help them stay healthy – both mentally and physically. Let’s make braided fleece toys for the dogs in our local rescues and shelters so they have something fun to do while they wait for their “forever homes”.

Supplies needed:

A quantity of inexpensive fleece cloth (can be obtained at most fabric and craft stores).

Scissors (shears made for cutting cloth are easiest to use).

Instructions for adult helpers:

Cut the fleece into strips of various lengths depending on the length of tug-toy you wish to make.

Cut a variety of lengths and let the children choose to make small (18”), medium (36”), or large (48”) tugs, if you wish.

Remember that each child needs three strips to make one tug toy. Each set can be single- or multi-colored. Be creative!

If you will be working with very young children (Preschool through 3rd grade) tie each set of three strips together at one end.

Give each child a set of three strips of fabric. If the fabric is not yet knotted together, show the children how to do so.

Show the children how to make a simple braid with the three strips of fabric, and then supervise as they work.

When the children finish braiding, show them how to knot the end of their braid to complete the toy. Help the children tighten the knots so that the toys stay together longer.

Take pictures of the children working on their toys, and encourage them to share the completed toys with stuffed animals or your own dog.

When you donate the toys to the organization of your choice, ask them to take pictures of the dogs playing or snuggling with them so that the kids can see the results of their philanthropy (and they can compare these photos to their own pictures, too – might make for a nice scrapbook later on!).

You can also download a copy of these instructions here:

Fleece Blanket Craft Project Instructions

How to Make Fleece Blankets for Dogs

Dogs in shelters and foster homes need blankets to help them stay warm and healthy. Let’s make fleece blankets for the dogs in our local rescues and shelters so they can snuggle and be comfy while they wait for their “forever homes”.

Supplies needed:

A quantity of inexpensive fleece cloth (can be obtained at most fabric and craft stores): 1.5 yards each of two different patterns or colors of fleece per blanket for a small to medium dog. Use more fabric to create oblong blankets for larger breed dogs.

Scissors (shears made for cutting cloth are easiest to use).

Instructions for adult helpers:

Cut the fleece into 1.5 yard squares (or rectangles for larger dogs) of equal size.

Remember that each child needs two pieces of fabric to make one blanket. Each set can be single- or multi-colored. Be creative!

Give each child a set of two squares of fabric. Help the children to carefully smooth one piece of fabric directly on top of the other.

Show the children how to make simple perpendicular cuts through both thicknesses and along all four edges of the fabric, and then supervise as they work.

When the children finish cutting, show them how to tie the two pieces of fabric together using the “fringe” that the children cut. Tie each set of fringe (top and bottom) together with a square knot. Help the children tighten the knots so that the blankets stay together securely.

Take pictures of the children working on their blankets, and encourage them to share the completed blankets with stuffed animals or your own dog.

When you donate the blankets to the organization of your choice, ask them to take pictures of the dogs snuggling with them so that the kids can see the results of their philanthropy (and they can compare these photos to their own pictures, too – might make for a scrapbook later on!).

You can also download a copy of these instructions here:

Reading List

Reading List for Kids

Reading is a great way to learn about animals and how to care for them. Here are some of Sympawtico Dog Training, LLC's favorite kids' books:

Breathed, Berkeley. Flawed Dogs. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2003.

Calmenson, Stephanie. May I Pet Your Dog? New York: Clarion Books, 2005.

Eastman, P.D. Go, Dog. Go! New York: Random House, Inc., 1961

Gottfried, Maya and Robert Rahway. Good Dog. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005.

Kotzwinkle, William and Glenn Murray. Walter the Farting Dog. Berkeley, CA: Frog, Ltd., 2001.

Lowrey, Janette Sebring. The Pokey Little Puppy. New York: Random House, Inc., 1970.

Shannon, David. Good Boy, Fergus! New York: The Blue Sky Press, 2006.

Van Fleet, Matthew. Dog. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007.

Verdick, Elizabeth. Tails Are Not for Pulling. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing, 2005.

Willems, Mo. The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2008.

Humane Society Youth

Humane Society Youth serves as the youth education affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation's largest animal protection organization. We have worked since 1973 to educate young people about kindness and respect for all animals and their natural habitats, activate youth in efforts to protect animals, and provide teaching materials, professional development, and other support to teachers and humane educators.