hidden gems

Do strange noises, new people and novel situations make your dog stop in their tracks, perhaps even shrinking away out of worry or trepidation?  

There’s no question that dogs perceive the world in different ways than we do. Yet people and dogs share common emotions. Like fear. Fear causes arousal chemicals to flood the bloodstream and brain. Getting through those episodes is all about how you cope.  

This class is designed to build confidence and teach relaxation skills through “slow” games and activities. You’ll learn to appreciate your dog’s perspective and how to manage that environment to avoid eliciting alarm. And we’ll develop coping strategies to help your dog feel better about the world.  This class is for dogs who do not bark, lunge or growl at other dogs.

• Hidden Gems classes enroll dogs 6 months and older for five sessions.

• Classes meet at the Kenwood Animal Hospital, 5439 Butler Road, Bethesda, Md. (No classes are scheduled at this time for Bone Jour in Bethesda.)

• Cost is $395 per client/dog pair. Registration will be considered final after payment is received.

• Make-up classes cannot be offered.

• Attendance is limited to one handler/dog per family.

• Dogs must be healthy and not show aggression toward people or other dogs.

• No prong collars, choke chains, or retractable leashes are allowed.

• Body harnesses are preferred.