Athens, Ga. – Behaviorists in the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine are now offering ongoing puppy training classes on Tuesday evenings at the college’s Community Practice Clinic.
Anyone who has recently acquired a puppy between eight and 16 weeks of age can head off potential behavioral issues by enrolling their new family member in training classes.Behavioral problems are the number one reason why millions of dogs are abandoned each year.The training, aimed at the peak socialization age for puppies, is designed to teach new owners how to train a puppy to sit, stay, come when called, not be afraid or aggressive at the veterinarian’s office, learn proper canine etiquette, and proper house training.The sessions also will help dog owners learn prevention measures for common behavior problems, such as separation anxiety, storm phobia and fear aggression.
The classes are held Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the college’s Community Practice Clinic, located off East Campus Road.The course, which costs $80, includes four classes and a 20-minute introductory session.Owners may enroll their puppies in the course at any time.For more information or to enroll a puppy, contact 706/542-1984 or email behavior@uga.edu.Specific vaccines are required for puppies participating in the group sessions.
The college’s behavior service, which does not require a referral from a regular veterinarian, also offers counseling sessions for people who are considering adding a dog or cat to their household.The guidance is aimed at helping choose a pet that will be a good fit for the individual, a family and a particular lifestyle.
The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, to conducting research related to animal diseases, and to providing veterinary services for animals and their owners.Research efforts are aimed at enhancing the quality of life for animals and people, improving the productivity of poultry and livestock, and preserving a healthy interface between wildlife and people in the environment they share.The college enrolls 102 students each fall out of more than 550 who apply.For more information, see www.vet.uga.edu.
The current UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, built in 1979, serves more than 18,000 patients per year in one of the smallest teaching hospitals in the United States.The college is currently working to raise $15 million toward building a new Veterinary Medical Learning Center, which will include a new teaching hospital as well as classrooms and laboratories that will allow for the education of more veterinarians.The goal is to increase enrollment to 150 when the Veterinary Medical Learning Center is built. For more information, see www.vet.uga.edu/giving/campaign.php.
