boardman park New tricks a real treat for dogs, owners at Howl-o-Ween event

October 10, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

BOARDMAN

Lou Santiago marvels when he ponders how quickly his 11-month-old German shepherd has made the transformation from being aggressive to tolerant.

“Before, Clarice pulled me and barked at other dogs. Now, I can take her anywhere,” the Cortland man said.

A few weeks ago, the animal often acted aggressively toward people and other dogs. Without intervention, it likely was not if – but when – the dog would attack someone, Santiago surmised.

Clarice’s calm temperament made it possible for Santiago to bring her to Sunday’s second annual Howl-o-Ween Canine Carnival at Boardman Park’s Lariccia Bocce Court, where she enjoyed many social opportunities with other dogs.

The four-hour funfest featured about 11 vendors, including five nonprofit agencies, and was to promote the park’s 3.5-acre, members-only Paws Town Dog Park, which opened in 2014. The event also gave attendees an opportunity to learn more about pet care and touch base with the vendors, noted Dan Slagle Jr., Boardman Park’s executive director.

Santiago said he’s grateful to Bret Reynolds, a military working-dog trainer and handler with the Mineral Ridge-based Sit Means Sit Dog Training organization, one of the vendors, for having intervened on behalf of Clarice. Thanks to the training, Clarice was better able to enjoy the family-friendly Howl-o-Ween carnival, which featured a costume contest for dogs of all sizes and ages, 4-H agility and obedience demonstrations and information on a variety of aspects regarding caring and being responsible for pets.

“I focus on attention and control around severe distractions,” Reynolds explained about a technique he regularly uses via positive experiences to get the animal to concentrate on him to the exclusion of everything else. “I get the dog to focus on me when I want it.”

With time and consistency, the animal learns that people and other dogs won’t hurt it, he continued.

Sit Means Sit works with all breeds from puppies to aggressive dogs, offers private in-home and group lessons and helps build confidence in humans to better handle their pets, noted Melissa Simko, owner.

In addition, the organization recognizes that all dogs have certain built-in fears, perhaps the most common of which are men with beards, hats and sunglasses, she explained. Some dogs react negatively because they can’t see the man’s face, which tends to increase their apprehensiveness and fear, Simko continued.

“Every dog has triggers, even the nicest of dogs,” she added.

Offering practical advice on promoting greater safety awareness on approaching and handling a dog was Madonna Barwick, an adviser with the Steel Valley K-9s, one of Mahoning County’s three 4-H dog clubs.

“If you show any type of aggression, they don’t know if you will hurt them,” said Barwick, who advised people to first ask owners if it’s OK to pat their dogs, allow the animal to come to and sniff them and approach with a closed, face-down hand.

Contrary to many people’s belief, 4-H organizations such as Steel Valley K-9’s also have programs geared toward training dogs, noted Callia Barwick, the group’s president and Madonna’s daughter. The 4-H club was at Sunday’s event partly to encourage more young people to spend time with their dogs, said Callia, who came with Gus and Diva, a Rottweiler and a black-and-tan coonhound, respectively.

Spending time on an agility course with Ziggy, her 8-year-old miniature schnauzer, was Samantha Morris, a Canfield High School junior and member of the Mahoning Pampered Pups 4-H club.

With a little encouragement, Ziggy successfully performed a series of hurdle jumps, then went through two tunnels and over an A-frame.

Among those watching the action was her father, Ray Morris, who brought Max, a pug/beagle mix.

“He’s pretty loyal and protective, but he’s pretty energetic most of the time,” Samantha said of Ziggy.

The event also had information on invisible fences, along with plenty of dog treats and apparel for sale.