By Pearl Bellomo
Cristina Kumka, owner of the local pet-care service Bow Wow Babysitters, is bringing more opportunities for dogs and their owners through obedience classes hosted by recreation departments.
What began last summer at the Brandon Town Recreation Department continues at the West Rutland Recreation Department, which utilizes its indoor recreational space and outdoor dog park. The next course is planned for May.
“We had really cool, small, personalized classes where people would bring their dogs, bring their issues, and we would solve them. I think all dog issues can be solved with some formalized obedience and reinforcement at home after the classes,” said Kumka.
The $150 course includes four weekly, one-hour classes that both introduce and integrate obedience skills.
“Each class is a different skill that the handlers and the dogs learn, and then we repeat those skills at the following class, and then I integrate those skills into kind of an obstacle course at the end of each class,” said Kumka, adding that she also covers topics like first-aid for dog ‘parents.’
Participants vouched for Kumka’s effectiveness in helping them achieve their training goals.
Shelley Sayward, who took the West Rutland class in February with her chihuahua yorkie, Lenny, said the course helped them work on recall in busy environments.
“Lenny is definitely a free spirit…we have an excellent bond, but it was important for me to work on things such as recall. Most of the time, he is pretty obedient, but there are times when he has selective hearing. So that’s what I wanted to work on, really having control over him in situations in particular where there are distractions,” said Sayward.
Kumka described a typical class, which begins with clicker training and one-on-one time before the group exercises.
“Just last week, we had dogs on 40-to 50-foot leashes in the room, and their handler would throw a piece of steak across the room, and then they would tell them to come on a long leash. As soon as they came to their handler and sat right in front of them, they would click their clicker and get a treat,” said Kumka.
Lindley Dannaway, who took the same course in January, made progress training her Anatolian Shepherd, Jack, to walk in the “heel position” or beside her.
She described Kumka as easygoing and adaptable, adding that the dogs’ various skill levels were accommodated.
“She kind of adapted things to where we were at, like what dogs needed, what attention they needed, and what they needed work on. We were all at different experience levels and ages,” said Dannaway.
Sayward echoed this, saying that she appreciated the small class size, which allowed for more one-on-one time, and Kumka’s personality, which “makes everyone feel at ease.”
“[Cristina]is really good at what she does…She brings high energy, but it’s also a relaxed energy that just makes it fun for everybody,” said Sayward.
Aimee Pittrich, director of West Rutland Recreation, said she is glad to be hosting these classes since it has been her goal to “offer something to everybody in the community.”
Partnering with recreation departments proves to be an effective use of space and resources, and it caters to locals through proximity and affordability. Plus, town locals get a discounted rate.
“It’s called dog obedience, but really the owners are the ones that need to be trained, not their dogs, to learn their cues so that you can give your dog the best quality of life and keep everybody around you safe,” said Pittrich.
May classes will be held Mondays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at West Rutland Recreation.
For more information, visit: bowwowbabysitters.com or email Cristina Kumka at [email protected].
A dog received a lesson in how to stay at a Bow Wow Babysitters training session.
