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Portia's
Piece:
Treat Us Right, Please!
I know, I know, it's tempting to treat us all the time, and we don't help, what with the soulful eyes pleading for a taste of whatever you have, but I need you to be stronger for us.
Canine obesity is a huge issue these days. It's hard, there are so many brightly packaged treats tempting us, you and me, every time we walk down the aisle at the grocery and pet stores. It's everywhere.
But, too much of a good thing is simply too much. We're so much alike, and just like people, extra weight puts a strain on our hearts and joints, making it difficult to move and enjoy life.
Now listen, I would be the last Cavalier to tell you "no treats." That's not what I'm saying. More like, everything in moderation with an emphasis on whole foods. Some of my favorite treats are blueberries, apples and carrots. I know they're good for me, and I've got to tell you, they taste great too. Bagged treats, and cheese, in moderation are also part of my diet. Can you say "freeze-dried minnows?" Don't even get me started.
Bottom line? Help me to be as healthy as I can be. Treat me right. XOXO
Portia
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Spotlight: Take Another Look at K-9 Sampler
We've revamped K-9 Sampler. Want to try something new, but not commit to an entire smorgasbord of different classes? No worries, we've got you.
K-9 Sampler still offers a taste of six classes: agility, rally, nose work, tricks, parkour, and canine good citizen therapy dog. And you can sign up for all of it, if you want. But you can also choose which classes you'd like to try, by opting for the a la carte option.
Look for this new option to be available on our website in early 2026.
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You Make Us So Proud!
Each and every time one of our teams finishes a class, we are so proud of the time, effort and teamwork that goes into each one. Not to mention all the fun they have!
Head on over here to see what your fellow students have been doing. And congratulations to all of you! You are all superstars.
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All New Gift Certificate Promotion: Treat Yourself Too!
Need a little something for your pup or for a friend that has a dog and would love some training? We've got you covered.
Every holiday gift certificate purchased by 11/30/25 will include a separate gift certificate equal to 10% of your purchase price for you to put under your dog's tree for additional classes in 2026.
If you're planning to train with us next year, and we hope you are, now is the perfect time to grab Redfern Canine gift certificates before rates increase next year. It will be the first time our class rates have risen in more than two years.
To purchase your gift certificates, email us at info@redferncanines.com.
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Fall/Winter Schedule is LIVE
Don't wait til the snow flies to get signed up for classes! Our schedule of class offerings through the end of January is live on the website.
To register, head on over here.
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Nosing Around with Sarah & Martha:
A Closer Look at Scent Work
Not sure if nose work is right for you and your dog? Read on to learn about Sarah Livings and her 2-year-old black Labrador Retriever, Martha, who loves scent work. She loves it so much she's already earned her AKC Novice title in Nose Work, is well on her way to her Advanced title, and can't wait to keep going.
"Both Martha and I have gained more than I could have ever imagined from this experience. What I think is truly special about nose work is it flips the working relationship with your dog. Instead of Martha always looking to me for direction, I was looking to her to tell me where the hide was. I feel like this has built a deeper trust and understanding between the two of us that will make us a more successful team no matter what we undertake."
If you'd like to read more about Martha and Sarah, head on over to the website for her full testimonial.
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Dancing With Your 4-Legged Star: Welcome to Freestyle
What is Freestyle? It is coordinated dancing with your dog through a combination of tricks and rally movements.
Totally new for Redfern, the beginner class will be taught by long-time practitioner Deb Mickey. She's been dancing with dogs for more than 15 years now.
Our new class begins on November 6th, following a successful workshop held at Redfern earlier this month.
If you'd like to move with your pup to music, we'll have you spinning, twirling, circling around, weaving and walking backwards in no time.
Sound like fun? Sign up here and get ready to boogie.
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You Asked for It: New Classes at Redfern
It's true that we put a lot of thought into which courses we'll be offering at Redfern, but it's also true that we couldn't do it without you.
Every student that takes a course at Redfern receives an evaluation form at the end of every course. And I read EVERY word of each evaluation that is returned! So nearly all of the changes made at Redfern in the past year have been changes suggested by YOU! Thank you!
Many of our obedience classes are standard classes that everyone needs to build their dog's training foundation, but your requests for classes above and beyond help to design our Center offerings.
The end of the year is a good time to reflect on the past, so here is a summary of our course changes—all suggested by you—our students!
- We consistently got feedback that our former course, Advanced Manners, contained too much information and too many new skills to allow for pups to practice and perfect those skills. So we split the course into two parts. Mannerly Mutts focuses mostly on perfecting skills from Puppy/ Beginners and adding new obedience skills such as stay, leave it, and working around distractions. Courteous Canines takes Mannerly Mutts one step further by teaching specific behaviors for polite canine family members—such as “Go to Your Mat,” going through doorways nicely, resting quietly under a chair when waiting, and moving out of the way when asked.
- One of our students asked for a FreeStyle course and you can see by the article above, that we are geared up and excited about the course starting in November!
- Several of our students gave feedback that they would like the chance to try out new possibilities—our Canine Sampler course offers this. However, they did not want to take an intro class if they had already explored some of those possibilities or were totally uninterested in some possibilities. SOOO, beginning in 2026, we will be offering Canine Sampler as either a full 6 week course OR as an ‘a la carte’ menu where you can choose which and how many options you would like.
- And, finally, we got requests for daytime classes from some of our students. So we have been adding courses during the afternoons since February!
If there is a course you would like to see on our line-up, please let us know! When you receive an evaluation form at the end of a course, please complete it! (I share info from each form anonymously with the instructor. You would be surprised to see the smiles on their faces when they hear ‘good’ things! Or the commitment to make changes when suggestions are made.)
Thank you for helping to keep the Redfern curriculum fresh and current! And, please, keep the suggestions coming!
Betsy
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Nose Work is for EVERY Dog
Want to know what some of our most popular classes are these days? If you guessed scent work, you've hit it square on the nose!
Nose Work classes aren't just for traditionally "nosy" dogs like beagles and bloodhounds. Every dog has a nose far superior to ours that truly enjoys the challenge of scent work. We are currently in the process of expanding our scent work offerings for those who can't wait to go beyond Intro to Nose Work.
More advanced classes include Interiors, Exteriors, Vehicle, Buried and Container.
Check out our current schedule here for Nose Work classes.
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