Need Help/Ideas ASAP - Page 1

I was just asked by our local K9 trainer to take over his dog training 101 club at the middle school while he is away for K9 recertification. It will only be one day for an hour. There are about 20 middle school kids in the club. So far they have seen basic obedience,drug searches,and bitework. I am not sure how I could compare to his K9 demos. I am afraid that the kids would be bored with me as I have limited information compared to him.

Any ideas on what I could do? Im a little worried.

It's only an hour take a suit or a sleeve with you and let your dog have at with the kids.

Perhaps you can sit them down tell em a little about yourself.  Maybe you can give theme a little class on how the dogs are able to learn what they saw already.  I would turn it into a question and answer time for the kids.  GOOD LUCK! 

Kelly,
How old are the kids?  Do they have dogs they bring?  Is it a training class or all lecture?

Jim

How about doing a session on the science involved in tracking--scent cones, etc.?

Kelly,
PM me and I may have some power point material you can use.  I do lots of demos for kids and I'll pass on some tips. 


Jim

Having done a ton of demos for kids myself, I can tell you kids LOVE tricks. If your dog knows any cute tricks like roll over, play dead, take a bow, crawl, etc., you can show these them break down the teaching steps in a fun, easy way kids can try at home with their dogs. You may also want to consider a dog/dog bite safety presentation.

Kelly,
You are absolutely correct.  I would talk about the armed robbery suspects we apprehended, the tracks, the narcotics and the kids always said what tricks does he do?  I thought he doesn't do any dumb tricks he's a police dog.

Well, now the highlight of my demos for kids are him bowing, waving hello and opening his car door and getting inside.  The kids go crazy when I say "Boomer, get in the car...Open the door"  He runs to the car, hits the door handle with his nose and opens the door then jumps in.  Turns out it was not the best trick to teach, he tries to get in every police car he sees or let the other K9's out. 

He waves hello to kids and waves good by to the bad guys before they go to jail.

Jim

Jim, thats too funny. I could just imagine the look on the bad guys face when Boomer waves by to them...hehe.

I like this viedeo...
http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play?p=police%20k9%20opening%20car%20door&tnr=21&vid=282896565231&l=22&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fvideos%2Fthumbnail.aspx%3Fq%3D282896565231%26id%3Df051af1da9748049c8fd195a71152e13%26bid%3Da81CRpYTtH6D1g%26bn%3DThumb%26url%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fwww.youtube.com%252fwatch%253fv%253dip7sz6Z8obE&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dip7sz6Z8obE&sigr=11alb0v5j&newfp=1&tit=Smart+Police+Dog+that+can+get+in+and+out+the+police+car+by+himself+%21

      KellyJ,,,

            My eight year old son likes to lay a track of string cheese, and watch Prince track it....You could let the children lay small tracks .....Just an idea.....Good luck...

                Deanna...: )