As we anxiously await the upcoming Canine Expo, being held April 27 at the Sheriff’s Rodeo, we may be wondering about taking our own dog along for a fun day together.

I had the opportunity to speak with professional dog trainer Nadia Chiaradia about tips and best practices when taking your dog into public places and crowded spaces. Chiaradia brings a unique perspective to her training classes, as she is a Certified Behavior Analyst who works with autistic children. Many of her skills in working with children translate over to animals, where she can read the body language and behavior of an individual and develop a plan specific to their needs. Chiaradia offers dog training classes from basic to advanced, and works with dogs who need behavior modification.

Her advice, for starters, is to determine if you have a nervous or aggressive pooch who would not do well interacting with crowds or strange dogs, and perhaps choose another day and place to introduce them to the world.

If you decide that you and your pooch would enjoy the event and you can keep control of your dog, Chiaradia suggests the following rules of thumb for a safe and happy outing.

– Before leaving the house, be sure that your collars, leashes and halters are properly fitted, and are the correct collars for controlling your dog.

– Owners should always place themselves between a distraction and their dog. Never allow your dog to be at the end of his leash going after something while you chase behind. Get in front of your dog and turn him away.

– If you approach a strange dog, ask permission to come closer to allow the dogs to meet.

– When meeting nose to nose, dogs will react within 3 seconds. Do not allow them to stay nose to nose any longer, or you may have a confrontation. Dogs feel less threatened by being sniffed by another dog, and it is their proper way to meet. Their body language will let you know if you need to separate the dogs.

– If your dog overreacts to another dog or distraction, distance and speed are your best friend. Get your dog away from whatever is triggering him, and do it quickly. Dont wait to see if your dog will settle down or ignore something on his own.

– If your dog displays an unacceptable behavior, redirect their attention to other things, such as walking away from the object of their attention, distracting them with a toy or by offering their favorite treats.

– If you know that your dog does not care for other dogs, children or people and you still want to bring him to the expo, a muzzle is a friend, not a foe. As long as a muzzle is properly sized, allowing breathing and getting a drink, it is perfectly safe for your dog to wear.

I hope that everyone who wants to take their pooch along for a fun day will consider the above suggestions, and have a safe and stress free adventure.

If you would like to attend a dog training class or work on specific dog behaviors, you can contact Nadia at Nadia.Chiaradia @gmail.com.

Enjoy the Expo and don’t forget to share your pictures on the News Courier Facebook page.