VIDEO: Tailwaggers Offer Dog Training in New Lenox - Patch

View full size Tailwaggers leader Pat Woicek talks to visitors during an open house Saturday. She's with her two black Russian terriers, Nush and Risky. Your photos, videos & PDFs: Add

Sit. Stay. Grab a snack.

Those were the suggestions at a Will County 4-H Tailwaggers open house Saturday to people interested in joining the club and getting obedience training for their dogs. The Tailwaggers moved its training to the Stone City Kennel Club in New Lenox this year, and training sessions officially begin next week.

Because of scheduling issues, the Tailwaggers sought help from Stone City, and ended up getting to use its facility for free.

"We had some free times and said it would be a good thing," said Karen Simmons of the Stone City Kennel Club. "We try to keep the building busy. We’re very proactive about education and we like to encourage kids to get involved. It gives them some responsibility with their pets."

Training sessions are held from 1 to 3 p.m. every Saturday from January through July. They're offered for free to 4-H club members; an annual membership costs $23.

Participants also have the chance to join in other Tailwaggers activities, such as dog show competitions. For example, there's a junior dog judging event next month at the Chicago International Kennel Club Dog Show, and each child gets two free tickets.

"We have kids working their dogs from the ages of 8 up," said Tailwaggers leader Pat Woicek. "We have everything from little bitty dogs, great big dogs. We run the gamut of brand new, just learning kids and dogs to ones who have been around a while."

At the open house, children who have already been through training showed off what they learned, include some vocal and hand-directed commands. One of them, Jaecee Burkart, 17, said she's been with the Tailwaggers since she was 10.

"It takes a lot of patience and dedication," she said. "When you get a puppy it’s hard to handle them, but you bring them here and you learn a lot."

Training starts at 1 p.m. Saturday and goes through July. Besides being happy and bringing you and your dog, the Tailwaggers say you'll need a training collar with no tags on it and a 6-foot leash. For more information, contact Pat or Wayne Woicek at 708-481-1313 or patwoicek@ameritech.net.

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