Promote Training
Use the resources provided on this page to promote training in any venue that you can – a dog training facility, schools, Girl and Boy Scout troops, 4-H, libraries, supermarkets, shelters, Rotary and other civic clubs, your workplace, your gym – anywhere you go, you’re likely to meet at least one person who has a dog!
Get a Proclamation From Your Local Government
A proclamation, also sometimes known as a resolution, is a document that your local government can give to recognize a special event, person, or other notable figure. Read more…
Write a Letter to the Editor
Writing a letter to the Editor of your local newspaper can call attention to the importance of dog training to your community. Sample Letter to the Editor (pdf file)
Use Our Training Tips Handouts
Use the handouts found in our Training Tips section to give out to anyone involved with dogs – shelters, groomers, veterinarians, dog bakeries, dog park visitors, dog owner, etc.! Be creative!
Send an Email “Postcard” to Someone You Know With a Dog That Needs Training!
Send a customized eCard to a friend, co-worker, or family member to promote training!
Flyers/Posters
Promotion Ideas
Work with local shelter and rescue groups by bringing them copies of handouts and flyers to post at their facilities or hand to adopters. If you haven’t already, think about volunteering to help train dogs in shelters to make them more adoptable and help them stay in their newly adopted homes. If you’re looking for a rescue or shelter near you, you can visit the following sites to find some:
Petfinder
AKC breed rescue list
Best Friends Network
Offer to help with creating training classes for volunteers who work with shelter dogs to train them to make them more adoptable. If you want to do this but don’t know where to start, check out www.openpaw.org and www.bestfriends.org.
Hold an APDT Canine Life and Social Skills (C.L.A.S.S.) training lecture or an actual assessment. Learn more about this program at C.L.A.S.S. – APDT.
Host or help to put together a local pet fair or pet picnic that can feature rescue groups, dog sports/training demos, veterinarians, and free talks for the public on training and dog ownership. Or on a smaller scale, partner with a local pet store to do an “open house” where you can feature pets for adoption and give information to the public on training.
Offer to bring copies of our flyers and handouts to your veterinarian to hand out to clients and display in the lobby of their clinics. You can do the same for local groomers, doggie daycares, pet supply stores, and dog bakeries as well.
Visit the dog parks in your area and see if they have a bulletin board where you can post flyers and handouts on training.
Ask local schools if you can come do talks for the children. You might also want to contact your local shelter to see if they have a humane education program that is looking for volunteers to speak in the community’s schools.
Look at options for doing community talks at other types of organizations such as church groups, lodges, Rotary clubs, civic organizations, and the Chamber of Commerce. Remember, the more connections, free seminars, and demonstrations you do, the more you can promote training.
Visit your local library and ask if you can make a display during the month of January promoting training and the dog training books and resources in their collection. If your library doesn’t have many books, consider donating some to bring their collection up to date.
Use the resources available from the APDT if you’re a member, and if you’re not, consider joining if you’re a trainer or work with dogs in some capacity. If you simply want to learn more about dog training and behavior but are not a member, consider subscribing to our award-winning journal, The APDT Chronicle of the Dog, or signing up for one of our educational webinars! Become a fan of our Facebook, Linked In or Instagram pages or our Twitter feed to receive notices about training-related studies and other articles and dog training news.