Review of Be a Tree Teacher Kit and Doggone Crazy! board game by Lisa Grey

I am a Canine Behaviour Consultant and Specialist. I hold Canine Behaviour Seminars monthly in a variety of venues on behaviour modification, Pack structure and language, voice modulation, and bite prevention, dealing with dominance in dogs. From 1993-1996 I was a behaviour modification Instructor with BCSPCA running their dog bite prevention and aggressive dog program. The majority of my client base are veterinarian or other trainer referrals for aggressive or fearful dogs, dominance and chronic separation anxiety and fears. I am the senior trainer for Canines with a Cause assistance dog program as well as the program director, founder and  senior instructor for Adolescents at Risk and Canines Ontario and the owner of Natural Bond Canine Behaviour Consultants.

I have recently had the pleasure of presenting a bite prevention program using the Doggonecrazy format and program. I was incredibly impressed with the easy to follow format and the enjoyable way dog bite prevention information is relayed to participants using this system. Knowing dog bite prevention information and being fully aware of what the information content should be in such a program I was pleasantly surprised to find a kit chock full of information and presented in a way that would be informative for even the most knowledgeable instructor or participant as well as those who know little to no canine behaviour or bite prevention information.

During the presentation the script provided made everything run smoothly while allowing me to concentrate on providing a fun animated presentation. The props provided with the kit made this particular seminar the most popular, well received and informative presentation I have put on for children and adults about bite prevention to date. Previously, my information was informative and complete but not nearly as memorable or entertaining allowing participants to enjoy while learning and to be part of the process as well. What I liked most about this presentation is that it is laid out for any level of understanding and knowledge much like the children's game is. It turned my seminars from informative and well done to WOW I won't for get that!

Already I have received calls from parents of participants telling me that their children came home excited and filled with information to share and trying to educate other family members. The age group I had with this presentation was 3-6 years old and we all had an opportunity to play the Doggone Crazy board game. I had children lined up waiting for their turn to play the game. Each group had mixed ages in it and I was thrilled to realize that every child was able to understand and participate in the game at the same time. The way the game is designed allows younger children to comprehend as the descriptive picture cards and board game give them clues and the older children were not bored as there were levels of challenges that could differ in the game for each age group.

When asked, one nine year old participant offered this evaluation of the game. "I love this game it is fun, and not boring but also teaches you stuff that help you, I thought it was going to be slow with little kids playing but it is not. I would like to have this game." I think that says it all about the game.

Hats off to one of the best educational packages I have seen in years and a great public service that goes a long way to getting the message out about dog bite prevention and working toward eliminating dog bites to our children.

Lisa Grey
Senior Trainer
Natural Bond Canine Behavior Consultants
http://www.geocities.com/natural_bond_lab/