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GREENBURGH, NY - Dog barks echoed through the Greenburgh Public Library Wednesday night as canine behavioral specialist Steve Diller demonstrated how dog owners can "speak canine."
Diller's "So You Think You Can Bark" event featured six Greenburgh dogs Harpo, Ace, Lucy, Emma, Sky and Sapphire who were eager to learn new tricks in exchange for chicken treats.
"Steve is a dog in reverse reincarnation," said librarian Kate Colquitt. "Each of the dogs here are very, very different just like we are. And knowing about them and learning to communicate with them is the first step."
A positive approach to training and communicating helps an owner and their dog bond, said Diller, resulting in a more obedient pet.
"There's really no such thing as the perfect dog," Diller said. "I know sometimes you feel it, but there's always room for improvement."
Diller used a training stick and small pieces of chicken to demonstrate how a dog can learn certain commands by using the reward system. The audience laughed as dog Ace did a "tap dance" when learning to lift his paw to say hello.
Diller is the founder of the Center for Animal Behavior and Canine Training, and the former president of the Society of North American Dog Trainers.
Have you seen dog walkers in Greenburgh?
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