City of Montpellier offers free dog training sessions to “learn to live in an urban environment” – France Bleu

Attention dog owners looking for support! Free dog training sessions are offered in Montpellier from October 19, and until December 7. This is the 3rd year in a row that the town hall has set up these workshops. And proof of need: the town hall is offering 16 this year, compared to four previously.

“People don’t know how to read their dogs, confirms Soraya Bourgeois, the educator in charge of the workshops. They have body language, they send us messages and we have to be attentive to that!” She addresses animal stress management at two-hour workshops. : “If you’re afraid of spiders, you panic when you’re locked in a room full of spiders, and so is your dog! If he’s afraid of bikes, don’t take him to a bike path !”

“Lifelong” education.

These practices, which are more attentive to the animal, avoid dangerous situations between dogs, or with people passing by. “It’s hard for dogs to live in an urban environmentsupports Soraya Bourgeois. There are a lot of rules, we keep them on leash all the time, so you have to learn.” The workshop alternates between theoretical explanations and practical games.

“We must treat education as a game”, declares the teacher. Marianne continues the exercises with her dog Simba, and she is delighted to be able to “Be around other owners, other dogs, not dangerous. When they come out, they should be well leashed!”

The session is currently unique. It is offered every Saturday at 10am or 2pm in one of Montpellier’s dog parks. The town hall is considering recommending a follow-up. “Education is not for life, asks Soraya Bourgeois. You have to do it all your life or the dog will get its instincts back! “