Lycoming County SPCA Dog Trainer and Behavior Consultant Tracy Free will speak to Lycoming College’s First-Year Seminar, People and Pups – Animals and Society, on Tuesday, Oct. 21 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. The event will be held in Mary Lindsay Welch Honors Hall on campus at East Fourth and Basin streets in Williamsport. This event is free and open to the public.
Free’s presentation will focus on the progression of dog training from the 1930s to today, in addition to how it has affected the human-canine relationship. She will discuss present-day efforts by many trainers to take a more balanced approach that takes into consideration both the dog’s personality and environment. The presentation will conclude with a question and answer period.
“Our goal is to help dog owners understand how we got here, the current dog training options, and how to make an educated decision about what type of dog training is right for them,” said Free.
Free has over 27 years of animal related experience. She has been a humane society police officer, a certified veterinary paramedic and a veterinary nurse. She began her training career as an apprentice with the master trainer at Man’s Best Friend in Houston where she found her passion. Free’s teaching philosophy is based on the dog’s play and prey drive, building a more cohesive bond between human and canine. Her motto is to train without pain. She believes training should be tailored to the individual needs of both the dog and human.
Through appropriate training, the SPCA hopes to help dog owners find solutions to behavior problems that would otherwise cause them to give up their pet. Additionally, Free recently developed and implemented new behavior assessments, modification and enrichment programs for the Lycoming County SPCA dogs that will help them happily transition into new homes.
Parking for this event will be available behind the Recreation Center off East Fourth Street or in the parking lot between Christ Church and Lycoming College.
Lycoming College is a four-year, residential liberal arts and sciences school dedicated to the undergraduate education of 1,400 students. Its rigorous academic program, vibrant residential community and supportive faculty foster successful student outcomes. Lycoming offers 36 academic majors and is recognized as a Tier 1 institution by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1812 and located near the banks of the Susquehanna River in Williamsport, Pa., Lycoming is one of the 50 oldest colleges in the nation. For more information, visit www.lycoming.edu.