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EVENTS & RESOURCES
Here's a place to learn about upcoming events at FIRST RUN. Dog owners will also find valuable listings to help them locate a reliable neighborhood dog walker or a skilled obedience instructor.



RUSTUS requires twice daily runs but mostly comes to the dog run to flirt


Urbanhound.com Present
The 16th Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
Saturday, October 28, 2006 at Noon


Dress up the dogs. The frightening fun and screams begin at noon. Over $5,000 in prizes, including 6 iPOD MP3 PLAYERS will be awarded to the winners and runner ups at the country's largest Halloween dog parade. iPods are awareded to the winners in the following catergories: "Best In Show," "Best Costume - large & small breed," "Best Dog with Kid," "Best Dog Team Costume," "Best Trick" and "Best Dog & Owner Combo." Plus lots of runner up prizes.

Free GIFT BASKETS for the first 100 dogs to arrive.

(Rain date will be the following day.)


Obedience Training
WHO'S WALKING WHO DOG TRAINING CLASSES - Begins September 11th, 2006

Stacy Alldredge and "WHO'S WALKING WHO Obedience & Behavioral Training" will be back to teach two levels of obedience courses in Tompkins Square starting September 11th. All courses run for 5 weeks and meet every Monday night in Tompkins Square (under the Krishna Tree in the center of the park.)

Basic Obedience meets at 7 p.m. ($195). Intermediate Obedience meets at 8 p.m. ($225.) Classes are limited to 8 students and are are taught with 2 instructors. For complete course outline, please visit Who's Walking Who

These classes fill up soon. Please reserve space by registering and paying in advance, by calling (212) 414-2500


Kibbles 'n Bits Present
The Search For America's Most Smoochable Pooch
Thursday, September 7th and 9th, 2006


Is your dog America's Most Smoochable Pooch? The Kibbles 'n Bits traveling "Mutt Mobile" will be roving the country capturing the best pooch smooches for America's vote

First stop, New York City! Celebrity pet trainer Bash Dibra will be on hand for this kick-off event to share celebrity doggie gossip and hints and tricks for training and scoring the best smooch pooch.

The "Mutt Mobile" will visit New York's first dog run at Tompkins Square Park, delighting smoochable pooches with:

  • The Kissin' Booth to capture America's Most Smoochable Pooch with digital photos
  • A Kissin' Bandit costume character to entertain our furry friends and their owners
  • A Breath-o-Meter to reveal who needs to freshen up with Brushing Bites
  • Prize Wheel for fun human and dog give-aways
  • Special activity and grooming areas
  • Premium give-aways including Brushing Bites samples, magnetic photo frames to capture the smoochable moments, stickers and coupons

Stop by the run on Thrusday Sept 7th or Saturday Sept 9th. Or visit The Search For America's Most Smoochable Pooch online to enter your dog in America's Most Smoochable Pooch contest.


Friends of First Run Present
DOG PROM 2006
Wednesay, August 23, 2006


Get dressed up with your dog for the 1st Annual Tompkins Dog Prom. Prom starts at the dog run from 5 - 8 p.m. This years PROM PHOTOGRAPHER is Mark Jason. Take a look at his wonderful pictures. Many of his models have chosen to appear withoutthe restriction of clothes -- or even worse,leashes!

Mark Jason Pet Portraits

Then comes the official AFTER PARTY at Orchid Lounge. 500 East 11th Street (between Ave A & B). Open Bar and Dinner provided by Lucky Cheng's

All this for $25, includes your prom portrait!


Summer Lecture Series
Dog Run Workshops

Each summer FRIENDS OF FIRST RUN organize a workshop and lecture series which has attracted some of the most respected names in the animal behavior world. Past speakers who have gracious given time to FIRST RUN included:

Dr. Pam Reid - Vice President, ASPCA
Pam is one of the world's most authoratative voices concerning the science of "positive reinforcement" training. She discussed many of the myths behind old-style, force based training methods, offered practical advice for owners setting up a training program for their dogs and discussed animal learning theory from her book Excel-erated Learning: How Dogs Learn and how best to train them.

Stacy Alldredge - Director of Who's Walking Who Dog Training
The name "Stacy" has become a one word monikor as recognizable as Madonna or Britney to the downtown denizens of the dog world. Stacy brings her considerable knowledge of dog training to FIRST RUN in a series of workshops on obedience training, correcting problem behaviors, the "Canine Good Citizen" program and animal nutrition. She also writes the "Ask The Trainer" column for THE SCOOP.

Jean Owen - Teaching Your Dog The Sport Of Agility
Jean's corgii (PIPER) was the 2001 National Agility Champion. She arrived with her owner and demonstrate the sport of agility with enough equipment for all our dogs to give it a try including the slalom weave, tunnels, jumps and targets.

Andrea Arden - Director of Andrea Arden Dog Training
Andrea is the director of training at Manhattan's Biscuits & Baths Dog Spa, a memeber of the Dog Writers Association of America and the principle trainer for the "Good Dog Foundation," a New York based animal assisted therapy program. She is the author of numerous books including Dog Freindly Dog Training and On The Road With Your Pet.

Renee Payne - Walk This Way Dog Training
Renee is a Certified Canine Behavior Therapist and graduate from "The Animal Behavior Center of New York." She has appeared on CBS News and is certified by the "American Pet Dog Trainer Association."


List A Dog Run Event:

If you have a dog related event or news item that you would like to see listed, please let us know!

Large Dog Run
garrettrosso@nyc.rr.com

Small Dog Run
smalldogrunfolks-owner@yahoogroups.com




NEXT: Find a Trainer or Dog Walker >>






First Run is New York City's largest off-leash dog park. "Friends of First Run" is an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the maintenance, fiscal support and safety of the Tompkins Square Dog Run.