An increasing number of French towns and cities are developing animal policies aimed at encouraging the harmonious integration of dogs into the urban environment. The French Association on Human and Animal Interaction (AFIRAC) supports and advises local authorities in this effort by helping to implement programs designed to install relevant facilities while at the same time making owners aware of their responsibilities and the new regulations.

However, when owners have grasped the importance of both their responsibilities and the arrangements set up by town and city authorities, they are often faced by the key problem of how to educate their companion. How can dogs be trained to visit the "comfort facilities" or at least the gutters? How can you develop the right sort of habits?

To help owners answer these questions easily, AFIRAC and the French Central Canine Society (SCC) have developed a dog training course that local authorities can include in their action programs. The SCC National Education and Agility Commission developed a basic dog training course. It is not designed to train dogs for defense or obedience for dog competitions.

The SCC courses are open to all. They bring together 20 owner-dog teams per lesson in a friendly, non-competitive atmosphere. The exercises require a baseline of dedication and motivation from owners. The training is spread over several stages so that progress can be measured. The courses are held in the heart of the selected neighborhoods. At the end of the course, owners are tested on their training techniques, authority, and relationship with their dog, as well as their sense of civic responsibility.

AFIRAC has recently extended this dog training program to children. "Introduction to Dog Training" workshops are offered to Paris area elementary school children during their leisure activities. During a two-hour session on the school premises, the kids are taught the basic rules to get the best behaviour from their dogs and how to handle dogs responsibly. These workshops are now being planned in many other towns in France.

Training dogs will not single-handedly solve the difficulties associated with integrating dogs in cities. It does, however, form an essential part of a global array of measures, including the designation of special dog areas, installation of sanitary facilities, and the campaign for responsible dog ownership. The efforts made by town and city authorities only make sense if they are shared by all citizens, hence this drive to greater civic responsibility through training and awareness.

Photo credit: AFIRAC.

Read another document in this section:

• AFIRAC: Towards Better Integration of Animals in the City
• Success Factors of Programs that Integrate Animals in Cities
• Dogs in Paris