DIXON – A world-renowned dog trainer is coming to town next month to teach obedience skills and the use of electronic training collars.

Nino Drowaert, a dog trainer from Belgium, is coming to teach two courses Aug. 4-6 at the Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center, 613 River Lane.

Drowaert has been an inspector for the Antwerp Police Department in Belgium for 18 years and is the head trainer for its K-9 Unit of 10 teams.

“He definitely has the resume to back up what’s he’s doing,” Enrichment Center Director Becky Goehring said.

Leigh Bianco and Drowaert are partners for the Specialized Training Services K9 organization, which was looking around the Chicago area for a visit, and a Sterling resident reccommended they use the enrichment center to host the courses, Bianco said.

The Puppy University course runs Aug. 4-5 and includes a 3-hour night seminar on dog obedience, followed the next day with Drowaert practicing skills on the training field with the dog. The cost is $200 for those who want to bring their puppy and $100 for spectators.

They’ll learn about positive reinforcement and what type of reward to give when it comes to training a puppy, which should be 18 months or younger for the course.

The E-Collar University course on Aug. 6 is a daylong seminar focused on the proper use of electronic training collars, which is $175 with the dog or $75 for spectators. Dogs can be of any age, and the course will focus on negative reinforcement.

Both uses of reinforcement are needed to successfully train a dog, Bianco said.

The limit for those bringing their dogs is 10 per course, and there's no limit for the spectators.

The enrichment center opened in March 2016 and focuses on strengthening the bond between dogs and handlers.

HOW TO REGISTER

Go to stsk9.com/seminar-registration to register for the courses.

The dates that say Chicago are referring to Dixon.

Puppy University will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 4 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 5. Cost is $99 to watch, or $199 to bring your dog.

E-Collar University will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 6. Cost is $75 to watch or $175 to bring your dog.

The cost for all 3 days is $350, and the courses take place at the Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center, 613 River Lane, in Dixon.

MORE INFO

Go to stsk9.com to find out more information on Nino Drowaert.

Go to grannyrosek-9.org or call 815-677-9350 for more information on the Granny Rose K-9 Enrichment Center.