UVA Wise Students Host First-Ever ‘Wise-minster’ Dog Show to Promote Adoptions in May

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but a UVA Wise professor is proving that adage wrong for a great cause: help shelter dogs get their forever homes.

This semester, Robert Arrowood, UVA Wise assistant professor of psychology, has used his own dog, Drake, to teach the students how to train dogs in his psychology of learning class.

In December, Arrowood untrained his dog so he could use him to instruct the students.

Arrowood recently reached out to the Wise County Animal Shelter and together they organized an event for his students to train shelter dogs to help them get adopted. Trained dogs have a higher likelihood of getting adopted, especially when they have basic manners, he said.

“It’s a great way to demonstrate learning techniques that’s fun for the students and a way to help these great dogs find a new home,”  said Arrowood who joined the UVA Wise faculty this year.

The training will culminate in a “Best in Show” style dog competition called the Wise-Minster Dog Show which will be held on Wednesday, May 3, from 5-8 p.m. at UVA Wise’s Lawn By the Lake.

“I’ve taught students to train animals before but this is my first dog show. We are hoping for a big turnout so we chose a location to accommodate as many people as possible,” Arrowood said.

Students will show off each of the trained dogs responding to their commands and doing several tricks. Afterwards, students will share what the experience has been like training the dogs.

UVA Wise Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Gail Zimmerman, who has experience training dogs for agility trials, will join Melissa Reeves-Barton of Bowwow Bakery; Aletha Colethe, Wise County Animal Hospital manager; and Town of Wise Mayor Teresa Adkins on the judges panel.

In mid-April nearly 30 students began training dogs at the Wise County Animal Shelter three days a week and will continue until the final dog show. In order to make sure every student gets to train, several other community dogs are also being trained and will participate in the dog show.

A total of 11 dogs will participate and judges will crown a “Best In Show” for the shelter dogs and the community dogs groups. All dogs will receive a participant certificate that can go into their adoption portfolio, Arrowood said.

“You can shape the most stubborn dog in the course of a couple of days. The students should be able to follow the method, and by the end of the first week, get at least two tricks down well,” Arrowood said. “I try to give as much real world application as I can in the class.”

In the past, Arrowood had taught students to train lab rats.

“I thought why not train some shelter dogs that need some love and attention, and it’s a wonderful way to get them some interest for adoption,” Arrowood said.

At the dog show, there will be information and vendor booths. Co-sponsors include PetSense by Tractor Supply, Bowwow Bakery, Hills Science and PAWS of Southwest Virginia.