*Entertainment Stage *

10:35AM: Shorty Rossi Welcomes Pet Lovers to the 2012 Windy City Pet Expo
Shorty Rossi, star of ‘Pit Boss’ on Animal Planet, welcomes our many pet-lovers to the super fun Windy City Pet Expo.

10:45AM Training Your Rabbit
Dr. Brown, House Rabbit Society of Chicago
Dr. Brown will discuss  simple ways you can train your rabbit at home to  enjoy handling, examination, and medication techniques.  Having your rabbit comfortable with these behaviors will make visits to the veterinary office less stressful.

11:15AM:  CPR/First Aid
Dr. Cecelia Burke, VCA Hawthorn Animal Hospital
Knowing what to do in the initial moments of a crisis can be critical to your pet’s life. In the event that a dog is not breathing, CPR, also known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and mouth-to-snout resuscitation, can be used to save your pet’s life and stabilize them until you can reach help. In order to correctly perform pet CPR, it’s important to follow certain steps in their exact order. Join us for a canine CPR and First Aid discussion with a Q & A session to follow.

11:45AM: Harrison Forbes Q&A
Forbes’ 20 year career as a dog trainer, animal behaviorist and bestselling author has propelled him into the spotlight as a highly sought after pet expert. His extensive career in dog training has made Forbes the “go-to” guy for national pet stories, appearing on “Larry King Live” discussing the Michael Vick case, as the resident pet expert on “Live with Regis and Kelly,” and appearing on the Fox News Network, CNN, CBS, “The Early Show,” and “The Today Show,” on NBC. "He steals food from the table.""She won't come back when she's called.""He destroyed the living room rug.""She barked and barked until the neighbors complained.""He's a wonderful dog, but I wish he wouldn't...” Does this sound like your dog? Lots of dogs have no manners, and their owners are at a loss as to how to teach them manners. Come take part in a Q & A with Harrison and come prepared with your most challenging pet-related questions.

12:15PM: Pet/Owner Musical Chair Competition
Musical Chairs is a doggy variation of the classic children’s game. Music plays as handlers walk with their dogs off-leash counter-clockwise around a rectangular area. A line of chairs (with alternating chairs facing in opposite direction) runs down the center of the rectangle.  When the music stops, the handlers instruct their dogs to sit by verbal request and/or hand signal only (i.e., without touching them) and rush to sit on a vacant chair in the center of the rectangle. Stop by and take part in this popular event – everyone can play! To enter, bring your pet to the entertainment stage at 12:00PM.

12:45PM: Think Like a Cat
Don Hill, Tree House Humane Society
Cats are very interesting creatures with some outright amazing characteristics. Trying to understand them through human emotions like being jealous, angry, vindictive, lazy, fussy, etc. is futile at best. Why do cats: Sleep up to 14-16 hours a day? Like to drink running water from a faucet (or ugh, toilet bowl)? Run and hide from the sound of a vacuum cleaner? Wake you up at 5am to be fed? Weave in and out between your legs? Use a litter box (or sometimes not use a litter box)? Spend so much time grooming themselves and each other? We’ll come up with some interesting theories for cat lovers in the audience. There’ll also be something for non-cat lovers: Why do cats sometimes pay attention to visitors who don’t like cats – and ignore “cat lovers”? But beware; thinking like a cat may change your perceptions!

1:15PM: Ferrets, the Perfect Pet Alternative
Seth Vermilyea, Greater Chicago Ferret Association
There are so many reasons why ferrets make good pets and you only need to meet one to find out why. If you’re interested in getting a new pet for your family, you should look into the prospect of getting a ferret or two. They’re the perfect alternative for families that can’t have, or don’t want, a cat or dog. They’re cuddly, curious, smart and active; Seth Vermilyea, with the Greater Chicago Ferret Association, will discuss why a ferret may be the perfect pet for you.

1:45PM: The Myths Surrounding Breed-Specific Legislation
Carolyn Giannopoulos, Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) refers to laws that target dogs based on how they look rather than their actions. Hundreds of U.S. cities have already enacted BSL, and more cities adopt it every year. Many cities and counties—plus Marine Corps and Army bases—have banned select breeds altogether. Currently, BSL most often focuses on Pit Bull types (dogs that have “Pit Bull characteristics”), but some cities also target Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinchers, American Bull Dogs, Bull Terriers, Mastiffs, Dalmatians, Chows and other large breeds and mixes of the targeted breeds. Local animal advocate Carolyn Giannoplos, the executive director of Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue, will discuss BSL, why BSL doesn’t work, and how you can help prevent breed discrimination.

2:15PM: Education to End Cruelty
Shorty Rossi & Hercules, ‘Pit Boss’ and Shortywood Productions
Shorty Rossi, star of ‘Pit Boss’ on Animal Planet will be making an appearance with his popular canine sidekick, Hercules. Rossi has a special passion that has been a major part of his life since he was a teenager – championing the cause of pit bulls. When Rossi isn’t managing Shortywood Productions, a company that works with little people in the entertainment industry or filming ‘Pit Boss,’ he’s working with Shorty’s Pit Bull Rescue, a charity he formed that rescues, rehabilitates and places neglected and abused pit bulls in loving, nurturing homes. Shorty’s Rescue is not a shelter or a charity; it’s employees work tirelessly to help relieve the suffering of and prevent cruelty to pit bulls through education and activism. A Q & A session will follow.

2:45PM: Animals Got Talent! Pet Talent Show
Does your pet have an amazing talent? Here’s your chance to show it off! Contest will consist of one category: Best Trick. Immediately following the competition winners will be determined by audience applause as assessed by Windy City Pet Expo staff. To enter, bring your pet to the entertainment stage at 2:30pm (you’ll see signage directing you where to go once you arrive at the stage) and be ready to dance, jump, sing or whatever your specialty may be! You definitely don’t want to miss THIS!

3:15PM: Parrot Trivia
Sandi Madsen, Ollies Parrot Perch
An interactive program that shares interesting lesser known facts about parrots in a "game show" format.

3:45PM: Grooming 101
Kirsten Roberts, Kountry Pet Resort & Training
Tired of wrestling with your pooch to cut its nails? Don’t know how to properly brush your pet to reduce shedding? Want some hints and tips on how to keep your pup looking tip-top between grooming sessions? Kirsten Roberts, of Kountry Pet Resort & Training, will share some great ideas including, teeth brushing, ear cleaning and keeping hair out of your mouth during grooming to keep your pet looking their fit and fabulous best!

4:15PM: Ask the Training Expert
Kirsten Roberts, Kountry Pet Resort & Training
Are you wondering how other people have such well-behaved dogs? Are you sick of being dragged down the street behind a leash? Do you avoid taking your pup on walks because they’re completely out of control?  Trainer Kirsten Roberts will teach you some quick and easy tips to turn those unwanted behaviors around and help create a pup that can be reliably trusted on-lead and off. Learn how you can improve the relationship with your pooch through obedience training.

5:00PM: Costume Contest
This popular event takes place on the Agility Course.

* Agility Course *

10:10AM, 11:00AM, 12:00 PM, 1:00PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00PM, 4:00PM
Agility Demo Presented by For Your K9
Canine agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs their dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. For Your K9 invites you to stop by the amazing agility show at the Windy City Pet Expo to see a variety of dogs and handlers racing through the course. Come prepared to watch, listen, and be a part of the amazing sport of dog agility!

5:00PM: Pet Costume Contest
Show off your pet dressed in their best costume for the super popular Pet Costume Contest! Each pet must wear a costume during the competition period to be eligible. Winners will be determined by audience applause as assessed by the Windy City Pet Expo staff. To enter, bring your pet to the agility course at 4:45PM (you’ll see signage directing you where to go once you arrive at the agility course).

* Activity Course *

10:3AM Rally Demo presented by Lyons Dog Club
Rally is an obedience performance activity in which the handler must read, execute and follow the signs thru the course in a minimum amount of time.  There are three levels of Rally, Novice, Advanced and Excellent, each getting harder as you progress.  You may talk to your dog while trying to get him to follow your instructions but you may not use food or correct him with the leash.

11:30AM Obedience Demo (Novice, Open and Utility) presented by Lyons Club
Obedience also has three levels: Novice, Open and Utility. Novice is basic work; heel exercise, come when called, figure 8 and then heeling again. Open work is all done off lead, heel exercise, drop on recall, figure 8 and two retrieving exercises and two jump exercises. Utility is a heeling exercise, directed retrieve, scent retrieve and two jump exercises.

12:30PM Nosework Demo presented by For Your K9
The art and practice of Nosework has now reached dogs of all shapes and sizes and has made basic search dog skills available to companion dogs, creating a new urban sport arena for dog enthusiasts. Dogs have an amazing sense of smell and a natural desire to hunt. The sport of canine nosework is designed to develop your dog’s natural scenting abilities by using their desire to hunt and their love of toys, food and exercise.  It’s a great way for your dog to have fun, build confidence and burn lots of mental and physical energy!

1:30PM: It’s All Fun and Games! Build A Skill Set!
Wish you could play games and have fun with your pet on their level? At a loss for what to play other than fetch and frisbee? Check out our easy ideas for recreational F-U-N with your best furry friend. For all ability levels and every pooch!

2:30PM Rally Demo
Please see 10:30AM for more information.

3:30PM: Obedience Demo
Please see 11:30AM for more information.

4:30PM: Nosework Demo – For Your K9
Please see 12:30PM for more information.