Enjoy a better behaved dog
Training dogs since I was a child.
I was lucky, we always had pets when I was growing up and I can’t remember when we didn’t have at least one dog. My mom liked poodles so I had a lot of fun training them to go up and down slides with me, how to sit, down, shake, come when called, and even play soccer! I also got my first pony when I was 7 and had horses for years up until my obsession with working Border Collies took over and I started competing in Sheepdog Trials with them. Amazing dogs, they know so much you just have to teach them how to work with you.
I trained one of mine to shut the door when someone would leave it open, pick up objects by name, and she knew all sorts of tricks. She was off leash probably 99% of her life. I had another dog prior to her that used to go on trail rides with me. I was on my horse, and he was off leash beside my horse - even when we crossed roads. He was such a smart boy and I trained him with “other side” to mean switching what side of my horse he was walking next to. He loved to go on the trails and was probably off leash 99% of the time as well. Dogs are capable of a lot more than most people ask of them. Because of the training and the time I spent with my dogs, they really got to have a lot of fun.
I adopted a dog from a wonderful rescue group in Tennessee a few years ago. They were having trouble finding a suitable home for him because he had some issues. No real manners, would run you over, rush out the door, was partially house-broken, and would chew on his crate door. Because I have trained dogs of my own for so long I was able to adopt him. He now has manners, is house-broken, knows how to walk nicely on a leash, waits patiently for his food and won’t go out an open door unless told to. He is a good boy and I’m so glad I drove to Tennessee to get him!
Continuing Education
I love to learn and attend at least one dog training event per year. I attend seminars, virtual training with Zoom classes, I subscribe to Patreon to continue to acquire new skills. I follow trainers I respect on social media and pay attention to what they’re saying. My favorite training event to date was a one week Shadow Program with a world renowned trainer and his trainers. That was a fantastic program! After that, I made some changes to my program so it’s even better than it was before. Although I take it very seriously, it’s also so much fun being immersed in the training world learning new things with like minded people. There is always more to learn, you can never know it all.
I enjoy training dogs and I also enjoy training and helping people. I’m very patient and take the time to explain things if you don’t understand. It never gets old when I see how happy owners are with their dog and his/her newly aquired skills. I love getting updates and pictures of their dogs going places they’ve never been able to take them before. Training really does open up the world to your dog.
Rescue Dog
I saw a dog’s adoption picture online and that dog had something in his eyes just spoke to me. He was on there for quite some time, so I contacted the rescue that had him. I asked what his story was and mentioned that spark in his eyes that drew me to him. They wanted me to adopt, but I just didn’t have time for another dog at that time. So they talked me into fostering him. He was in North Carolina about 5 hours one way from here and was living at the vet hospital at the time because he was difficult to find a foster for. Big dog, friendly but very mischievous and no manners. I found out he’d been returned to the rescue after being adopted at least 3 times. Well I understood why the minute I met him! He was a handful because he was big and strong. I worked with him for a few months while we were waiting for an adopter for him. He learned to go in and out of a crate nicely, to wait for food and to not take your fingers off if you fed him a treat. He wasn’t mean, he just lacked impulse control. His leash manners weren’t terrible, but they needed work as well. He learned how to sit and wait at thresholds, come when called and most of all, how to be calm in my house. That was a hard one for him, I spent a lot of time teaching him that the rules in the house are no running around like a wild dog. I was lucky to show him to a potential adopter and she was wonderful with him and isn’t one that is put off by his silliness and she did great correcting him for acting up. So very happy that she got to adopt him!