Over a month ago, I was stopped by a man when I was about to leave a park with my dogs. The man had been watching me playing with the dogs, practising some heelwork and dance moves. He said “Very impressive! Can you help train my daughter’s dogs?” At that time I took it as a polite compliment but gave him my business card just in case. Then, the next day his wife sent me a text message inquiring about my services as a dog trainer. Their dogs didn’t have any serious behavioural issues but the family, except for the husband who had experience in dog training, were having trouble keeping their dogs under control.
Since then, we have been training at their home once a week. This morning we had our fifth session. The older of their two dogs in particular has made a significant improvement in the last one month since our first session.
His name is Tucker. 6 years old. He had never been to classes. When I first met him, he was unable to lie down on cue even with luring. But, within a month, in addition to some behaviours he had already, he has learned: down, hand touch, follow a finger, spin & circle, shake hands, leg weaves & figure 8’s, fetch & drop, peekaboo, paws up on an object, hoop/bar/baton jump, high five, wave, chin rest, food refusal, go around, ring a call bell, stay, bow, and more. No wonder he was a maniac chewer. Despite being so clever, he didn’t have a job.
A month ago he was hard to keep under control. But, now that he gets to work with his family twice or more every day, he is a pleasure for his family to live with, and more importantly he is much happier!!!