Recalls

Are you tired of your dog looking at you and then going in the other direction when you call him?  Do you repeat yourself numerous times and he still ignores you?  Learn how to get your dog to come every time you call with our Really Reliable Recall session.  It takes a bit of work on your part but the results are amazing.  Your dog will leave whatever is distracting him and come right to you. Call me today to schedule your session,  your place or mine, at your convenience.

Rescues

Leo arrived last Thursday.  I was surprised when Leo got out of the car I was meeting and was very surprised to see that he wasn't white!  Leo looks like a shepard!  Leo is here because he bit somebody 2 weeks ago and it was suggested he be put down but the owner was given the option of surrendering him to a rescue to work with a behaviorist.  Leo so scared it is pathetic.  I'm sure it was a fear bite and not an aggressive bite.  I am working with him to establish a relationship and he is slowly blossoming.  This morning he actually touched me of his own free will.  Tonight he licked the bowl of hamburg I had on my lap.  He is such a bundle of contradiction.  He wants so badly to come near me but is too afraid and will stand away from me and bark at me.  Her has made tremendous progress in the week that he has been here.  Someone suggested that I keep a journal for the rescue dogs while they are here and I am going to do that.  Think I'll write them from the dog's perspective!

Crate training

Yesterday I got to do one of my favorite things.  I had a crate training session with the cutest boxer.  Coco would go in her crate but when her Mom go home, she was drowning in drool and licking the latches on the crate.  Left out of the crate, she would destroy the house.  So I was called in to help Coco.  In 20 minutes, Coco was able to sit in her crate without licking the latches.  After about 40 minutes, her Mom could walk away from the crate and Coco would remain calm.  I love crate training.  Crates are not punishment for the dog.  Crates keep the dog and your possessions safe.  So if you want to keep your dog safe and have him love his crate, give me a call.

Trial #2

Yesterday a friend and I went down to Milton, near New Paltz, for an obedience trial.  We got there at 11:30 thinking the dogs would go in the ring around 12 noon.  It ended up that the dogs didn't go in the ring until 3:00 by which time Emma needed some Red Bull.  I could not get her ramped up for anything.  There were very few dogs in our class so Emma ended up taking second place.  Unfortunately, my friend's dog didn't like the judge and so didn't qualify.  All in all, it was a good day seeing all kinds of dogs and visiting with friends.

Petapalooza

I've already received my reservation form for Petapalooza at Curtis Lumber.  It is going to be held on June 16 this year.  Last year was a blast but I was unprepared.  This year I am prepared and will be going to Ballston Spa instead of Perth.  Have to get some dynhamite displays ready!!

Business building

I can now accept payment by paypal to make things easier for my clients.  My mind gets boggled when I read all that I need to do for my business.  When I tell my clients "There is more to dog training than sit and down", I am beginning to realize there is more to running my business than teaching dogs to sit and down.  I am willing to do the work because this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
On the other side of my business, 4 dogs got adopted in the past 2 weeks and I have 2 new babies in my kennel.  Tuli is a 2 year old female that was surrendered because she bit a few people--she was doing her job as a guard dog. Unfortunately, people think that if they have had a dog before, they understand all dogs.  Each breed was bred for a specific purpose and you have to do some research into the breed you are getting.  There are numerous websites for each breed that detail the characteristics of that breed, including full-grown size!!  I also have Duke, an 11 month old boy, I don't know his story.  He is a sweetheart and just wants to play.  He is rather skinny so I suspect he was picked up as a stray. 
Emma is going to a trial on March 10, so I have been working with her to get her back in training and ring mode.  It's not a good idea to let her go for a month with no training at all!! 

Herbies Heros

We had a great time at the fundraiser yesterday.  Lucy and Emma made lots of new friends.  It was great to see such a wonderful turn out to help with the medical bills for some very cute boys.  It was so rewarding to see some of the dogs that had been rescued from Kelly's Haven that have been truly rescued and rehabed.  Kudos to the new owners.  The dogs looked and acted like such well adjusted puppies.  Nimee was just the cutest thing ever.  What a great therapy dog she would make.  I even won a raffle and can't wait to get my basket to see what is in it. The baked goods were yummy.   Renee, Elsa and Jen did such a magnificent job at arranging and managing this fundraiser.  Congratulations on a job very well done.