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| (From left to right) Ursa, Robert, Leon |
The dog that has helped out the most years, has been Leon. He was purchased from a breeder for his position as demo dog and competition dog. His ACL tears in his knees have knocked out competition for him, but Leon has been my demo dog since puppy hood. In Worcester Mass, he used to travel from lesson to lesson, when we used to need to be on the road all the time. Hence my car is where he instantly sleeps and relaxes. It was kind of like his puppy crate when he was young, bringing him from one adventure to the next. The very first aggressive dog Leon helped with was Ursa, a Great Pyrenees in Paxton Mass, who was going to be euthanized. Because the previous trainer could not get through to her through food alone and was also the animal control officer in the area (no bite history by the way, so I hesitate to call Ursa a truly aggressive dog), it was recommended that Ursa be put to sleep.
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| Ruby and Leon |
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| Boomer and Leon |
Leon can charm the birds out of the trees, and later on when Ursa came to board here in ME, they were very good friends. Ursa was trained in 2003 or 2004, and we moved here in 2005. Our customers with dogs of unusual temperaments would bring their dogs here to board, even though we had moved so far away. Since then, Ursa has moved with her family to PA, and is an old lady enjoying her golden years with her family. Ursa was also my first "aggressive" dog client outside of the shelter system.
Leon has since helped with many aggressive dogs since. He gives me the cues on when and if he is ready to meet them. Leon's instincts are very reliable, as well as his training for these situations.
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| Leon and Devon |
Leon's strengths are his playfulness and friendliness. However, that does not mean that he can't be aloof and directional to a new dog. Once the relationship rules have started, that is when Leon loosens up and allows the play and games to continue. Until then, he expects good behavior and is a model for the dog that is participating with us in training.
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| Leon and Cerber |
Leon has spent his whole life not only as our beloved family pet, but as my business partner. It was a luxury to be able to begin from puppy hood with him, instead of after his adulthood or adolescence had begun.
I am also able to demonstrate with Leon, and have experience in, working with dogs that have a physical problem of some sort. My time at Doberman Rescue was also spent time working with dogs with all sorts of physical problems, which gave me some insight of how to train Leon. I have Leon do an auto stand while heeling instead of an auto sit. It's too bad that I can't find a venue that would allow me to compete with him having this modification to a command. However, Leon and I enjoy training together anyway, and he is an excellent example of what can be done with one's dog.
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| Jazz and I |
Next in years of service came Jazz. Jazz was actually here way before Leon. Leon came to us when Jazz was 11, and we were not operating training or a daycare service out of our tiny Worcester Mass home. Through most of Jazz's life, I knew very little about training. Jazz came to us well mannered and trained at 3 years old from a breeder, who did not want to breed her anymore.
Since Jazzabelle did have the manners of a lady and a fair disciplinarian, she has been good role model to many other dogs that have come here unbalanced. Up until the day before she died, she was also a beloved resource in daycare that enjoyed playing with the other dogs. When Jackie CD came to live with us, it was Jazz who regularly stayed on top of him, and made sure he did not overstep his boundaries. Jackie CD respected and loved Jazz, as did Leon. Often our female canine clients would follow her around and cuddle with her.
Jazz was a calming, peaceful influence on all dogs. I can't think of a single canine that did not adore and respect Jazz. Jazz left us in her sleep on the morning of 12/31/2008. She played with daycare the morning before, and was 16 at that time.
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| Wackie Jackie CD with his mail Packie |
Wackie Jackie CD came to us three months after we moved to Maine. He was meant to be a foster dog to fill in the time while I was getting my business up and running here. He had kennelling issues at Doberman Rescue. This usually means that a dog is so unhappy in a situation, they are in danger of not doing well or showing well to an adopter.
Jackie CD was filled with too much energy. He already had three surgeries to take out foreign objects in his stomach (before we adopted him). He possessed zero manners. He peed everywhere for any reason (excitement, submission, just cause he had to). It was readily apparent when he first came here that he was also loyal, loving, and smart as a whip. So in six months, as my birthday present, Jackie CD became our dog.
Jackie CD was part of daycare in certain configurations. He did not love all dogs. In fact, it became quite apparent that there were some dogs that he could not stand for very long. Jackie CD became my demo dog and competition dog. He was a very good example of what could be done with a behaviorally challenged, potentially dog aggressive dog. Jackie CD gave many customers hope for their own dogs, and was beloved by many people.
Jackie CD succumbed to an internal intestinal or stomach problem on 12/24/2009. For all the issues that Jackie came with, he was well worth the trouble. We miss our handsome exuberant big guy.
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| Big Guy Neptune and Me |
Neptune died many years ago at age 9 (I believe in 2003 12/21). He was purchased from Doberman Rescue about one year after we got Jazzabelle. Neptune acted very dog aggressive when we first adopted him. Although he never helped out in the training business, he is the dog that got me interested in training and how it can help modify behavior. Neppy had a great life filled with adventures and vacations with us due to the training that we learned about. He succumbed to his heart condition at age 9, but I know he loved his life and his family (and the dog friends he was able to make). Had I not worked with him, I don't know that I have become convinced that life changes could have been made for so many families with their dogs.
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| B is for Boris |
Our newest team member is Boris. Although he is still young and in training, he has been a help with many of our newest clients posing as the tempting distraction. Also he and Leon can play yet stay away from a training dog to be a distraction. Recently, they helped me with a client and her German Shepherd female puppy, Zoey, to become more comfortable with off leash control of their dog on Short Sands beach.
Like our Leon, he has a physical disability with only three legs. This also helps me to relate and develop ways to train other mobility challenged dogs and their owners. I did find that we actually can NOT compete in the AKC, as they consider an amputee to be lame (Boris = Lame NOT!!) So Boris will need to compete in the UKC instead.
Many of my clients' dogs become helpers due to their continued boarding and daycare with me as well. Both the well balanced and formerly unbalanced dogs greet newcomers with compassion and understanding. The dogs here learn to tolerate other canines that have learned to socialize and communicate in unfamiliar (or very familiar) ways.
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| Bridget CD |
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| Brujo |
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| Roxy and Harley |
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| Logan and Hannah |
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| Gigi |
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| Katie and Hannah Again |
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| Manny or Minnie Man |
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| Magoo CD |
So they say it takes a village to raise a child. Apparently canines also benefit from a pack or a team that are ready and willing to help. Thank you to all my canine helpers. My dogs past and present are the loves of my life, and also have each brought very special gifts to the mix!
