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THE HONOR ROLL
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OWNERs OF THE MONTH
Rick and Susan
Rick and Susan are my Owners of the Month and they have absolutely earned it. I first met Rick while I was at Lowe’s training with another client and their dog. He stopped me and told me he was amazed at how well the dog was doing and said he wished his Lab could act like that in public. They had recently gotten a chocolate Lab named Teddy, and he was already giving them quite the run for their money. I gave him my name and contact information, and after a few months went by, I figured I probably wouldn’t hear from him.
Then one day I got a phone call. He said, “Hey, I’m not really sure if I have the right number, but I think I met you at Lowe’s…” As he started explaining the situation, I remembered him right away.
We talked about Teddy, what was going on, and what they wanted to work on, and I met with them two weeks later. Teddy was your typical teenage Labrador. Full of energy, easily bored, not a great recall, and like a bull in a china shop in the house. He was also awful on leash, which meant he was not getting nearly as much exercise as he needed. We quickly got to work on e collar conditioning, place training, recall, and leash walking. After finishing one on one training, Teddy also went through two group classes in a short amount of time.
One of their biggest goals was preparing for an upcoming camping trip. They wanted Teddy to be calm in a small shared space and reliable on recall while out on land with them. And they put in the work to make that happen. That is exactly why Rick and Susan are being recognized. I am so proud of Teddy, but even more than that, I am proud of them. Their consistency, dedication, and willingness to put in the time is what made the difference. I can guide people, teach them, and show them the process, but at the end of the day, the progress happens because of the owners who go home and do the work. Teddy is the dog he is today because Rick and Susan committed to him, and that deserves to be celebrated.
FRESHMAN OF THE MONTH
Clark
Clark, a 4-year-old mini Bernedoodle is new to the ACo pack, but he came in ready to work and picked things up so fast. He especially excelled with place work and really started to understand how to settle and focus. He was a little nervous in the beginning, but it didn’t take long before he came out of his shell and turned into a total social butterfly.
His mom signed him up for E collar class next, and I cannot wait to see how he does as we start working toward more freedom and off leash reliability. He has such a bright future ahead of him and this is just the beginning!
JUNIOR OF THE MONTH
Scarlett
Scarlett is a 1½ year old Golden Retriever Lab mix and the sweetest, most gentle girl. Scarlett is naturally a bit timid and has struggled with some anxiety, especially when it comes to staying confident and consistent in new environments.
She did great in Foundations First, but her dad knew she needed a little extra support to really build that confidence, so he signed her up for my new Be Brave Confidence Builder class… and I am SO glad he did!
Even by her second session, I could already see a huge difference. The biggest thing? Her body language. She walked in with a happy, wagging tail instead of being hesitant and afraid and the best part was it stayed like that the whole session and she never shut down, once!
I am so proud of the progress she’s already made and I cannot wait to see how much more her confidence grows.
SENIOR OF THE MONTH
Sydney
Sydney is a 2-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog and Labrador mix! Sydney and her mom have put in the WORK and have been through quite a few classes together, and let me tell you … the transformation has been incredible!
Every time I see Sydney, I think back to when I first met her. She was super distracted, hard to get engagement from, and pulled like a freight train on leash.
Fast forward to now … she just graduated from OBD 200 Beyond the Basics and absolutely crushed it! We’re talking long duration stays, solid impulse control, and fantastic recalls back to her mom even with distractions and other dogs around!
Now she’s right back in classes and is enrolled in the new CB 101 Be Brave class and is excelling in all the new obstacles!
Not only has Sydney’s confidence grown, but her mom’s confidence has too … and that right there is a double win in my book!
Honor Roll Pups Wanted!
Is your dog top of the class? Whether they’ve mastered their manners, made big training strides, or just consistently show up as a very good dog, we want to celebrate them! Nominate your pup for Honor Roll recognition and let them take their well-earned place among the best of the best.