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Q & A with Lisa |
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What made you get into Training? Growing up my family always had pets and we always had at least one or two dogs. So I knew that once I had my own home that I would be a dog owner of at least one dog. When Michael and I were planning on getting our first puppy, first meaning that we would be the primary caregivers, we wanted to do everything correct. So I bought puppy books, read about crate training, house training and training in general. But to make sure that I dedicated the time to training, Michael encouraged me to take a formal training class. Now keep in mind, I grew up with dogs… “I can train a dog” I would say. But he insisted and so off to school Logan and I went. It was the best thing I did, for my sanity and for Logan. I realized that there is a lot to learn about how to train a dog and that training techniques have changed. I took great joy in seeing the connection between Logan and I, and marveled in the whole learning process. When we fostered Spitzer, whom we ended up adopting, he opened the door to behavior modification. Spitzer came to us at 1.5 years old, some behavior issues and a huge lack of trust – mainly due to the number of homes and shelters he had been in in such a short period of time. I read books, watched shows and attended seminars to learn more about the canine mind and how to make an unadoptable dog into an adoptable dog. I continue to learn through reading, watching and attending… and fostering shelter dogs. Each dog that comes to live with us is a case study for me. Trying to figure out their history, understand the reasons they do certain behaviors and then alter them to become desirable ones.
Logan & Spitzer
What keeps you going - don’t you get bored doing the same classes over and over? Teaching and Training never gets boring to me! Though the material is the same, the students and canines are not. The biggest reward for me is when someone comes in either very doubtful of their dogs abilities, and then marvels in their success; or when an owner feels they are at the end of the rope with their dog and ends up having the relationship they always dreamed of. Too many people look at the gaps and differences between the human and canine world and throw up their hands in defeat. I like to focus on the positive differences that we have and learn how to close those gaps, making a bridge for humans and canines to meet on. I have enjoyed so many good things through training, and have seen some wonderful relationships blossom in the classes. That is the ultimate reward! What’s next for you? I know that I will never stop learning. Whether new training techniques, creating new and fun classes or working to understand the canine mind even better - each dog and owner I meet is a new chapter. I am at Senior Status for my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, which I hope to continue my education in Animal Behavior; but like everything…one step at a time! What was your most rewarding foster dog experience? Bailey, an Irish Setter / Chesapeake Bay Retriever mix between 1 – 2 years old. He was a ball of energy and very misunderstood. At the shelter he was deemed dog aggressive and not good with kids. After being at the shelter for six months I decided to bring him home and see what he was all about. Over the weeks I came to the conclusion that he was socially retarded in the area of dogs. He didn’t know how to play with them or how the pack order worked; but once he figured everything out, he was the best dog. Bailey ended up being adopted by a wonderful family with a 5 year old son who renamed him Buddy. They instantly fell in love with Bailey and couldn’t believe he wasn’t already adopted because of his manners and good nature. It was this experience that paved the way of me starting my own Animal Rescue (Middleburg Heights Animal Foundation), so that I could help those misunderstood dogs that end up at shelters and pounds, rather than see them become statistics.
Spitzer, Logan & Bailey
Good Dogs Happen
Once deemed a vicious, dangerous dog - Spitzer is now my dependable, loving demo dog. While volunteering at a local shelter I met Spitzer; a victim of inexperienced owners and shelter stress. We started out by fostering him, to give him a break from the shelter environment, to work on basic obedience and some behavior modification. He ended up being a wonderful companion (a diamond in the rough) so we adopted him. What I came to realize is that he just needed to be understood and taught proper manners. This is what I bring to all my clients: knowledge, experience and understanding.
A few of our
great accomplishments are being Delta Society Pet Partners, visiting mental
health facilities as part of an educational Pet Program, and competing in
Rally-Obedience. In 2007 we did many local Rally-O trails and finished the
year 105th out of 1,152 teams...Nationally!!! Check out Spitzer with his
ribbons.
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