From Scary to Sweet

The Dog that started it all---Phoenix

Dog training started for me six years ago when I discovered clicker training. Before that time I had always had dogs and trained them in a haphazard hopeful way because I dislike hurting my dogs, I loved them and didn't want to use a choke chain, besides that kind of training is boring so I didn't give it much thought.

My change came as change frequently does, with a crisis. I helped the local humane society by fostering a dog rescued from horrible conditions of neglect. We bonded while he was weak and recovering from starvation when he got his strength back he turned into the dog from hell! To everybody but me, to me he was a devoted angel. He knew who had rescued him and he gave me his heart and soul.

I couldn't abandon him but he was a law suit waiting to happen. He bit my Dad and had the chilling habit of attacking when you had turned your back to leave. Through constant vigilence and warning I kept everyone safe but didn't know what to do so I did what I frequently do when I'm in a quandry I went online to see what I could find and thankfully it was this--Karen Pryor's clickertraining.com.

It was a long,slow process but my sweet Phoenix turned into the dog he was meant to be, underneath all that noise and teeth was a frightened animal that felt he could trust no one. He ended up a therapy dog for Hospice! I ended up in love with dog training all it's possibilities and the wonderful side effect it has of deepening the relationship you have with whatever animal you are training.