After Addie’s second litter of puppies went home, it was time to get serious about training the dogs.
My girls are generally well behaved until it comes to walking on a leash. Being labs, they always stay close when off leash…but walking on one is a different story…
They want to sniff everything, carry the leash in their mouths and pull you wherever they want to go.
Addie especially loves walking down certain roads – so much that it feels like you’re being pulled by a sled dog on the way to them.
There was never a way to walk them together….so trying to get their exercise in became really time consuming.
We found To The Rescue K9 Training, a local company whose dog training programs seemed promising. The team appeared to have worked with a variety of different dog breeds, all who had differing training needs.
When Addie was a puppy, we had worked with a few different trainers (both one-on-one sessions and classroom style), but didn’t really see the results we were looking for.
I could get the girls to listen if I carried string cheese at all times, but I wanted to trust that they would listen even without the motivation of food. I wanted them to listen because they knew it was what they’re supposed to do.
So the training began.
We started working with Ken and Chris at To The Rescue K9 Training and saw results immediately after our first lesson.
I started with Ivy, who I thought would be the easy one…
Her rambunctious, puppy demeanor actually led her to be the more challenging of the two.
She would listen only when she wanted to, and was inconsistent when it came to following my instructions. She would freak out around strangers and go after every squirrel she saw…wait until you see the video below, you’ll see what I mean…
Addie on the other hand was a bit calmer, but definitely more stubborn. Although she’s only 3, she’s already getting set in her ways.
She has an obsession with carrying things in her mouth, and would always want to carry a stick or ball if she couldn’t carry the leash. She’s a strong girl and was always eager to be first when on our walks.
Since training has began, she’s been a completely different dog. She still tries to walk a little in front of me, but has quickly learned that walking next to me is what we’re trying to accomplish.
They both automatically sit when I stop and listen really well when cars are passing us.
It’s almost hard to believe these are the same dogs I started training with – and since the puppies are still only a few months old…we’ve made a lot of progress in a short amount of time.
Ivy has made such amazing progress since the beginning of her training, and really enjoys all the time we spend together on our walks now. No matter what pace we are going at, she will heel right next to me and is learning that her focus can only be on me. She’s actually been doing so well, that she’s helped teach Addie how to behave while walking.
Hard to believe when this is how we started…
We’re finally at the point where I can walk two dogs at one time – something I never thought would be possible.
Actually, we’ve made it to the point where the girls are leash-less on their walks home. We still have a ways to go before I can do this in a public setting, but they’re making progress so quickly it’s amazing.
You don’t realize how important it is to train your dog until you start and recognize the potential in them. As you all know, my girls mean a lot to me. We spend constant time together and I have so much love for them.
Now that they’re listening and behaving as I’ve always wanted them to, I love them even more and want to keep pushing them to be the best they can be.
Training is not a one time thing – it’s taken a lot of practice and time to get where we are…and we’re no where near perfect. It’s not only important for your sanity, but it creates a safer environment for your dogs and is helpful for a variety of social situations, for them and you.
Finding the right type of trainer to fit your individual dog’s needs is SO important too.
We cannot recommend To The Rescue K9 Training enough for all of their time and the dedication they’ve put into my girls. If you’re local – I wouldn’t trust anyone else to help you get the results your looking for!
If you’re not local to the area, you can follow Ken and To The Rescue K9 Training on Patreon for dog training tips, podcasts, videos and more.
I would strongly suggest really researching any company in your area, their training style and most importantly the client’s reviews before choosing a trainer for your dog. Usually your vet will have suggestions as well on who they trust and are reputable. Lots of people can say they’re “dog trainers”, and we’ve unfortunately heard many stories of people loosing money and being scammed for services that were not conducted.
Make sure you really spend the time to explore all options to find what’s best for you and your furry friend! In the MA/RI area, we cannot recommend To The Rescue K9 Training enough.
Today’s Lesson: patience and persistence are essential when it comes to training your dog. It’s taken a lot of practice to get the girls to behave how they are, and by no means are they “fully trained” but I would say we’re at about 80%. Our consistent practice and clear instructions on what I want them to do has made the biggest difference. Not only am I happier taking them for walks (cause they’re actually relaxing for once), but you can see they’re happier too.
Check them out here for all the info:
- Website: www.totherescuek9.com/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/totherescuek9/
- Patreon: www.patreon.com/kenbrady/
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