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INTRODUCTION From "The Night Before Christmas At the Shelter" Author Unknown "Once we were little, then we grew and we grew now we're no longer young, and we're no longer new. So out the back door we were thrown like trash they reacted so quickly, why were they so rash?
We "jump on the children," "don't come when they call", we "bark when they leave us," "climb over the wall." We should have been neutered, we should have been spayed, Now we suffer the consequence of the errors they made.
If only they'd trained us, if only we knew we'd have done what they asked us and worshipped them too. We were left in the back yard or worse - left to roam Now we're tired and lonely and out of a home. They dropped us off here and they kissed us good-bye "Maybe someone else will give you a try." Everyday, nation-wide, hundreds of unwanted dogs are given up -- the lucky ones to new owners, or to no-kill humane societies, the less fortunate surrendered to shelters or just abandoned on a road somewhere, easy prey for bunchers, or cars. Many of these dogs were taken in as small, wiggling, tongue-licking, tail-wagging, irresistible, balls of fluff. Each one had all the potential for becoming a companion dog, in the truest sense of the word. But these unfortunate dogs and their owners were cheated out of the wonderfully rewarding relationship that comes when human and dogs live together in harmony. This site offers an approach to raising and training a canine companion that is both holistic and realistic. The ideas and suggestions presented here have been compiled from a wide variety of sources over more than four decades by a junior handler turned adult exhibitor in obedience and agility, with a smattering of breed ring, tracking, protection work, and search & rescue experience tossed in for fun. Having worked as a quickly disillusioned, short-termed instructor for certain well-known 'POP' trainers, I started to teach owners how to communicate with their dogs in a way that would fulfill both the animal's and their own needs. I hoped that education would help to reduce the number of dogs that were being abandoned, recycled, or destroyed because they were out of control. After losing several beloved dogs at unacceptably early ages, I began to study the role of nutrition in the health of our dogs. This led to what has now been a thirteen year study of classical homeopathy and other forms of alternative medicine. Increasingly, I began to look at the whole picture behind behavior -- nutrition, genetics, environment, health -- you name it. Everything we touch impacts us in some way. My goals in breeding my Shepherds and Shelties is to bring to the breed genepools specimens of the respective breeds that are totally sound in body, mind, and soul. My dogs are raised holistically, fed a raw diet with appropriate supplementations, and homeopathic nosodes are used in lieu of vaccinations. More complete information on my breeding program is contained somewhere else on this site. The age-and-background-appropriate training tips on this site are geared primarily to pet dogs of all breeds, although some of the pros and exhibitors may find solutions to certain problem behaviors as well. The information contained here is not meant to replace in-person instruction with an experienced and qualified behaviorist/trainer. Before you start any behavior modification of your dog, please have a veterinarian certify the dog's general health and physical well-being.
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