Why a new blog and what brought me to this point in my life

Today I have decided to create a new blog about my experiences, concerns, trials, tribulations, and general dog training information that I encounter.  This stems from my realization that I cannot walk away from training as easily as I thought I could at the beginning of the year. I have decided that I will continue on training even after I get my new degree. I have also decided to create a new blog about training after I have been mulling over information I gathered from a wonderful training conference I was able to attend earlier this year.

One thing that stuck in my mind from this conference was write everything down. I have failed this in the past. I wish I had a journal, notebook, or something that I kept when dealing with Pyrate's antisocial problems. I remember the dog I adopted and the problem he became after a certain incident. Now he's getting back to the dog I originally adopted. I have nothing to look back at to see the turning point or to show to new people that this amazing pup was a real troublemaker.

I became interested in dog training almost 6 years ago when I adopted a breed of dog I knew nothing about. I quickly learned the problems I faced. Everything from potty training (breed standard 1.5 years if you're lucky), running away, jumping (6 ft in the air), biting, digging. Now I know this was mostly typically puppy behavior, but the more I researched the breed I just adopted, the more I realized how much work would be involved. I quickly started calling all the local trainers and found one that matched my needs perfectly. I will say this was back in the time when positive reinforcement was something that was scoffed at and was barely used. It took some search to finally find a place that practiced positive reinforcement and would allow a dog without a rabies vaccination at his age in (see he had to start the puppy series over again since he was a stray). He quickly excelled and proved to everyone how smart this breed is. It was years later that I actually became a dog trainer after a friend showed me the fun tricks I could do with my dog (we taught him everything from target to riding a skateboard).

My love of training actually occurred before then. It happened back when I was 16 and volunteering at the zoo. I was able to help out in enrichment activities and observe several training sessions.  This continued on when I went to the Smithsonian National Zoo (shortly after adopting Pyrate) and did an internship working with birds. Two of us were put in charge of creating a training and enrichment program for a problem bird named Romeo. I fell in love with training at that point. I was able to go into the cheetah area while I was working there and do training with the cheetah's as well. That summer was the start of my love and it took a few years later for me to even think about transitioning into dog training. It wasn't a hard transition, but it was one that never occurred to me before the day I started my tricks class.

I love watching as others realize that their dogs can be as well behaved as mine. I love sharing with other pet parents my trials and tribulations and them sharing theirs with me. It's an amazing feeling helping those who need it the most, the ones who are at their wits ends realize that they can have an amazing dog. That is the reason I have created this new blog. In hopes that others will join me in the trials and tribulations of myself and the owners around me and also in hopes of bringing information to others who may be struggling with their own pet.