This month we want to feature a very special student, a dog who shares the behaviours we see in so many of our clients, and a dog whose person is putting in an incredible amount of diligence and time. This post is in part a dedication to all of our students who struggle with reactivity and come through, in part, on the other side.
Introducing Marni!
Marni is a 2 year old miniature American Shepherd. She comes from a breeder north of Valemont and shares her life with her devoted person in Vancouver.
Marni and her person came to us looking for help with dog-to-dog reactivity, a behaviour we often get the opportunity to work with. It was important that Marni feel safe around other dogs, for her emotional wellbeing, and for both Marni and her person to enjoy the very best of life.
Reactivity training is an on-going process and as Marni’s person puts it: “we’re always working on improving, from the second we leave my apartment to go anywhere.” Their hard work has paid off incredibly, as Marni has progressed from private lessons to be in our summer Rally-Obedience group classes and our weekly Skills N Drills classes, working alongside sometimes 15 other dogs. These classes are helpful to keep Marni in the “social loop” and to build her confidence around other dogs and trust in her person.
A “heart on her sleeve” kind of dog (typical herding breed!!), Marni will do anything for a beef or lamb lung treat. She loves restrained fetch games and playing peek-a-boo. Her retreat is lying under the bed with her legs sticking out!
We are lucky to have Marni in our dog circle and to remind us that the process of training never ends, but rather it is a continuum on a spectrum toward reaching our goals. Keep up the good work Marni!
