When Remy joined our group classes, he had issues which are very typical for a young energetic male dog that he was.
He was pulling on the leash.
He was getting overly exuberant in the presence of other dogs.
He was showing a metaphorical middle finger to his owner every time they were outside, preferring the rest of the world to his person.
On top of it all, Remy is a very big boy, and his owner is rather petite.
In many cases, such a combination—a petite owner and a large dog—can lead to a person giving up on keeping their dog under control and, eventually, keeping them forever in a halter. Remy’s owner, however, is nothing like those many cases.
To be clear, things were not easy for these two. They started in our Intermediate group right away, because they had taken a beginner’s level class somewhere else. Due to the differences between the programs, Remy and his owner had to catch up on quite a few things, and there was most certainly a lot of hard work that went into it. There were times when I could tell they really struggled.
But then they finished the course, went a level up to the Advanced group, and this Remy was nothing like the one who first showed up at our facility six weeks prior. This Remy was confident and happy, and wanted nothing more than to work with his person. He put all his young energy and all his big heart into it, giving his owner powerful recalls, flashy transitions, and beautiful, focused heeling.
Remy is still training with us—his owner is preparing him for CKC Obedience trials. There are very few people as dedicated to their dog’s success as Remy’s handler, and I am confident they will achieve their goals.
We might be good as trainers, but when people like Remy’s owner show up, we feel very lucky. Cannot wait to brag about the first training titles this team will undoubtedly get!