"Don't give up on me, Baby!"

I have a client who's dog was completely and totally out of control. He'd pulled both her shoulders out and they needed to be replaced surgically. She needed to board him whenever visitors came to see her because of his jumping/scratching/barking. He chased the family cats and couldn't be left alone--not even for a moment, or he would destroy anything he could get his paws on.

Did she give up on him? No...she invested in him, his new training regimen, and their new and improved future together.

They took their first walk together (on a loose leash!) today since last summer (when the owner was hurt); and watching them enjoy each other and renew their bond was a priceless experience that I was blessed to help facilitate.

This owner went above and beyond what most would have. Instead of taking him to a shelter or dumping him (as so many people do these days), she did everything in her power to fix him. She'd   made a commitment to her dog---for life, and she takes that commitment seriously. She's following through in a manner in which is inspiring and which I deeply respect. 

Folks, THIS is what it means to be a responsible dog owner.  A dog is not disposable simply because its behavior is out of control.  Proper training and a lifetime commitment can turn that behavior around and enhance the human/dog bond in an amazing way!

Will be posting the incredible before/after video of this dog very soon---stay tuned!

When the family dog attacks... My Friday night case was to be a basic obedience/leash training lesson---what I found was a dog who'd just "snapped" and tried to kill his owner. A must-read for all dog owners.

I was on a very disturbing call Friday night...one that no behaviorist ever wants to discover---the family dog "turning" and viciously attacking a family member.   I'd originally been called in to provide leash training and basic obedience to this formerly wonderful family pet. 

Before my arrival for our first session, the dog unexpectedly, and out of nowhere, launched an attack which was brutal and relentless in nature. The attack was focused on the mother (who was home alone with five small children). The dog literally "snapped" and tried very hard to kill the mom. The family is very shaken, Mom is healing; but praise God, is doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.

The family has agreed to allow me to interview them for an article that I will be publishing soon, highlighting the absolute need for folks to have any dog they bring into the family home, temperament tested and evaluated--and to be sure that where ever they get the dog is a reputable place. These clients learned this lesson the hard way, and are brave and gracious enough to share their difficult story in order to help save someone else.

Please keep this family in your prayers and stay tuned for more of their story... It's one no dog owner (or anyone planning to get a dog), should miss.

 

Welcome to the brand new Canine Ability blog! I'm on a misson to teach dog owners how to bring out the ABILITY in their dogs!

 

Hello!  Welcome to my brand new blog!  My name is Kimberly and I am the owner/trainer at Canine Ability Dog Training.  Canine Ability is dog training....and SO much more! I'm currently offering award-winning training, pack walks, and group training (in middle Tennessee); and seminars, workshops and motivational canine entertainment (nationwide) in order to help dog owners bridge the gap in communication and bring out their dog's true ABILITY! 

I'm in the business of saving and improving canine lives.  With canine homelessness/euthanasia on the rise, I strive to take the cases that other trainers have given up on because I know each of those dogs has innate talents just waiting to be tapped. I am very passionate about my dogs and my clients' dogs; and feel utterly blessed to be given the opportunity to work with each one of my canine clients.

Dogs bless us in so many ways!  They provide unconditional love, compassionate understanding, and never ending support.  On a primal level, they are highly social animals, adhering to an advanced system of hierarchy that is forever changing to fit the needs of the entire pack. Dogs communicate through a very complex system of inaudible, yet highly effective body language that enables the pack to remain stable, effective, and safe.. 

When we bring dogs into our home, we become their "pack."  Thousands of years of domesticating the dog has not eliminated the dog's primal instincts or innate behaviors.  Dogs always have been, and always will be dogs. No matter how much we pamper them, humanize them, or even dress them up---a dog will always remain a dog. 

Dogs act like dogs, think like dogs, and communicate like dogs--this is why the greatest gift we can provide for our canine friends is to learn and communicate with them using their own, innate language. 

Without full comprehension of  canine language, owners often project confusing, or even hostile messages to their dog---and often get upset when this conflict results in the dog's "shutting down" (ignoring commands), or even aggression. 

Bridging this gap in communication can bring out the ABILITY in any dog---setting the stage for a new and effective relationship that is built on trust and mutual understanding. Taking this principal a step farther, we challenge owners to take their relationship with their dog to a whole new level in order to get the most of of the canine/human bond.

This blog will address common dog behavioral issues, provide interesting case studies, helpful tips, and much more!  Have a doggie dilemma?  Email me at: CanineAbility@gmail.com and ask away!  Your question could be the subject of my next post! Take a moment to subscribe to our blog (with the links provided on the right sidebar), so you don't miss any doggone good times!