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| - Last year we adopted a Border Collie named Kip. Within the first week of him being in our home, he bit at least one person and snapped at several others. Needless to say we were concerned as we have an active home with three teenagers and my grandbaby, who was only 6 months old, is a regular visitor.
We contemplated returning Kip to the rescue group from which we adopted him, but we did not feel right about giving up as, despite the behavior, he did not seem like an aggressive dog. In fact, he was in a submissive position when he bit my daughter and was in a down position when he snapped at the vet.
As Troy Bogden had helped us with Holly, our Chihuahua, several years ago, I decided to give him a call.
Troy is one of the most relaxed, calm, peaceful person I think I have ever met. All the fear and trepidation I felt about our situation melted away after meeting with Troy for Kip's initial evaluation. He agreed Kip was not an aggressive dog, but instead was a "fear" biter. Troy went on to explain, Kip had probably given several warning signs prior prior to biting, but we were not aware or did not notice them. Based on the results of the evaluation, he recommended we sign up for his "Good Dog! Program".
The syllabus for the 'Good Dog! Program" is provided on Troy's website (www.pawstotrainyourdog.com). At a high level the class seems pretty basic and the lifetime membership to the Paws Social Club as well as the lifetime support are nice extras. We also liked the fact we could board Kip with Troy during vacations. I must admit the price of the program seemed high for what we thought would be a typical dog training class. But I promise you this in not your run-of-the-mill dog obedience class. Instead, it is a wonderful and amazing journey into the life of a dog.
Troy uses unique techniques to effectively describe and demonstrate how human behavior directly affects a dog's behavior. For example, would you go up to a stranger on the street rub them on the head and say "you're soooo cute" in a baby voice? No, you probably wouldn't, so what makes you think a dog would like it? I'll give you a hint, they don't. He also provided us with several relatable examples we could share with our teenagers to help them better understand Kip's reactions to their behaviors.
Troy might be calm, but his is also tough. He wants you to get your money's worth and is willing to go the extra mile to make sure all your concerns are addressed. But don't show up for class without your homework done , a handful of excuses, and expect positive results. If you are inconsistent, you will get inconsistent results.
Between the hands-on classes, handouts, and other recommended resources Troy provided us with everything we needed to help Kip, but he also helped us become more insightful humans. On a side note, because of Troy's class I get massages on a regular basis to help be be a better human for my dogs.
It has been about six months since our last hands on class with Troy. How is it going? It is going well. Yes, we have had some minor setbacks, but that is because we failed Kip. When we stray for the concepts taught in class, so does Kip. But thankfully, we always have a lifeline to call if we have a problem or question. And yes, we have called Troy for help. He responded almost immediately and helped get us back on track.
Bottom line, if you are looking for a basic obedience class, go to your local Petsmart. But if you are looking to develop a meaningful, lifelong relationship with your dog, look no further. Troy is the best.
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