Highland Canine Training, LLC » Dog Training http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog Tips and Advice on Dog Training and Behavior Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:46:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Benefits of Dog Training in Your Home http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2010/10/29/benefits-of-dog-training-in-your-home/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2010/10/29/benefits-of-dog-training-in-your-home/#comments Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:02:26 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=417 Continue reading →]]> Highland Canine offers both private lessons and in-home dog training for the convenience of keeping your dog at home. Clients that sign up for private lessons meet with our trainers once a week for about an hour. During this hour we put together a game plan for developing more structure in your house and each week our dog trainers teach you a new command and work on certain behaviors that may be disrupting your household. You as a client will be responsible for homework between your lessons! Our in-home dog training programs allow our busy clients the satisfaction of knowing their dog is learning in the pleasure of their own home. Even if the dog owner’s are at work or on vacation! This program works much like a pet-sitter, we schedule times and days to come by and work with your dog one on one. You have the flexibility to observe/participate at each lesson or wait towards the end of the training program to see your results and learn how to maintain your training. Our dog trainers make sure that you have all of the tools and knowledge you need to maintain the training of your dog. As with all of our dog training programs we offer free follow up training for the life of the dog, and we give advice by phone or email anytime!

In-kennel dog training is great, but sometimes we just don’t see the behaviors and behavior problems that you may see at home. This offers you and your family a custom training program to work on these behavioral issues. Examples of problem behaviors include: barking and/or lunging at visitors at the front door, nipping at children when they run around the house, fence fighting with the neighbor’s dogs; chewing up furniture/windows, aggression between multiple pets, leash aggression when walking in public or around your neighborhood, potty training/marking issues, moderate to severe shyness with visitors, digging or destroying the yard. These are just a few of the dog problems we see and work with to help you get your household back on track!

Our professional dog trainer’s here at Highland Canine Training have had extensive training and experience in the areas of problem solving and are prepared to handle any breed. We feel that the majority of problems that arise from dogs in their home environment come from an error or lack of communication from the pet owners. It is our job to assist you and get you and your family in the habit of learning to speak dog!

Another benefit of private lessons is that we are actually teaching you how to train your own dog. These dog training techniques can be applied to your next dog or pet, so the investment can last a lifetime! Highland Canine Training currently has trainers located in cities of North Carolina including; Lake Norman, Lake Wiley, Statesville, Troutman, Huntersville, Mooresville, Matthews, Newton, Conover, Lenoir, Granite Falls, and Lake Hickory. We also have contractors that cover areas in and around Atlanta, Georgia including Marietta and in and around Tampa, Florida. Call us today to set up your free evaluation!

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2010/10/29/benefits-of-dog-training-in-your-home/feed/ 0 So You Want a Standard Poodle? http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2010/01/21/so-you-want-a-standard-poodle/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2010/01/21/so-you-want-a-standard-poodle/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:27:17 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=352 Continue reading →]]> When selecting a dog for you and your family it’s always important to do your research. There are many books and other resources available to help you select the right dog. A lot of people select a dog based on their emotions and this doesn’t always work out because the purchase is reactive and not much thought is put into the amount of responsibility is required to being a dog owner. People also fall into a trap of selecting a dog because it’s cute or it has good confirmation. It is more important the dog is friendly and adaptable to new environments.

I think the most important aspect of dog selecting is being honest with yourself regarding the type of life style you have.

The standard poodle is an old breed whose name comes from the German word pudel, meaning “to splash in waster”. The county of origin is France and was originally used as a water retriever. These dogs made good hunters into the nineteenth century then later became popular companion dogs. Because of their intelligence they often excel in training especially obedience training. The standard poodle is an active breed and requires daily exercise, both physical and mental exercise. The best living environment is suburban or rural living. With this in mind, this is a good breed for you if you enjoy going for walks and have time and desire to train your dog.

Their coat is hypoallergenic and often people who are allergic to dogs may have less of an allergic reaction to a poodle. However, their coat requires maintenance and routine grooming.

An important note when becoming a dog owner…always get the dog from a reputable breeder, understanding the temperament and purpose of particular dog, and make sure your life style is compatible with the dog you select.

Highland Canine Training, LLC is currently training a Standard Poodle for their Autism Program. The Poodle is good with kids, affectionate with family members and friends but can be aloof towards strangers, making her a perfect candidate for the Autistic boy who will receive her in 6 months. Because this Poodle is highly intelligent, we are also able to train her for the specific needs of our customer.

The Autism Assistance Dog program has provided hope for a family that has exhausted all their resources. A family living with an autistic family member, not only has the pressure of everyday living but the added responsibility of routine doctor visits, school visits, other therapy visits, and dealing with a number a specific issues. Our particular customer struggles with anxiety, sleeping, repetitive behaviors, making friends and wondering to name a few. By working closely with this family we will train their dog to meet the specific needs of their child. We just recently received a letter from these customers saying “I cannot even begin to tell you what a pleasure this process has been for us! You have made one of our New Year wishes come true and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

We at Highland Canine Training are grateful to be able to provide a service that will make a difference in someone life. Learn more about our Autism Program by visiting www.autismassistancedog.com.

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2010/01/21/so-you-want-a-standard-poodle/feed/ 0 Alternative Training Methods for High Energy Dogs http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/12/29/alternative-training-methods-for-high-energy-dogs/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/12/29/alternative-training-methods-for-high-energy-dogs/#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:12:23 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/?p=323 Continue reading →]]> Our everyday lives seem to become more busy by the minute, often times this results in our four-legged friends entertaining themselves quite frequently unattended. Its our job as dog trainers to make pet owners understand that dogs are not tearing up our furniture, chewing our gutters off the house, fence fighting with the neighbors dog, lunging and nipping at the end of the leash, or simply flipping over our trashcans out of spite, aggression, or because they miss you. The common answer to that question is sheer boredom!

Dog training obedience is the first step toward gaining structure and control back into your home and lifestyle. However not every dog is satisfied with 30 minutes of training a few times a week or most often I hear the old standby ” having the dog sit or down while I have my snack on the couch and throw them a piece or two! ” Some dogs need a little more interaction and so just need a job to do. The trainers at Highland Canine Training can offer you tips and suggestions for your lifestyle so that you can get more from your dog and your obedience training.

One alternative method of releasing in energy is what we call “Tracking for Fun” with your dog. Now, not every dog or pet owner is cut out for this exercise, we would have to test your dog out during our free evaluation to make sure that both you and the dog are up to speed! Tracking is a great we to get the whole family involved and make your puppy tired. We often times get the older kids in the family to run a short track in the wooded area or the park (some even take walkie talkie’s to make it even more fun) and then the rest of the family can run behind the dog while they are tracking. It’s great exercise for everyone!

Another alternative method is agility courses. This too will require a free evaluation from our trainers to make sure you and your dog are enjoying what you do. Some of our clients go to group classes or have private lessons for agility training or you can make your own agility equipment at home. This again is a fun hobby for the entire family. Some of our more creative clients come up with neat agility courses that they have made out of things lying around the yard or garage.

We often times see pet owners who have bought or ended up with extremely drivey working dog lines in their home, which can be a recipe for disaster if you’re not careful! Protection training is often a good outlet for those high energy dogs. Many people are under the asumption that dogs that do bitework are mean and cannot be socialized or controlled. That is not the case, if your dog has ambition you could simply conduct bitework sessions as a game or sport with very little civil agitation. Dogs can understand when the bite sleeve or suit is out…we get to play. This is a great work out for the dog as well as the handler and lets not forget the decoy. If you do not have access to the equipment we would be happy to provide you with private lessons for protection work.

Herding is another great way to provide your dog with both physical exercise as well as mental stimulation. Herding training is obviously not for every dog and owner, but is often a great way to burn off energy for pastoral breeds. Contrary to popular belief, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds and German Shepherds do not automatically know how to instinctively herd. These and many other dogs will have some natural herding instincts, but do not know how to herd. This activity is something that must be taught and can be learned by dogs both young and old. If you are interested in herding training feel free to call or email us to set up a free herding evaluation.

Tugging can also be a great game to play with your dog to exert mental and physical stimulation. This activity does not illicit aggressive behavior! A dog that is well-rounded and balanced will often find this game both challlenging and fun. The important thing to understand with playing tug is that you always control the game.

Utilizing a backpack during a walk or run can also be a great way of burning some excess energy. Physical exercise is not always enough and we would encourage mental stimulation along with any physical activity. Adding a backpack to your routine can sometimes be enough to tire out your dog.

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/12/29/alternative-training-methods-for-high-energy-dogs/feed/ 0 Can my dog do Rally O? http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/22/can-my-dog-do-rally-o/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/22/can-my-dog-do-rally-o/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:22:57 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/22/can-my-dog-do-rally-o/ Continue reading →]]> We have had many of our clients asking if Rally O is breed specific like for example Shutzhund Training/Trials? The answer is no, absolutely not! We had the pleasure of attending a Rally O trial in Durham, North Carolina over the weekend and there were dogs of all shapes, colors, and sizes; which in my opinion was refreshing to see. The competition included breeds such as the border collie (and border collie mixes), terriers, Retrievers, and your non-specific pounds puppies!

My advice to pet owners who are looking to pick up a hobby with thier dog, is to give Rally O a try. You may have a large breed dog like a Great Dane or St. Bernard, and no you may not be the fastest in the bunch, but look how much fun you could have for simply completing the course w/ little or no error! Obviously, your collie breeds usually rule the trials when it comes to competion obdience and agility, but that is not always true. This weekend we saw a Golden Retriever take top prize and a few Aridale Terriers place well too!

Rally O is perfect for large and small breeds, so don’t let size and shape determine if you pick up this hobby with your four-legged friend. Highland Canine is now offering both group classes and private lessons in both the Charlotte and Statesville,North Carolina areas to prepare you for Rally O events, so don’t hesitate to call our trainers and set up an evaluation to move you in the right direction with your training. Rally O events are held all year round throughout the state of North Carolina so we hope to take you and your dog to the next level and see you there!

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/09/22/can-my-dog-do-rally-o/feed/ 0 What is a Therapy Dog? http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/19/what-is-a-therapy-dog/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/19/what-is-a-therapy-dog/#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:49:40 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/19/what-is-a-therapy-dog/ Continue reading →]]> What is a Therapy Dog?

Therapy dogs function to help people in emotional and physical ways. They do this by using their instincts and social learned skills. Therapy dogs provide affection and comfort to children and adults in mental institutions, hospitals, nursing homes, retirement homes and homes for children with special needs.

Who Benefits From Therapy Dogs?

People with Alzheimer’s disease, learning disabilities, and individuals whose minds wander such as those with ADD/ADHD and dementia can all benefit from interacting with a therapy dog. By providing a focal point to help them focus on the here and now, they can be more productive in any task or activity in which they are involved. Therapy dogs can be used to teach a child’s lesson. Playing with the dog can be a reward for finishing homework or problem solving. The handler and the dog can use retrieving and scent discrimination to help children name colors, add numbers, spell words and work on physical skills.

Maintaining good morale in a facility can be difficult. Therapy dogs change this by causing people to gather and concentrate on the dog. The change in the environment brightens everyone’s day. Life in a facility is routine, which can lead to inactivity, depression and boredom. The routine quickly changes when the Therapy dog and Handler come into the facility by providing social stimulation. People begin to talk with the therapy dog handler, to the therapy dog and amongst themselves. Often people who will not come out of their rooms will venture out to visit with the dog and handler. This social stimulation increases as people get to know the dog and soon they anticipate the visit.

People sometimes lose the ability or desire to speak. Therapy dogs can learn to communicate with people that others can’t reach. This communication from the dog can help a person find a bridge back to speech. Some people in care facilities do not have healthy relationships with family or staff. Others may be uncomfortable with hugging or touching strangers or staff. Therapy dogs enjoy the petting and hugging they receive and encourage it. Their enjoyment makes people want to pet and stroke them which meets the need for physical touch.
Children learn much more from a trained therapy dog than from a dog at home no one has the time to train. Through therapy dogs children learn the best of dog behavior.

Everyone benefits from a well trained therapy dog, including the handler. Working with your dog to provide needed benefits in your community through therapy dog visits will keep you upbeat and in touch with those who need you.

What Breeds Are Best Suited for Therapy Work?

There are dogs from every breed and size serving as therapy dogs. Shepherds, Collies, Great Danes, Mastiffs as well as Poodles, Labs and Boxers. The breed does not matter, temperament does. A therapy dog needs to be stable, reliable and controllable. Chihuahuas, Miniature Pinschers, Pomeranians, Bishons, just to name a few small dogs make excellent therapy dogs that can sit on a lap or on a bed. Terriers, because they are lively, can be used in group homes for children. Their playfulness provides exercise, companionship and lots of fun. Male or female, large or small, purebred or mixed breed, providing the dog is well trained with a good disposition, becoming a therapy dog is achievable.

How Can I Find Out If My Dog Can Be A Therapy Dog?

Before attending a therapy dog class your dog should know how to Sit, Down and Stay. Attending an obedience class will help if your dog does not know these commands. You should have your dog evaluated to determine his/her friendliness to all people, friendliness to other dogs and to determine how you and your dog interact.

Should I buy a Puppy or Adopt An Older Dog For Therapy Work?

An important trait in therapy dog work is defensiveness which begins to emerge around the time of puberty. A dog high in defensiveness may be skittish and panic under stress. This type of dog, even with training, may experience more stress around strangers and strange environments. With the right handler, training, and if the dog has a quick recovery time the dog has a better chance to do therapy work. These things can not be evaluated in a very young puppy. Temperament testing for puppies can help a little, but there is always the possibility that the puppy may not be suited for therapy work. If therapy dog work is a priority, you may consider using an adult dog you already own, or you may consider adopting an adult dog. Adult dogs bond with humans as strongly as puppies do.

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/19/what-is-a-therapy-dog/feed/ 0 The Pursuit..Dog Training as a Career! http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/17/the-pursuitdog-training-as-a-career/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/17/the-pursuitdog-training-as-a-career/#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:11:58 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/17/the-pursuitdog-training-as-a-career/ Continue reading →]]> There is no time like the present to get started on a new career , start your own business, or simply do what you love everyday. Many people adore our four-legged friends and are intersted in pursuing a career in the dog training industry. My advice, is to go for it, there is plenty of business for everyone!

The first step is to decide which area of dog training is most interesting for you; is simply pet dog training (basic obedience and advanced obedience), behavior modification, agility, rally sports, herding, puppy training, therapy dog training, working dogs (police, detection, protection, Search and Rescue). The second area you should work on is deciding how you want to work your schedule or run your business. If you are the person who wants a little more freedom, then private lessons and group classes would be the area to focus on. However if you want the consistency of an everyday schedule, in-kennel training may be a better choice for you as a dog trainer.

Next you should narrow down a few schools that interest you, and go personally visit the site. You can get more out of personal visit than a telephone call; meeting the people you would be working and learning from can help you decide if you are a good fit for that particular school or environment. After a quick visit you can decide how much time you want to put into your career. For example, you could choose a 6 week program or tough it out and sign up for the 12 week program (which will allow you more experience by putting your hands on different breeds of dogs with different behaviors).

At Highland Canine Training we offer teaching for all the above areas of dog training. Students are able to combine classes and learn as much about as many areas of dog training as they can obsorb. Students who are just starting out,often sign up for obedience courses, but are also interested in protection courses; as a student you are able to take the both courses parallel for the length of time you wish to attend (6-12 weeks). Highland Canine also offers custom classes to fit your lifestyle. Many of our students also work full or part-time, have families, layed-off, or simply live out of state; we are able accomadate their schedules to help them earn the certification they are striving for!

Many students ask how they can gain experience after their school is finished and they are building their book of business? The answer is simple, pro-bono work with local shelter and rescue groups is the easiest way to gain experience and give back to your communities and the animals. Now more than ever, family pets are suffering because; people are surrendering their family pets at rescue groups or pounds because they are moving (leaving animals behind), have no time for the dog, or simply don’t like the dogs and will not take the time to place them in a proper home or work on fixing behaivor issues. Rescue groups will return the favor and referr business to you so everyone wins!

Finally, many people want to become dog trainer’s so they don’t have to work with people. That is not the case, the wonderful dogs usually belong to people and you must be able to communicate effectively with the owners to first off, diagnose the problem (if any), then teach dog owner’s how to work with their dogs! At Highland Canine Training we involve our students in the initial drop off of client dogs, what questions to ask the oweners, how to perform at both private lessons and group class settings, and how to teach the pet owner’s to work with their dogs and complete the “Go Home.”

If you think becoming a dog trainer may be in your near future, please give us a call or better yet stop by for a visit ,and we would be happy to introduce you to the wonderful world of dogs!

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/17/the-pursuitdog-training-as-a-career/feed/ 0 Becoming A Dog Trainer http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/05/becoming-a-dog-trainer/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/05/becoming-a-dog-trainer/#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:25:14 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/05/becoming-a-dog-trainer/ Continue reading →]]> Ten months ago Highland Canine Training, LLC gave me an opportunity to try my hand at dog training. With little experience in dog training (training my German Shepherd and a rescue dog with obedience), Jason and Erin taught me and continues to teach me the ins and outs of dog training. Every day I learn something new whether it’s a different way to train dogs; a tract of a specific dog breed; understanding dog behavior; running a business; customer service; puppy development; sheering sheep (Yes, that’s right – sheering sheep), and the list goes on. It has been a great place to learn about something I love and then putting it to practice.

Highland Canine Training, LLC is also a great place for people who want a career in dog training or just want to learn more. The Dog Trainer School offers courses in Obedience and Behavior Modification, and Working Dog Programs. This is the place to get a lot of hands on experience. There is classroom lectures and instruction but the majority of the time you are handling dogs. Our Training Director, Jason Purgason, is a very good teacher and instructor. His lectures are detailed, clear and practical. Also he enjoys teaching and engaging with students. One of the philosophies of the school “is the more dogs you put your hands on the better dog trainer you will become”. Students get that opportunity here to handle all kinds of dogs and the more successful students are the students that are motivated to do just that. Here are the TOP TEN reason I think you should attend Highland Canine Training, LLC:

10. Wonderful Learning Environment

9. 70 % Hands on experience

8. Affordable Rates

7. Experienced Trainers

6. Small Class Sizes

5. Opportunity to work with different types of Dogs

4. Customized training needs

3. Opportunity to attend group classes and private lessons

2. No Cleaning Kennels

1. Learn Everything to Jump Start your Dog Training Career!!

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/05/becoming-a-dog-trainer/feed/ 0 Up-coming Dog Training Group Classes for 2009 http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/05/up-coming-dog-training-group-classes-for-2009/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/05/up-coming-dog-training-group-classes-for-2009/#comments Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:15:09 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/05/up-coming-dog-training-group-classes-for-2009/ Continue reading →]]> Matthews, NC
Therapy Dog Class Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Basic Obedience Class Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Advanced Obedience Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Agility for Fun Friday, August 28, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

Mooresville, NC
S.T.A.R Puppy Class Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 11:30 a.m.
Agility Class Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 12:45 p.m.
Dog Tricks Class Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.
Therapy Dog Class Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 3:15 p.m.

Statesville, NC
S.T.A.R Puppy Class Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.
Basic Obedience Class Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/08/05/up-coming-dog-training-group-classes-for-2009/feed/ 0 Success Program of Shelter dog http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/07/23/success-program-of-shelter-dog/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/07/23/success-program-of-shelter-dog/#comments Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:14:36 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/07/23/success-program-of-shelter-dog/ Continue reading →]]> Highland Canine Training and Forever Home Canine Rescue, teamed up through our Second Chance Program for Shelter/Rescue dogs and found Scout a forever loving home!

Scout is a beautiful full blooded black lab that had issues with manners and mild dog aggression. Scout was rescued by Kelly Ratcliff who volunteers with Forever Home Canine Rescue to find Scout a new home. Kelly worked on basic obedience for Scout and then followed up with an in-kennel stay here at Highland Canine Training to work on the dog aggression issues. Scout made tremendous progress and his new owners are doing a great job maintaining his training and exposing him to new things gradually to keep control of the aggression issues. Here is what Scout’s new family had to say about him!

He is such a great dog! He has just melted right into our family. He is house trained, sleeps all night on his bed. He’s wonderful with my son and the kids in the neighborhood. And we couldn’t believe how fast he is! We took him to Fisher Farm in Davidson, there is about 5 acres of open field there. He can flat out fly after a tennis ball!
He heels off leash with me now (in controlled environment only for now), sits, stays, goes to his place when told, still loves to shake paw. We’ve taught him to sit and wait for the ‘ok’ command before eating, getting into the car or going in/out of the house. We found that he was just so excited that he often knocked into our son but he got the command after the first day of training.
He goes to work with me everyday and has a bed in my office. He is doing great with the socialization training. Rarely now do I have to leash correct him, he seems to respond better to verbal commands now. When he gets “that look” we give him his verbal cue, he relaxes and we praise him for relaxing. Afterwards he seems to be ok. It’s almost like he’s just really insecure and needs to be told that other dogs are ok (after he’s correct for the inappropriate response).
Anyway,,,, probably more than you wanted to know but we are just so happy with him. What a GREAT dog he is!
I’ll attach a couple pictures for you guys.
Thanks again for taking care of him all that time so he could get to us.
-Aimee

We are so excited to hear about the great outcomes of our Second Chance Program through the hard work of our Shelter/Rescue groups…Keep up the good work guys!

]]> http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/07/23/success-program-of-shelter-dog/feed/ 0 The Story of Edgar Sawtelle http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/07/12/the-story-of-edgar-sawtelle/ http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/07/12/the-story-of-edgar-sawtelle/#comments Sun, 12 Jul 2009 14:54:13 +0000 admin http://www.highlandcanine.com/blog/2009/07/12/the-story-of-edgar-sawtelle/ Continue reading →]]> I just finished a great read titled ” The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” by David Wroblewski and I just wanted to share my thoughts with you. The story is based on a family in the 1950′s who bred a new breed of dog for generations on a farm in Northern Wisconsin. The story is not entirely centered around dog training/breeding, this story of fiction will have you captivated and thinking about the Sawtelle’s for days after you finish the read.

This story touched me more so, simply because we have our kennels here at our home, their everyday chores, and their dedication to training and raising dogs is amazing. I highly recommend this read even if your not a total dog lover!

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