Well January is supposed to be a quiet time so I made arrangements to return to my old “hunting grounds” in Saratoga Springs, NY and conduct a three day intensive canine workshop at a friend’s facility…

Luckily, the weather held out and after dropping Owen, the GSP home with his owners in DC, I sped Up North on a sunny day!

The facility in New York sits on the Hudson River and is a huge factory building with LOTS of floor space for dog games. Tom Davis, my host had all kinds of interesting clients lined up, from a Bloodhound to an Australian Terrier. The issues were diverse and challenging with some fear-aggression, a huge prey drive and some simple “tuning out” on the menu!!

I approached the first day with some trepidation as one never knows what situations will pop up but we quickly got in the “zone” and everyone learned something new and all the dogs tuned in to the work and gained some understanding about how to negotiate the Human World.

I am so lucky to have a career where I am always challenged and so often rewarded. I was reflecting on the nature of this interaction while I drove back to West Virginia and new clients here in Lewisburg. We started an entirely fresh group of obedience students at the Fairgrounds and of course, all the Xmas puppies!! New dogs and new friends…

It seems that every new dog that I have the pleasure to meet, brings another facet of this dog-human exchange to light. The Mastiffs and the Shitzu’s, the Shepherds and the Huskies – all of these amazing and unique beings bring new information to the equation and although I may teach the same information again and again, the dance is different every time…

As we work on through the next couple of frigid months, wearing ski pants and woolen hats, watching some of our dogs see snow for the first time and enjoying that feeling of coming into a nice cozy house after being out in the wind, remember that you can teach your dog some stuff inside the house too!! Try to work on a really good “down” or a “high five” right in front of the fire!!

Teach your dog to pick up his toys or bring you your paper! The journey shouldn’t have to end because the temperature is plummeting…or you can always join us at the nice, heated building at the Fairgrounds where the quest for the perfect relationship with your dog continues!!

– Janine Lazarus, LBSPY #74. February 2016.

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