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About Us
When
I was 15, my first job was working for a veterinarian. I can't tell you
how many times I came home crying after seeing a perfectly healthy dog get
put to sleep because the owner simply didn't want it anymore. Then there
were people that would drop their dog off to be boarded and would never
come back and get them. I just couldn't understand why someone would do
that.
A few years later, when I got married and had my own house, my husband and I went out and got our first dog together. He was an adorable German Shepherd puppy. For me, it was love at first sight. I bought him the best food, tons of toys, and gave him lots of love and attention. As soon as I brought him in the house, the terror began. My adorable little puppy turned into a monster right before my very eyes. Our dog was chewing furniture, barking, pulling electric sockets out of the wall, digging up my rose bushes, and so on.
One day, after coming back from the Dentist, I actually thought someone had broken into our house. He took the bedding and brought it into the living room, got a 10lb bag of cat food out, and opened it all over the carpet. After sifting through the mess, I thought back to my job at the vet clinic. I began to understand why those people gave up on their dogs.
After a month or so, I was at the end of my rope. I was actually considering taking the dog back to the breeder. I had done the research and German Shepherds were supposed to be smart.
I
saw an ad for dog obedience and thought I would give it a try. When I called
and explained everything, the trainer (Carol Lyons) asked me a question.
She said, "You know that's a puppy and not a person, right?" She
hit the nail on the head. I was treating him like a child, and he was confused.
Dogs do not understand "Please" and "Thank You."
There are thousands of dogs put to sleep every year simply because they are confused. The method of training I use leaves no room for confusion. It's simply a correction for doing the wrong thing, and praise for doing the right thing. This is the same method used to train assistance dogs, police dogs, and guide dogs for the blind. Reliability under strong distraction is key for service dogs, and that's what this method creates…reliability. Did you ever see a police officer or a blind person walking around with a fanny pack full of treats? No, because treat training is not reliable. Do service dogs look frightened of their handlers because they have been beaten into submission? No, they are bursting with confidence because they know exactly what they are supposed to do. The praise and correction method is very clear to the dog. I do not believe in abuse of any kind to a dog, or any other animal for that matter.
The training methods I use create a strong bond between the handler and their dog. One of my goals as a trainer is to show the owner what joy an obedient dog can bring to their lives. It makes my heart sing to see a handler leave my class after ten weeks with what they now consider their best friend.
I
have seen many behavioral problems through my classes. Dogs that are overly
friendly, shy & timid, and even aggressive have all benefited from my
classes.
As for the German Shepherd puppy, he is now almost ten years old. Everyone who meets him loves him and wants to know how I got such a good dog. I tell them, "A little hard work with your dog lasts a lifetime."
Once I understood that, he wasn't a person, and he couldn't be bribed, begged, or paid to be good. Our life has been wonderful together. I now have three dogs: two German Shepherds, and a Pit Bull mix. All three are awesome and very rarely need a correction. I truly believe in this method of training. It's training for life, and that's what people are looking for in their companion animals.
-Sonya
Ulrich
Sonya's Good Dog Services, LLC.