Hi Buck. This welcome letter is long overdo. I should have posted this on your blog page when you started the foundation course.
Welcome to the wonderful world of the Koehler method of dog training, Buck. I'm so excited for you and Riley to start on this new adventure!! My name is Mary. I was born, raised and lived in Southern California up until 3 years ago. As a retired couple, my husband and I were looking for a place to live with a slower pace, less congestion and more affordability than California. Through a friend, we discovered this little gem of a city. We absolutely love living in Richfield. It is so beautiful here. We have the valley, the mountains, the sky, wide open spaces and actually experience four seasons, something we did not have living in California. Every day I wake up, I am so thankful to be here.
I met Roxanne Lee at the church we attend shortly after we moved here. She asked if I wanted to go hiking with her. Hiking is something I had not done very often up to that point, but I figured I could handle it so I agreed to go with her. We met up and went up a trail called Kiln-It. It was more like I dragged myself up this not so easy trail. I survived and decided I needed to hike more often to build up stamina. Anyway, on that day I was introduced to her pack who went up the trail with us. I was so impressed at the way they ran off leash, ventured out but came back when Roxanne called them. I appreciated how well trained they were but I had no intention of getting a dog....ever! I thought I'd just enjoy going out with her and her dogs and that would be that.
Then it happened. About 2 1/2 years ago, Roxanne asked if I'd be available to help her with a Puppy Aptitude and Temperament Testing (PATT) on a litter of Mini Aussie doodle pups, a female and 2 males. I told her I'd be happy to help out. I'd get to be around some cute little puppies for awhile then go home. After the test, there was playtime with the puppies. I was drawn to the female, at that time known as "Fat Amy". She was adorable, social, friendly and energetic. That little dog changed my heart. A week later my husband and I brought her home and renamed her Molly. We are so happy we did.
Shortly after we took Molly in, I began the Mannerly Puppy Training course with Roxanne and Jessi (Molly's dam and sire are her dogs) to work Molly through some basic obedience exercises. When we graduated from that course, we moved on to the Dog Obedience 1st Foundation Course. It was a challenge to say the least but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Through the course of the training, a bond of trust was built between Molly and I. Molly knows obedience is an expectation and she has been trained to respond to commands. She is a joy because of her obedience training.,, not a source of frustration as so many untrained dogs can be for their owners. When we visit relatives who have untrained dogs, they are impressed with Molly and turn to their dogs and say, "Why can't you be more like her?"
After the Foundation Course, we moved on to the Retrieve Course that builds on the Foundation Course and deepens the bond of trust between the dog and its owner. Then we went on to PPP (Polish, Precision, Poise) to finesse the skills previously learned with obedience as the firm foundation. With all the training under my belt, I decided to do something I NEVER dreamed I'd do. I entered a few AKC obedience trials last year. I had built up some confidence through the year of working with Roxanne and Jessi, but moreover I had more confidence in the training than in myself!! That's one of Roxanne's mantras, "trust the training." Last year Molly earned her Beginner Novice, Novice, Rally Novice, Intermediate Novice and her CD (Companion Dog). It's also a lot of fun. I'm not in it to win it but to demonstrate how Molly and I work as team.
I hope you get as much out of this training as I did. I have to be honest. There were times I wanted to give up and quit, I got frustrated, I cried, but Roxanne and Jessi helped me work through those times of breakdown. They are not just trainers, but friends who support and encourage with patience. They are also your dog's champions. They help you so you can help your dog. You will also find there is a wonderful "dog community". There will be other people at your lessons who have gone through the training. I'll be a part of that. We are here to help. If you need help with taking a video of one of your lessons or an exam, if you need a distraction or if you just need some encouragement, please let me know.
Once again, WELCOME! Enjoy the ride!! Glad to have you with us!
Molly and the Lee pack
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