Meet Kersey the Corgi
Article submitted by Deborah of Medford, MA

It is hard to believe I have had Kersey for over a year. I knew I was in trouble and needed professional help when this energetic 10 week old Pembroke Welsh Corgi selected the book in this picture as her first chew toy. I soon discovered Picture Perfect Pets in a Google search. Bette to the rescue. It sounded perfect! There was an opening in the puppy class, it was close to home and the dog trainer must have a sense of humor by including 'YIP' as part of the name.

The Dog Training Challenge:

Puppy class went without a hitch. That cute little ball of fur charmed everyone. My first indication I did not have a star student was in Level 2. The adolescent moment arrived. Kersey continued to learn, but clearly was more interested in playing with and barking at her fellow classmates. From her perspective, I was simply around to provide transportation to and from playtime...oops class. Yes, she was that student that prevented others from doing their best.

Kersey's Dog Training Progress Report:

It was sometime during the 2nd Level 3 class we experienced a breakthrough. (That's right, she repeated a grade. ) Those calming behavior exercises were paying off. She was controlling that urge to bark!

To help me deal with my frustration of feeling as a failure as a doggie parent, Bette suggested I read "When Pigs Fly! Training Success With Impossible Dogs" by Jane Killion. After reading the book, I no longer left each class feeling discouraged and horribly embarassed because I had the unruly pet. I strongly encourage those of you who have an independent, unbiddable dog to consider reading this book. It definately helps to laugh along at the experiences of others who have been there and realize there is hope.

Kersey is an active participant in PAC (the Picture Perfect Pets Alumni Club Drop-In Dog Training Program) and is benefitting from the regular group training events and interaction with other dogs. She still needs constant reminders that not every dog appreciates her enthusiasm or wants to be her playmate. I thank everyone whose dogs have been part of Kersey's growth and continual development. And, Kersey asked me to apologize for all those 'uh-uh' moments.

Dog Training Summary, by Bette Yip, CPDT: Head Instructor at Picture Perfect Pets, serving Arlington and Boston, MA and surrounding communities.

First, my sincere thanks to Deborah for sharing this story about Kersey--I know that many of you reading this will be able to relate! Adolescence can be a challenging period with any dog!

In puppy classes, I routinely explain to students that the reason we take so much care to incorporate all of the steps in training each behavior even if a puppy already seems to "know" a word is that during adolescence, regressions are a fact of life. Sometimes our dog has an Einstein day, and other days are complete "airhead" days. At the first sign of a regression or lack of generalization--I want my students to remember how to GO BACK TO STEP ONE without hesitation! Then we can build back up to where we were at our dog's own pace.

It's important to go back for review on the spot during these regressions! If we wait until tomorrow for review, our dog may be having an Einstein day, and we will have missed the opportunity to review under the stress of the moment. It's also important not to just give up during adolescence. If we simply let our training slide, behavior patterns we don't like can become engrained, making our training challenge more difficult later on. Going back to review as often as needed during adolescence will help you to end up with a reliable adult dog.

I'd also like to second Deborah's recommendation for reading the book: "When Pigs Fly" by Jane Killion. Particularly if you have a dog that is easily distracted or doesn't seem to be easily motivated by food or play rewards, I think your training efforts could really benefit from especially the attention building exercises Killion recommends. Those of you with hounds and terriers, this book is for you! With my own borzoi (Russian wolfhound), Toffee, I sort of stumbled my way into many of the techniques that Killion lays out easily for readers. Where was this book when Toffee was a young monster?! Many students who know the sweet, mild-mannered Toffee Dog of today don't believe me when I tell tales of what a training challenge she was as a young'n.

Sometimes it isn't as easy to learn such training techniques from reading as it is to learn via personal coaching. If you're having trouble with a distractable dog that seems to struggle with standard training techniques, you may consider booking a private session or two for personalized help.

On another note: Deborah mentioned the sense of humor I must have for including the name "YIP" in my business name--alas, Bette Yip truly is my real name! But all the teasing in grade school has finally paid off now that my name seems to be an easy one to remember.