Occupation: Clinical Nurse Practitioner, University of Cape Town, Student Wellness Service,
Family: I have one son, named CHARLES
Our Dogs: We have two Golden Retrievers- “Hum-animals”
TAO our male, born 27 April 2005 & BREEZER, our female born 13 December 2005
My Dog Experience, Training and Thinking Story:
I am a nature-, dog – and animal lover, since before I was born!
I grew up with dogs of all kinds. My parents bred Airedales. A close English family friend was an Obedience and Breed judge in the United Kingdom & also judged at CRUFTS. My aunt & uncle bred and showed Irish Terriers. During my years growing up we had the following dogs: Airedales, an Irish Terrier, a beautiful, cross Bulldog-Boxer who had the best features of both breed, an English Cocker Spaniel, a Bull-Dog…
We also homed two strays, an Irish Setter, and a cross ++ Border Collie.
None of these dogs were trained formally / consciously and they were, what was then known as “family pets”.
In later years my own family had Labradors, several of them, and a ‘Mannenberg Special” Rough Collie.
My first interest in training arose some 27 years ago before my son, Charles was born.
I was so impressed with the looks and intelligence of one of our Labradors that I thought “I must take him for training”.
I found a trainer who offered obedience lessons on the Rondebosch Common. We went to a few lessons. I was so convinced (aren’t we all!) that our Yellow Labrador named Jupiter, was just the finest specimen, that I decided to enter him in a Breed competition…quite sure that he would take first prize! He didn’t. I had next to no knowledge of the competitive dog world and this was my first introduction to the “serious doggy-people’s world”.
There came a time in my life when my son was 5 years old, that I was able to acquire, for the first time ever, the kind of breed that I loved.
Enter the Golden Retriever. After some serious searching we collected our puppy when he was just 8 weeks old. Later we acquired a female puppy and subsequently bred with them.
We kept one of the litter, so then we had three…more than a handful!
…and why?…still no conscious – formal training!
Some 13 years later, each of them died, all in the space of 5 months. This left a cold void in our family home.
I agree with Lynda, “dogs are not our whole life, but they certainly do make our lives whole.” J
We decided during many months of mourning our three, that we wanted a second GR family.
After a long search of approximately 14 months we went to collect our 8 week old male puppy whom we named TAO. This time around I was really serious about making the more of our ‘pets’. I discovered the CPDC.
When TAO was 12 weeks old we ventured out to enquire what the CPDC could offer us. He had never left our home grounds; I thought it important that he first have all his ‘shots’. That was almost six years ago now.
As we approached the club from the tennis court side a “huge” dog came rushing at the fence barking furiously at TAO. My little pup was terrified and he tried to reverse and drag me back to the car. I looked at all the people at the other end of the field …and the distance! I nearly turned back thinking ” Oh no, I can’t do this! This is nothing like the little group we had on the common years ago! “
Well, I am so glad we did not turn back. It was the start of learning about what constructive bonding with your dog can yield.
And every day there is still so much to discover.
The puppy training at the club has evolved so much during the past few years, and today, I believe, is an excellent example of sound progress in puppy training methodology.
Some seven months after getting TAO, we collected our female GR whom we named BREEZER.
Needless to say we also trained her at the CPDC.
Oh how I wish I had learned about obedience training and become a trainer, long before my son was born!
So many of the skills used in Dog Training are transferable, for example, positive re-enforcement, identifying & developing drives (passions) and building on strengths, consistent application and much more.
However, it is never ever too late. J
I have trained TAO and BREEZER in obedience through all four levels and classes at CPDC.
Both TAO & BREEZER love Agility, Dog Jumping and Flyball & partake in charity displays from time to time (for the CPDC & the Dog Jumping Fraternity) for educational and fun events.
BREEZER is my soul. She is a one of a kind Golden Retriever, like no other I have known. She is crazy about FLYBALL. She was a member of the winning Flyball team “Raring to Go” at the Cape Town WODAC EXPO 2010.
She holds the FDX & KUSA FLYBALL CHAMPION TITLE, and is the only Golden Retriever in the country to hold this title.
I think this is due to the temperament of GRs and that in general, GRs are not competitively-driven enough to do this sport.
TAO who is very different in temperament, who is more of a ‘typical ‘Golden, has just got the hang of Flyball.
The CPDC has an extensive library which is a valuable resource for members and trainers alike.
My best read thus far is by Susan Garrett’s ”SHAPING SUCCESS”. This book covers everything, from obedience to agility and many areas of problem solving. The author’s acronym, D.A.S.H.
has become a useful reference in my personal journey as a Dog – Human- Handler -Trainer .
I have discovered that nothing comes close to working together with your dog in a sport such as Agility, Dancing, Dog Jumping or Flyball for developing enhanced levels of self- and dog- awareness and bonding.
The more you do with your dog the more you learn and grow together
I am ever grateful to all of the dedicated and talented trainers at CPDC
Who have contributed to my rewarding and valuable Dog-Training-Thinking-Journey.
”The greatness of a nation (and I believe, an individual)
and its moral progress can be can be judged
by the way its animals are treated.”
Mahatma Gandhi
