Where it Began...

 For as long as I can remember, I always wanted a dog, but not just any dog. I grew up reading fantasy novels with talking animals and dreamed of someday having the same connection with a dog of my own. When our journey began, I would have never known that Luna and I were creating that bond. It was through her that I found the world of dog training, and specifically the joy in both tricks and later, Scentwork. Years later, when she left me I would struggle to find a word to describe the bond that we shared. I never could find it, no word encompasses companion, partner, and a part of your soul.

If it were not for Luna, there would be no QnB, but we would not be the QnB we are today without Stark. A feisty dog with a sketchy past, Stark came to me impulsive, with too much energy, and a drive that even our home could not compete with. He often squabbled with my other dogs, and couldn’t be near them if toys or food was present for their own safety. It was a situation we could manage, but not resolve. This culminated one night in an obedience class when he nipped my leg while heeling. He was frustrated, stressed, and quite clearly telling me that what we were doing wasn’t working.

I felt as so many do when they realize the dog they dreamed of had also become a nightmare. Embarrassed, defeated, out of depth, and isolated I was unsure if I could help this dog. Everything I had learned from Luna, everything I had done before, it did not work for him. Faced with the realization that the only other path was euthanasia, I leaned in to save him. I researched and I searched for new methods, a new way because I knew it had to be out there. Turns out there are many, many dogs that feel overwhelmed by the world, and I was far from alone. As I began to combine the knowledge I had gained and learned to listen to what Stark needed, we changed the trajectory of QnB.  

It was his journey that created the Confident Canine program and bonded our community through shared struggles. Today, he is an amazing partner and instead of training obedience, I became a coach who has helped countless others with their “Stark”. We passed that knowledge onto a whole team that can help even more dogs become confident, optimistic, and learn to make great choices by playing games together. It’s fun, and it WORKS. Not just in class, not just in specific environments, but in life.