About Stephanie
After our 5th consultation meeting in 2 days, we had run out of potential dog trainers and I had started thinking that fixing my puppy’s severe separation anxiety might be impossible.
“She might get better with a couple years of training.”
“We can start with 4 sessions a month, and then hopefully taper down over time if she improves. We can't guarantee anything though.”
“Since she's deaf there's really not a lot we can do for her unfortunately. Maybe one of you can work from home so you don't have to leave her alone?”
MY DOG ELLIE HAD ME COMPLETELY STUMPED.
Never in my life had I EVER thought about giving up a pet, but dealing with a deaf pitbull puppy who couldn't be left alone without howling and panic pooping everywhere was about to ruin my social life, my sanity and my shiny new marriage.
This wasn't even my first rodeo! I'd grown up acquiring unwanted pets of my classmates, volunteering with dogs at animal shelters, catching and reuniting lost dogs I found with their owners - I even worked as a dog walker during college! But it became quickly apparent that all my experience with teaching and rewarding dogs to do something wasn't going to cut it with stopping this bewildering behavior. No amount of love, patience, training, or treats could make a dent in her separation anxiety.
LUCKILY I WASN'T ALONE, AND I LEARNED THAT ELLIE WAS FAR FROM BEING A HOPELESS CASE.
I spent hundreds of hours learning about balanced training. I learned how to use different training tools and methods to help Ellie learn what I wanted her to do AND what I wanted her not to do. I attended a weekend dog training seminar with Jeff Gellman of Solid K9 Training. I spent every spare minute I had trial-and-erroring my way through this new-to-me style of training.
WITHIN WEEKS, MY DEAF DOG WITH SEVERE SEPARATION ANXIETY WAS BETTER BEHAVED THAN MOST HEARING DOGS I KNEW.
She was calm in the crate. She heeled like a dream. She could even go outside and play off-leash! Now that I knew what was possible, I just couldn't stop there. I started training the dogs of my family & friends, helping them with issues like leash reactivity, resource guarding, intense fear reactions, and so much more. I studied under some great balanced trainers like Sean O'Shea of The Good Dog and Victoria Smith of Take the Lead K9. Before I knew it, New Tricks Dog Training was born!
