Jamie Calls Me for Work

On May 29, Jamie called and asked if I could work on Tuesday. My wife reluctantly said I probably could. When I arrived on Tuesday morning, Jamie said thank you. He explained that Tom had been involved in an auto accident on his way home Saturday and would be unavailable for several months. He said the fellow he had hired was in the barn and getting to know the dogs.

Jamie called to Wes to come out and meet me. Wes came to the door and said that two dogs were loose and he needed help. Jamie and I moved quickly and had both dogs contained without problems developing. When we looked for Wes, we could not find him. Jamie said his bicycle was gone as well as the Schnauzer.

Jamie said for me to stay with the dogs and he would go after Wes and the dog.

An hour later, Jamie returned with sheriff Carl and showed him where the Schnauzer was missing. As they were talking, I noticed the Schnauzer coming around the house with a chain attached to the collar. I called Jamie and Carl and moved toward the dog. By the time Jamie and Carl came out of the barn, I had the dog under control. I showed this to them and said that end of the chain was broken and we may find where he had been. Carl told us to stay here and he would take the dog and chain with him and have one of his deputies back trace the dog.

After Carl left, Jamie and I talked and Jamie said he was embarrassed that he had been taken so badly. I told Jamie that he was fortunate that is was not later when more trust may have been established and he took you for more dogs when you went to town for dog food. I then asked Jamie if he had been paid in full for the Saint Bernard. Jamie said that was one reason he had hired the fellow as he had paid him in full. I asked if he still had the money and he said he had planned to deposit it later today. I said you should have Carl check it when he comes back.

I could see that Jamie was now very upset and when he spoke, I could tell he was, as he asked what else could go wrong today. I said let's exercise the dogs and let them blow off some steam. Jamie said to do that and he went to the house. Shortly, Jamie came out and said he was going to town. I told him that Carl had told us to stay here and wait for a deputy to arrive.

As if the deputy had been listening, he came around the house on the same path as the Schnauzer had traveled. Jamie went to talk to him and the deputy told him to go back into the house. Jamie asked him if he would come to the house and look at something he had. The sheriff deputy said he would after he got back to his car and talked with sheriff Carl. The deputy pointed at the house and told Jamie when he returned, he had better find him there.

The deputy asked me to come to him and when I got there, he asked to see the bottom of my shoes. I said yes that is my shoe imprint as I went toward the dog when I saw him with a chain on his collar. Sheriff Carl was here and saw me here. The deputy asked if the Schnauzer is the only missing dog. I said as far as I know, yes. If you are asking about a Saint Bernard, Jamie did sell the dog to Wes. And that is the reason Jamie wants to talk to you. He may be concerned that the money he received is counterfeit.

The deputy turned and walked straight to the house and Jamie let him in the door. I returned to the barn and continued to exercise the dogs. Again, the German Shepherd wanted to stay out. After another 15 minutes, the dog came in and went to his kennel. Next Jamie called to me and said he was giving the deputy a ride back to his car. And he came into the barn and said that the fellow would be here within the next 15 minutes to put fencing in to split the north lot and expand the east lot. He took me to the north lot and showed me where he had marked for the fence to be installed.

Then he hurried out to take the deputy back to his car. I did not exercise any more dogs and the person doing the fencing arrived as Jamie said. I showed the fellow the points Jamie had made and he unloaded his equipment and started on the post holes.

I started becoming concerned as the fellow had all the posts in and was putting in the wire fencing and he would be ready to start on the east lot in half an hour.

As the fellow was finishing the last post, Jamie and sheriff Carl arrive with the Schnauzer and the Saint Bernard.

Carl thanked me for telling his deputy about where I had met the Schnauzer as he had forgot to tell him. I said that was okay, as I knew what had happened, and knew you would confirm that. Jamie had the two dogs back in their kennels and thanked the sheriff for helping him.

Sheriff Carl said good-bye and left. Jamie saw the person doing the fencing and walked to talk to him. Together they went to the east lot and Jamie showed him where to put the second fence and the fellow started on that fence.

Jamie found me with the Boxer and asked me to come out of the kennel. He said that I was correct in thinking the money I had received for the Saint Bernard was counterfeit and the deputy confirmed it. Wes has evaded law enforcement and a state wide alert has been issued. Jamie said he was surprised that the Schnauzer had returned here and apparently, Wes had broken the chain to cause further delay in finding him.

Jamie said he was going to need more help now and would be having the two he was going to possibly hire in as soon as he could. He would be advertising for one or two more trainers. Jamie continued that he would need me more often than planned now.

Conversation with John

On Friday evening, John called me to ask if Jamie had talked to me about adding more breeds. I said yes and I was looking at several breeds for large dogs for mobility and one possibility for PTSD. John said great and I asked if he and his son-in-law were set on a breed. John said no, but they had their preferences.

I asked if he could let me know so that I could have the data for the meeting on June 3. John asked if I would be present and I answered yes. John said that is the reason he made sure I had your telephone number and I continued that Jamie made sure I had your information. Now John was laughing and said that Jamie wanted to be sure we talked before the meeting. I agreed and asked if Jamie had said anything about his plans for the future. John said yes and said he would be a dog breeder and was adding at least two trainers and has agreed to work with my son-in-law, Bert and myself to teach us how to train dogs if we wanted that. John continued that Bert wants to do this.

I asked John what he and Bert had preferences for dog breeds. John said they would be continuing with the Belgian Malinois and possibly adding the Belgian Sheepdog, Welsh Springer Spaniel, or the Airedale Terrier. I suggested that John talk to Jamie to make sure he didn't already have a source for the Welsh Springer Spaniel. John said he would and thanked me for making him aware of this.

I continued asking if they had any interest in the large breed dogs. John asked which breeds or was I talking about the big breeds. I said I will cover the breeds for you - Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, Great Pyrenees, and Mastiffs. John said he was not aware of those dogs after the Saint Bernards. He asked which source I was using. I said I will email you three websites and will list them top to bottom in order of importance. He said Jamie even gave you this and I said yes. I added that Jamie uses a computer for records he needs and for emails and then very little else.

After I had sent John an email and he had pulled up the first website and said that the ads were done, I had him click on the “G' and look for the dog breeds. John said wait while he found the information he was looking for and then he would know if they were interested. After John found the information he was looking for, he responded that he doubted they would be interested in the large breeds, but the would talk to Bert before he finalized a no. I said this is fair.

I asked John if he was aware of the dog breeds Jamie was training. John said that he and Jamie had talked about them, but he knew the Shepherds, Collies, and Retrievers. I said he forgot the Boxers, and Jamie is planning on more dogs and breeding some of his own dogs. John said they had discussed this and that was why they wanted to contribute some of the dog breeds.

I said the meeting in June will be important for everyone. Jamie is looking for a veterinary that can work with him and this will have some effect on the timetable. He is set up with the American Kennel Club and is working on learning more about some dog breeds. Right now, he is having some problems in meeting the needs of customers. He now knows the organizations for checking the health problems of most dog breeds and this is helping him as he looks for the dog breeds he wants to raise and train for sale.

We told each other we would call when we had questions. I sent John several emails about different dogs. Jamie called Saturday evening and thanked me for alerting John on the Welsh Springer Spaniel as he was very satisfied with the current dog breeder and would not change. Jamie said he told John that he was looking for different suppliers for the Standard Schnauzers, the Golden Retrievers, and possibly the Collies.

Jamie said he had not had many calls for Collies until this week when he had calls for four for PTSD patients. Then he surprised me when he said he had five calls for German Shepherds for K9 duty, one in Iowa, two in Wisconsin, and two for Missouri. Then Jamie added three more for PTSD patients that were from the military. Two of these were replacements for dogs to be retired.

I congratulated Jamie for this and said It is good to see your business growing. Jamie said it is good and put more urgency on hiring trainers. Jamie thanked me again and said to call if I had more questions.

Investigating More Dog Breeds

On May 25, Jamie asked me to be present on June 3, as he wanted more dog breed information. He asked me to do some research before hand on three breeds. His request was for three large breeds and admitted that Saint Bernards could possibly be one of them. I could select the other two and we would bring in a male and female of each breed and do our own breeding since we could not obtain the Saint Bernards near us.

I asked Jamie if he had room for this and he said he would be remodeling the second story of the barn. Insulation would be the biggest concern and he could handle this. Plus, he was thinking about the smaller barn-like structure and remodeling this. He told me not to be concerned about cost as he finally had his wife's estate settled and could now afford to remodel.

Jamie then admitted that his father had passed on Saturday and in a few months he would have the property completely in his name and could expand and remodel where needed.

I asked how much he was willing to spend on the three breeds. He said that my Internet source had really opened his eyes about the different breeds and the health problems with the different breeds. He said he was not in a hurry as he was looking for a veterinary that knew dogs and would work with him. He said that if necessary, he would import a breed. He said that he was changing the operation and would be hiring at least two more dog trainers. He said that I could work as I wanted, but he was concerned about my health and would not force me to drive every week. I thanked him as I said the distance wasn't the problem, just the schedule.

Then he asked me what I thought about several breeds. I said on two of them, they were hard to train, but once trained would need constant refreshing by the customer. Jamie said this is what he wanted to do more of and that was his goal. He said that the 10-month-old puppies we had brought back and the fact that John had all the paperwork done and had given him the names, addresses, and telephone numbers for the organizations had really opened his eyes and made him want to consider raising his own breeds.

Then he surprised me and said he had talked to John and John had asked if there was another breed he could raise that I could use for my business. John said that his one son-in-law wanted to raise some dogs and had been asking him some questions. Jamie said John and his son-in-law were coming down on June 3 to talk to both of us. That is the reason for the meeting and I want you there.

I asked if he would be available on May 29 or 30 to go over the breed information. You may need the Standard Schnauzer or the Welsh Springer Spaniel for PTSD. Jamie said this was his thought as he liked the two breeds for PTSD and then he asked me if I had time to find another breed about the same size. Jamie said he would wait until June 3 and we could look over my find before they arrived. Jamie said that way they could see the breeds and they may have a preference.

Jamie said John had suggested several breeds and you should call him and talk to him as well. Jamie handed me a sheet with the dog breeds and John's telephone number.

Then Jamie said he would also have the two new trainers there on that afternoon and wanted me there for showing them how I worked with the different dogs and he added Tom would also be there. Jamie said he was hopeful they were the ones, but he wanted them to see how we worked with the dogs and then each of them work with a dog or two. He said that he already hired one person that he knows and he is much like Tom and very consistent with the way he handles dogs. He had purchased the Saint Bernard that was the last one Jamie was selling. Jamie said he was surprised at the training he had already done in a week with the Saint Bernard.

I said I would list four large breeds and three for PTSD and Jamie said okay for the large breeds, but only one for PTSD. I said okay and said I would be leaving unless he had other things he wanted to talk about with me. Jamie said if he thought of something, he would call me. With that, I headed home.

Jamie Relieved of Mobility Dog Retraining

When I arrived at Jamie's on May 23, Jamie greeting me with news that Carl had been by early in the morning and said Jim would no longer be coming as he had purchased a home in another state and had his home for sale. Good, I said, as that makes me happy as well. I added after Carl's questioning, as least now we should not need to go through that anymore.

Jamie said that we needed to work as many dogs as we could today. I said okay and asked which dogs were near ready for owners. Jamie said that the last boxer needs some refreshing and two Golden Retrievers need to be worked, as their owners will be here next Monday. Jamie said that Tom would be working the Standard Schnauzer and the Welsh Springer Spaniel to begin his day.

I entered the barn and obtained the leash for the Boxer. When I entered his kennel, I was warmly greeted and he was seeking attention, which I willingly gave him. When I attached the leash, he was all business and we headed outside on the south side. He responded to commands and behaved in a very business manner. I attached his harness and sat in the wheel chair and he really worked with each command. I offered treats, he accepted them, and wanted the praise I gave him. He even was seeking petting with the treats and made himself available for that. I worked him for about an hour and told Jamie that he should be worked in town. Jamie said that tomorrow would be good before I headed home. The three of us will work the Boxer and the two Golden Retrievers in town.

I returned the Boxer to his kennel and gave him more attention for ten minutes until Jamie said he has had enough. I took the leash to the Golden Retriever kennel, harnessed him, walked him outside, and then hooked up the wheel chair. I worked him for ten minutes before sitting in the wheel chair. With treats and other encouragement the Retriever was working very well and only missed one command, but when I repeated it, he accomplished it. After an hour, Jamie asked how he was working. I said he is ready for next Monday, but something is missing in his training, and I can't decide what. Jamie agreed and told me to start with the second Retriever.

I returned the Retriever to his kennel and gave him some attention. Then I went to the second Retriever and harnessed him. When we were outside, I worked him for a few minutes before hooking up the wheel chair. When I sat in the wheel chair, I recognized what the problem I noticed in the first Retriever. They were not getting the exercise they needed and were attempting to use training time for some exercise. When I explained this to Jamie, he thought for a minute and said you are right, I am not allowing the dogs to have exercise for the time they need to just be a dog.

Jamie called Tom and the three of us talked for some time about exercise and finally agreed that the dogs needed some time each day to run. Jamie said the north fenced in area should be divided and that way more dogs could exercise. Tom said the east fenced area could also be used and some breeds could be exercised together. Jamie told us to expect someone tomorrow that will divide the north area and then expand the east area for another exercise area. Jamie then directed us back to our training. Jamie asked Tom to use the east area and he would start letting some dogs out for exercise in the north area.

I continued to work the second retriever and he responded very well to the commands and didn't miss a command. I gave him his treats and praise and he seemed to work harder. When I finished, I made sure I made a note about his working harder for treats and praise.

When I was putting the second Retriever back in his kennel, Jamie said let's see how the two Retrievers exercise together. Jamie was taking the first Retriever to the door and I took the second one there as well. The two sniffed each other briefly and seemed to realize they would be going outside. Jamie said that since they were litter mates, he was not expecting problems. When Jamie opened the door, they were off and running. They ran and played for almost the full hour. When Jamie called them, they both came and were ready to go to their kennels.

Tom was bringing the Schnauzer in and he asked if we dared put him out with the Welsh Springer Spaniel for exercise. Tom said he would keep a eye on them, as there could be some biting. I gathered the Spaniel and Tom brought the Schnauzer to the door. They ignored each other, Jamie opened the door, and they ran and played for half an hour and then wanted back in which surprised Tom. We spent the rest of the afternoon exercising the dogs and only had one dog that did not want to come in when called. This dog was the German Shepherd and he wanted more exercise and Jamie allowed him a half an hour more and then we had to catch and put a leash on him to get him back into his kennel.

Jamie then thanked me when Tom started to feed the dogs. Jamie said he used to exercise the dogs when he was alone, but had stopped when the number of dogs he was working and training increased. He said that once the north and east areas were ready, he needed to consider hiring someone to exercise the dogs on a daily basis and possibly learn training.

Bringing the Belgian Malinois Home

We made two stops to see if the puppies need to do their business. During the second stop, they did make use of the stop. By the time we arrived at my apartment, they again needed the stop. I then used my car to follow them to Jamie's farm.

Tom was working the Standard Schnauzer, which Jamie had purchased the week before. He came toward Jamie's truck as he stopped. I could hear Jamie ask how the Schnauzer was behaving. Tom said better than he had expected and then he said he was amazed at the ease he was experiencing. Tom continued that this one seems to have the right disposition.

Jamie asked Tom to take the Schnauzer to his kennel and return to see the puppies. By the time Tom returned, Jamie had the two puppies on leashes. He handed one to Tom and they walked the dogs to the bushes in the house yard and they again needed to do what dogs do. Jamie told Tom that the two would be in the kennel attached to the house. I told Tom then that they would need daily work and light exercise for about 15 minutes three times per day. Jamie said he would teach Tom what needed to be done every day and how to handle them. I said that was good and that more socializing needed to be done. Jamie agreed and said he will be inviting several of his neighbors to stop by when they had time and let their children stop when they had time and their parent's permission. He expressed some doubts about doing this, but said this is why he wants the parents present when they have the time.

Next he called Sheriff Carl and told him what was happening and asked if he could stop by once a week and have this daughter possibly stop by once a week and bring one of her puppies to help socialize his two puppies. Carl said he would and he would talk to his daughter and son-in-law. Carl called back in 20 minutes and said he was on the way over.

Tom asked Jamie why he had purchased puppies. Jamie said they were 10 months old and yes, they would cost to raise them to the age when they could be put to work, but he was confident that we could handle this and potentially save some money and train them as they grow up. They may cost me money, but I am prepared to do this, as I don't trust the two Saint Bernard breeders near enough to get them. We traveled to Wisconsin for the two puppies and I was impressed with the puppies' parents and the health certificates we were shown before even seeing the puppies. I was given copies when I purchased them and I was told that I could return them if I called first. Jamie continued that he felt more comfortable with these two puppies than he did with the puppies at the breeders of the Saint Bernards. I suspect they have some harsh training and were not socialized, and this is not good for that breed, as they become more difficult to train and don't get along with strangers and other animals.

Carl arrived then and was surprised to see the puppies as he was expecting smaller dogs. Tom and I headed for the barn and we started working with the Welsh Springer Spaniel and the Standard Schnauzer. I was surprised at the number of new dogs that Jamie had on hand. I also was surprised with the way the Spaniel handled. The two dogs were almost working in competition with each other to please us. As we were working them, Jamie and Carl came out without us seeing them.

We continued for 20 minutes before we realized they were watching. Even the dogs had not alerted us, as they were paying more attention to each other and us. Finally, Jamie asked us what was wrong. I said they are training as if they were in competition with each other. Jamie said “Tom,” and Tom said he agreed. Jamie admitted that in all of his years of dog training, this is the first time he has seen this. Then he said I am going to have to think about this, as I don't think this is a good thing. I told Jamie that I agreed, but that for a week more it may be a good idea, but then they need to be trained separately. They are learning because of the competition and their attempts to please us. We are both using treats for doing the right things and this is helping.

Tom said that maybe we should start weaning them after four days with less and less time together each of the remaining three days. I said this may be the best. Jamie said he agreed and liked the idea. He said he looks forward to seeing how they react to this.

Carl asked how many dog breeds Jamie had on hand. Jamie said, as of today I have seven, German Shepherds, Collies, Boxers, Golden Retrievers, a Standard Schnauzer, a Welsh Springer Spaniel, and two Belgian Malinois. Jamie added that with training for mobility service dogs and dogs for PTSD had caused the increase and presently he had 13 dogs for mobility service and 9 dogs for PTSD. Carl asked how he kept them separate. Jamie said we have files posted for each kennel, which includes – the dog's name, what the dog is being trained for, training notes, and all certificates.

Carl asked if he could see the kennels in the barn, and Jamie said follow me. Jamie asked Tom and me to come as well. Once inside the barn, Jamie stopped at the first kennel and showed Carl the folder. Carl looked the folder over and said okay. You do keep extensive records. Carl asked to see the folder for the Standard Schnauzer. Jamie told him to follow Tom. Tom showed Carl the folder for the Schnauzer. Carl said he now understood why they kept so many records. He said that the records do not show whom the dog is being trained for or when the dog may be ready. Tom called Jamie and explained the question Carl still had.

Jamie said that is kept in the house and I will show it to you. Jamie showed Carl the potential owner file. Jamie asked what he was looking for and Carl said Jim was sure you would have another dog for him. Jamie asked the breed and Carl said a Saint Bernard or a Newfoundland. Jamie asked if he had seen any of those dogs on the farm. Carl said no, but said Jim was so sure that you had one for him.

Jamie then asked why he had not asked up front instead of the 20 questions. Carl commented that he had gone a little overboard, but he wanted to make sure. Jamie said Jim had not discussed any other dog with him. He had asked if we trained Mastiffs, and when I said no, that was all he said. Jamie said he would not train any Saint Bernards because he could not find a reliable breeder within an eight hour drive. As for the Newfoundland, Jamie said we are considering that breed, but have not found a breeder.

Carl said he would start quizzing Jim to find out what he was talking about and why. Jamie said let me ask Tom and Bob what they may know. Jamie called us up to the house and asked if Jim has talked about any other dogs. Tom said he had asked about a Saint Bernard and I told him he had to talk to you. I told Jamie that he hadn't talked to me about any dogs but his own. Carl said he was happy that he did not totally trust Jim, but would find out was he was thinking. Carl said that the farm house he was talking about is not for sale and would not be and Jim had his heart set on it. I said it sounds like to me that Jim has a mental problem and is blaming others.

At that point, Jamie asked Carl if he should stop retraining. Carl said if he shows up tomorrow, do retraining, but if he doesn't show up, then you know the answer. Carl walked to his car and left.

Tom and I looked at Jamie and said things don't sound right and Jamie said he agreed and he didn't like the way Carl had done things but he as happy he had cooperated. I said in some ways I hope Jim doesn't show up tomorrow. I don't like the way he does things and pulls other people into his schemes. Jamie said that my original call was on target as Carl had talked to me about retraining his dog, but the rest is a little off-base.

Our Trip to Wisconsin

At 7:00 AM May 20, Jamie arrived to pick me up. Gilmanton, WI is a small town

in Buffalo county. We do not go into town as we stay west of town for the dog breeder. My surprise was the dog breed he was breeding, the Belgian Malinois.

Jamie and I had reviewed this breed extensively and he felt that they would be good for mobility service dogs. The only problem we found unacceptable was their adaptability for apartment living. There were several other minor problems, but with training, they could be managed.

We talked about dogs for much of the trip and Jamie said they were expecting us, but he had not said who was coming with him. I laughed and said I will be happy to see him as we had been in the same unit overseas and hoped he remembers me.

When we arrived, John did remember me and we had a good talk until I reminded him that we were there to see the dogs. We headed for the barn where he had the dogs and the first thing he did was show us was the certificates for proof of the parents having been cleared for several health conditions. Jamie thanked John for showing this first and otherwise we would have had to ask and possibly been very cautious about the dogs. John said that the papers were very important and he always shows them first because good trainers will walk away if they have doubts.

Jamie agreed with him, but added that he still has to be careful as he recently bought three Saint Bernards that were not properly socialized and behaved as if they had some harsh training. John said true, and that is the reason he prefers selling his dogs between 6 months to 12 months of age. He added that he had six grand children and they are in contact almost every weekend and he was expecting four home later today. He added that he and his wife had contact with them on a daily basis and he invited neighbors to visit for purposes of helping socialize the puppies, plus there were several neighbor children between 9 years and 18 years that visited often.

Jamie said then let's see the puppies. John led us to the section for older dogs and let us pet several dogs that were relatives of the puppies and than he took us to the puppies. We watched them for about 20 minutes and John said that the mother and father were in the next section. Both were friendly and Jamie asked if we could enter their area. John opened the door and Jamie and I entered. Jamie knelt and I remained standing. Both dogs came to Jamie and were seeking attention, which Jamie gave them. I then knelt and the mother came to me for more attention. When Jamie and I stood up, both dogs sat down and waited to see what we were doing. John opened the door, we left the area, and Jamie asked John how many of the puppies were for sale. John said all were for sale, but he was limiting us to two, as he had buyers for the other four.

John told us to select the two we wanted and he would put collars on them. With that the three of us entered the puppy area and both of us knelt down and the puppies came to us. Three of the puppies held back and Jamie looked at the three that came to us. The three that had approached us were all males, Jamie selected two, and John handed him a collar and put a collar on the second one. Next John said he had another kennel with five younger puppies that he would not sell as they were under six months of age. Jamie said he would like to see them and John led us to their kennel.

At that time, four of the grand children entered the barn and hollered for grandpa. The puppies started looking for the children, they came and entered the two kennels and petting the puppies, and the puppies were obviously happy to see them.

Jamie and I headed for the door to leave the barn and waited for John to join us. John joined us in a few minutes and expressed he needed to talk to the grand children. Both Jamie and I agreed we expected that. Next John introduced us to his wife and daughter who were coming to the barn. Next, we started to the house and met his son and his wife.

John then asked Jamie if he was ready to deal. Jamie told me to wander back to the barn and he and John would talk. I said okay, and started back to the barn. John's son saw me coming and turned to talk with me. He asked how I knew this father and I said from our time in the Army. I could see his interest rise and then he asked how long we were stationed together. I said over three years, that then he took his discharge, and I was in the Army for two more years and left with almost nine years in the Army. Next he asked my age and I

told him I am 75 years of age. Oh, he said, you are older than my father is, I said yes, I was in college three years and quit because I lost my student deferment and had received a call for the draft board. Your father entered right out of high school and enlisted for four years.

We talked for a little while longer and his mother came out and said she had forgot about me, but now remembered me. I said that I had recognized her and we were on the way to the house and knew you were trying to catch up to the grand children. She admitted that and said he husband was not coming and she hoped that puppies were sold.

In a few minutes, John and Jamie came back to the barn.  I asked if they had concluded a deal. Jamie confirmed this when he said you carry one and I will carry the other one. When we arrive at the truck, we put the two in the carrier in the back seat. When John saw the carrier, he said good, as he was glad they would be confined for the trip. Jamie asked if they had been trained for a leash. John said yes, and they will probably go potty if you let them out on a leash. Jamie put one on a leash and handed me the other leash, we let both out and walked to some bushes, and both did their business. We load them back into the carrier and Jamie thanked John. John gave me a hug and asked me how much I worked for Jamie and I said when I can around health problems. We said good-bye and started on our way home.

Retraining Mobility Service Dog

On Friday May 19, Jim and his dog arrived at Jamie's farm. Sheriff Carl, Tom, and I were also present. Carl thanked Jim for coming and said that Jamie would be working with him on retraining his dog. Jim restated that he could not afford this and Jamie said that is why he would be working with him at no cost to retrain his dog and he would need to satisfy the sheriff in the retraining. He said the only cost would be the American Kennel Club good citizen test and that cost would be paid directly to the person doing the test.

Jim asked what that cost would be and Jamie said 25 dollars and if he could save 5 dollars per week he would have it. Jamie continued that he would not schedule the AKC good citizen test until he knew that the dog was ready for it.

Tom and I moved to the other side of the barn and started working with the Retrievers that Jamie had received for PTSD customers. Both dogs were a little nervous because they could smell the dog of Jim's. I handed my lease to Tom and said this needed to change. Tom said okay and took both dogs to the barn.

I went back to where Jamie was working with Jim and his dog and explained the problem. Jamie said the damage may have already been done, but he would see if taking Jim and his dog to the area we had been using and having us then move to the area to the south of the barn would work. I said it was worth a try and we would wait until they were working before we exited the barn.

As soon and Jamie and Jim were working, Tom and I left the barn and moved to the south. The dogs were still a little nervous, but once we started working them, they settled down and were obeying commands and following directions. Tom thanked me and said this was not something he had experienced before. I said that it was probably because most had become used to each other from being in the same barn and knew the scent of each other. Jim's dog was new to the farm and the scent unknown to Jamie's dogs. Tom said he has not thought of that.

We continued until lunch time and Carl admitted that Jim's dog was behaving better that he had anticipated. Jamie said Jim would have a lot of training to undo the “guard” attitude of his dog and himself. Jim admitted this and said because of the unfriendly attitude of his neighbors, he had trained his dog that way. Carl said that he would warn the neighbors about their attitude once the dog was trained correctly. Jim said if he could find a buyer for his house, he would be happy to move.

Carl asked him were he would move to and Jim said there was a farm house he would consider that was slightly less that his house would sell for on the market. Jim explained where the farm house was located and Carl said that could be a great move and would not require a lot of extra driving for him. Carl said that the neighbors should not be a problem as the nearest was almost a mile distant and that was his daughter and son-in-law and their boxer dogs. Jamie said that he still had one boxer if Jim was interested in change dogs. Jim said not now, but in the future, maybe.

Jim said he was amazed that his dog was accepting retraining so well and thanked Jamie for allowing him work with the dog in the retraining. Jamie said that he still would require several weeks of retraining to pass the citizen test. Carl said he would be there once more the following week and suggested that Jim think seriously about the move. Jim said he already was planning to talk to the Realtor yet that afternoon. Tom and I left to work with two other dogs then and we noticed that Carl and Jim left shortly after.

Jamie came to see us and said that Carl had asked that Jim leave with him to talk to the farmer owning the house. He also stated that Carl and Jim had agreed that the Realtor Jim was thinking of using was not to be used if he wanted a reasonable price on his house. Jamie said he was happy with the progress made with Jim's dog, but there was a lot more to be accomplished. Jamie then asked me to be available on Saturday if I could and then said he would stop by and pick me up at 7:00 AM for a trip to a dog breeder in Wisconsin. I said he could and I would appreciate visiting with the breeder as I hadn't seen him since our days in the Army.

Comfort Dogs

I am still surprised by the number of people that insist that their “comfort” dog is allowed in many businesses. They have false papers and these comfort dogs are often unruly and become objectionable to the people near to them. Recently a disabled person was being pulled in his wheelchair and had stopped to look at something he was interested in and the comfort dog escaped from the person carrying it. It attacked the service dog and the service dog just stood above it and ignored the comfort dog. Then the comfort bit the leg of the disability service dog and drew blood. The owner of the comfort dog grabbed the comfort dog and tried to leave the store. Several employees would not allow this and asked what would be done to pay for the veterinary fees caused by the comfort dog. The person continued to attempt to leave and shortly the city police arrived and after hearing the facts, took the person with the comfort dog into custody.

The police took the person and his service dog to the veterinary and I followed because I knew the person and had been involved in trained the dog. I was not involved in all the training, but much of the early training. When I arrived at the veterinary office, the dog was being x-rayed. About 10 minutes later, the Vet told the disabled person that the dog had two broken bones and would need a recovery period.

I called Jamie and informed him what had transpired and asked if he might have a dog that could be put in service for the time needed for the dog to recover. He said he would start on his way with a dog and would be there in about 65 minutes. I informed the individual and he asked for a hug. He informed the police of what was happening.

When the bill was ready, he paid the bill and asked for a copy for the police. They thanked him, we left the dog for the vet to work on the leg to prepare the dog for surgery, and the police asked if he needed a ride back to his vehicle. I called Jamie and asked if he could find the hardware store and after he talked to the police, he said he could and the police took him and the dog harness back to his vehicle. When we arrived back at his vehicle, we talked until Jamie arrived. He stated that the police would have all the information available to him to be reimbursed by the comfort dog owner.

When Jamie arrived, he had the dog and adjusted the harness to the dog. Next, we moved around parking area and then went back into the hardware store. The dog worked well and Jamie and the fellow talked briefly. Then Jamie thanked me for alerting him for the need and asked me to stay in contact with the fellow. Jamie took me over the fellow and explained that he could talk to me and I would be in contact with him. Plus, some days he will be working for me in training other dogs. Jamie handed him one of his business cards with my address and phone number written on the back. The fellow thanked Jamie and thanked me again for getting in contact with Jamie when I realized the need for a temporary mobility service dog. Jamie said he needed to get back home and I could work with him if needed.

I stayed with the fellow until he was ready to go to the grocery store. I made sure that he was okay and arrived at the grocery store. When he had the dog ready, I said good-bye and left. Later that evening he called me and said the dog was great and if his dog could not work after the operation, he would gladly trade dogs. He added that he was very happy to work with Jamie and his training of dogs as he followed through with his promises and the first trainer he had worked with did not mean what he promised.

He concluded that this was the second time he had an incident with a comfort dog and this was the worst. The first comfort dog owner had that dog in a container and all it did was raise a fuss at his dog.

Unusual Mobility Dog

Today I met a service dog doing something I did not expect. At first, I thought it was a seeing eye or a service dog for the blind. It had a harness like those dogs use, but it was much heavier in detail and had what looked like wheels that could be lowered.

When I approached the individual, he stopped and was very much on guard, as was his dog. I introduced myself and asked him what type of service dog he had. He responded a disability service dog. I told him that I worked part time for a disability service dog and PTSD dog trainer and don't remember ever seeing training for the type he was using.

He said that he trained the dog himself and manufactured the harness. I asked if the dog had been tested by the American Kennel Club for the good citizen test. The fellow said no and asked why his dog needed this test. I stated that he could possibly get away with this, but I told him that when I approached him I said the first thing I noticed was how quickly the both went in 'guard' mode and I said that is the reason I introduced myself and started talking to you. I told him that I had seen him relax some, but that his dog was still in 'guard' mode. I said that is the reason I have maintained some distance from the dog.

The fellow said that was the way he had trained the dog. I asked him how long he had owned the dog. He said that he had purchased the dog more than two years ago and had spent most of the time training the dog.

I said that continuous training is always good. I then asked if he had not had some issues with small children wanting to pet the dog. He said most of the time he has the most trouble with adults wanting to pet the dog. He continued that most of the time all he has to do in warn children to stay away from the dog.

Next, I specifically asked if he has had people call the police about his dog. He hesitated and I said then you have had this problem. I suggested that he have the dog trained to relax from the guard attitude and be more people friendly.

Then the fellow broke down and told me that he had neighbors that called the police daily and were trying to drive him out of the community in which he lived. I asked where this was and how often the police actually came. It turned out that the community was near Jamie's and then I called Jamie and he said that he had recently been contacted by the sheriff about retraining the dog.

I asked the fellow (Jim) if he would talk to a trainer. Jim again hesitated and I encouraged him to at least hear what he said. Jim said I can't afford professional dog training. I put my cell phone in his direction and said you are not under any obligation, but hear what he has to say. Finally, Jim took the phone and told Jamie he was listening. After telling Jamie about his disability, they talked until my cell phone was almost dead. Jim handed me my cell phone and Jamie told me to make arrangements for the fellow to be as his farm the following Friday. I said okay and the phone started its shut-down.

I asked Jim where I could meet him Friday morning and we could go to Jamie's together. Jim said he knew where the farm was and he would be there. He said that he knew if he did not show up that the sheriff would come to escort him there. Jim then surprised me when he said thank you for pointing me in the right direction. He pointed to me and said 'friend' to his dog. The dog started wagging his tail and dropped the 'guard' attitude. Jim shook my hand and said junior will allow you to pet him now. The dog moved toward me and I knelt by Jim and when junior came close I did pet him and he almost pushed Jim and me over. Jim said good-bye and he would see me on Friday. I assured him that I would and turned to leave.

When I returned home, I called Jamie on my other phone and confirmed that we would be there. Jamie said that the sheriff would be there as well.

Service Dogs

There are very few competency tests for the various service dogs. With several service dogs there are training and length of training requirements.

Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that the individual with a disability cannot perform for him- or herself. Guide dogs, used by some individuals who are blind, are the most well known type of Service Dog. Other specific terms for specialized service dogs include Signal Dogs for the deaf or hearing impaired, Mobility Assistance Dogs, Seizure Response Dogs, and Psychiatric Service Dogs. The terms “Service Dog,” “Service Animal” and “Assistance Dog” all mean the same.

Service Dogs can benefit people with disabilities associated with many diagnoses, including:
• Arthritis
• Ataxia (poor balance)
• Autism
• Blindness or Impaired Vision
• Deafness or Impaired Hearing
• Diabetes
• Cardio/Pulmonary Disease
• Cerebral Palsy
• Physical mobility Issues
• Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.)
• Psychiatric Disabilities
• Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy)
• Severe Allergy Alert
• Spina Bifida
• Spinal Cord/Head Trauma
• Stroke

The latest type of service dogs added is for soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This project is part of a study funded entirely but the Department of Defense and put service dogs with 10 soldiers. The other type recently added is a service dog for autonomic neuropathy. Autonomic neuropathy is a disease that damages the autonomic nervous system, a branch of the central nervous that helps people adapt to changes in their environment, according to the American Heart Association.

PTSD dogs are now being placed with non-military persons that have suffered from acts of violence and other acts that do cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The United States Department of Justice defines a Service Animal through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal specifically trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If an animal meets this definition, it is considered a Service Animal regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government.

Please note that Therapy Dogs, Search & Rescue Dogs, Forensic Dogs, Police K-9's, Military Working Dogs and other types of working dogs are NOT Service Dogs.

Dogs that work on the front line such as Police and Customs and Border Protection are usually trained for specific tasks. While these dogs undergo training they also live alongside their handlers and usually graduate around 18 months of age. This type of working dog has the important role of protecting the public and the country’s borders. Their job is to detect things from illegal drugs, bombs and firearms to concealed food items coming across the border. Police sniffer dogs are also used to help locate suspects on the run and dogs are also often used in the military for tasks such as bomb detection and as search and rescue during disasters.

Many individuals who are partnered with a Service Dogs use vests, harnesses or patches that display generic wording like "Service Dog" or "Do not pet." Others may choose to use generic IDs that are not linked to any organization. While this is traditional, it leaves little accountability and these items are sometimes purchased by those who use them to abuse the law — even though absolutely NO gear or IDs are required in the first place (Bold is my emphasis). Like any product, it is not the fault of the item itself or those who make it, as the sole responsibility lies with the person who seeks it out and uses it improperly.

A test given by the American Kennel Club for a dog to become a good citizen when out in the public and every service dog needs to have this training and pass this test. It is true that some dogs are never given this test and do behave properly in the public.

More Dogs to Train

Jamie has added more breeds of dogs for training. He recently sold two of the

Saint Bernards that were being difficult to train. He is trying to sell the third dog as well. He is still planning on training Saint Bernards, but wants dogs with some socialization and puppy training. He will obtain dogs at a younger age and work more with them from the start.

He is also investigating two other breeds at this time, but is searching for the right breeders and contacting the organization for each breed to make sure he obtains the best dogs. He now has requests for three different breeds and he invited me for a Saturday to search the Internet of locate the organizations. I suggested that he contact the American Kennel Club (AKC) for them to give him the breed organization.

Jamie said that the AKC tester would be here on Monday to test three dogs and he would ask him for information. I then asked why he wanted me and he admitted I had information that he needed. I turned on his computer and started a search and book marked three websites about the dogs breeds and then scrolled down one website for Saint Bernards and showed him the discussion on the good and bad points of the breed. After reading this, Jamie said then maybe he should not work with this breed. He was concerned and started looking up several other breeds he was considering and those he had requests for from potential customers.

Jamie thanked me and asked how I knew where to look. I told him because I do a lot of research about diabetes and have learned to make searches work for me. I showed him the other two bookmarks and their strengths and weaknesses. Jamie admitted he did not have the patience to search and that was mainly why he wanted me to help him. I asked if Tom was capable and Jamie said he doesn't own a computer and is not interested. He is a person that measures his success on doing things that he knows and can accomplish and build on. I said that is why he is so satisfied with doing training. Jamie stated yes, and why he is so good at it. Jamie continued that I was better at training than I was at the start, but you push me into areas I don't like to go as you did with the other trainer that did not know how to train dogs, but knew the law as far as he could force it to his needs.

I said that he did not understand the abilities of his dogs or their disposition and suitability for the task. Jamie agreed and said you recognized this and refused to let him walk on me when it came to losing businesses that allowed us in their stores. I said I do a lot of reading and while I could not quote from the American Disabilities Act, I knew there was something about businesses being able to refuse unruly dogs in their businesses. Jamie said he really appreciated Alfred getting the papers and giving me copies. I said I never received a copy and asked if he still had it. Jamie said he did, but wanted to keep it as he was still was marking it up and would give me a copy when he was comfortable with it. I said okay, and I can probably get a copy if I need it like Alfred got his copy.

Jamie laughed and said this is another reason he wanted my help. You have a way of getting what you desire and can do it without raising a fuss. I said that is sometimes a bad habit and I have to be careful in the way I use it.

Jamie added that I apply this to training and the dogs like your consistency and respond to your commands. Jamie added that Tom is picking up your consistency and he is becoming better in his training. He continued that the boxers were ready weeks before I thought they would be and responded to their owner easier than I even thought they would, and formed a great bond quickly.

I said that was what I had hoped for when working with the dogs, because they were easy to handle and wanted to please. When the dog I was working did well, I rewarded him and went to the next command. When Tom saw this he adapted to it and our dogs started working well together. This was when I knew they were ready, even when you hadn't planned on testing them for another two weeks. I was happy when you said you would test them and the three purchased from Lucy. I said that her dogs were well trained and I think she and her husband need some praise from you and you need to let them know that you are interested in purchasing more dogs from them.

Jamie said he has already done this and let Lucy know that he will not need any immediately, but will tell her when he does have the need. Jamie concluded that the sheriff where the two customers live said he has had only one problem to date because he has informed those that had problems with the roaming pack that these dogs are well trained and not to be feared. Jamie continued that one business owner has refused entry to his business even when the sheriff said he would have one of his deputies in the store. Several other store owners are very happy to have the dogs in their businesses because of what they have observed and talked to the sheriff. The sheriff has made the rounds of the businesses and he is satisfied with the conduct of the dogs. Jamie said that the sheriff has even asked to pet one of the dogs and has added the owners to his regular daily checks.

I said this is good as long as the community knows that the sheriff is behind the dogs and knows their training.

Final Week of Boxer Training

Everyone was present on May 8 and the dogs were ready for the good citizen test. At noon, everyone showed up and there was much anticipation for getting the testing started. I started the testing, Tom followed, and then Jamie. Tom did the fourth dog and Jamie completed the testing with the fifth dog. When he was completed, the AKC tester said all five had passed the test and Lucy and her husband, plus the two customers started clapping. The three from the sheriff office clapped briefly and announced they would be back Thursday to see the dogs work in town and take the two individuals and their dogs back to their homes. Tom and I took care of the dogs while Jamie took the two retired dogs to their new kennels.

Next, Lucy and her husband wanted to ask the tester about the tests and whom they should have test dogs for them in the future. They pointed out the three dogs of theirs Jamie had purchased. The tester gave them a card and a few sheets, which explain the good citizen test and a discussion of what the dog must do to pass the test.

Next Lucy and her husband talked with Jamie and thanked him for allowing them to watch the good citizen test. Tom and I started bringing the dogs for the customers to get to know. One selected the first dog and the other selected the fourth dog. When Jamie could, he was shown the two dogs they had selected and Jamie brought the harnesses for them to try on. Once they were fitted, Jamie had them start working with the dogs. After a short time, both said how easy they were to work with and wondered if they needed the four days. Jamie said with the situation they would be facing when they returned home, the more team confidence they gained now, the easier it could be at home.

Both individuals agreed this may be for the best and started working in earnest. When we completed the day, the two individuals praised the dogs and gave them treats. Jamie said there would be some surprises the next day and said they would both be in town the next afternoon working with the surprises.

We talked that evening and Jamie wanted to be sure that they understood what the situation might be upon returning home. The next morning the dogs were harnessed up in the house and now we told the individuals what the surprises would be and the commands they would use. Both individuals did not want to do this, but we assured them that their sheriff had warned us about several persons that could easily do this. The one individual finally admitted that one person had threatened his German Shepherd with this, but had not carried it out. The other person said that both his wife and he went shopping together and had not been threatened.

Finally, both admitted that some people had been attacked by Boxer dogs in their town and there were some bad feelings.

Jamie said he would show a gun or a rifle and they were to say, “Protect” with emphasis. I took the other fellow with his dog to another room and I could hear some commotion in the room we left. I explained to the fellow I was with that, he would be tipped out of his wheel chair and he was to issue the same order. The other individual was not tipped out of his wheel chair, I told the fellow I was with, because of his neck injury. I explained the other command was hide. This told the dog to get behind the wheel chair. In both instances the dog would be able to move far enough to do some damage or get behind the wheel chair. There was no guarantee that the dog would not be harmed or even killed and your sheriff is aware of this. This is one reason he was here on May 1 to observe the training and he even allowed himself to pet the dogs.

Your sheriff is aware of those that were injured by the Boxers that were running in a pack and is prepared to back you and your dog when necessary. The fellow asked if they would be able to complain directly to the sheriff and bypass the city authorities. I said that depends on the city authorities and whether they support the sheriff. The fellow said that the sheriff was the city police and one of his deputies patrols the city. He continued that it was the Mayor and his staff he was concerned about because they can make trouble and one of his staff and his son were injured by the dog pack.

When Tom came to get the fellow for his training, I told him I needed to talk with Jamie. Jamie came out and I quickly told him what I had learned. He thanked me and went back for the training. The other individual informed me about what he had told Jamie and Tom.

We talked while the other fellow was being trained for emergencies. When that was completed, we headed outside where Jamie and Tom worked with them on similar situations. Jamie could see they were becoming tired of the routine and since we could go into town, he suggested we go there. Both individuals said no, that they wanted time with the dogs and they liked the farm surroundings. One asked if Tom and I could follow them around in case of any problems and the other fellow agreed. Jamie said he would work with the Saint Bernards then and left us.

For the next two hours, the fellows worked the dogs and we followed. The dogs were very good and both were giving treats and praising the dogs. When we stopped for lunch, both said they were ready to go to town. They said then on Wednesday morning they would work the dogs in town and then go home Wednesday afternoon. Both told Jamie to call the sheriff and have them here for Wednesday morning so they could return home in the afternoon. Jamie asked if they did not want the extra day. Both answered almost in unison – no. Jamie asked Tom how they were doing and Tom said well enough to go home Wednesday. I was nodding my head in agreement and Jamie said okay, but your sheriff may not be happy. One of the two said he will get over it.

Wednesday morning we were in town again and after the sheriff saw them working the dogs; he said I can understand why they are ready to go home. Then he turned to Tom and me and said that he appreciated what we did in training, as now he felt very positive about the breed. He said that while he may never trust the Boxers, he had to respect the training these dogs had received and he would support the two individuals to own these dogs and take on all people that wanted to hurt them. Jamie asked about one of the mayor's staff and his son. The sheriff said them especially and a few others that were attacked. The sheriff thanked Jamie and our local sheriff for their hospitality and demonstrating what training could accomplish. He concluded that by talking to the representative of the American Kennel Club, and the local sheriff and his daughter, everyone has been very informative.

Since the dogs and equipment had been loaded, everyone said good-bye and they were on the way home. Our sheriff said he was happy with the results. He could appreciate the sheriff's distrust, but he at least was willing to support the two individuals and defend their right to have the dogs. Jamie thanked Lucy for bringing two of her dogs into town. The three of us headed back to the farm and after a brief chat with Jamie, I headed home.

Boxer Success

Jamie announced on Wednesday that the sheriff and one or two deputies would be there on Monday. Jamie called the local sheriff and asked if his daughter would have any dogs for sale. Later he heard that she had three that were ready for sale. Jamie said she would be there shortly after lunch with the dogs. He said that the dogs were partially trained and fully socialized and were almost a year old.

Then Jamie surprised us and said that the AKC tester would also be here on Monday. Tom said you were not going to test for another three weeks. Jamie said yes, but after the way they behaved when the sheriff was here on Monday, I decided that we would test them. So, for the next few days we will work on commands and repeating them. I am happy with the way they behaved and how well they work with you that I am moving up the testing. If they pass, then we will bring in one of the individuals later next week and the other the first of the following week.

After lunch, the sheriff's daughter was there with three dogs and Jamie started to work one dog and the rest just followed the lead dog and all obeyed every command. When Jamie dropped the leash, the three dropped in place. Jamie then asked if they were fully trained and she said almost, but admitted that even she was surprised at their behavior.

Jamie then asked about exposing them to another Boxer. He said that he will get leashes for all dogs and everyone will have a dog. Jamie had Tom bring out one of his dogs. There was plenty sniffing and checking each other out, but nothing to be alarmed about and soon they were working to the same commands. Jamie thanked the sheriff's daughter for having her dogs so well trained and willing to meet new dogs. She said that even she was surprised at the way they behaved to a 'new to them' dog.

At that point, Tom and I each had two dogs, Jamie, and the sheriff's daughter headed to the house to settle the account. As they were doing this, our sheriff drove in the driveway. All four dogs sat down which surprised us as even the dog of Jamie's sat down when the others did. The sheriff, Carl, asked if his daughter had brought four dogs. Tom said the one on his left was Jamie's and the other three would be Jamie's when they finished in the house.

Carl asked permission to pet Jamie's dog, and Tom handed him the leash. Then Carl reached down and stroked his head and shoulders. The dog did look at Carl, but didn't move.

Carl asked how long our dogs had been in training and Tom said now almost three weeks. Tom added that the sheriff from the other county and one or two deputies will be here next week when we have the dogs AKC tested. He continued that we may be ready to test your daughters three dogs also, but that will be Jamie's decision.

Jamie and Carl's daughter came out and exchange greetings. Lucy said she was planning to attend the AKC good citizen test next Monday to learn about the test and talk with the tester to be able to prepare for testing some of their dogs.

Jamie said he had invited her and he was welcome to attend. Tom said he had said that two or three of the other sheriff office would be there. Carl said he would consider it, but unless Lucy insisted, he would not be present. He said he would be present when the individuals were in town with the dogs.

Lucy and Carl left then and we started working with the five Boxers. Even Jamie was happy with the way the five dogs worked together.

On Thursday, we worked with the three new Boxers out of sight of the other two. At noon, Jamie asked how things were proceeding. Both Tom and I agreed that they were as well trained as the two we had been training. Jamie said that with Friday's training and his work with them on Saturday, he might test all five on Monday.

Jamie did contract the AKC tester that afternoon and he said he would be present Monday noon and would plan to test five dogs. Next Jamie called the untrusting sheriff and told him what plans were for Monday of the following week. Jamie did say later that they would be bringing both individuals with them unless there were conflicts preventing this.

Then Jamie called Lucy and let her know that the AKC tester would be present Monday noon to test all five dogs. Lucy asked if her husband could be present as well and Jamie said yes. Then Jamie called the two individuals and informed them of the plans and that their sheriff would be in contact, if he had not already, to bring them for the testing and one or both would be working with their dog for one or two days before going into town to work the dogs there. Both agreed to this and said they wanted to be with the dogs for four days before heading home on the fifth day with the dogs. He advised both to talk with their sheriff to work out the schedule.

We continued working with the dogs on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday before I headed for home Friday afternoon.

More on Boxer Training

On May 1, Tom and I were working with the Boxers when a Sheriff car pulled in the driveway. Jamie had gone into town to get some food for the dogs. The man got out of the car and introduced himself as the sheriff where the two boxers would be going. He ask Tom if the two dogs he was looking at were the dogs that would end up in his county. When Tom dropped the lease to talk with him, he returned to the car and didn't see the dog drop in place and when he rolled down the window, he asked why the dog was lying on the ground.

Tom answered that when he dropped the leash, the dog will automatically drop in place as that is what they are trained to do. Tom told the sheriff to stay in the car and watch when I dropped my leash. We took several steps in the direction of the Sheriff's car and I dropped the leash. The dog dropped in place and I continued walking and turned away from the sheriff car. As I approached the dog, I reached down and picked up the leash and the dog immediately got up and turned to follow me.

Tom told the sheriff it was safe to get out of the car and he would introduce him to the dogs. The sheriff said he did not trust the dogs and would stay in the car until Jamie returned. Jamie pulled in the driveway then and asked Tom to help him unload the truck. Tom said that the sheriff was here to observe the training and was in his car because he did not trust the dogs. Jamie backed the truck up to the building where he kept the dog food and shut it off. He walked over to the sheriff's car.

He asked the sheriff why he did not trust this breed of dogs. The sheriff said that he has been attacked by boxers and several of the citizens of his county have been attacked by the boxers. Jamie said that he then had the right to be afraid of the dogs, but if he would get out of the car after we left to work in a fenced in area, he could see them in training. Jamie indicated for us to take the dogs to the fenced in area, which we did. Once in the area, we closed the gate and took the dogs to the far side away from the building. When Jamie had the sheriff at the second story, we started working the dogs.

Tom and I were confident of our dogs and put them through a full range of commands and dropping the leashes at regular intervals. We gave out treats for each correct command and none when they missed a command. After 50 minutes, Jamie waved us in and we brought the dogs up to the building. Jamie handed us another leash for each dog and then came down to be with us. Jamie took the leashes to be between the dogs and told the sheriff to come out and greet the dogs. When he stepped out the door, we told the dogs to drop which they did. The sheriff said the dogs are better behaved than he believed they could be and approached the dog Jamie and I were holding. I had our dog stand and Jamie asked if he was up to petting the dog. The sheriff continued his approach and stopped beside the dog. The dog stood still, the sheriff reached out and stroked his head, and the dog did not move.

Next, the sheriff approached the dog Tom and Jamie were holding. Again, when he reached down and petted him, the dog did not move. Then the sheriff backed away while watching the dogs and was surprised when they did not move. The sheriff turned and walked back in the door. Jamie took the leashes he was holding off the dogs and entered the door as well. At that point, Jamie closed the bottom of the door and instructed us to drop our leashes. When we did, both dogs dropped in place as expected. Next Jamie told us to move away from the dogs, turn, and call them. Both of us did, but the dogs stayed in place, which surprised the sheriff.

Jamie explained that as long as they were on a leash, they would not move. He had Tom remove the leash on his dog and asked that I call the dog. The dog did come to me, but dropped in place next to the other dog. Then Jamie called the dogs and both remained where they were. Jamie had me take the leash off my dog and then he called both dogs. Both dogs stood, but did not move. The sheriff asked if this was normal. Jamie said we train them for this and both are taught this, but earlier in training, they would have acted differently. When the dogs are ready for the good citizen test, we will have completed their training, except for the three or four days when the dog's new owner will work with them individually. Both new owners are receiving these dogs as replacements for dogs they are retiring. They will be bringing both retiring dogs back to us, as they have to build new fences and have expenses that prevent them from keeping the dogs.

The sheriff said his lack of trust and many living in the town near them also requested the fences because of prior dog's actions. Jamie said both understand this and are prepared to deal with this as long as people do not try to get rid of the dogs or create problems for the dogs. The sheriff said while he does not trust the dogs, this is part of the reason he wanted to observe them before they were brought into his county. He admitted that what he had seen today was changing his mind, but he still wanted to see them for the good citizen test and how they behaved in town. Then he added that he was thinking about escorting them to their new homes if the individuals agreed. If what he has seen today continues, he would be very hard on anyone that creates problems for either of the individuals.

He and Jamie talked until lunchtime and then he left. Jamie said that he was impressed today and while he still did not trust the breed, he was willing to be present for the few days of training with the individuals.

Jamie said he would be bringing in two or more Boxers for us to train as the sheriff felt that there were several individuals in his county that could just outright kill the dogs. I asked Jamie if it would not be better to prepare two German Shepherds. Jamie said no, the sheriff felt that if something did happen, the person hurting or killing the dog would need to pay for a replacement.