Cleo
“I may be classed as ‘special needs’ but I’m also capable of giving a very special kind of love.”
Warm and affectionate Cleo was recently surrendered to Labrador Retriever Rescue Of Florida. This adorable 9-month-old, 47 lb. darling has neurological/ophthalmic issues that were beyond the means of her owner. Friendly and good-natured, the staff enjoy having her around, but as a special needs puppy, they also can’t wait to see Miss Cleo happily settled in her loving forever home; LRROF.org.
Practice Makes Progress
As dog owners, the idea of training reads as having a definitive end point. Once the dog is trained, there’s nothing else to do and we can all live a happy life. However, just as a person never stops learning as they grow, animals continue to mature and have new experiences that can affect the training we have already put effort into. Every good trainer will tell you that training requires daily practice and should be a part of an everyday lifestyle for yourself and your dog. Does this mean that your dog will never understand what you teach him? Absolutely not! What it means is that we may discover that perhaps we, inadvertently, neglected some part of their education. Continuing to add to a dog’s education only improves their quality of life. Some examples of behaviors that usually require our continued attention are recalls, stays, engagement and greetings with strangers. We teach all of these things at a young age, but anything environmental can affect their progress. Think of them as synonymous to practicing a skill in math or learning new vocabulary. There’s always more to expand upon as new things arise.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
› Ashley Lambert is a Professional Dog Trainer of 17 years and specializes in dogs with reactivity. She enjoys dog sports and actively competes in agility, dock diving and frisbee. Ashley owns two Border Collies and one Mixed Breed; ApplauseYourPaws.com.
