New Beginnings

Article from Front and Finish Magazine about a fellow dog friend and fellow puppy trainer's success story with her rescued dog!

Sit-Stay-Read

Obedience News in Florida

Lisa Ussery

DOGANDPONYSHOWl @aol.com

New Beginnings

AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH YEAR we vow to turn over

a new leaf, set higher goals, finish projects that we

have started and most of us make promise to lose

those extra pounds we packed on during the holiday season.

We have a successful training story from Florida dog trainers who

took on a challenge and offered a dog a new beginning and

a better life. The first story hails from one of my favorite dog

training clubs ODTC.( Orlando Dog Training Club) Please enjoy the good news we received

from Debra Wood in Orlando, Florida.

Surge's Story

"Name-look-treat, name-look-treat that initial and fundamental

basic we teach in puppy class serves as a strong

foundation not only for obedience work but also for enriching

lives of those less fortunate. Little did I know how much joy

Surge knowing her name could bring me.

"Rescued from Hurricane Katrina's floodwaters, Surge

arrived in my life timid and unschooled, yet I valued her

good-natured temperament and saw her potential to take me

back to the bedside, albeit in a non-nursing role. Mary Ann

Sanford, an instructor at the Orlando Dog Training Club,

patiently helped her gain manners and on our first attempt,

Surge secured a Canine Good Citizen title. From there, we

became a Therapy Dog Inc.-registered team, regularly visiting

the Orlando VA Community Living Center (formerly the

Nursing Home Care Unit) with Be An Angel Therapy Dogs

Ministry.

''An elderly man in a geri chair always watched as the other

veterans pet Surge. He never moved or said a word. Every visit

for nearly two years, I would ask if he wanted to see or pet my

dog ... nothing. I thought maybe he just liked looking at her

spin, sit, down, stand for exam, and run through her other

exercises.

"Then, she broke through. I thought I detected a slight

nod when I queried once again if he wanted to visit with her,

so I lifted her up. Much to my surprise, he raised both arms

and started rubbing on her soft coat, smiling the whole time.

Finally, I put her down.

«[ could not wait until our next visit. He was, as usual,

waiting for us, his eyes watching as we entered the room. I

headed toward him and inquired if he wanted to see her and

received a slight nod. He immediately started petting her and

then softly said, 'Name: I could hardly believe my ears. He

spoke. I informed him that I call her Surge. He said her name.

She looked right at him and gave him a quick lick. His radiant

smile will stay with me always.

"Just as Surge captured my heart with her happy, loving

manner, she connected with him as she has done with so

many of the former U.S. servicemen and women we visit:'

- Debra Wood, her proud mom

frontandfinish.com