"Persistence, knowledge and respect is key to a lasting change."  

                                                                                                     Cayley Behringer - Owner and Operator

Little Guy: Hilo
     He was adopted out of the shelter to his first home at about eight weeks old.  He was returned soon after after his previous owners discovered that we was deaf. I adopted him shortly afterward. He has gone through remote collar training, enabling him to develop effective communication on and off leash despite his supposed "handicap."

He is not a 'get up and play' sort of guy. He's a big attention hog, and will quickly train you to pet him until he tells you you're done. 

     


The Bear: Kona
 Kona is the original member of the pack! He is one of the reasons I discovered my passion in dog training! He's had some issues in the past. Anyone that's ever owned a dog who is fearful and nips or bites people or other dogs can relate. Kona was able to further develop his confidence in socializing with humans and other dogs with the help of his trusty pack, which took about seven years.

He is a happy boy, who now loves to be out and about with other dogs and people. He's even become a bit of the social butterfly, unless of course he is taking a nice hike, his favorite pastime, in which case he's bouncing around like a puppy.
The Butt Head: Tuck
Tuck has made tremendous strides since he first joined us. He grew up in a shelter, then was adopted out at about a year old and was returned several months later. The people claimed he was being "aggressive" toward them. He couldn't have his nails clipped, wouldn't allow me to clean his ears or even touch his feet at first. His body language was clearly telling me: "I'm afraid that you are going to hurt me."

Often people see certain communication cues from dogs and then think "that dog is being aggressive!"
Actual aggression is rare, and generally the growling, snapping, biting, lunging or similar behaviors that owners see in their dogs is the dog's rational response to some factor which they have developed because more subtle methods of communication aren't picked up by their human companions. 

When I began working with Tuck, I immediately I saw what a sweet, silly guy he truly was and we have, over the years, formed a strong bond of trust, respect, and love. 
The Kitty: Dragon
     This gentle kitty has been with us for years, and is the sweetest cat we have ever known. He is well socialized with dogs and other animals, but doesn't always warm up to groups of people coming in. He has been a huge help socializing the client dogs that stay with us!
The Pony: Ponyboy
​I acquired this handsome fella when his other owner was unable to care for him any longer. He was never ridden before I bought him, so he is also in training with me right now. It's a great exercise for me to work with horses in addition to dogs. I feel it helps to continually develop my 'training muscle.'

​Horses are sensitive and powerful, a combination that is not always safe to be around. Working a horse poses many challenges not typically seen when working dogs. Most notably their size prevents them from being physically moved. After honing my horse training skills, I have taken what I have learned and applied it to my canine training. Whatever the animal: you get more done with mental training vs relying only on physical training.