About Me

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My name is Lesli Hyland. In my fifty three years on this earth, my home and my heart have been graced with the company of twenty eight dogs. Many came to me as seniors. All of them taught me something and helped determine the course of my life. I became a dog trainer because of them. I met my friends because of them. My husband and I are are forever bonded by our mutual connection to them. Currently, as a Dog Walker I have access to other people's dogs and I am allowed to experience their unique personalities. The dogs make me a better person by forcing me to closely examine my motivation, my actions and my choices. Everything I do affects their behavior, safety and happiness. It is an awesome responsibility. The dogs keep me honest.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Dogs amaze me

Tucker is 10 , almost 11, yrs old.  He came to us a year ago with a history of aggression toward the odd adult , kids, cats...and other dogs were iffy as well.  Now he lives here with 7 other dogs and a cat.  He goes to work with my husband.  He goes to work with me.  For the most part he does all that without issue.  We are careful and we know what we are doing, but honestly he is a good dog when his needs are met and his anxiety is addressed properly.  He is not all that hard to live with.  Not sure why he went through three families before landing with us.

Last night a friend, who was not feeling well, spent the night here with her 2 dogs.  Her male Collie and Tucker have been on an occasional hike together and they've had a few cross words...I was worried that Tucker would be a jerk and cause my friend (and her dogs!) angst - the last thing they needed! 
So I put up a gate or two...let the dogs into the yard in shifts and...Tucker was fine.  He knows that there is another person and two dogs here...but he is not forced to deal with the dogs and so he chooses to ignore the whole situation.

I love how adaptable dogs can be when managed correctly and given the personal space they need.
Good boy - Schmuck - Schmuck .

3 comments:

  1. He's very lucky to have found you. Many people wouldn't understand or know how to manage him. That is probably why he went through so many families. They are very adaptable aren't they? :-)

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  2. Tucker is a good boy! He really only needed someone to understand him and his needs!

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  3. "Not sure why he went through three families before landing with us."

    Probably because with you is where he was meant to be, it just took him a while to find you. :-)

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