Thank you to the team at Canine Academy,
Our experience at Canine Academy with our Boston Terrier/Pug Mix, Fitz was exceptional!
After rescuing Fitz at 11 months from Michigan Animal Rescue League we quickly found out why he had been surrendered. He was full of character but had too much destructive energy and boy-oh-boy was he fast. In fact, we had been warned to always keep him on leash as he would run away. After enrolling him in beginner classes we realized that Fitz was a bit too much for us to handle in the training department and we needed to enlist the skills of Lisa and her team. When we met with Lisa to discuss Fitz's behaviors we were chagrined to find that he was "guilty" of almost all negative behaviors that the Off Leash Program helps to correct. Stealing, biting, jumping, garbage picking, begging, leash pulling... You name it and it seemed that he was doing it.
We did attend both Beginner and Intermediate classes and took advantage of Day Training as well. On many mornings, when I dropped him off at Day Training my parting comment was always "Please fix him!" Our house felt very tense and felt small with every door to each room closed, garbage cans moved to the top of the toilets, and all shoes, mail, computer mouses, TV remotes stored in high places. It felt that nothing was safe including a brand new pair of prescription glasses left on the end table that were very damaged. Tension was definitely running high.
We did miss Fitz while he was away and honestly we worried that maybe Lisa and the team had met their match in Fitz. I half expected a call saying "Sorry... He is not trainable and we need you to pick him up." Happily, that call never came and as we watched the Facebook posts we loved seeing all the adventures that Fitz was experiencing.
While he was at Off Leash we noticed that our home was no longer a whirling dervish of destruction. The doors were once again opened and our things were returned to the proper place. Those doors have remained open even now upon his return. We now, can trust him and he knows what is expected of him.
Our Off Leash Graduate is a confident, well trained dog. What a pleasure it is to take him for a walk or car ride. Mealtimes are peaceful and are no longer a battle because he is in "place"
We are really enjoying having him home again. Thanks so much to the whole talented and patient team for showing Fitz that he can be a great dog all the time.
We will see you soon!
-The Knox Family