Sandy Gonzales

I have been training my family dogs since I was a teen in 1969. We had gotten a beautiful German Shorthair, Gretchen, who was a very destructive puppy. My mom wanted her gone. We boarded her out for a month and the kennel owner became my mentor and suggested taking classes. I started with conformation and basic obedience. It was a frustrating time. Gretchen was resistant, and I almost gave up until I figured I would just teach her tricks. (She was supposed to become my dad’s hunting dog. Oops.) The light came on! She and I had learned how to learn!

Fast forward through the many German Wirehairs that we bred and showed, Sierra, the ridgeless Rhodesian Ridgeback that had been thrown in the dumpster as a pup, Hannah, the stubborn Boxer who adored my grandkids, and now my whip-smart poodles, Grace and Hope. The first thing they learn is tricks. That is a huge key to creating a bond and a pathway to learning. Once they learn how to learn fun and simple things, the path can go any direction!

Having fun with my dogs as part of my family is my focus. Anything beyond that is icing on the cake. If I can help others develop their bond with their dogs, I am happy to do that