Train My Puppy, Please. Watch Out For Scammers.

Shea Quinn is a full-time professional dog trainer, located in DeKalb, IL.   In approximately 4 months of seeking a local trainer, hiring then terminating a trainer, then seeking another trainer, Shea is the only full-time trainer that I’ve met.  He has been the most helpful although he has not personally met my puppy. His patience and advice to me is greatly appreciated.  This post includes an interview with Shea. Of the ten or so dog trainers that I’ve spoken with or hired, Shea is the only one who did not attempt to b.s. me.

The following is pertinent parts of my experience with dog trainers.

In August, a friend posted an inquiry on a website for a dog trainer for my puppy, Gracie.  Shea phoned me the next day.  He gained my respect by giving me respect.  I had spoken with a few other trainers who I think I intimidated.  See, I’m a senior citizen now, but got my first dog in 1959.   I was a daddy’s girl and as my dad trained Roscoe, I was right by his side.  Roscoe was my friend, protector, and playmate.  He was a Boxer/German Shepherd mix and lived so long that I forgot he was going to die someday.  Roscoe lived long enough to see my son born.

I developed a love for dogs and often went to the library and checked out books on dog training.  I’ve had dogs for approximately 64 years of my life.  Miss Z was the first who had professional training to learn to walk on leash at Dave’s Doggie Den, and that was in calendar year 2010.

My Miss Z went to the Rainbow Bridge in November 2021.  I was unsure if I had the energy to raise another puppy.  Along with that, because of the surgery I had due to cancer, (all tissue was removed down to my breast plate), my upper body strength is not what it used to be.  My physical therapist said that my weight limit when using both hands is 25 lbs.  Well, I’m a big-dog person so if I got another dog, I was going to need help training, especially in walking and not pulling on leash.   I’m not a professional dog trainer. I know my limitations.

Gracie

My friends and family encouraged me to get another dog and in June of this year, I brought Gracie home.  I figured I would hire a trainer to help me beyond the basic commands.  Gracie grew fast.  She went to sleep one night as a 20 lb. puppy and woke up the next morning weighing 50 lbs. and 5 feet in length.  Okay. I’m blowing it out of proportion, but she is growing really fast.

I had planned taking Gracie to the same trainer I had for Miss Z, but his classes are in the evening.  I don’t drive at night.  Then too, it turned out that Gracie has salivation anxiety each time she was put in the car.  Notice I said “put in the car” because she would not get in the car on her own.   I called her the Ghostbuster puppy because she slimmed all over her front paws and legs.  Even her eyes ran with slime.

Her obedience training was hindered in August when I developed edema in both feet.  No.  It’s not my heart.  I walked for 4 hours in the wrong shoes.  For 3 weeks, I could not get shoes on my feet.  My home care assistant took on the project of teaching Gracie to get in the car and ride without slime.  Now, we can get her in the car and she barely salivates.  However, getting her back in the car after she’s been out is a problem.  She plants her feet as if in concrete and has to be picked-up and put in the car.  I cannot physically pick her up.  Once in, she does not salivate at all on the trip home.

My friend who posted the inquiry for a dog trainer was trying to help me.  I had spoken to some trainers but they only talked about training to sit, stay, lay, come, and heel.  What about counter surfing?  What about jumping up on visitors?  What about learning to place?  And, what about getting Gracie’s paws out of the concrete setting?