Blade arrived at our home in an unexpected way. My husband, who is mad on Hot Rod Cars, went to Mildura one weekend in November 2004 to buy a Ford Tutor and came home with Blade, a six month old bundle of trouble with no training!! Blade's destiny was to be at the Dog Pound as his owners were unable to care for him. Hubby decided Blade would make a good dog for his father who had recently lost his own dog and bought him home to Melbourne. Needless to say I fell in love with him – yes we kept him.

Blade – a Staffy Blue Heeler cross was scared of everything – loud noises, people, cars and sudden movements from anything. Having had no formal training as a pup, I knew Blade needed some training as well as I did to overcome these problems and help him to become a well adjusted dog to enjoy life. I started to look around our area for Dog and Puppy Obedience Classes and after researching the different centres available and talking to neighbours and friends, I decided to contact Four Paws K9 Training firstly by phone. Trish Harris offered information about the school and the training involved - she was so passionate and enthusiastic about dogs and obedience in general she had me sold by the end of the telephone call.

The following Saturday, Blade and I arrived for the Information session and by the end of the session I decided to sign up for the Basic Level as Blade was too old for the Puppy Class. We started the Basic level that same day and boy did we have a lot to learn!!!

We kept going to the classes and four months later progressed to the Intermediate level. One of the things that shine out from Four Paws is the willingness of the instructors to help and assist with any questions or problems that arise as well as one of the Four Paws philosophy “if your dog wants something from you then he must learn to earn it”.

The other thing I love about Four Paws is the people that attend the classes week after week, they keep coming as I do because they want to enjoy their dogs and do what is best for them, that is Leadership Training and for the dog to respect us as true leaders. The atmosphere on a Saturday morning is special - people interact with each other, exchange problems with their dogs, offer advice, discuss any problems that they are having and support each other. Its not hard work it is fun!

Blade and I are now in the Advanced level and are part of the Supreme Dogs Demo Team at Four Paws. I look forward to training each Saturday morning and have made so many friends with the same interest and commitment to training our dogs as well as having fun doing so. None of our dogs are perfect, Blade certainly isn’t, however that is the challenge of dog training – you are always learning new techniques and how to over come problems that arise.

I have always loved animals and have always been around dogs in particular as well as other animals – rabbits, tortoises, guinea pigs, rats and horses. I asked Trish about how to become a professional dog trainer and what was involved. After listening to Trish and Stuart, looking on the internet and speaking to trainers that have completed the course, I signed up for the Certificate III in Dog Behaviour and Training Course – an 8 month course!!! No wonder that the instructors at Four Paws know so much!!!

I am now 2 months in to the course and I can honestly say that I did not realise and appreciate how much is involved in dog training and the philosophy behind it and how much Four Paws Instructors have dedicated themselves to assist us with owning a well trained and socialized dog. Hopefully I will qualify in September 2006 and become part of Four Paws Team instructing on the Saturday mornings.

I started out with a dog that was scared of everything, hated noise and had no experience of obedience, respect or trust, I now own a dog that wants to please on my terms, but loves me to bits and is most of the time wanting to please me. Without Four Paws and the people behind it, Blade would still be afraid of everything and be out of control.

Thank you to all at Four Paws in particularly Trish, Stuart, Sean, Jim, Ben, Laura, Dave, Susan and Anna.

C Tipping, March 7th 2006.