My name is Sara and I’m a 30-something gal living in Kansas City for the time being.
Currently, I work at a PetSmart teaching dog training classes. Working at such a well-known, common store gives me the opportunity to provide services and information to people from all walks of life. Some people are ignorant because of lack of knowledge, and some people are just idiots, but many people appreciate having a resource that provides reasonable information.
I love teaching basic obedience classes. My students are wonderful. They are eager to learn and ‘do the right thing’ for their puppy or older rescue. The PetSmart curriculum is basic but they don’t care if I add on a little extra info in my classes. More than anything, I value the experience of working with people in a retail setting and in basic obedience classes.
Most of the time people come to me asking about how to make some sort of bad behavior stop, and I help them think about what kind of behavior they would rather have, and train for that. I feel like I can make their life, and their companion animals’s life, better, and I enjoy being part of that.
In my free time I help a local nonprofit dog rescue group. I foster a lot of dogs; get them vetted, put some obedience on them, potty train them, socialize them, and get them ready to go to a new home. Every time I take in another puppy I think, ‘why do I like to torture myself?” but with leadership, direction, and obedience, they turn into great pups who get adopted to the right families.
I am always saving up money to purchase ‘dog stuff’; books, Leerburg DVDs, and other resources I can learn from. I’d like to attend a Michael Ellis course in the next year or so, and plan to attend the Tom Rose school the year after that (but I keep spending my savings getting dogs and cats out of shelters and bad situations – and into new homes! LOL!).
I have one dog, an old rat terrier, who was a failed foster. She is an excellent companion, and tolerates the stream of foster dogs and cats flowing in and out of our house. ‘Sister’ is a sweet, smart old gal who can open the fridge, doors, kennel doors, etc and get into all sorts of trouble if she tries hard enough. I am currently fostering two cats. My last foster dog got adopted Saturday and I haven’t gotten a new one yet.
I am waiting until I attend the TR school to get a working dog (its part of his curriculum), but I think I’ll get a Mal and a BC there.
After school I hope to find a job at a training/boarding facility somewhere, and dream of having a small place of my own someday.
I am glad to find a group of people to ‘talk about dog stuff’ with, even if its only virtually.
Thanks Ed & the Leerburg group for giving us a resource.

Welcome to the forum, Sara!:smile:

Welcome! I attended the TRS school and really enjoyed it!

FWIW, finding a quality working dog can be tough. Board members can be quite useful in pointing you to a good source.

And, if you are interested, the USA club in Topeka, Tornado Alley, is hosting this year's USA Championships. It will be held in the KC area the first week in November. If you can lend a hand, they would probably appreciate the help!

Welcome Sara! I know you'll enjoy the forum.

Welcome, Sara!

I'm hoping to attend the ME course this Sept. Fortunately, I have the advantage of being from that area so I'm able to stay with a friend for the 2 weeks (just don't tell my mother-in-law - she'll be quite upset I'm not staying with them! Not a good idea having JD in tow, however.)

I also own a Mal...my first working dog, too. Great dogs...just love my guy to pieces!

Again, welcome!

Hi Sarah! I'm new too! Looking forward to all this great info? I am!