Our Students
Some pictures of our amazing students working their dogs! You can see more videos and pictures on our Facebook Page. Please note that these pictures do belong to this site and may not be copied, but you can always share this website URL.
Weekly Spotlight
Beverley will tell you that Bright Eyes Angel Who Answered My Prayers (a.k.a. Gabriel) was always meant to be hers. Although she initially hesitated at the opportunity, Gabe keeps Bev very busy with his abundance of energy and has been exactly what her heart needed after the loss of both her beloved husband Mario and Victory, her 10-month old puppy. The love and companionship of dogs have been a great support for Bev throughout her life.
Gabe is a Bernese Mountain dog (a.k.a. Berners) born on September 14, 2016 in Barrington, Illionois. He joined 4-year old Treasure, also a Berner, in Alaska as a puppy. Berners make good companion and family dogs because they are typically quiet but also very social. Bev says that Gabe is more like a Border Collie in a Berner suit because he is very smart, enthusiastic and loving but also interested in everything and everyone around him. During agility trials, you will often find Gabe poking his nose or his head out of a hole he has ripped in his soft crate in an effort to say hello or get some attention.
The 73-years young Bev was a nurse for 33 years and loved to cook and sew although now she really only has time for her dogs and all of their activities. She got Junior, her first Berner in 2007 and he helped her learn all that she knows about handling. Bev wanted to try cart and weight pulling with him so she followed a woman on Facebook with a Berner named Otis who competed in the sport to learn what she could. Sadly, Junior passed in 2014 but when she learned that Otis was Gabe’s sire, she knew they were a team that was meant to be together.
As a puppy, Gabe was very busy and into everything. Bev was uncertain how to keep him entertained and out of trouble so she would hide small pieces of pepperoni snacks throughout the house to keep him occupied and begin his scent work training. Shortly after they progressed to working on wobble boards and a bosu ball as foundations to agility. Gabe is not a one-sport dog and trains for herding, agility, obedience, rally, scent work and tracking all in effort to keep him busy. When he isn’t training, Gabe can be found playing in the yard, going for an occasional walk, or supervising Bev in the kitchen while she prepares dinner or treat bags for training.
Gabe and Bev have developed a very strong bond through training in a fun environment. Gabe is a very happy and loving dog and does not like mistakes, particularly in agility. He reads Bev very well and if she is frustrated or corrects his mistakes too firmly Gabe will become defiant and shut down so working with him keeps her thinking on her toes. Together they have learned that it is so much more fun to run agility once you get over needing to be perfect. The key is to just go out and have fun.
Bev claims that her and Gabe wouldn’t be anywhere without Patti and was amazed at how quickly he responded to her. In fact, she thinks Gabe has a “great little love affair with her” and is certain Patti can get Gabe to do anything. Patti’s enthusiasm and positivity about everything has helped both Gabe and Bev have the confidence needed to accomplish great things in a short amount of time. Bev’s proudest accomplishment with Gabe was when she helped him earn his Preferred Excellent Standard title. In that moment it was as if a page had turned and everything started to fall into place because Bev realized she actually COULD handle Gabe with confidence and keep up with him in the arena.
Bev encourages everyone to find a knowledgeable trainer to learn how to teach your dog and handle a dog correctly. Training a dog is challenging, but it is also a wonderful feeling when you can work together with your companion and have a successful time just walking to the mailbox or competing in the sports that your dog loves. Be sure to watch for this dynamic duo in the agility arena or the rally and obedience rings!
Gabe is a Bernese Mountain dog (a.k.a. Berners) born on September 14, 2016 in Barrington, Illionois. He joined 4-year old Treasure, also a Berner, in Alaska as a puppy. Berners make good companion and family dogs because they are typically quiet but also very social. Bev says that Gabe is more like a Border Collie in a Berner suit because he is very smart, enthusiastic and loving but also interested in everything and everyone around him. During agility trials, you will often find Gabe poking his nose or his head out of a hole he has ripped in his soft crate in an effort to say hello or get some attention.
The 73-years young Bev was a nurse for 33 years and loved to cook and sew although now she really only has time for her dogs and all of their activities. She got Junior, her first Berner in 2007 and he helped her learn all that she knows about handling. Bev wanted to try cart and weight pulling with him so she followed a woman on Facebook with a Berner named Otis who competed in the sport to learn what she could. Sadly, Junior passed in 2014 but when she learned that Otis was Gabe’s sire, she knew they were a team that was meant to be together.
As a puppy, Gabe was very busy and into everything. Bev was uncertain how to keep him entertained and out of trouble so she would hide small pieces of pepperoni snacks throughout the house to keep him occupied and begin his scent work training. Shortly after they progressed to working on wobble boards and a bosu ball as foundations to agility. Gabe is not a one-sport dog and trains for herding, agility, obedience, rally, scent work and tracking all in effort to keep him busy. When he isn’t training, Gabe can be found playing in the yard, going for an occasional walk, or supervising Bev in the kitchen while she prepares dinner or treat bags for training.
Gabe and Bev have developed a very strong bond through training in a fun environment. Gabe is a very happy and loving dog and does not like mistakes, particularly in agility. He reads Bev very well and if she is frustrated or corrects his mistakes too firmly Gabe will become defiant and shut down so working with him keeps her thinking on her toes. Together they have learned that it is so much more fun to run agility once you get over needing to be perfect. The key is to just go out and have fun.
Bev claims that her and Gabe wouldn’t be anywhere without Patti and was amazed at how quickly he responded to her. In fact, she thinks Gabe has a “great little love affair with her” and is certain Patti can get Gabe to do anything. Patti’s enthusiasm and positivity about everything has helped both Gabe and Bev have the confidence needed to accomplish great things in a short amount of time. Bev’s proudest accomplishment with Gabe was when she helped him earn his Preferred Excellent Standard title. In that moment it was as if a page had turned and everything started to fall into place because Bev realized she actually COULD handle Gabe with confidence and keep up with him in the arena.
Bev encourages everyone to find a knowledgeable trainer to learn how to teach your dog and handle a dog correctly. Training a dog is challenging, but it is also a wonderful feeling when you can work together with your companion and have a successful time just walking to the mailbox or competing in the sports that your dog loves. Be sure to watch for this dynamic duo in the agility arena or the rally and obedience rings!
Student Pictures
sTUDENT VIDEOS
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