Article: In My Prior Life I Was a Rottweiler

by Tonja Osborn

In my prior life I was a Rottweiler. Although housebroke and happy, I felt I was misunderstood, and looked down on. I vowed that in my next life I would work hard to bridge the gap between human and canine communication.

Seriously though, we've all been frustrated over an inability to communicate with friends, relatives, co-workers, etc., even though we speak the same language. Imagine how difficult it would be for a Russian and an American to communicate if they didn't have a root language.

It was obvious to me, upon taking my first several dog obedience classes, that much was lacking. I decided to resolve this communication problem. I studied at Wolf Park Institue of Ethology at Battle Ground, IN (yes, with a pack of wolves). I've spent years reading dog behavior books and magazines, studying videos, and attending seminars and conferences. After all that money and time, what was my conclusion? If you have 100 dog trainers in a room, the only thing they can agree on is that the other 99 dog trainers are doing it wrong.

I needed verification I understood the communication process; so to the Competition Ring I went, being critiqued by impartial Licensed Judges. Hundreds of times I went in the Competition Ring, and won. My Ibizan Hound is the most titled in the world, ever. My German Shepherd won the U.S. German Shepherd National in Obedience and Agility, and missed a perfect score in Temperament Testing by only 1 point. This test included gun fire and whip agitation work. I trained and competed with non-traditional canines (Borzoi, Dalmatian, Ibizan Hound), in Schutzhund, Agility, Obedience, and Confirmation. By using my understanding of human/canine communication, I won. A LOT! I finished in the ribbons (top four highest scores) nearly 90% of the time, again, and again, and again. My dogs and I have finished in the Top Ten at National Level Competition many years in a row.

The consistency between my canine team mates and I was the proof I needed to feel qualified to pursue my communication passion full time. I work with over 500 canine/owner teams every year, each one different and unique . . . yet, perhaps very similar?

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Canine Training by Mystic Moon, Inc.
Des Moines Dog Training, and surrounding areas
Tonja Osborn, Owner/Trainer

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515-287-4809