It's all because of Ralph!

Mind Your Paws exists because of Ralph! When I first bought Ralph one of the conditions was I would train him and be on "poo patrol" according to my Dad. I already knew what dog training club I would join as a family member had trained their dog and I thought Kirra was amazing. Alpha Dog Training was to be my dog training club of choice and since that day in August 2008 I still feel a big connection to the group even now I'm living interstate.

I started training Ralph pretty much as soon as he came home. I took him anywhere and everywhere I could, he came in the car even if I was just going down to the milk bar. I enrolled him in Puppy Pre School at the local vet which was run by an Alpha Dog Trainer and from there I joined the weekly dog training sessions and haven't looked back. Ralph and I moved through the different levels reasonably quick and by the time he was about 11 months we were in the advance level. We had our struggles, I remember deciding to do the test in what was then level 3, Ralph was working perfectly in class and all of sudden in the test it was like he had forgotten everything. Heel no longer existed, he wasn't going to get out of his drop, and he pretended he didn't even know his name. Lucky for us the trainers had been watching throughout the lesson and saw how well he had been performing. Ralph was a typical puppy, he'd pull the washing off the line, rip the yucca plant and mondo grass out all the time, help Oliver (the family dog) wake up the neighbours in the morning, and I'm sure there was plenty more things he did whilst he was maturing.

I've loved Ralph from the moment I saw him in the window (yes Ralph was an impulse buy, he was that cute dog in the window..... I now know better and will never buy from a pet shop again), he was just as cute then as he is now! Through going to weekly training sessions (I reckon we missed about 6 in 12months only) my relationship and love for him grew. When a dog starts to perform for you, comes to you for their reward even from a distance, and wants to be with you all the time, you really understand that a dog really is a man's best friend. Going to training consistently with him has paid off, I have a dog I can take anywhere, a dog I understand and know how to help him through different situations as they arise and most importantly a dog who looks to me to help him as well.

It is because of Ralph that Mind Your Paws exists today. The bond I have developed with him over the years is the bond I want every owner to have with their dog. I want every owner to trust their dog, be the leader of their dog and most importantly want to be with their dog. I want to share Ralph with everyone and want everyone to get as much joy out of him as I do. He really is amazing! Thanks Ralph for helping me start Mind Your Paws and every owner and dog we have helped train over the years thanks you as well.

#dogtraining #obedience #puppyschool #darwindog #mindyourpaws