All my life, I adopted rescues. Then I adopted an Alaskan Malamute from CHAAMP, and my life changed, and love grew for rescues. I met Kelly Citrin, CPDT-KA, MBA and owner of 4 On The Floor Dog Training in Rockville, Maryland who became my mentor and dear friend. She is passionate and dedicated to helping dogs and their humans. Every day brings an opportunity to learn and grow! 

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There is so much more to training than sit, down, and stay! Training starts with us, the human end of the leash. We must learn to observe the whole dog, their emotional state, and physical condition. A dog professional will observe the dog and their human to find an achievable way forward unique to their needs.

 

"Training often fails because people expect way too much of the animal and way too little of themselves." ~Dr. Bob Bailey

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Please do not wait until your dog's behavior escalates. We do not want our dogs to experience discomfort, fear, or frustration that they lose their mind (and temper) and resort to air snapping or a bite. Whatever the issue, you are not alone. I am most grateful to Michael Shikashio, CDBC who is one of the kindest dog professionals that I have ever met providing a safe space to learn. I regularly attend the annual Aggression in Dogs Conference that Michael hosts sharing the latest information related to dog aggression. It's the best!

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Relationships have always been important to me. It is how I was raised and influenced by my parent's culture. Volunteering for CHAAMP I met Bucky Jack who decided to train me, and I desperately wanted to meet his needs, but something was missing. Suzanne Clothier's Relationship Centered Training™ (RCT) helped improve my communication with Bucky Jack. She provides insight on ways to understand our furry companions and nurture a mutual partnership. RCT was the cherry on top of my training sundae! I highly recommend you visit FREE Resources, "Video Resources" on her website.   

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I live with two malamutes, and a husky. By providing a healthy outlet to satisfy their desire to hunt and engaging games, their desire to chase critters or pull on a leash is minimal. To reduce frustration, we engage in active two-way conversations. All three enjoy nose work, which ​I highly recommend. Nose work is a natural dog function and when we participate, our dog's come alive and build confidence. 

 

Dianna, owner of Scent Work U created online learning to enrich dogs' lives who struggle with big feelings. You will find Tony Gravley who is an instructor at Scent Work U and coaches Lucie and Lucky Bucky. Team Bucky titled in the Summit League Trial NACSW, which is a huge accomplishment! I have learned so much from them.

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I am committed to continued learning and growing to do my best to help Alaskan Malamutes and dogs in need. I work full-time and reserve time on the weekends to volunteer my services to CHAAMP. I offer my support with kindness, patience, and understanding. You can reach me at mimi.tello@chaamp.org to set up a consultation. Please visit our free resources. 

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