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Briefly
speaking, my professional trainer background
began during my Canadian military service in
the early 1970's. After serving several
years as an
Airborne
Combat Engineer, my superiors assigned me with providing
specialized skills training to groups of new
paratroopers. In the latter 70's I
transferred to the Air Force in order to
become a
Search and Rescue Technician.
Besides the ever-consuming operational
demands of this job, my duties included
providing formal skills training to
particular population groups, such as,
volunteer aerial spotters, bush pilots,
fishermen, and ground search teams.
I left the Air
Force in the early 1980's and began
undergrad studies at the University of
Toronto. Among other areas my studies
focused on the Psychology of Learning and Behaviour. The
Behavioural Discipline taught
me to consider my trainer experiences from
the more intricate Respondent and
Instrumental perspectives. As well, it
helped prepare me for my next professional endeavour, as I became the
National Search and Rescue Training Officer with the then-fledgling
Canadian Coast Guard Rescue Specialist
Program in Ottawa.
However, my
experience in conditioning Instrumental and
Respondent skills was not limited to human
beings. During the periods I am discussing I
had the honour of becoming the property, so
to speak, of three fine pedigreed dogs: a
Siberian Husky; a Labrador Retriever; and
then a German Shepherd. I trained them each,
given the great assistance of the
Behavioural Discipline. Many other
dog-owners, with whom I had become well
acquainted over the years, openly envied my
dogs for their responsiveness, ease of
handling, health, fitness, and good-natures.
Satisfied with
my achievements, I took an early retirement
from my job with the Federal Government in
the late 90's. After realizing my newfound
independence, some of my dog-walker
acquaintances began asking me to care for
their dogs during vacations and such. I
frequently accepted. While in my care I
often undertook to condition-out behaviours,
their owners complained about. I would
condition-in preferred behaviours. And I
would refine existing ones. I enjoyed an
intense exposure to a very wide variety of
breeds and mixes.
The training I
provided these dogs depended of course on
how much time I had with them. Their
training ranged from whistle-training, for
all dogs, to off-leash heel training for
dogs who, until then, mid-life, were always
leashed during walks. After picking up their
dogs, owners consistently praised me for
their dogs’ surprising responsiveness and
improved handling. I became quite popular,
so I started a small dog-sitting business
and continued with my training practises. My
new pass-time worked-out quite well for
everyone involved.
Following the
death of my Shep., Gayle, I relocated to
Toronto. After settling in, I began working
alone providing a one-on-one dog walking
service in the High Park area. In addition
to long walks, I continued providing my
client-dogs conditioning where necessary and
when requested by their owners. My schedule
was always full. Despite that I soon stopped
advertising, I often received calls, either
for my walking service or strictly for sound
behavioural training advice.
Watching
relationships between dogs and their owners
improve dramatically because of my help
pleased me to no end, yet spurred me to help
more dogs and owners alike. In January 2006
I began Happy Dog Obedience Training &
Consulting. I stand by the Behavioural
Discipline as the perfect instrument for
achieving both dog handling excellence and
peak dog performance.
For me, a good
dog means a happy master. A happy master
means a happy dog. And another happy dog
means a happier me.
Cheers,
Danno Schut
Happy Dog
Obedience Training & Consulting
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