Canine Resource Center

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Loose Leash Walking
Privates in Peoples Homes for Home Manners
Getting and Keeping Attention by Being Interesting
Arousal at Other Dogs, People, Objects
Basic Obedience
Harmony for the Multiple Dog Household
House Soiling
Puppy Starting
K9 Nose Work
Chill Out Fido Techniques

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Come to our location at your convenience and take a tour and see us in action and spend some time visiting with us about you and your dogs needs. Our biggest advice is ask the trainer even us how we go about developing the good manners and obedience we all want in a dog. You answer from the trainer should be that they never use anything that will scare or harm your dog and to discuss in detail in a contract what steps will be taken to provide you with a working solution for your lifestyle and time line.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Julie Eskoff's 30 year background in natural horsemanship has been invaluable while working with dogs and gives her a unique and proven series of techniques using touch, observation, voice, approach and retreat that are signature to communicating with high flight animals. Working with dogs you are also reducing the "flight" and or "fight" factor by providing, love, language, and leadership like one would with horses. Julie had over thirty years of reading horses and it translates beautifully when she is working with dogs.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. 1. Do you use any aversive methods while working with my dog and if so what are they and what do they accomplish?
2. Are you comfortable with aversive equipments such as choke, shock, or pinch collars to get your dog to do what you want?
3. How many years have you been training dogs using reward based training?
4. Do you have a training plan for each client with handouts?
5. Do you work my dog or do your interns work my dog?
6. Do you have any references of your services?
7. Do you have a contract stating our training agreement and time line of completion?

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Each client has speical needs, a certain amount of time, a signatuare breed of dog, as well as a monthly budget to participate in dog training. We do our best to meet those criteria as well as encourage compliance from the customer so the training is consistent for the dog and the household. New clients are welcome to examine our style, infomration and its application to see if is a good fit for their them, their dog, their time, and their income. Anothe considerations is find out if we provide the service you actually need for your dog. Not all trainers are behavorists and or aggression specialist!

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. We shine because we are a small boutique venue. Rancho Mondo NW is not a large kennel with several trainers. Our experiece as trainers and as boarding clients helped us make the decision to stay small and quiet. Dogs are not our here barking all day and associating humans with arousal. RMNW is proud of how closely we work with each dog as we only take a maxiumu of 6 dogs in our board and train program.
All our classes, privates, and board and train services are designed to be small and intimate so we can truly give you the time honored and heart felt training you and your dog deserves. Everything we do out here from the moment you arrive to invoice reconcillation is based on supporting the dog across the board while he is here while also providing you with the tools, time management, and motivation to start and move forward with your training for the life time of the dog

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love meeting the new people and helping them smile and breathe once again! I alway say become a dog enthusiats and not a trapped pet parent which most people are. It's a marvelous moment when I am able to provide solutions and coping and realxing along with satisfaction to both dog and their owner. The hill country is beautiful out here and we have so many resources at our finger tips to train with and again everywhere we go is beautiful and signature Texas! It is warming to my heart to know that I truly have dog friends and they are so glad to see me when they come out here or we meet them at their home. My job truly is empowering people through dogs and horses and opening up their hearts and help them realize how much living and getting out there with your dog there is to do!

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. How soon can I start training my dog? If it is a puppy, you can start at 8-10 weeks in your home and progress as your innoculations come to place. If it is an adolescent or adult dog, start right away. Find a reputable trainer and or behavorist who can start you on the right path. Another question I get aske frequently is "How to stop puppy mouthing and or biting?" When your puppy mouths you at first, it is okay, they are experimenting with their mouths as infants do. If he bites down too hard, literally squeal and "ouch" sound and put the puppy down and or leave the room for 2 minutes and come back with a smile. Once the puppy has learned to not bit down too hard, then don't allow him to mouth or bite you at all. It is called bite inhibition and is very wise to put on your pooch.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. As I progress in K9 Nose Work as a certified instructor I have the privelege of working with many types of dog breeds and states of mind with and without their owners. This sport lends itselt to help dogs mentally and emotionally and when a dog breaks through his fear, or shyness, or evironmental challenge, it's moving in all fronts. The owners see it, the class sees it and I see it. We train as a group so the dogs are "our" dogs and this kind of team work and frienship is worhty of making my list of favorites to tell. Currently a very shy Chessie make it through on Week 4 in a new environment with a man presenet and she stayed on the hunt, we were all astounded. I once again have to hold faith in how magical K9 Nose Work really is. About the time I think I have a dog surmised, I am always proven wrong. I love that.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I want them to have a dog trained at a level they have never had before. We all come with mythology, wive's tales, habits, from our childhood about how to raise dogs. But when you scientifically look at learning theory and positive reinforcement you will truly look no where else. I am committed to this and with Nose Work as my ace in the hold for mental and emotional fitness it singles me out as a trainer. My clients are given custom made times line to begin the steps to committing to training so they can learn to time manage their lives more toward the needs of the dog. The benefit is spiritual at best as once you get into what you dog needs you will be more fit, meet wonderful people, have a dog that will almost say your name. That is what makes my profession so necessary and so pertinent so that we humans stay engaged with nature and fun. After all it is animals that make us humans and it is our job as trainers to cultivat that exploration and pursuit with your dog.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. After years of riding and training reining horses behind the scences as well as my mother reminding me I trained every dog in the house as a kid, it was a natural for me.
My own life forces are slowing down, so it has allowed me to be more in tune with God's creatures and the topography around me. Dog's and horses have helped heal my life and I want to share that with people. We are moving quite fast these days and I revel in the moment I am in the hot, the rain, the cold and still out there doing someting with my dogs. This shows people they can do it to and feel like a kid while doing it. It was not a huge jump for me to tie all of what I have done before into teaching, hospitiality, and training. It's a gift and here at Rancho Mondo NW we want to share that with you.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I could never be in the more correct spot in my life with K9 Nose Work. I fell upon it last year through the program at a APDT Conference in Georgia. I did not attend the conference but followed up on the founders from Los Angeles and found the program amazing and starting attend the work shops that introduced the program in Texas. Once I attended the seminars, I went to one of their camps in Georgia (which is lovely in the spring) and started the Instructor Program to become a Certified Nose Work Instructor. I have progressed enough now that I have the proud title of Associate Nose Work Instructor and am teaching the founders protocol and pulling the sport to Texas. It's the most amazing sport out there as anyone can play and play now, both human and dog. Never is there a sport where it is all about fun. Of course one can trial, but it's paramount to the founders that your have fun and watch the dog! Join us at Rancho Mondo NW for official K9 Nose Work classes.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. Yes. I am delightfully required to do CEU work to maintain my CPDT-KA status.
In 2011 I attended the following:
K9 Nose Work Camp in Colman Georgia - April 2011
Jean Donaldson in Houston Canine Counseling in the Age of Whispering
K9 Nose Work Instructor Module Two - Marietta, Georgia
Celeste Mead Seminar - Austin Canine Central - Sept. 2011
Ron Gaunt NACSW founder - Seminar Intro to K9 Nose Work and Continued Nose Work

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. From my vantage point more disciplines are aligning themselve with mental and emotinal fitness for dogs. It's not just about exercise anymore, it's about coping and keeping dogs under threshold by providing them what God and their breed type had intended. I am in love with the Controlled Unleashed movement along with Chill Out Fido ideas as well as K9 Nose Work. I have found that K9 Nose Work helps the majority of my behaviorial programs along with good diet, exercise, and being a benevolent gateway to resources that the dog needs and wants.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. Most recently I have been preparing to become a CNWI from the NACSW. By the time I will have graduated, it will have cost me over $5000.00 and worth every dime. I am involved with learning detection work for fun and or trial and it is extensive work with many nuances that only improve and grow with experience. K9 Nose Work is all about dealing with the dog that show up, which I learned over and over with horses. I am looking foward to creating enough teams in Texas to create Odor Recognition Test and Trials for all to attend as well as cultivate those who simply need this for their dog's mental well being. You can do both.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. I do not have a complicated pricing system. Everything is on my web site at www.rmnwje.com. I am always willing to work with clients to meet their budgets and their ideas as well as granting a 20% discount to all shelter dogs within 6 months of being adopted from the time of when one of my classes start. So if you need help financially, just ask we will work with you and or barter. There is always something that needs doing out here.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Ready everthing!
Mentor with a respected trainer and behaviorist
Work at Petco and or PetsMart to get started with a volume of dogs to learn from.
Get Certified as a Pet Trainer
Learn at least 5 breed types a month.
Get an AKC Good Canine Citizen on your dog.
Train your own dog to the nines in basic, intermediate, and advanced obedience.
Train your own dog to showcase many tricks.
Study, study, study, everything.
Attend seminars of professional trainers and behaviorist.
Volunteer at least 20 hours a month at your local shelter
Foster dogs and put a good handle on them for their future owners if not yourself.

Q. What is your greatest strength?

A. My greatest strength is my work ethic and ability to read dogs and people and having the sensitivity to know when to stick, push and or raise criteria. I love dogs and have an natural affinity for who they are naturally and am gifted at helping people learn more about thier dogs, through good timing, position, love, leadership, and communicaiton. I am a good communicator, you will always know where I stand and I will do my best to help you see where your dog's stands too.

Q. What are you currently working on improving?

A. Free shaping and shaping. A technique used for all kinds of behaviors. I am mainly focusing on more advance skills from my dogs, such as turning off lights, opening doors, along with some fancy Rally O' moves. Everyday we work on Nose Work and now to prepare clients who want to go to trail. Right now we are working on threshold skills and hides to slow dogs down to look right and left instead of just blasting into the search area. It's beautiful to watch. I can finally say, I am always, always improving my observation skill as if you are not watching the dog, you are not going to know what to do.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. Why do dogs love to jump up at our faces?
It's how they greet each other and we are upright, so once has to jump to get to that cute nose! However we teach them to "sit" for greeting and they will get all the same adoration. It's simply teaching your dog an "alternative behvaior"! I like it.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. Why do puppies bite our hands abd arms?
Well our hand our paws to them and their last playmates were their siblings, so your next! Our skin is fragile so we have to teach them like their siblings and mother did, that when you bite too hard, someone squeal in pain, the game ends and your loose your playmate. Simple as that, so duplicate that with you puppy and keep a soft toy close by to redirect.