PDTE 2011 July Newsletter

WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS
Page 8
Jana Nemcova,
England
My journey with dogs started 11 years ago
when I decided to raise a puppy for a guide-dog
association. The experience was both terrible
and terrific. Most importantly it opened my eyes
to the dog world and it brought my Labrador
boy into my life. Back in the Czech Republic
I used to work in a job that didn’t satisfy me
and my main experience with dogs was as an
everyday ownership. Later on I started rescuing
abused dogs and finding them new homes. But
this wasn’t enough as there were not enough
good homes. People didn’t know what dogs
really need. Without educating people I could
only change very little. I decided to gain an official
education as a dog behaviourist, because
I wanted to be taken seriously. Unfortunately,
back in CR there was no official education of
this type. So I decided to take my chances in
the UK. I have recently finished Sheila Harper’s
IDBTS and I attend as many seminars as
possible. I work as a dog walker at the moment
and I’m actively involved with a local dog
rescue where I’m currently managing a project
enriching outdoor paddocks for dogs. Rescue
dogs have always been my main passion, but
also just ordinary dog ownership. My main
mission is to change the stigma that is around
dogs and show people what they can achieve if
they build a strong relationship with their dogs
based on understanding and respect.
Carolin Reger,
Germany
Dogs have been around me from early childhood.
They have always fascinated me and it
has always been my deep wish to make them
feel they can trust me. I had my first own dog at
15 — Baron, an Irish Terrier. After studying Biology
and English, I got my first dog from a dog
shelter – a 2-3 year-old Maremmana, Blanca.
For 11 years she was my “white shadow” and
she taught me so much more about dogs. The
idea of visiting a dog school never crossed
my mind, even though Blanca was not “easy”.
I knew how she felt and so it was always
possible to manage what might have been
difficult. After Blanca’s death, I couldn’t think
of a new dog. I had started teaching and also
took up studying psychology. I felt convinced
that my new dog would somehow find its way
to me. Then one day, 1 1/2 years after Blanca’s
death, the phone rang: A friend’s sister called
and asked me to adopt a young Border Collie
mix that desperately needed a new home …
Yala is 10 years old now and still in fairly good
health. She is Blanca’s complete opposite.
Because of a new home with a big garden I
took in another dog, Aqui, whom I carefully
chose as an appropriate companion for Yala.
He is a Galgo mix from Spain, soft and gentle.
Because of his hunting instinct I got in touch
with the Galgo-Hilfe. They offer free runs for
dogs on Sundays, but I soon realized that it
was too stressful there for Aqui (he suffers from
hip dysplasia). After taking in a third dog as a
foster dog, a traumatized Galga, I founded a
group for fearful dogs in 2007 – to give dogs
a chance for appropriate canine and human
contact under controlled conditions. At that time
I came across several animal-learn books and
was surprised and happy to find many ideas
that I had somehow discovered by living so
closely with my own dogs (and all the dogs
that have been my friends). For the work in my
group I studied the Calming Signals closely
and integrated the knowledge into my work.
By now I realized that there is a demand for
dog-friendly dog trainers. I got in touch with
an animal-learn dog trainer and was offered
the possibility to learn from her in theory and
practice. I also took up mantrailing and visited
my first seminars. When I met Anne Lill I got to
know about Turid’s dog trainer education and
immediately applied for it. Also our fourth dog,
Coco, a Maltese mix from Spain, had joined us.
She was the missing piece in our family jigsaw.
In between we took up four foster dogs and
found loving homes for them.
Today I live together harmoniously with my
boyfriend and our four dogs. My work with dogs
and their owners includes work with fearful
dogs, basic training, group training, nosework
– especially mantrailing - and supporting owners
with newly adopted dogs from dog shelters.
I cooperate with Hundeschule Findeklee, the
Galgo-Hilfe and many friends who are committed
to giving dogs a better life.
Bente Stensland,
Norway
My name is Bente Stensland. I have a husband
and three children and two dogs. I have always
been interested in dogs. Since my family got
a dog when I was 4 years old, I have loved
dogs. When I got my first own dog together
with my husband, I started to attend a course.
This course was horrible and I walked away in
the middle of it because I felt it was so wrong.
When I got home I started thinking of how I
could train in a better way without pain. I found
Turid Rugaas’ shool on the Internet and had
to go there. I am very glad that I did that and
learned all the good methods to train in a good
way with my dog. Later I got my second dog
from some people who did not want to have her
anymore. They had not treated her very well
and it has taken me a long time to teach her to
trust me.
My dog-related education is from Hagan
Hundeskole, Turid Rugaas’ dog trainer school.
I have also taken a course about learning
theory at the university in Ås. I am a nurse by
profession.
Together with Agnes Vælidalo, I started the
PDTE NEWS