When I was seeking help with my native gardens, I called on Sustainable Roots Ecological Restoration Inc. and had the pleasure of meeting the co-owners, Andy and Reid. Andy came for a visit, and our conversation turned to dogs and my training business. He then shared the struggles that he and his wife, Reid, were facing with their northern-breed dog, Newt. He also mentioned their limited success using conventional training methods. It became clear that we were meant to work together and agreed to barter gardening services for training services.
Newt had come to my clients as a puppy from a northern reservation, and she was about a year and a half old when we met. She presented with numerous issues, including resource guarding and barking at guests in the house, strangers on the street, and often at nothing at all. Having people and their dogs over was nearly impossible. Newt could never quite relax and often acted territorial around visiting dogs, especially Penny, a family member’s Boston terrier.
My clients hired a professional trainer and were able to make some progress. However, the approach was primarily focused on obedience training and enforcement using a prong collar, and Newt continued to be a challenge. Their efforts to tire her out by any means necessary – at the dog park, at dog daycare, or with long walks and hikes – did not help. To the contrary, Newt was so high-strung and wary of visitors that the couple wondered if they would ever be able to return to their pre-pandemic socializing and grow their family one day.
When we began working together, we first held an in-depth conversation about behavioural issues and the differences between the mainstream way of doing things and the Way of Life Method. We also introduced critical way-of-life changes, which coincided with their move from the city to a quieter country location. The fact that our work began right as my clients were moving into a new home meant that we had a unique opportunity to get off to the right start in their new residence. The changes we made included challenging the dog with appropriate physical exertion and exercises to channel her drive and energy. Our clients also took charge of her life with greater structure and predictability.
Despite Newt’s bumpy start, now that enough time has passed for their new way of life to take hold we have much progress to celebrate. Newt is significantly calmer, happier, and more authentic in her personality. She often joins Andy and Reid at work. Newt rides in the truck as they travel from site to site and can increasingly hang out with them and their employees as they work. Penny can visit and socialize at a distance from Newt, and the two girls are now taking walks together.
We are so grateful to have met Reid, Andy, and their beautiful girl, Newt. I love how well our barter arrangement of dog training for gardening has worked out. In Reid’s words, “we have found our trainer, and she has found her gardeners. Isn’t the universe kind of funny like that?”
