When my father purchased a red nose pit-bull puppy who he named Leroy Brown in 2018 I couldn’t help but question why. My father wasn’t in the best of health nor was he experienced with training a puppy – much less a breed that is strong, energetic, and powerful. But my dad loved the dog and, being a supportive daughter, I did my best to help with socializing him. For years my father cared for and loved Leroy. Ultimately, my father’s health declined as did his care for Leroy. Leroy gained weight and became aggressive, lonely, and reactive.
I did what I could for him but it wasn’t enough. My father passed in November 2022 and I inherited Leroy. He entered my home with these dangerous behaviors and I thought I could manage them on my own. I tried my best to work with him, to teach him that he was safe, loved, and would be cared for, but within a month of Leroy being in my home I found out I was pregnant. At that point, I knew that Leroy needed professional help to ensure that my baby would be safe.
That’s when I reached out to Stephen at K9 Conditioning. I explained that Leroy was the last tangible thing I had of my late father and I wanted to do whatever I could to keep him, but couldn’t if these dangerous issues weren’t addressed. Stephen recommended a 30 day board and training program for Leroy. I was incredibly nervous to send this dog that I had grown to love to a strange man for conditioning, but knew this was his last chance at becoming a “good dog.” While waiting for Leroy’s boarding date, I got to know Stephen by doing some one-on-one training sessions with one of my other senior dogs, Jake. Through these training sessions it became clear that Stephen loved dogs and was truly passionate about his chosen profession.
The day I dropped Leroy off with Stephen I felt a weight falling off my shoulders. I knew Leroy was in capable hands. From day one, Stephen built rapport with Leroy and I could see that this aggressive, scared dog was transforming into a more confident and loving version of himself. Leroy caught on quickly to training and was eager to learn. For Leroy, this was summer camp that he never wanted to end. I would joke that Leroy wasn’t going to want to come home. I couldn’t wait for my daily pictures or videos of Leroy. Each day, Leroy and Stephen worked together to address his issues and each day they would progress. By the end of the 30 days, I was excited to get Leroy back. When Leroy came home he was a different dog. He was confident, loving, and most importantly, obedient.
It was now up to me to maintain all the hard work Stephen put into Leroy. Training does not end when the boarding program ends. Leroy needs daily training sessions to manage his reactivity, whether that is at home or out and about. And now that my daughter is here, it important to keep training. This is where the bi-weekly training sessions that K9 Conditioning offers come in handy. At these sessions I learn to become a better handler and Leroy has the opportunity to be around other like-minded dogs. At these sessions I have the opportunity to ask for advice and to learn new training tools.
