Jennifer Skiba-Owner & Trainer
Jennifer shares her life with a wonderful husband, Michael and two wonderful dogs, Stanley and Walter.
“I discovered my passion and gift with dogs a little late in life. When I was a child we always had a family dog so I thought I knew what it meant to have a dog. It wasn’t until I was grown and my first dog entered my life that I really understood.
My first dog, Maverick, was an easy puppy and through training him my passion was sparked and started to smolder. I didn’t know how to train a dog but knew that he needed to listen to me because he was going to be a big dog. So, I signed up for my first (of many) training class. Training came very easy to me, it made perfect sense to me, and training him was a breeze. I remember being in his obedience classes thinking, “Wow, this dog training thing is so easy, why doesn’t everyone have a well behaved dog?”
Foolish, foolish me. We then decided he should have a companion, a buddy, a brother and we welcomed Jasper into our lives. Let’s just say that Jasper was the exact opposite of Maverick. He isn’t a BAD dog-but he certainly isn’t an EASY dog either. It was then that I discovered that I barely knew anything about training a dog. Jasper forced me to learn, grow, and become a better trainer, leader and guardian for him.
The more I worked with Jasper the more I learned about different styles and methods of training. I had to learn to read dog body language, including signs of stress. I had to learn how to work with a “reactive” dog. I came to really understand how important early socialization is for all dogs. I had to learn to be patient. As I worked with both of my very different dogs I realized that as much as I was teaching them, they too were teaching me. As I watched our relationship develop that passion that had been smoldering started to burn. I wanted everyone to experience what I was experiencing. A RELATIONSHIP-not just ownership. To hear what our dogs are trying to tell us. To learn from them. To enjoy our dogs. “
All my dogs work with me in some capacity. Two of my beloved dogs have come to me, lived a full life and have left me. I share them here so you know who I mean when I reference them, as I surely will, and because the lessons they taught me that I will teach you are part of their legacy.
Maverick was a beautiful black standard poodle. He was a confident easy going dog. He specialized in teaching puppies boundaries and was a cool cucumber with over reactive dogs. Maverick died on July 6, 2016.
Jasper was a stunning parti poodle. He was very intelligent and exceled at tricks. He was the dog I used when I wanted to challenge a reactive dog as his energy signal is very different from other dogs. Jasper died Nov 6, 2018.
Stanley is the "Brown Dog" or "Big Dog" - he goes by many names. He is a BIG guy who weighs in around 90 pounds. He is a happy dog and very welcoming to dogs of all ages and can often be found in puppy classes helping encourage shy puppies to play. He has a very loving, gentle soul and loves all people and dogs.
Walter is the newest addition to the pack. He is 2 years old and came to our family to alleviate Stanley's grief after Jasper died. Walter is a love, as a brand new puppy he would lay with my Dad in the nursing home and just hang out and bring comfort. He may even be smarter than Jasper was, I will know more when I start getting to harder tricks. He's a watcher - he watches everything. He is still coming into his own and I'm not sure how he will assist me in work just yet. Right now I am focusing on "Who are you?" And actually listening to what he says.
Jennifer shares her life with a wonderful husband, Michael and two wonderful dogs, Stanley and Walter.
“I discovered my passion and gift with dogs a little late in life. When I was a child we always had a family dog so I thought I knew what it meant to have a dog. It wasn’t until I was grown and my first dog entered my life that I really understood.
My first dog, Maverick, was an easy puppy and through training him my passion was sparked and started to smolder. I didn’t know how to train a dog but knew that he needed to listen to me because he was going to be a big dog. So, I signed up for my first (of many) training class. Training came very easy to me, it made perfect sense to me, and training him was a breeze. I remember being in his obedience classes thinking, “Wow, this dog training thing is so easy, why doesn’t everyone have a well behaved dog?”
Foolish, foolish me. We then decided he should have a companion, a buddy, a brother and we welcomed Jasper into our lives. Let’s just say that Jasper was the exact opposite of Maverick. He isn’t a BAD dog-but he certainly isn’t an EASY dog either. It was then that I discovered that I barely knew anything about training a dog. Jasper forced me to learn, grow, and become a better trainer, leader and guardian for him.
The more I worked with Jasper the more I learned about different styles and methods of training. I had to learn to read dog body language, including signs of stress. I had to learn how to work with a “reactive” dog. I came to really understand how important early socialization is for all dogs. I had to learn to be patient. As I worked with both of my very different dogs I realized that as much as I was teaching them, they too were teaching me. As I watched our relationship develop that passion that had been smoldering started to burn. I wanted everyone to experience what I was experiencing. A RELATIONSHIP-not just ownership. To hear what our dogs are trying to tell us. To learn from them. To enjoy our dogs. “
All my dogs work with me in some capacity. Two of my beloved dogs have come to me, lived a full life and have left me. I share them here so you know who I mean when I reference them, as I surely will, and because the lessons they taught me that I will teach you are part of their legacy.
Maverick was a beautiful black standard poodle. He was a confident easy going dog. He specialized in teaching puppies boundaries and was a cool cucumber with over reactive dogs. Maverick died on July 6, 2016.
Jasper was a stunning parti poodle. He was very intelligent and exceled at tricks. He was the dog I used when I wanted to challenge a reactive dog as his energy signal is very different from other dogs. Jasper died Nov 6, 2018.
Stanley is the "Brown Dog" or "Big Dog" - he goes by many names. He is a BIG guy who weighs in around 90 pounds. He is a happy dog and very welcoming to dogs of all ages and can often be found in puppy classes helping encourage shy puppies to play. He has a very loving, gentle soul and loves all people and dogs.
Walter is the newest addition to the pack. He is 2 years old and came to our family to alleviate Stanley's grief after Jasper died. Walter is a love, as a brand new puppy he would lay with my Dad in the nursing home and just hang out and bring comfort. He may even be smarter than Jasper was, I will know more when I start getting to harder tricks. He's a watcher - he watches everything. He is still coming into his own and I'm not sure how he will assist me in work just yet. Right now I am focusing on "Who are you?" And actually listening to what he says.
