OSCAR’S STORY

Oscar – the absolute LOVE of my life! When I first took him home 6 years ago, never having a dog before, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, only the starry-eyed look of a kid in a candy store. Picking Oscar in the first place was against the better judgement of my parents, godparents, roommate, basically everyone in my life. He was a young, stubborn, high energy cattle dog, who spent the second half of his one year of life in a shelter after being returned 4 separate times. They were right to be scared! But, being stubborn myself, I was determined to prove them all wrong that he was going to be the best dog they had ever seen.

We got home, me all fluttery with excitement, Oscar scared out of his mind, clinically taking in his new surroundings. He was almost militant in his exploration of his new home, logging all of the feasible hide outs, where he would eat, play, sleep. He was underweight, wide-eyed and scruffy, and he was mine.

The next few days were a blur as I tried to juggle all the new pieces of the life I had created for myself. He peed on the floor, guarded his toys and bones, chewed up comforters, barked at all of the neighbors – I couldn’t even take him on a walk without being dragged towards the street to assist Oscar in chasing a car or bicycle. I was starting to feel discouraged towards my supposed new best friend, and like all very smart people, called a dog trainer.

The first I called told me to growl at him and throw Ziploc bags full of water at his feet if he barked at a car. He wasn’t the pick for us. The second used only positive reinforcement, and Oscar made a large amount of progress! …Until the treats were taken away. The third, fourth, and fifth trainers used a combination of both methods, but none of them seemed to truly take the time to understand the Oscar I knew and loved. I was a willing and active participant! I only wanted my dog to actually feel comfortable enough to be just what he was meant to be – a fun loving, tail wagging, ground sniffing, lake jumping, cat chasing, ball catching DOG.

I have always been drawn to animals. It’s extremely cliché to say “from a young age”, but in this case it’s absolutely true. I’ve worked with goats, pigs, cats, rodents of all kinds, and horses ever since I can remember. Why did Oscar have to be any different? So, I gathered all of the knowledge I had learned and started to work with him on my own. Seeing I had a natural aptitude for training, I went to school, graduated with honors, and started helping other people like me. Young, old, big, or small – none of it mattered. My main goal was (and is) to educate people on how to properly communicate with their dogs, so they could become active, loving, members of the family.

Looking back on the whole thing, I cannot thank my little dude enough. Oscar completely changed my course of life, and has since proven my family wrong. No dog is the same, and no one method will work for every single one. With Heel House, I would like to help change the face of canine training by meeting each dog with fresh eyes and building a specific treatment plan to fit their needs.

Oscar is now 7 years old, and has been successfully serving me and the dogs we help for the last 4 years. Oscar changed my life. It is my greatest hope that we can give everyone who comes across us the same bond.