Week 1

Yesterday concluded our first week of Laws and Paws.  It was also the first real training day. There was some shifting of student trainers and dogs. Our goal is to match the right trainer with the right dog so they will both be successful.  This year we have a total of 9 students.  We decided to welcome 3 non-shelter dogs into our group that need work.  One is Annie. She is a cute little Samoyed whose confidence level is on the low side. We matched her up with a young lady whose is out going and confident. That energy radiated through the leash and within just a couple of days Annie's tail came up and you could see the confidence raise in both dog and handler. 

This is Annie and her student handler. 

We also have a young man whose has some dog handling experience but is at risk and needs something that connects him to school.  Chinook's Assistant Principal shows Samoyed dogs. She came up with a plan to train the young man with one of her Samoyed dogs in show ring handling. Then if he stays in school, has academic progression and stays out of trouble we will facilitate his showing a the dog in a June dog show in Puyallup.  In just a couple of days, the teachers were already commenting on how much more engaged this young man was.  He was thrilled and told everyone about it.  Our Assistant Principal goes out of her way to help her students and this is just an amazing opportunity for one of our young people.