Ann Hazlett

Dogs & Company

It all began when my family decided that we wanted a companion for the family. Like a lot of people, we just went and adopted a puppy under the assumption that it would be just like our friends dog. To our amazement, before Venus was one year old she was displaying aggression towards other dogs and people; she even began growling at her ever-loving family. During these developments I had been taking her to obedience classes at the local kennel (at the age of 6 months). Yes, we had learned some obedience, but we didn't learn what to do with it or what to watch for in the coming months of canine development.

I knew in my heart that she was a good dog and that her unwanted behaviours were due to mistakes that I was making. So, I started searching for more help by reading and asking anyone who I thought may have answers and enrolled in to two other schools. I had received some guidance, but still something was missing, Through all of this frustration and time invested I decided that I needed to better educate myself even more on how to handle my dog. I was going to take a professional trainer’s course and figure this out, so that I could help others like myself.

Off I went to trainer’s school and in late 1999 opened my own school. Many dogs and owners later I am constantly educating myself by attending seminars and courses as well as reading anything and everything dog. During one of my sojourns, I mean the alien abduction to “Planet Dog”; it all came together, naturally.

In hindsight I can see the mistakes we were making at home and the affects of a dog attack at 6 months of age had on Venus. As well, in 2000 we have adopted a 5 year old German Shepherd “Owen” who had issues that needed to be worked through. With these educational experiences I now have a rewarding relationship with them both. Had I not been so determined to work with Venus she too could have been just another statistic. Knowing what I now know, I see that I did not need to go through such an experience and that is what Dogs & Company brings to you "Knowledge and Experience".

Educational Background