C indy recalls being fortunate to find Woofers , not only for dog boarding while she traveled but also for the daycare program that would provide needed socialization for the Airedale terrier she had adopted from a rescue group . She often asked the owner , Cathy Fox , and daycare manager , Anna Cusack , about their experiences and training . Evidently , Cathy took notice of Cindy ’ s avid interest and filed it away for future use . As Cindy explains :
“ By an unbelievable coincidence , or answer to a prayer , I was in Woofers picking up my dogs the very week I left my cotton breeding position in hopes of finding something exciting and challenging that would keep me a little closer to home . Cathy just happened to ask if I had an interest in dog training and so began a new journey .”
And that is how a commercial cotton breeder begins a new career as a professional dog trainer ! Cindy started working for Woofers as a daycare worker in February 2015 . The opportunity to observe a large number of dogs in a pack has been invaluable to her endeavors in dog training . Dogs communicate so much information . Becoming a trainer requires one to interpret this information as it is intended by the dog rather than projecting a human interpretation . To be a good trainer , then , you must speak “ dog ”.
A career as a dog trainer was never a thought early on in her life , as it was not a common or well-established career path when she was making those life decisions . Her first experience with dog training was as a child watching a man working his retriever on blind retrieves with just a whistle and hand signals . Cindy was amazed by this relationship . Later in life , when she had her own dogs , she read everything she could find on training and raising dogs and ultimately became a huge fan of Cesar Milan ’ s The Dog Whisperer program .
Cindy had the opportunity to join some of the Woofers team to work backstage for Cesar Milan ’ s show in Raleigh , North Carolina last year . Here ’ s what she remembers most : “ We were there to work with and handle the rescue dogs that were brought in for the show . I hoped but did not expect to actually meet this man whose shows I had watched since the very first episode of The Dog Whisperer and whose books I had read , in some cases twice .
Not only did he speak to each one of us before the show after having only a short time to rest following his flight from LA but he came out again after the show to visit as well . It was a special moment for me when he took the time to give me guidance about a new career in dog training . He said to me it is not about the dogs as much is it is about the people .”
After this experience , Cindy was so impressed with what he did that evening with the rescue dogs that he met onstage for the first time , as well as his genuine passion for his work , that she decided to make the financial investment to train in one of his programs .
Along with the amazing opportunity to attend the week-long program with Cesar Milan , Cindy regularly shadows Anna Cusack at Woofers daycare and has taken advantage of many “ train the trainer ” programs in the last year and a half , including two on retriever training and a program teaching the game of tug to engage your dog and teach them to turn excitement on and off . Another highly influential experience as a trainer was being a shadow student at K-9 Lifeline in Utah last year . Cindy shadowed Heather Beck and her team . Heather has developed a 5-step training program to establish a balanced respectful relationship between dog and owner . This is the program Cindy has adopted as a trainer . In addition , she is currently doing a virtual on-line program with a trainer in Canada to learn to train a high level of obedience .
Working with the dogs in Woofers daycare setting is much like being a monitor on a kid ’ s playground . You have to manage the dog ’ s level of excitement and prevent bullying or unnecessary roughness . For new dogs coming into daycare you handle them on leash to access the dog and determine if the dog has any aggressive tendencies that would make them unsuitable in the pack environment of daycare . Frequently the dog is just frightened in a new situation and you need to advocate for that dog until it adjusts and relaxes .
When asked to describe her training process , Cindy indicated that it is difficult to put it in specific steps and words , like a recipe . Highly experienced trainers may start with a basic method of choice but modify where needed , depending on the challenges . She did share that she basically follows the 5-Step program she learned at K-9 Lifeline , as most clients simply want a dog that walks well on a leash and is mannerly in their home . This process begins
“( AS A TRAINER ,) THERE IS AS MUCH learning THAT MUST OCCUR FOR THE owner AS THERE IS FOR THE dog .”
with using a crate and what is called a transitional leash to teach the dog that you are their provider of resources given the dog complies with good manners - such as waiting calmly to be released from a crate , walking calmly on a leash , waiting to be invited through a doorway .
The basic 5-step Balanced Behavior program can be taught in a Board and Train program over the course of 10-14 days where a dog receives 3 or 4 training sessions per day from a trainer or as a 5 week once-per-week class for owner and dog . Obedience training , retriever training or other more advanced skills can take much more time .
On a more personal level , Cindy has been a lover and owner of Airedale Terriers for over 25 years . She became a member of the Southeaster US rescue group about six years ago while looking for another Airedale during a very busy time in her career when a puppy would not have been a good fit . She adopted what turned out to be , in her words , “ the most fabulous dog named Grace ”. When Cindy retired she immediately volunteered to act as a foster for the group . They find the best match possible between owner and dog – the application process is very detailed and requires references and an interview to determine the commitment level of prospective owners . She advocates for this process in all cases before adding a dog to any home .
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