Wash The Dane

(photo credit: Kyra Prause Photography)

When Maligator Kennels first opened in November, 2014, we obviously had only a few clients (you could count them on one hand). I got a call from Brian and Heather Allred of Spanish Fork. Briefly, they told me they saw my ad online, and told me about their dog Wash. They both explained Wash was a Great Dane, only a few months old, and he was already over 100 LBS. They explained Wash was a great dog, he was well-mannered and respectful, but he got out of control when he saw another dog. Heather told me it normally wouldn't be as big of a problem, except Wash was a big dog and would drag her around, and she was helpless to stop it. 

I met both Brian and Heather at a park in Spanish Fork, Utah. As a way to assist them with training, I brought my dog, Sumo, along to recreate Wash's excitement when he saw another dog. I saw firsthand that a dog who's that young, getting as excited as he did, could be a problem. I told Heather of a corrective collar I wanted her to try, so we could teach Wash his boundaries, and teach him to be calm and collected around dogs and people. 

After a short few training sessions, we had Wash better behaved and walking with a calm, collected mind. 

Since all this, Brian and Heather have come to countless classes. Brian and Heather always work very hard with their dog, and they follow my and our other trainer's advice. Wash has now become Maligator Kennels' first ever CGC (Canine Good Citizen), and he passed the test flawlessly. I remember Heather telling me one day her goal was to be able to bring Wash to see troubled or sick children, as a source of comfort and entertainment. It's not every day you see a Great Dane, and they are fun to have around. 

Recently, Brian and Heather sent me this picture. They were both at a local car wash and they brought Wash with them. As you can see in the picture, Wash is a perfect gentleman, as this sweet little girl came to see him. This little girl and two of her siblings were feeding Wash popcorn and then the little girl pulled her baby brother's car seat over and introduced her baby brother to Wash. Wash was well behaved, was not rough, and was perfectly obedient.

This is a HUGE success story, and I am owed very little credit. I gave Brian and Heather some guidelines, training tips, and helped them along the way, but they are the ones who worked with Wash and got him to where he is today. Wash brings a lot of joy to my classes and he brought a ton of joy, as you can see, to this little girl. 

Good job, Brian and Heather. You guys represent yourselves well, and you're making a positive impact on the community with Wash. 

Russ

Maligator Kennels