Fenrir Kennels

I am happy to announce that SD Gabe has been successfully transferred to his handler full time! We spent a week training to ensure his handler knew how to handle him in all aspects and that they were working as a team. Most don’t realize how hard it can still be to work a trained dog; there is remembering the correct command names and what each command does as well as how to work a dog through if they happen to become confused or disobey (which includes training in many locations that pertains specifically to his job and the handlers life); there’s also a lot of bonding, respect and overall learning each other that needs to be formed to secure their relationship. Congratulations Gabe and human and I know he’s going to make a huge difference for the betterment in his handlers life!

The dogs are logging in lots of work hours this week!

Did a little trip with 1oh1 and Esme on one of our breaks for the day! Since COVID happened we haven’t traveled hardly any so this long work trip is a great experience for these two!

SD Gabe is on his way home to be with his owner/handler full time! Since being here Gabe has had a lot of obedience (pet and advance) and has learned how to perform several tasks to mitigate his handlers disabilities and has now learned them enough to officially go home and work where his handler will continue his training and maintained. We will spend 6 days with his handler at their home helping him get acclimated to the new places and helping his handler learn how to use... and work him properly. When Gabe first arrived (this was a dog brought to me for evaluation and training, not a dog I selected) I had large doubts he would make a good working service dog and there were some issues (non behavioural) that needed to be worked through. He spent some good time relearning obedience before public access and task training really even started. Some of the tasks were difficult for him to grasp and he struggled a bit, it wasn’t enough that I felt he was unhappy working and needed to wash, he was just a slow learner and we needed to continue to find new motivation (he’s a very unimpressed dog lol). Now, 8 months later, he is a very steady dog and happy to perform his tasks and is extremely well behaved both in and out of vest. Congratulations Gabe and Jenna and I hope you enjoy your journeys together!

Barn Hunt for Prissy and Sundance this weekend! Prissy has been having a hard couple past trials and just wasn’t ‘into it’ which was weird because in practice she loves it and prior had no problem. This weekend she got her mojo back and earned ~100 CZ8 points and finished her RATN title with 1st place !!! Unfortunately on her last run when we entered the blind to wait our turn a dog lunged at her and I yanked her away to keep her from being bitten and it soured her spirit (she’s a very soft/sensitive dog) . When it was her turn she went right back to the gate and waited for time to be called and pulled us back to the car. Fingers crossed she forgets the experience and comes back out to have more fun next time! Sundance didn’t qualify this weekend but we have a few more things we can practice!

Bath day! German Shepherds are commonly called German Shedders because they shed a lot. I’ve had a share of shepherds and Gabe by far takes the cake! I have no idea how he still has any fur! Service dogs need to be maintained to the best of their ability; Gabe regularly gets bathed and brushed far more often then any dog I’ve even had to keep it as under control as possible!