We are breaking new ground again! I have received emails from Veterans across the country, who already have a dog and asking if we could train their dog.  This concept has many levels to it, and it is is something Donna and I would like to add. However, our concentration now is on our current program. I replied to those emails stating that we hope to establish that program in the future. In this situation, the future came to us before we were really ready, but in doing the right thing, we overcome and adapt!

Army Veteran Dan Chappel has been more than ready for a  Dog and very very patient. After Dan’s original application things had changed in his life, a move, new girlfriend, and like any potential Stiggys Dogs recipient, we were waiting for the best scenario for Dan to pair him with his dog.

Dan recently moved in with girlfriend, Megan, who has two dogs. I called Dan  and asked how things in his life were going, and how he liked living with two dogs now. Dan replied that he loved it, and that one of the dogs, Foxy, had taken a ‘liking’ to him. This opening up the question that maybe we could train that dog since a ‘partnership’ with them was already forming. Again, stepping out side of our plan, but working it best we know how.

All potential Sitggy’s Dogs go through an evaluation and temperament testing in which s/he will be exposed to a variety of different people (including children), other dogs and animals, handling, noises, traffic, novel objects, and retrieving and training aptitude . We may accept some donated dogs from the public, but fairly few dogs will meet the rigorous criteria to be accepted into the program. I explained this to Dan as we hoped for the best.

Donna and I drove up to meet with them yesterday. Foxy is a delight! She has a few things we will work on (as in all new dogs) but she did pass our initial tests. In the video Donna walks with Foxy to see how her ‘attention’ is. Note: Donna walked in as a stranger to Foxy’s house, after only a few minutes, she put Foxy on a leash and took control. This can be very stressful for most dogs, having a stranger enter there space and dominating them. You can see how well Foxy followed Donna, and the good eye contact Foxy has. (Very important). The last part of the video, Donna had a treat hidden in her hand. Donna sits quietly with the treat and observes the behavior of Foxy, what she will or will not do to get that treat. As you can see, Foxy is very sweet and submissive. Foxy sat right in between Dan’s legs for most of the visit, the bond between them was already forming and very apparent!

We are excited to announce that Dan Chappel and Foxy will be training together under Stiggy’s Dogs! But more than that, Dan and Foxy will blaze a new tail for others to follow….