I have been so fortunate this week to have some input on Stig and his Development.

I meet with Donna Fournier, a Certified Animal Behaviorist and Dog Trainer and one of the co-hosts of the nationally syndicated radio show, Animal Talk Radio.  I have so much more to write about Donna, our meeting and the wonderful things she has offered to do for Stiggy’s Dogs (another post). Donna  spent a lot of time with Stig, touching him all over, doing different ‘test’. Which Stig passed, almost with flying colors but we have a few things to work on. One suggestion she told me had to do with my ‘connection’ while walking him. When I am walking him, I am to move in different directions, walk back and forth, around in circles, more often. This makes Stig more ‘aware’ of me and follows my lead better.

This suggestion was mirrored by another Certified Dog Trainer, Brian Walsh.  I take Big Stig to Better Life Canine Center one day a week for dog socialization. Rescue owner, Brenda Woody, lets all of her dogs, fosters and current owners, come and continue training and socializing. She has different trainer’s that donate their time to help. Yesterday we had Brain, who is great! Ironically, he said the same thing to me about walking differently with Stig. We practiced back and forth, around in circles, with Big following all the way!

I have been faithfully walking Stig everyday for 2-4 miles, but in a straight line and on a mission. However, today……..it was a little different.

I will leave you with a visual: While practicing my dance moves all around the neighborhood with Stig by my side, we were shuffling across the street, when the owner opened her door and let her dogs out. The two little fluffy balls came yelping out as fast as they could, right towards Stig. They had their electronic fence collars on, but only I knew that. So immediately I started walking in tight fast circles, round and round, about 4 times, before Big lost complete interest in the dogs! It worked like a charm! Ha, either that or Stig was trying to regain composure from a dizzy spell…….